Page 20 - Annual Report 2012-2013

i joined the eastern Long island NAACP at its 60th Anniversary membership
luncheon as the keynote speaker in Southampton just before election Day. My
remarks on the theme: "Your Power, Your Decision-vote," were framed around the
power and value of education that transforms lives and builds stronger communities.
e College was represented at the Celebration of Suburban Diversity Banquet,
sponsored by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University and
supported our Board Chairwoman Dafny irizarry when she was honored as part of
the Herstory writing workshop. Chairwoman irizarry was recognized for her ground-
breaking work in the area of education and for creating opportunities to hear the
stories within our Long island communities.
on April 25th, i was honored to be recognized by the islandia-Central islip rotary
Club during its Second Annual Multicultural Gala. funds from this event will be used
to support military veterans and first responders. other honorees were Cornelia Gevinski,
rotary District 7260 Governor 2012-2013 and John feal, founder of the feal Good
foundation. i was also among the honorees at the first Annual Long island NAACP
ACT-So Achievers Dinner. i was joined by fellow honorees eresa Sanders (Urban
League President and College BoT Member), felice Jones-Lee (Southside Hospital
and foundation Board member), and emerson Mott (Uniondale School District).
in June, the College participated in the annual Puerto rican/Hispanic Day Parade in
Brentwood. our marchers included an enthusiastic group of students with both our
outgoing Student Trustee and our incoming Student Trustee participating. e Parade
enables us to remain visible to our alumni, and the foundation’s executive Director
and its Director of Alumni Affairs were both present. in addition, the Chairwoman
of our Board of Trustees, Dafny irizarry, served as the Parade Grand Marshal. Another
Board member, Belinda Alverez-Groneman, also marched and her mother was
honored as part of the day's activities.
Partnership Development. As part of an innovative solution to develop skills
training for emerging industries, Suffolk County Community College signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May with the government of Trinidad
and Tobago and Metal industries Company (MiC) to explore ways to develop
academic courses and training programs that will mutually benefit workforce
development programs in each respective region. Metal industries Company is
a major skills training provider and a government-sponsored limited liability
corporation that operates 15 centers located throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
e MoU and the valuable relationships we are forging will further distinguish the
College as a global innovator. representatives from MiC visited the College in June.
is visit was the first phase of the partnership. MiC’s representatives learned details
about Suffolk’s model for workforce development training and had the opportunity
to meet several College partners and tour their industry facilities. e College’s Board
Chairwoman, Dafny irizarry, and Trustee eresa Sanders were present at a number of
the delegation’s activities. MiC’s Chairman, David Lee, stated that he looks forward to
replicating some of the College’s transformative success in Trinidad and Tobago.
is spring, we reached agreement with Long island University (LiU) on the leasing
of a modular building to be constructed on the Michael J. Grant Campus. A vendor
has been selected to construct a single story 24,000-square-foot building comprised
of 16 classrooms, one computer classroom, a lounge and associated faculty and
administrative offices. Until the proposed building is constructed, the College will
provide temporary classroom spaces and administrative office spaces through a short-
term lease. A public/private partnership agreement of this magnitude is one of the first
20 ❘ 2012-2013 Review of Accomplishments
Suffolk County Community College had a major presence at the
Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade in Brentwood.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed between
Suffolk and Trinidad and Tobago’s Metal Industries Company (MIC).
Pictured (left to right) are: David Lee, Chairman,
Metal Industries Company; Senator the Honourable Fazal Karim,
Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training;
Dr. Shaun L. McKay; John Lombardo, Suffolk's Associate
Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development.