York College News: New President, Record $7.5M Gift, Student Achievements, Major Upgrades & National Recognition

Hello, and welcome to the latest episode of our campus news podcast. Today is Monday, July 21, 2025, and we have several exciting updates from York College to share with you. First, we're thrilled to announce that Dr. Claudia Schrader has been appointed as the eighth president of York College. After serving as interim president since January 2024, Dr. Schrader's leadership has been instrumental in enhancing campus facilities and launching initiatives like the York Opportunity Network, which aims to position York College as a hub for academic and career advancement in Southeast Queens. Her permanent appointment took effect on May 1, 2025. In a significant boost to our campus resources, New York City FC has pledged a $7.5 million philanthropic gift to York College. This generous contribution, announced on July 16, 2025, represents the largest philanthropic gift in the college's history. The funds will support health and wellness programs, athletics, and other student services, with $2 million available immediately to enhance our campus offerings. Our students continue to excel on the academic front. At the CUNY Celebration of Undergraduate Research held on May 23, 2025, York College's own Dinah Mensah Attipoe won the research poster contest with her project titled "The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Transform the Aviation Industry." This achievement highlights the innovative research being conducted by our students and the support provided by our dedicated faculty advisors. In athletics, the York College men's volleyball team made history earlier this year. For the first time since 2016, our athletes swept the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Men's Volleyball weekly honors. Senior David Heyliger Jr. was named Player of the Week, and freshman Sebastian Gomez earned Rookie of the Week for their outstanding performances in matches played from January 27 to February 2, 2025. On the infrastructure front, the City University of New York (CUNY) has allocated $30 million to address groundwater flooding issues at York College. This funding, discussed during a city council meeting on May 15, 2025, is a reallocation from existing projects and underscores the ongoing efforts to improve campus facilities and ensure a safe environment for all students and staff. Lastly, York College continues to be recognized for its commitment to social mobility. In the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges rankings, several CUNY senior colleges, including York College, were lauded for their success in advancing social mobility among students. This recognition reflects our dedication to providing quality education and opportunities for all. That's all for today's episode. Stay tuned for more updates, and remember, at York College, your future takes flight.