Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson joined fellow CUNY leaders at the Brooklyn Delegation Legislative Breakfast on February 19 at Medgar Evers College to meet with Brooklyn legislators and their staff, advocate for sustained public investment in the City University of New York and share the college’s growing impact on the borough and New York City. President Anderson thanked members of the Brooklyn Delegation for their partnership and urged continued support for CUNY as a driver of social mobility, workforce development, and community well-being. She invited attendees to view two short videos highlighting Brooklyn College’s commitment to belonging and mentorship. Mentorship as a Core Value Emphasizing that mentorship is central to Brooklyn College’s mission and student success, President Anderson highlighted several signature programs that provide academic guidance, professional development, and holistic support for students, particularly those from historically underserved communities, including the Tow Mentoring Initiative and the Immigrant Student Success Office (ISSO). She noted that ISSO offers dedicated advising, legal support, and a welcoming campus space for undocumented students, DACA recipients, and students from mixed-status families. In a period of heightened national uncertainty around immigration policy, President Anderson underscored ISSO’s critical role in ensuring that students feel safe, supported, and able to focus on their academic goals. Haitian Studies Institute: Comprehensive Demographic Study With Brooklyn College serving the neighborhoods in “Little Haiti,” President Anderson highlighted the critical work of the Haitian Studies Institute (HSI). The HSI is undertaking the first comprehensive demographic study of the Haitian community in the New York metropolitan area. This landmark research will provide accurate, actionable data to guide planning and service delivery for one of the region’s largest and fastest-growing immigrant populations. Maternal Mental Health Program Calling Brooklyn “the epicenter of the Black maternal health crisis in the United States,” President Anderson announced Brooklyn College’s new courses and community outreach to combat this issue, including the inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Summit the college hosted last summer. President Anderson thanked partners and elected officials for making the initiative possible, including $1.5 million in seed funding from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and $800,000 in congressional earmarks championed by Senator Chuck Schumer, with strong support from members of the Brooklyn Delegation. Economic Impact of Brooklyn College President Anderson also shared findings from an economic impact study that highlighted Brooklyn College’s extraordinary return on public investment: Brooklyn College contributes $2.6 billion annually to the regional economy. Every $1 of taxpayer investment in Brooklyn College generates $3.70 in economic returns. Graduates of Brooklyn College earn approximately $1.7 million more over a lifetime than individuals who do not attend college. “These numbers affirm what we already know,” President Anderson said. “When we invest in Brooklyn College, we invest in the future of New York.” President Anderson closed by thanking the Brooklyn Delegation for its continued partnership and expressed appreciation to Dr. Patricia Ramsey, the president of Medgar Evers College, for hosting the event committed to advancing opportunity across Brooklyn.
