The Brooklyn College Alumni Association (BCAA) announces the appointment of Trina Yearwood ’00 as its new president. Yearwood, who previously served as first vice president, assumes the presidency following the passing of former BCAA president Arlene Lichterman ’53, whose leadership and service to the College community are warmly remembered. In her role, as president, Yearwood will also be a non-voting member of the Brooklyn College Foundation board. Yearwood’s appointment comes at a time of continued impact for the organization, which has long been a leader in connecting graduates with the college and with one another. Through reunions, regional gatherings, mentorship initiatives, and volunteer‑driven programs, the BCAA works to strengthen relationships across generations of alumni. “Alumni are vital to advancing Brooklyn College’s mission,” says Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson. “Their achievements strengthen our reputation, their mentorship supports student success, and their service helps move our strategic goals forward. Leaders like Trina exemplify how alumni extend the College’s values and impact well beyond campus.” Yearwood describes her vision for the BCAA as both forward‑looking and deeply rooted in the association’s legacy. “My platform is ‘Brooklyn, Always.’ That means centering the BCAA’s purpose with the college’s strategic priorities,” she says. She added that “Brooklyn, Always.” echoes the school’s watchword All In and the alumni community’s role in extending Brooklyn College’s values beyond graduation. Anthony Castellanos ’85, chair of the Brooklyn College Foundation Board of Trustees, adds: “Trina Yearwood’s leadership reflects the very best of our alumni community. Throughout my career, I have seen how powerful alumni involvement can be in shaping the lives of our students. Her vision and dedication will help ensure that our graduates continue to lift one another up and expand what is possible for our community.” A Brooklyn College graduate with bachelor’s degrees in English and Africana Studies, she earned an M.Ed. from Cambridge College, an Ed.D. in educational leadership and higher education administration from West Virginia University, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. An educator and administrator, she has served as an adjunct assistant professor at Brooklyn College since 2011, directed the Teacher Opportunity Corps II, and held associate dean roles at Long Island University and Queens College. She is also the founder of TREAT—Teachers Ready to Educate, Advocate, and Transform—and has served as an advisory member for the Center for SDG Global Education (formerly the UNESCO Center for Global Education’s Advisory Support Council) since 2018.. As she looks ahead, Yearwood returns to the message that continues to guide her leadership. “It’s the spirit of community, persistence, and discovery—the spirit of Brooklyn. The BCAA is a continuum of that spirit. It’s how we carry those values into our workplaces, how we lead, how we show up for our communities, and ultimately how we show up for our students. ‘Brooklyn, Always.’ is a reminder of our stewardship and what we commit to as members of the BCAA board.”
