Queensborough Community College names Dr. Timothy Lynch as interim president

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Dr. Timothy Lynch has been appointed as interim president of Queensborough Community College by CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita Rabinowitz, effective Sept. 1.

Lynch will succeed Dr. Diane Call, who is retiring as president this August, capping a 47-year career at Queensborough Community College, where she served the last eight years as its first woman president.

Lynch joined Queensborough Community College in 2017. As provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, he works with faculty from 17 academic departments and oversees campus efforts related to various university initiatives, including strategic planning for the Connected CUNY pillars of access and completion, college readiness and knowledge creation.

An award-winning scholar and seasoned administrator, Lynch’s experience in public higher education includes faculty member, department chairman and chief academic officer at public universities in California and New York. Before joining Queensborough, he served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at SUNY Maritime College, with prior teaching and administrative experience at the California Maritime Academy, a specialized campus of the California State University system.

While at Maritime, Lynch oversaw the efforts that led to the creation and funding of the institution's first Center for Teaching and Learning, which improved retention, persistence and graduation rates while also providing faculty development opportunities for individuals interested in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

“My focus as interim president of Queensborough Community College will center on providing our students with access to transformational educational opportunities through competitive and rigorous academic programs,” Lynch said. “Queensborough is positioned to continue its trajectory of excellence and lead the way as a flagship institution of higher education in the 21st century.”

A native New Yorker and first-generation college student, Lynch earned degrees from Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate School and University Center, all in history. His professional associations include the American Irish Historical Society, National Maritime Historical Society and North American Society for Oceanic History. His research interests focus on immigration and ethnicity, and on America’s relationship with the sea.

Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation and is a gateway into higher education for many students who are the first in their families to attend college. The college’s students have roots in 127 countries and speak 78 languages. The college is committed to open-admission access for all learners and provides a comprehensive educational experience for 16,000 students through its 40 academic programs, faculty-led research opportunities and a personalized advisement program.

Queensborough is renowned for its Queensborough Academies, a nationally recognized student support initiative that serves all full-time degree students from the moment they enter to graduation and beyond. The initiative has yielded a significant increase in student retention and graduation rates. Queensborough is one of the few community colleges in the country offering such a program on this scale.