2025 Power Players in Education

Dr. Anthony E. Munroe has led BMCC since September 2020, driving equity, inclusion and student success. He founded the Race, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee and launched the President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation. Under his guidance, BMCC has boosted retention and graduation rates, expanded scholarships, upgraded facilities and secured a $1 million CIEE matching grant to expand study abroad opportunities. He chairs Community Colleges for International Development and sits on multiple higher education boards.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
The educational landscape has evolved significantly, with increased integration of technology, marked by accelerated digital transformation and a heightened focus on workforce readiness and adaptable skills.  My hope is for an educational future where no student graduates into poverty. Achieving this demands systemic restructuring: guaranteeing all students mastery of essential job skills and creating pathways that connect graduates to living-wage careers.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
I most enjoy witnessing students’ growth and resilience as they navigate their education. Each story is a reminder that learning unlocks possibilities, not just for individuals but for communities. One of the moments I treasure most is seeing students cross the stage at graduation, proudly collecting their diplomas and stepping into their futures. That culmination – the hard work, late nights, and moments of doubt transformed into triumph – reminds me why this work is so rewarding.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
My goals are to increase student access and enhance career pipelines. I aim to bolster partnerships with local businesses, strengthen wraparound supports, such as tutoring and counseling, and boost transfer opportunities to four-year institutions by forging additional pathways with colleges/universities. I want to enhance faculty development for innovative teaching and enhance workforce-ready credentials in high-demand fields to ensure our facilities and technology meet the evolving needs of our students in an increasingly competitive world.

As deputy commissioner for higher education in the NYS Education Department, Dr. Murphy coordinates policy, regulatory and programmatic oversight for colleges and universities in NYS. His team regulates New York State’s higher education system, encompassing 230+ colleges and universities and serving undergraduate and graduate students. Current initiatives ensure that NYS remains a leader in college access, affordability and excellence, including administering State grant programs that provide access for under-represented, under-served, and first-generation college students. 

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
There are many headwinds and tailwinds facing our higher education community this year, including cuts to the federal Department of Education and major grant programs; challenges to the autonomy of colleges and universities, and shifts in financial aid and workforce-oriented degree programs. My hope is that a greater sense of stability and partnership begin to spur on the power of social and economic mobility inherent in our higher education community.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
The promise of learning breakthroughs in both small and large ways that eventually change people and communities for the better.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
To ensure that the latest version of the NYS Statewide Plan for Higher Education is reflective of the trends and priorities that go across our p-12 school districts, colleges and universities, and innovative workforce and economic development communities.

Kerwin Pilgrim is a senior leader in adult education at Brooklyn Public Library, where he has driven innovation and secured over $15 million in funding for transformative programs. Beginning as a youth librarian, he launched award-winning initiatives in teen technology and financial literacy. With advanced degrees in library science and business, and currently pursuing a doctorate in instructional leadership, Pilgrim continues to position libraries as inclusive, community-centered hubs for learning, workforce development, and economic empowerment.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
The adult education landscape has been shifting towards ensuring students are gaining credentials and certifications while pursuing their education. My hope is that adult education will continue to center student experiences and well-being by providing social-emotional support and wrap-around services. We can benefit from integrating more evidence-based practices and leveraging emerging technologies to personalize learning. Diverse students can transform into lifelong learners and leaders with the right balance of academic, workforce, digital, and social integration. 

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
Driven by a deep commitment to lifelong learning and community development, I’m inspired by the resilience and achievements of adult learners. I appreciate leading transformative initiatives that deliver measurable impact while reinforcing the library’s role as an inclusive hub for opportunity and equity. I’m fulfilled to ensure libraries remain vibrant spaces for growth and empowerment – true to Carnegie’s vision – where individuals from all backgrounds can access the tools they need to shape their futures. 

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
As education evolves, my goals focus on cultivating adaptive, empathetic leaders and advancing inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices that center student experiences. I aim to integrate educational technologies tailored for adult learners and promote personalized, accessible learning. Equally vital is building sustainable partnerships across the ecosystem – especially with workforce and economic development sectors – to ensure our efforts remain relevant, collaborative, and fruitful for the diverse communities we serve.

Dr. Susan Poser became Hofstra University’s ninth president in August 2021. She has driven academic innovation, expanded partnerships, and launched Hofstra 100, the University’s centennial strategic plan. Under her leadership, Hofstra achieved record student retention, secured major gifts, expanded access initiatives, and earned an R2 research designation. A legal scholar and former UIC provost, Dr. Poser previously served at the University of Nebraska and holds degrees from Swarthmore College and UC Berkeley.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
The landscape changed a lot during Covid and has continued to change because of the demographics of this country, including a decline in the number of college-going high school graduates, and the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing how students learn and workforce needs. At Hofstra, we are leveraging our assets to remain laser-focused on supporting the students’ intellectual and personal growth, and on building academic programs and opportunities to prepare them for the future.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
The wonderful thing about working in higher education is that education changes lives and creates opportunities for people to grow and make positive change. I used to contribute to this through teaching, and now I contribute by working to ensure that the University is operating on all levels in a way that promotes learning, supports research, and provides a warm and caring environment for the entire Hofstra community, and beyond.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
We will continue to grow and strengthen academic and research programs; support Hofstra students in a thoughtful and holistic way; and build meaningful connections with Long Island communities. We will be exploring the possibility of building a “college town” on the south side of campus that will become a destination for the Hofstra community as well as our neighbors in Nassau County.

Dr. Patricia Ramsey, the sixth president of Medgar Evers College, is the college’s first woman and first scientist to serve as president. As the thought leader for a $20 million grant award, two initiatives, Cultivating Holistic Academic Mindsets to Promote Student Success (CHAMPSS) and the Brooklyn Recovery Corps (BRC), were implemented. CHAMPSS is a tuition assistance initiative that provides up to the full cost of attendance. BRC provides paid internship placements in small businesses and nonprofits.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
There have been numerous changes at the federal level that will affect the ability of low-income students to pay for college. It is my hope that students who wish to attend college will have the opportunity to do so, regardless of zip code or income.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
1) To complete our self study process. 2) To continue to enhance retention and graduation rates, 3) To continue to conduct program reviews to ensure that the programs meet student and workforce needs.  4) To continue to enhance donor relations and explore alternative revenue streams.

Dr. Havidán Rodríguez is the 20th president of the University at Albany. Highlights of his tenure include launching the AI Plus initiative, opening new engineering and research facilities for the return of CNSE, and earning the Seal of Excelencia. He serves in leadership roles on numerous professional organizations, also serves as commissioner for the MSCHE and is a member of the Presidents and Chancellors Council on Public Impact Research (Pew Charitable Trusts). 

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
Higher education has undergone major changes in recent years, and I am focused on the opportunities these changes present. For example, we launched a university-wide AI Plus initiative to integrate teaching and learning about AI across research and scholarship. We also hired 27 faculty with AI expertise across all schools/colleges at UAlbany, opened an AI & Society College, and unveiled an AI supercomputer for research. Today, we are a national leader in the AI space.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
UAlbany is a national leader for social mobility, and it is gratifying to see the positive impact higher education has on students and their communities. We provide students the support and opportunities they need to unleash their greatness. Recently, Dr. Omar M. Yaghi, a UAlbany alum whose parents were refugees, won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. He earned a bachelor’s degree at UAlbany and became a world-renowned chemist, that is the powerful impact of education.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
We are working hard at UAlbany to deepen our relationships with industry partners – identifying opportunities for research collaborations, internships, continuing education, and employment for our graduates. In the coming year, I look forward to building and strengthening these key relationships. This is an essential part of our role as a community anchor and our mission to benefit the public good and to educate engaged global citizens.

Dr. Betty A. Rosa is commissioner of education and president of the University of the State of New York, the first Latina woman to hold the position. Appointed permanent commissioner in 2021, she previously served as interim commissioner and as chancellor of the Board of Regents. A nationally recognized education leader, Dr. Rosa began her career in New York City schools and has been honored repeatedly for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to equity.

Laura Rosenbury, the 9th president of Barnard College is a leading feminist legal theorist. Before joining Barnard on June 12, 2023, she spent eight years raising the national and international profile of Florida’s flagship law school (UF Law) as its first woman dean. She earned her undergraduate degree and her law degree at Harvard, where she served as a primary editor of the Harvard Law Review.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
So much has changed, but I firmly believe higher education remains vital to our democracy and is more important than ever. Women choose Barnard for its unparalleled academic experience and the extraordinary opportunities we provide – paid research, internships, and a powerful global network. My focus is on ensuring Barnard remains the best women’s college in the world, supporting students now and for generations to come.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
It’s amazing to see how our students learn and grow under the direction of our world-class faculty, right in the heart of New York City. That transformation is why I do this work and why I am so proud to lead Barnard and help support the next generation of bold women leaders.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
To make sure that higher education remains a place where curiosity, open discussion, and inquiry thrive by supporting new ways to disagree better.  We are at a critical moment that requires us to expose campus communities to new ideas, while equipping them with the skills to engage across differences with empathy and respect.

Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani is executive director of Zone 126, a cradle-to-college-to-career initiative in Astoria/Long Island City. A proud NYC public school graduate, she brings lived experience as a former chronically absent student to her leadership in combating systemic inequities. Since 2011, she has championed attendance improvement, community schools, and youth development while centering equity and justice. She holds a doctorate from NYU Steinhardt, where her research focused on chronically absent students in public housing.

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future?
The educational landscape has been shaped by political divides, a global pandemic, and global conflicts that have displaced families, forcing schools to adapt rapidly. These challenges have underscored the urgency of centering equity and holistic support for students. My hope for the future is that we move from a place of empathy – creating learning environments that honor lived experiences, nurture resilience, and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

What do you most enjoy about working in education?
What I most enjoy about working in education is its ever-evolving nature and the chance to continually meet the moment. Where some may see crisis, I see opportunity – to reimagine, to reignite, and to strengthen our collective response. Education calls us to operate from a place of collaboration and creativity, ensuring that together we design solutions that not only address challenges but also open new pathways for students, families, and communities to thrive.

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026?
As 2026 approaches, my goals are to deepen Zone 126’s impact by amplifying the conversation about chronic absenteeism, addressing root causes, and creating safe spaces where students find avenues for reentry and belonging. I will keep shining a light on Northwestern Queens as a high-need area, where stark disparities persist between residents of public housing and shelters and those who are not. Centering equity, empathy, and youth voices will drive lasting change across our communities.

For three decades, Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., has advanced higher education policy, programs, and services to improve college completion rates and modernize education systems. Appointed fifteenth president of Manhattanville University in 2023, Sánchez has led the institution through a rebrand and enhanced its profile through curricular innovation and strategic partnerships. Previously, Sánchez was president of Rhode Island College and, prior to that, vice chancellor for student affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY).

How has the educational landscape changed in recent years and what are your hopes for its future? 
Today’s hyper-competitive higher education environment is pushing colleges and universities to become more relevant. For Manhattanville it means incorporating the World Economic Forum’s recommendations for the skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce, into the curriculum. It is my hope that the higher education industry can enhance its return on investment and reduce the out-of-pocket expense for families, while addressing tomorrow’s workforce needs.  

What do you most enjoy about working in education? 
The constant change and evolution of higher education is both challenging and exhilarating. Working with a brain-trust of professionals that are invested in helping students realize their full potential is what I enjoy most. Innovating and reimagining the competencies and skills needed for tomorrow’s professionals and creating a campus environment where students receive extraordinary degrees while simultaneously discovering their strengths, talents, passions. 

As this year comes to an end, what are your goals for 2026? 
Driving innovation and social mobility continues to be a top priority at Manhattanville. We are doubling down on the return on investment this year by designing among the few three-year degrees in NY. This compliments our accelerated advanced degrees launched this year, where all freshmen have a pathway to receive a bachelor’s and a master’s degrees in five years. This forward-thinking approach will help solidify our core values and our Vision 2030 strategic planning process this next year.