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Queens College Presidents

A reference guide to Queens College Presidents and Acting/Interim Presidents

Introduction

Queens College was founded in 1937, the fourth public municipal college in New York City (preceding Queens was City College, founded 1847, Hunter College, founded 1870, and Brooklyn College, founded 1930).

In its history, there have been eleven presidents and nine acting/interim presidents appointed at Queens College. Since July 2020, Frank H. Wu has served as Queens College President.

Presidents Timeline

  • First president, Dr. Paul Klapper: May 1937 – April 1948

    • Acting president, Dr. Margaret Kiely (Dr. Klapper on leave): Fall 1947 – Spring 1948

  • Acting president, Dr. Margaret Kiely: September 1948 – June 1949
  • Second president, Dr. John J. Theobald: July 1948 – Spring 1958

    • Acting president, Dr. Thomas V. Garvey (Dr. Theobald on leave as NYC Deputy Mayor): January 1956 – January 1958

  • Third president, Dr. Harold Walter Stoke: September 1958 – November 1964
  • Acting president, Dr. Harold C. Syrett: July 1964 – December 1964
  • Fourth president, Dr. Joseph P. McMurray: January 1965 – February 1971
  • Fifth president, Dr. Joseph S. Murphy: February 1971 – Fall 1976
  • Acting president, Dr. Nathaniel H. Siegel: Spring 1977 – Spring 1978
  • Sixth president, Dr. Saul Bernard Cohen: Fall 1978 – Spring 1985
  • Acting president, William Hamovitch: March 1985 – June 1985
  • Seventh president, Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny: July 1985 – June 1994
  • Acting president, Stephen M. Curtis: Fall 1994 – Spring 1995
  • Eighth president, Dr. Allen Lee Sessoms: August 1995 – August 2000
  • Interim president, Dr. Russell K. Hotzler: September 2000 – Spring 2002
  • Ninth president, Dr. James L. Muyskens: Fall 2002 – Fall 2013
  • Interim president, Dr. Evangelos J. Gizis: Spring 2014
  • Tenth president, Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez: Fall 2014 – Spring 2019
  • Interim president, Dr. William A. Tramontano: Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
  • Eleventh president, Frank H. Wu: Spring 2020 – present