Prior to Queens College, Stephen M. Curtis worked at the CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College as both acting president and Dean of Academic Affairs.
He served as acting president from Fall 1994 through Spring 1995.
“Until the Presidential Search Committee is formed and begins its intensive search to fill a void that President Kenny has left behind, Stephen M. Curtis has been appointed as Queens College’s acting president.
Curtis has had much experience in the CUNY system at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, as both Acting president since 1992 and Dean of Academic Affairs from 1988 to 1992. Previously, Curtis has served at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park as the Assistant Dean of Humanities as well as the school’s chairman of the music department.
‘I came to Queens College,’ said Curtis, ‘for the opportunity to grow and develop - very much like the students here want to.’ Although school has just begun, Curtis says that he has already gained a sense of the Queens College atmosphere as being a friendly place to be where there is a large amount of community spirit among both the students and the faculty.
Curtis will not be Queens College’s permanent president and will only remain at Queens College for one year, by when the Presidential Search Committee should have found a candidate to fill the position. Because of Curtis’ short period of time at the college, he does not feel that he will be able to instate new programs into Queens College, but feels it important “to keep current things moving.”
Since he has been in the CUNY system for quite some time now, he has much experience working on a tight budget and will make sure that the funds available to Queens College will be used to the benefit of the school and its students.
One of the most important aspects of being at Queens College, feels Curtis, are the students. He stated, ‘I am a very student-oriented person.’ He has already made an effort to meet many students and has spent time among them. He added, “Students are essentially the reason I’m here.”
The Presidential Search Committee is now in the process of being formed. Board of Trustees, Charles E. Inniss, Herbert Berman, Harold M. Jacobs, Thomas Tom and Lehman College President Ricardo R. Fernandez have already been appointed. Three Queens College faculty members of those nominated and one student will be elected to the committee at the upcoming Academic Senate meeting, scheduled for September 22.”