Two Women Appointed President of Community Colleges in New York

Suri Duitch has been named the eighth president of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. She had been serving in the role on an interim basis since January 2024.

A member of the City University of New York System, Kingsborough Community College enrolls over 19,000 students, according to the most recent federal data. Women represent about 45 percent of the student body.

Dr. Duitch previously spent a decade with CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs, where she founded the university’s School of Professional Studies in 2003. The school is now the CUNY’s premier school for adult learners. Leading up to her recent interim appointment, Dr. Duitch was dean and vice president for academic innovation at the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement in New Orleans.

“This appointment is a shared triumph for our amazing students, dedicated faculty and staff, and supportive external partners and stakeholders,” said Dr. Duitch. “I look forward to continuing our work, together, to carry out our mission and meet the needs of our diverse community. Through this time of transition, my priority will be to build on our high academic standards, ensure a supportive, equitable and inclusive environment for all members of our community, and advance a student-centered college culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence.”

A graduate of Columbia University, Dr. Duitch received her master of social work degree from Hunter College in New York City and her Ph.D. in urban education from the CUNY Graduate Center.

Victoria L. Walsh has been named the seventh president of Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson. She is slated to assume her presidency on July 1.

A part of the State University of New York System, Columbia-Greene Community College enrolls nearly 1,700 students, 56 percent of whom are women.

Currently, Dr. Walsh serves as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Columbia-Greene. In this role, she oversees academic programs and administration, enrollment management, institutional effectives, and the holistic student experience. Over the course of her career in higher education, Dr. Walsh has held several executive posts in institutional advancement, strategic planning, external relations, and board governance.

“I look forward to partnering with all stakeholders to build a renewed vision focused on student success and greater prosperity for the local communities of Columbia and Greene Counties,” said Dr. Walsh. “I have come to know C-GCC as a vibrant academic community poised for innovation and building programs, which benefit all students. Our students are at the heart of all we do at C-GCC; it is exciting to continue to work with them in realizing their aspirations and dreams.”

Dr. Walsh received a bachelor’s degree in theology, a second bachelor’s degree in sociology, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri.

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