In a first for the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), the School’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR) hosted the Inaugural Dean’s reception on May 20 at Trinity Commons in Lower Manhattan.
Marking an important milestone for the School, the gathering provided a platform for Dean Lisa Braverman to present the current state of CUNY SPS and share her vision for its future.
Members of the CUNY SPS Foundation Board, high-level donors, and student and alumni leaders attended the inaugural event, which offered a chance for the School’s supporters and advocates to come together for the first time since 2020, meet Dean Braverman, and learn about recent progress and her vision for the School’s role in preparing the workforce for success in the modern workplace.
Opening the program was Executive Director of Development, Andrea Brown, who welcomed guests and—having joined the organization in September 2025— took the opportunity to formally introduce herself. Brown then introduced Foundation Board Chair Blake Foote, who reflected upon her time with CUNY SPS.
“It's been a true pleasure to serve on the Foundation Board for over ten years, and as board chair for the last four years… I really have to say that my time [here] has been the most rewarding. It's been full of lessons about the challenges of higher education…for our fast-changing world, our economy, what's happening in New York, but really much beyond that, … the effects of other parts of the economy and the world,” she said. “And I'm grateful for the Board's investment, as well as many others that are here tonight. That includes faculty and staff, it includes alumni, and all that we do to create this community that's built around investing in the success of our students and in the School as a whole.”
Foote then introduced Dean Braverman to the podium for the evening’s main remarks.
In a bold speech, Dean Braverman spoke eloquently about the past, present, and future of CUNY SPS, underlining the ways that community support and partnerships are making a difference.
To highlight this, Dean Braverman outlined a few of the School’s latest efforts, which include the formation of an enrollment task force—whose work paved the way for a major increase in student enrollment—as well as several industry partnerships, and recent initiatives to bring artificial intelligence into the classroom and beyond.
All these projects, Dean Braverman remarked, emerge from the School’s overarching mission—to ensure students thrive during and after their time at CUNY SPS.
“As I look at what is underway, for me one central question emerges: how can CUNY SPS best advance the lives of its students and provide a unique, quality experience, from the first moment of inquiry to their graduation and for the rest of their lives?” Dean Braverman said.
The only way to achieve this goal, she noted, is through the ongoing support of the dedicated and inspiring CUNY SPS friends and advocates, who she then encouraged to get even more involved.
“So tonight, I ask for your continued partnership. Let’s dream big together. Let’s push boundaries. Let’s do what we do best—open doors, lift people up, provide space for reflection and dialogue in an era of unprecedented historical change, partner with business and industry to optimize our curricula and impact on the labor economy and prepare our students for the jobs of the future and, as always, change lives through education,” Dean Braverman concluded. “Because in the end, this isn’t just about school. It is about people, possibilities, and the power of belief—belief that where you come from does not have to determine where you end up.”
About the CUNY School of Professional Studies
As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
Press Contact
Prerna Dar
CUNY SPS Chief Marketing Officer
Prerna.Dar@cuny.edu