Dear CUNY SPS Community,
Welcome to the spring 2026 semester at the CUNY School of Professional Studies! I am delighted to welcome back our continuing students and to greet those students who are joining our community for the first time. As we begin a new year of learning, I hope you had a wonderful winter break and are energized for the opportunities that await you!
This spring marks an exciting moment for our School with the launch of several new academic offerings starting this semester. We are proud to welcome our inaugural cohorts in two new master’s programs: the MA in Early Childhood Policy and Leadership and the MS in Generative AI, the first master’s program of its kind to be offered at CUNY. We also welcome all students entering our new Certificate programs (Health Psychology, CASAC/ Addiction Studies) and Advanced Certificate programs (Disability Advocacy, Early Childhood Policy, Children’s Program Administrator Credential). These programs reflect the innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking work of our faculty and staff, and we look forward to seeing them take shape in classrooms and communities in the year to come.
The arrival of our new Chief Student Experience Officer, Vynessa Ortiz, also heralds a new era for CUNY SPS as it commits to deepening its engagement with our students and improving their experience at our School. Ortiz joined CUNY SPS on January 12 and will be reaching out to students to hear about their experience and suggestions.
Finally, this spring we continue to focus on four key strategic priorities identified by our leadership team to help align goals and guide our collective work over the 2025-26 academic year. These priorities are: organizational sustainability and stability; advancing CUNY SPS as a premier online college; enhancing the student experience; and responsible budget management.
As we start this semester together, I encourage all our students to take advantage of the many academic and student support resources available at CUNY SPS. From advisement and tutoring to career services and student engagement opportunities, our School is designed to support your progress and help you meet your academic and professional goals.
To our faculty and staff, welcome to a new semester that builds on your hard work while opening the door to new initiatives and projects. This spring offers a chance to see many recent efforts take shape even as your work, creativity, and commitment continue to define the student experience and strengthen CUNY SPS in meaningful ways. An example is the recent investment by CUNY of $100,000 awarded to CUNY SPS for four outstanding faculty projects in AI innovation that will improve student learning and understanding of artificial intelligence.
Thank you all for being part of our community and to students for choosing CUNY SPS as your partner in education. I look forward to watching our community grow, innovate, and succeed in the months ahead!
Lisa R. Braverman, PhD
Dean, CUNY School of Professional Studies
dean@sps.cuny.edu