Dr. Earl Simons Appointed Executive Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives

I am writing to announce that effective May 15, 2019, Dr. Simons’ role at York College has formally been expanded under a new title,Executive Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives.

Dr. Earl Simons, who many of you know as the Director of Government and Community Relations, assumed expanded responsibilities temporarily in 2015 when he took over the supervision of the Office of Marketing and Communications following the departure of Vice President, Dolores Swirin-Yao and the subsequent reorganization of the Office of Institutional Advancement. Those duties are now permanent.

Dr. Simons has also been playing a lead role since 2014 in advancing York College’s growing workforce and economic development efforts, e.g. the Jamaica Downtown Revitalization Initiative spear-headed by Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Borough President Katz, Mayor de Blasio and funded by Governor Cuomo in 2016.

In his new role, Dr. Simons will continue to report to me, and he will now, additionally, be responsible for intentional and strategic collaboration with the Office of Academic Affairs, Provost Meleties, and the Office of Finance and Administration, Vice President Thomas, to effectively execute the expanded duties which he previously performed informally. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, creating credit and non-credit bearing workforce and economic development programs; leading the College’s efforts to identify opportunities for public/private partnerships; and anchoring the development of strategies and proposals to advance the College’s existing StartUp NY projects and cultivating new opportunities.

In this expanded role, Dr. Simons will continue to lead the important function of Government and Community Relations; supervise the Office of Marketing and Communications; and serve as the key administrator responsible for leading the College’s Presidential Committee on Ceremonial Events, including Commencement.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Simons on his expanded role at York College and in wishing him well.  

-Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, President