Westchester Community College Inaugurates New President

More than 400 people celebrated as Dr. Belinda S. Miles was inaugurated as the third president in the history of Westchester Community College earlier this month.

Dr. Miles began leading the college in January 2015 but college traditionally wait a semester or two before holding inauguration ceremonies.

The ceremony, which included dance and musical performances, was highlighted by remarks by national leaders in higher education, elected officials, and others:

Mr. David Swope, Chairman, WCC Board of Trustees and a local business leader, was the first speaker. “This is a very important afternoon in the history of our college,” he said. “We already recognize what a leader we are fortunate to have.”

WCC is more than just the county’s largest educational institution. It is a part of Westchester that goes beyond the influence of a typical college. Its faculty serve as a community of scholars for an increasingly diverse population of students; as the county has evolved, so has the institution, and its instructors serve a wide range of students from nearly 200 countries, ranging from teenagers to mature adults. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, WCC educates more than 13,000 credit students and more than 13,000 non-credit students through day, evening, and weekend courses at various locations and online.

“I always say that the intellectual capital that we have in Westchester is one of our great competitive advantages and Westchester Community College helps to feed into that capital,” said County Executive Robert Astorino. “We are very fortunate to have someone of Dr. Miles’ caliber. We’re thankful for her leadership and I am thankful for her partnership in moving the college forward in the right direction.”

Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor, State University of New York, presided over the official investiture ceremony, and said “I am thrilled to invite Dr. Miles to the esteemed group of SUNY presidents. She brings to us a commitment to access, completion and success, which are all very important to SUNY.”

Dr. Miles discussed her team’s achievements since January, which included a successful visit by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education accreditation unit, the organization of the college’s academic programs into “schools” which will better support students on clearer pathways to credentials and jobs, the partnership with JPMorgan Chase Foundation on a study of in-demand middle-skills jobs, the college’s inclusion in the national Achieving the Dream network for community colleges committed to student success.

“Let’s use this point in history to reaffirm our commitment to our mission of providing accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of our diverse community. Let’s dare to know, as our motto says, sapare aude, who we serve and how we change their lives. Let’s dare to dream of a nation that’s stronger, and a stronger Westchester County, where every person has the knowledge and skills they need for family-sustaining jobs and an enriched life. Let’s dare to do what is required to go beyond the ordinary, and reach new heights that will transform our students, our institution and our society. This is our imperative, this is our calling, and this is our time.”

Previously, Miles was provost and executive vice president of Access, Learning, and Success at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). This nationally known academic leader has nearly three decades of experience in higher education, primarily at the community college level.

The new president of Westchester Community College has had a distinguished career, primarily in the area of community college leadership. Her record as a passionate advocate for the promotion of community college accessibility, an administrator who challenged and supported students through high quality academic programs, and a leader focused on improving student success and completion outcomes, was built primarily in Cleveland, Ohio.

She became provost and executive vice president of Access, Learning, and Success at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in 2011 with oversight of four campuses and multiple extension sites in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs. The institution annually serves 48,000 students in a wide scope of career and transfer degree programs.

Miles previously served Cuyahoga as president of the Eastern Campus, dean of Academic Affairs, and assistant dean of Liberal Arts. She has been affiliated with the institution since 2000. Her prior positions in higher education from 1986 to 2000 include faculty and administrator roles at other institutions including LaGuardia Community College, Nassau Community College, and Columbia University.

Miles has served on the faculty at the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Summer Institute for Women at Bryn Mawr College, the Lakin Institute for Community College Leadership, and as a member of the Chair Academy’s International Presidential Advisory Board. Her community service includes leadership roles with the St. Joseph Academy girls’ school, a position on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, and past board chair roles with Cleveland Center for Dialysis Care and the Warrensville Heights Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate of Leadership Cleveland, which strives to build a continuum of civic leaders committed to community’ and civic engagement, Miles has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Ohio Diversity Council’s Woman of Power and Influence Award (2013), the Education Award from the Ohio Coalition of National Council of Negro Women (2011) and the YWCA’s Woman of Professional Excellence award (2007).

Originally from Queens, New York, she attended public schools including the City University of New York’s York College, earning a B.A. in Political Science. She attained an M.A. in Educational Psychology and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Organization and Leadership Development from Columbia University Teachers College.

She and her husband, Keith, will relocate to Westchester County. Their son Gordon recently graduated from Tuskegee University with a B.S. in Engineering and is employed in this field.

PHOTO: SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Dr. Miles, SUNY Board Chair H. Carl McCall/courtesy