Dr. Larry Johnson, Jr. has been named to the South Bronx-based Phipps Neighborhoods Board. The City University of New York (CUNY) Trustees voted to appoint Dr. Johnson President of Stella and Charles Guttman Community College on July 21, 2021. As the second president of CUNY’s newest community college in 40 years, Dr. Johnson leads Guttman Community College into its next decade, as the College opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012.
Committed to forging partnerships with organizations that share Guttman’s mission and his vision for educational equity for all New Yorkers, Johnson found in Phipps Neighborhoods’ efforts to remove barriers that create cycles of poverty an echo of his own convictions and leadership priorities.
The “Culture of Care” promoting transparency, respect, and collegiality that Johnson promotes at Guttman Community College while strengthening its academic role in developing NYC’s workforce is what prompted Executive Director and CEO of Phipps Neighborhoods, Andre White, to invite Johnson to serve on the organization’s forward-thinking Board. “As a member of the Phipps Neighborhoods Board, Larry Johnson’s experience and insight will help shape and guide our strategic direction and realization of our mission,” states White.
Johnson, former President of Phoenix College, Arizona’s 100 year-old flagship institution of the 10-campus Maricopa Community College District, is recognized nationally by associations such as the American Association of Community Colleges and the Aspen Institute for his successful track record of establishing and fostering productive workforce partnerships with higher education. “Guttman’s faculty and staff are laser-focused on ensuring the College’s academic pathways prepare and empower our students to contribute to the vibrant New York ecosystem through high quality educational and career-ready opportunities,” he says.
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Stella and Charles Guttman Community College welcomed its inaugural cohort of students in August 2012. It was CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years with the purpose of reimagining a community college that would create a research-based innovative academic program geared to moving students quickly and efficiently towards graduation. Guttman’s graduation rates are the highest in CUNY’s community college sector. The three-year graduation rate is more than twice the national average, and the two-year graduation rate far exceeds the 4% national average of public two-year colleges in large cities. Guttman is federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and Minority-serving institution with more than 90% of the student population identifying at Latinx/a/o or Black/African-American. More than 80% of Guttman graduates go on to senior colleges, with the majority of them continuing at CUNY schools. Guttman’s high graduation rates contribute greatly to the College being ranked as the best community college in America in 2020, and the top community college in New York State for 2020 and 2021 by Niche.com and other ranking agencies. As of fall 2020, approximately 1,020 students were enrolled at the College.
Phipps Neighborhoods, the social services affiliate of Phipps Houses, provides over 12,000 children, youth and families in South Bronx low-income neighborhoods the opportunities they need to thrive through comprehensive education and career programs, and access to community services. Phipps Houses, begun in 1902, is the oldest and largest not-for-profit developer, owner, and manager of affordable housing in New York City. If you are a member of the media and have questions about Phipps Houses or Phipps Neighborhoods, please contact: phipps@risaheller.com
