NYC Gazette

The City University of New York has appointed Joshua C. Brumberg as president of the CUNY Graduate Center, solidifying a role he has held on an interim basis since October 2023. Brumberg, a neurobiologist with a 22-year tenure at CUNY, will lead the university's center for graduate education and research. The Board of Trustees approved the appointment at its meeting last night.

“Dr. Brumberg has played a key role in expanding CUNY’s research enterprise over the past several years,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “A scientist at heart, he is widely admired for his dedication to STEM education and commitment to CUNY’s missions of advancing equity and opportunity. Dr. Brumberg is the right person at the right time to lead the Graduate Center into the future.”

The Chancellor recommended Brumberg after consulting with various stakeholders who expressed unanimous support.

During his interim leadership, Brumberg helped attract nearly $90 million in external funding for research and educational programming, including notable gifts such as $75 million from the Simons Foundation and $10 million from the Leon Levy Foundation.

Brumberg previously served as dean for the sciences at the Graduate Center, overseeing research operations and multiple doctoral and master's programs. He secured funding for diversity programs in laboratory sciences and gender equity in mathematics.

“It is an honor to serve the Graduate Center and The City University of New York, and I am humbled by the confidence the Chancellor and the CUNY trustees have placed in me to lead this great public graduate school,” said Brumberg.

Brumberg earned his Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of Pittsburgh and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Yale University and Columbia University before joining Queens College’s Department of Psychology in 2002.

As a neurobiologist, he has published over 60 papers studying cortical circuits' development and function using various methods.

Chancellor Matos Rodríguez has installed 18 permanent campus leaders during his tenure, emphasizing diversity among appointments.

The CUNY Graduate Center educates over 3,200 students across more than 30 doctoral programs with additional master’s programs. It operates numerous centers and institutes with faculty drawn from throughout CUNY.

CUNY serves over 225,000 students across New York City’s five boroughs, providing affordable education that significantly impacts social mobility. Founded in 1847 as America's first free public institution of higher education, it remains committed to providing quality education regardless of students' backgrounds or means.