Fuhrman recapped many of the highlights from the last 10 months, including the month-long exhibit on TC history at the New-York Historical Society; the festive dedication of “Teachers College Way” on West 120th Street; and the upcoming Gala on Nov. 12th at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, which will benefit TC’s scholarship fund.

“Our central institutional priority has been to focus the College on living up to our legacy – that is, to pursue our mission of educational improvement and social justice by pushing the knowledge envelope,” Fuhrman told the audience.  “This means developing new and expanded fields of inquiry and applying that work to make a difference. This is the essence of the TC legacy.”

Fuhrman discussed TC’s plans for significantly increasing financial aid to students, improving communication on campus and creating “the future firsts that will help shape this century.”

The full text of the address can be found online at the President’s Corner – Fuhrman’s new monthly online column where she will report on TC’s goals, challenges and good news.  

The State of the College event included the presentation of the annual Elaine Brantley Memorial Award for Community and Civility to Yeremy Chavez, Associate Director of Public Safety; Elizet Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant in the College’s Development Office; and the late Gerolyn Martinez, who was an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Admissions. The meeting also featured a musical performance by violist Liyuan Liu, the Enid W. & Lester Morse Jr. Scholar in Music Education, of “Grasslands’ Song,” composed by Qingwu Guan.

Brantley, a cashier in the cafeteria at Teachers College for 24 years who died in 2003, was beloved by TC students, faculty and staff. The Brantley Award, sponsored by TC’s Vice President’s Office for Diversity and Community Affairs in conjunction with the Committee for Community and Diversity, recognizes TC employees who, by virtue of their daily efforts, go beyond the expectations of their position to promote a sense of community and a culture of civility at the college. All faculty, professional staff, union staff, part-time staff and administrators at TC are eligible to receive the award.

Yeremy Chavez was cited for his “outstanding work in supporting the variety of College offices, student groups, and outside entities to coordinate special events on campus.”

Elizet Gonzalez was honored for projecting “a vital first impression for the fundraising and ‘friend-raising’ work of the Department of Development and External Affairs, and for setting the tone for the department."

Gerolyn Martinez, who passed away in June 2013, was remembered as “a positive and lively spirit whose personality, warmth, attitude and gentle soul touched many at TC deeply.”

Published Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013