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Presidential Appointments for Queens
and York Colleges
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| James Muyskens |
A philosopher with special expertise in bioethics and the philosophy
of religion and more than 25 years of administrative experience,
Dr. James L. Muyskens, has been appointed the ninth president
of Queens College, and the College’s recent Interim President
Russell K. Hotzler, has just answered the interim call
again at nearby York College.
Acting on Chancellor Matthew Goldstein’s recommendation
at its April meeting, the Board approved Muyskens, who is
currently the CEO and Dean of the Faculty of the Gwinnett
University Center in the University System of Georgia.
Muyskens’ senior-level and extensive administrative experience
includes serving as Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
for the 34-campus Georgia University system, which serves
205,000 students and has 8,000 faculty members. As part of
that University’s management team from 1995 to 1999,
he implemented a new system-wide undergraduate core curriculum,
higher admissions and academic standards, and enhanced faculty
and staff development opportunities.
Having directed Georgia’s extensive investigation into
instructional technology and distance learning and developed
a technology plan for higher education in Georgia, Muyskens
was given the opportunity in 1999 to create a new campus as
the means of putting the plan into practice—the Gwinnett
University Center, sometimes referred to as a “bricks
and clicks” campus.
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| Russell K. Hotzler |
The appointment to Queens College marks Muyskens’ return
to the University. From 1984 to 1987 he served as Associate
Provost and Acting Provost at Hunter College and spearheaded
a revision of the undergraduate curriculum, among other efforts.
He also served as chairman of Hunter College’s Department
of Philosophy for six years and directed its Religion Program
for three years. Muyskens also served from 1988 to 1995 as
the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University
of Kansas.
“Dr. Muyskens will bring to Queens College his nearly
two decades of exceptional administrative experience,”
said Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.
“We are very pleased to welcome him back to CUNY.”
Chancellor Goldstein stated, “Dr. Muyskens will provide
exemplary leadership to a first–rate institution of higher
education.” The selection was the culmination of a national
search by a committee headed by Trustee Wellington Chen that
included trustees, faculty, administrators, students and alumni.
Muyskens’ three degrees in philosophy are from Central
College in Iowa, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the University
of Michigan. His publications include many articles on ethics,
especially for health care providers, among them “The
Ethical Basis of the Right to Privacy,” “Ethical
Issues Raised by the Patenting of New Forms of Life,”
and “Ethics and Aging: A Review.”
In 1982 his book Moral Problems in Nursing: A Philosophical
Investigation appeared (two of its chapters were included
in a 1990 anthology, Ethics in Nursing). He is a member
of the Board of Directors of The Multimedia Educational Resource
for Learning and Online Teaching and is a frequent speaker at
national education conferences.
Muyskens’ arrival in Flushing will also be a homecoming
for his wife Alda, who is a Queens College alumna.
Fresh from his successful two-year tenure as interim president
of Queens College, Dr. Russell K. Hotzler was appointed by
the CUNY Board of Trustees on May 28 as the interim president
of York College, effective July 1. The action was taken following
the announcement of the resignation of York’s president
since 1996, Dr. Charles C. Kidd, Sr.
“Dr. Hotzler will bring to York College his exemplary
skills as an experienced educator and administrator, including
over two decades of service to CUNY colleges in Queens County,”
said Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, who recommended the appointment.
David Taylor, the Associate Dean of Administration and Finance
at Bronx Community College, will join Dr. Hotzler at York
College as interim vice president for administration. Taylor
previously served as Deputy Budget Director for Central Purchasing
at the New York City Board of Education and spent five years
at CUNY’s Office of Budget and Finance.
The Board of Trustees will establish a committee to conduct
a national search for a permanent president.
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