Dear Baruch Alumni and Friends,
I’d like to begin by sharing an experience from my recent travels. Last fall, I was invited by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education to visit a dozen top universities to explore possible research and educational collaborations with Baruch. This visit also provided a perfect opportunity to host a gathering for our Baruch in Taiwan alumni group. More than 90 alumni came out for the event in Taipei. Amid the camaraderie and networking, many alumni came up to me to share their stories. One alumnus, a university faculty member and a celebrity TV commentator on financial news (much like what you see on CNBC), told me that Baruch opened his eyes to the world (in his case, finance) and that he treasures his experience at Baruch and in New York—a sentiment shared by almost everyone in the room. It was amazing to see how strong that Bearcat bond is—some 7,500 miles away.
Back at home this spring, the annual Bernard Baruch Dinner brought together hundreds of alumni, friends, and community leaders to celebrate Baruch’s proud accomplishments and tremendous momentum. For the eighth consecutive year, the dinner raised more than $1 million, funds that support scholarships, career services, and such basic needs as those met by the Bearcat Food Pantry and the Counseling Center. With the theme “Make It Happen,” the dinner honored two highly accomplished alumni: Stephanie P. Smith (’96) received the Distinguished Alumna Award, and Marvin C. Schwartz (’62, LLD Hon. ’02) received the William and Anita Newman Medal for Philanthropy.
I also had the privilege of recognizing outstanding students in the audience. Case in point: our team of Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) students, who competed in the Rotman International Trading Competition against teams from 40-plus of the best universities around the globe and finished first place for the fifth consecutive year!
Whether in Manhattan, Taiwan, or countless other locations around the world, the Baruch community is an estimable force not only for individual success but for driving change and innovation. As I said at the dinner: “Baruch alumni have an ‘underdog mentality’ that makes them strive to not just beat the odds but become the very best at what they do. That’s what makes them Unstoppable.”
Reimagining Higher Education
It is Baruch’s rare combination of academic excellence, access, and student outcomes that continues to propel the College’s reputation as a “beacon of hope” and “an antidote to cynicism about higher education” (Aspen Institute/Bloomberg Philanthropies), an “upward-mobility machine” (New York Times), and the #1 Best Value College in the country (Wall Street Journal). Bearcats, you should be proud. More institutions need to follow Baruch’s example: our commitment to providing world-class academics to a socioeconomically diverse student body.
Built by Baruch
Impactful faculty research, the theme of this edition of the alumni magazine, drives Baruch’s rising reputation as well. This year, the National Science Foundation awarded the Department of Mathematics a nearly $1 million grant to develop mentoring programs for students who wish to pursue degrees in STEM fields. Creating policies that improve the lives of millions of Americans will be the province of the new NY Retirement and Disability Research Center. Baruch has been tapped as part of the CUNY–New School partnership to establish this federal center, one of only six in the country.
The Bearcat Spirit
Please continue to stay connected with your alma mater: Attend Baruch events. Join alumni networks. Hire your fellow graduates. Read and engage with my blog. Share your Baruch story. Because of your support, engagement, and generosity, the Baruch spirit continues to thrive. Thank you for contributing to this thriving community.
Sincerely,
S. DAVID WU
President, Baruch College