FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 16, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 39
buzz
Son of Chinese immigrants appointed
new president at Queens College
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e incoming president at Queens
College is an academician who believes
in “bridge-building and cooperation
on every level” and celebrating diversity.
Frank H. Wu, 53, was unanimously
appointed the 11th president at Queens
College by the CUNY board of directors,
eff ective July 1, becoming the fi rst Asian-
American to serve in that role.
“I have been fl attered when headhunters
approached, but I was always comfortable
where I was,” Wu said. “But when
I heard Queens College was searching
for a new president I said, ‘Th is is the
one school for me. Th is specifi c place is
meant for me.’ I wanted to be president of
Queens College. I can’t wait to get there
and become a part of the community,
the students, the faculty, the staff and the
stakeholders.”
Th e son of Chinese immigrants, Wu
grew up in Detroit, Michigan, watching
gritty New York fi lms such as “Dog
Day Aft ernoon,” “Serpico,” “Th e French
Connection” and “Th e Taking of Pelham
1, 2, 3.”
He always wanted to be a New Yorker
himself. “And I remember when President
Gerald Ford told New York City to drop
dead,” Wu said. “And then New York
City went through a renaissance and the
single biggest factor that propelled New
York City back to the top was immigration.
People from every corner of the
world were drawn to John F. Kennedy’s
Beacon of Hope. Th at’s how my parents
got here. Th ey believed in higher
learning. Th e American Dream is
tied to learning. To better educate
yourself.”
Wu has made a career of breaking
barriers and creating opportunities
for student success. He was
the fi rst Asian-American on the faculty
of the law school at historically
black Howard University and he
spent a decade serving Gallaudet
University, which off ers higher
education to deaf and hearing-impaired
students. Most recently,
Wu has been a Distinguished
Professor at the University of
California Hastings College of
the Law but he is ready for the
cross-country move.
“Th e entire world is represented
by the immigrant community
in New York City but in Queens
particularly. You have all of these
folks with completely diff erent cultural
backgrounds all becoming New
Yorkers and I needed to be a part of
this. It’s magical and it’s happening in
Queens, and it’s happening at Queens
College, the heart of the borough.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents
Flushing — where the Queens
College campus is located — is looking
forward to working with Wu in his new
capacity.
“I have known Frank Wu for several
years and I am honored to congratulate
him as we enter this new and exciting
chapter of Queens College,”
Meng said. “Queens College
does extraordinary work
in preparing students
for their futures. It
continues to be a
beacon of higher
education, and I
am confi dent that
under Frank Wu’s
leadership, the
institution’s success
will soar even higher.
I am also pleased
to congratulate Frank
Wu for making history
by becoming the
fi rst Asian-American
president at Queens
College.”
State Senator Toby
Ann Stavisky concurred.
“As the chair of the
Senate Higher Education
Committee, I am delighted
by the appointment
of new Queens
College president,
Professor Frank H. Wu. Queens
College is a gem of public higher education,
and I am proud to be its state senator,”
Stavisky said. “Professor Wu’s resume
speaks for itself, and I am proud to see the
fi rst Asian-American appointed president
of a college in Queens. I look forward to
meeting with Professor
Wu in the coming
days to
d i s c u s s
“I can’t wait to get
there and become a
part of the community,
the students, the
faculty, the staff and
the stakeholders.”
Frank H. Wu
Incoming president
at Queens College
ways the state can help ensure Queens
College continues to provide accessibility
and a top-quality education for its student
body.”
Wu and his wife will live in Kew Garden
Hills within walking distance of the campus.
His July 1 starting date should coincide
with the borough’s recovery from the
coronavirus pandemic.
“Th is moment is unprecedented. Th is
is unlike any other experience we’ve ever
had,” Wu said. “I want to present a way
forward and it’s all about resiliency. We
will roll up our shirtsleeves and ask how
we can help when we come out on the
other side of this.”
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