C.W. Post Provost Joseph Shenker to Retire

Top administrator of C.W. Post Campus since 1995

Brookville, N.Y. – Joseph Shenker, provost of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University since 1995, announced today, April 2, 2008 that he intends to retire this summer.

Dr. Shenker has directed lasting change at C.W. Post and reenergized the Campus with enrollment increases, building expansions and new academic programs. Under his leadership, undergraduate enrollment at C.W. Post has grown from 4,450 to 5,400 and the Campus has seen a 62 percent increase in the size of the entering freshman class. The Campus has undertaken more than $84 million in major upgrades to its 307-acre campus, including construction of the Patsy and Al Kahn Discovery Center academic building in 2005, the Pratt Recreation Center in 2002 and the renovation of the Arnold S. Winnick Student Center, the Winnick House administration building and the Admissions building.

“I have loved every minute of my term as provost of C.W. Post,” Dr. Shenker, 68, said. “It has been a pleasure to serve so many people.” He added, “I will miss the day-to-day interaction with the students, professors, administrators and staff of this Campus very much. However, I am very excited to explore new ventures and spend time with my family.”

At the request of Long Island University President David J. Steinberg, Dr. Shenker expects to return to teaching in the C.W. Post School of Education after a sabbatical year. He will also serve as a senior advisor to the new provost and Campus administration during the transition.

“Since coming to Long Island University in 1995, Dr. Shenker has been a devoted servant of C.W. Post,” Dr. Steinberg said. “His gentle manner and thoughtful intelligence have touched the lives of students, faculty and staff alike. He has generated a sense of enhanced harmony and collegiality, created a renaissance of shared pride and purpose, and developed a smooth and responsive administrative structure. Dr. Shenker is a consummate professional and C.W. Post reflects his steady and compassionate leadership. His sustaining interest in each and every student embodies the very best traits in an academic leader.”

Dr. Shenker led the development of extensive new technologies, new classrooms, increased scholarships and an award-winning professional experience and career planning office. In 2003, he spearheaded the development of the Access Program, a comprehensive academic and career advisement plan to aid enrolling freshmen in choosing a college major and career path. He also serves as provost for Long Island University’s campuses in Brentwood, Riverhead and Rockland.

The C.W. Post Campus has more than 9,500 full- and part-time students enrolled in six schools of study: the School of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Information and Computer Science, the College of Management, the School of Health Professions and Nursing and the School of Visual and Performing Arts. The Campus has approximately 1,300 full-time employees, including more than 320 professors, and an annual budget of $170 million.

Dr. Shenker has been a leader in higher education since the age of 29, when he was named acting president of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, N.Y., part of the City University of New York. The following year, 1970, Dr. Shenker was appointed the founding president of Fiorello H. LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, N.Y., a comprehensive education college that is part of the CUNY system. Over his 18-year tenure, he led LaGuardia's evolution into a respected and innovative two-year college. He currently holds the title of president emeritus at LaGuardia.

Dr. Shenker founded the first charter school in the United States in 1974, LaGuardia Middle College High School, and later the International High School in Queens. He spearheaded the creation of one of the nation's first college-level programs for deaf adults.

In July of 1988, Dr. Shenker accepted the position of president of the private Bank Street College of Education in New York City. In his seven years at the college he consistently pursued the goal of putting Bank Street at the forefront of teacher training and supervised its $13 million capital campaign, the first major fund-raising effort in the college's history.

During his distinguished career, Dr. Shenker has served as dean for several community colleges of the City University of New York. He has served as senior advisor to the New York City Board of Education and was a member of the Board of Trustees of UNICEF America from 1993 through 1997. He has made numerous television appearances and has written for many academic publications, as well as for New York Newsday and The New York Times Book Review. He also served as an adjunct graduate professor of multi-cultural education in C.W. Post's School of Education. In 2001, Dr. Shenker joined the board of directors of the Wallace Foundation.

Dr. Shenker received his B.A. in psychology and M.A. in economics from Hunter College. He received his Ed.D. in higher education administration from Teachers College of Columbia University.

Dr. Shenker and his wife, Susan, a visiting professor of the School of Education, live in Brookville and have four children and three grandchildren.

Posted: April 2, 2008