York Honors Keizs For Her Distinguished Service to the Community

Former President Keizs at her farewell celebration with an award. Photo Credit: Parsram Stanley

By Angel Adegbesan

The York College community held a farewell celebration for former President Marcia V. Keizs on Sept. 17. The event was a testament to her distinguished career. 

Keizs announced that she was stepping down from her position at the end of Fiscal year 2019 on June 3. CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodriguez announced her successor, Berenecea Johnson Eanes, as the interim president on July 25. 

Keizs said she was stepping down “return to her first love of teaching.” Keizs has been the President of York College for 14 years. Her career at CUNY started as an Assistant Professor of English at Queensborough Community College and she moved through five CUNY colleges and the central office before becoming president of York in February 2005. 

“She was here for 14 and a half years and after that many years, she knew it was time,” said Marcia Comrie, the Communications and College Relations Manager. “Everyone reaches a point where they know it’s time and she was waiting for the middle states situation to be resolved and waiting to step down when she knows she has served York College with distinction.”

“And she left us in good hands and moved onto her first love of teaching,” Comrie added. “She wanted to retire as a professor which was what she started with in her career and we wish her well.”

All proceeds from donations to the event were allocated to the Marcia V. Keizs Award endowment. The award will provide annual scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in English or Music.