Vice President For External & Community Affairs
Laguardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City has named Cindy Freidmutter vice president for external and community affairs. Freidmutter, a product of the City University of New York (CUNY), will be responsible for promoting greater knowledge and visibility for the college’s award-winning programs, faculty, workforce and economic development activities.
“I’m the child of immigrants, and never would have gone to college were it not for CUNY, so I appreciate the plight of many in the student body, who share my experience,” Freidmutter told The Queens Courier. Freidmutter is also the single mother of an immigrant. Nine years ago she adopted her son, Daniel, who attends Public School in Brooklyn. She holds a Juris Doctor from New York University Law School, but does not have a law practice.
Before coming to the college, Freidmutter, a native Brooklynite, served as president of the Brooklyn Public Library Foundation. She has also served as assistant executive director for External Affairs and Capacity Building at the Educational Alliance, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, and president and chief executive officer of Managed Care Innovations, Inc.
Most of Freidmutter’s career has been spent involved in City or State government. She established and directed the New York State Office of Mental Health’s Housing Development Program. Under the old City Government structure, Freidmutter was the Board of Estimate representative for the office of City Council President Carol Bellamy. She was awarded a Fellowship for the Future of the City of New York at Columbia University.
Freidmutter says she is “really thrilled” with her new job. “This school does amazing work, and I want to let more people know about it,” she says, adding, “It’s exciting to be in the only institution in New York which has a college for children, theaters and support for local businesses.”
“Long Island City is such an evolving community; this is the place for me to be - to partner the college with the community and develop our potential.” she says.
