The City University of New York (CUNY) has officially appointed Claudia Schrader as the eighth president of York College, cementing the interim role she has held since January 2024. The CUNY Board of Trustees approved her appointment on April 15, with the post becoming effective May 1.
A veteran CUNY educator with more than 20 years of experience, Schrader has held leadership and faculty positions at four of the university system’s campuses. Her permanent appointment comes after a 15-month interim term marked by campus improvements and new community-focused initiatives at the Jamaica-based senior college.
“President Schrader is a proven leader whose passion for CUNY’s mission of educational opportunity and excellence has had a significant impact on a generation of students throughout our system,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “She has already brought that energy to the York College community, and I have no doubt that she will continue to raise the bar for a campus that has a proud history of aspiration and achievement throughout its nearly 60-year history.”
During her time as interim president, Schrader led infrastructure upgrades on campus, including the creation of a graduate student lounge and enhancements to shared spaces like the cafeteria and public safety facilities. She launched the York Opportunity Network (YON), a new consortium of community, interfaith, and business organizations aimed at positioning York College as a hub of academic and career advancement for pre-college youth in Southeast Queens. Schrader also initiated the college’s Middle States Self-Study process, an essential step in reaffirming accreditation.
“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve as president of York College, a vital anchor in the City University of New York,” said Schrader. “As we navigate this critical moment in higher education, York’s role as a powerful driver of economic mobility has never been more important. I look forward to continued collaboration with our dedicated faculty and staff, vibrant students and external stakeholders to foster educational excellence, deliver on our mission and ensure that our college remains a cornerstone of innovation and opportunity in Southeast Queens, NYC and beyond.”
Schrader’s leadership style is characterized by a hands-on approach and a commitment to building authentic relationships within the college community. In a March 2024 interview with QNS, she shared her experiences engaging directly with students, often initiating conversations without revealing her position, to foster genuine connections.
Prior to her arrival at York, Schrader served five years as president of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn—the first African American to hold the post. There, she helped establish the college’s first satellite campus and launched KCC FLEX, a hybrid degree program designed to provide adult learners with flexible access to education. Her leadership brought Kingsborough to the final round of the nationally esteemed Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence twice and earned her selection as a New Presidents Fellow by the Aspen College Excellence Program.
Schrader also previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic and student success at Bronx Community College and as associate provost at Medgar Evers College, where she was a tenured associate professor of education and deputy chair of her department. Beyond CUNY, she held a similar role at William Paterson University in New Jersey.
Born and raised in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Schrader is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds three advanced degrees in education — two master’s degrees and a doctorate — from Teachers College, Columbia University.
