Dr. James Muyskens Transformed Queens College

BY JOE MARVILLI Staff Writer

Queens College has seen a renaissance over the last dozen years, with new programs, new buildings, new technology and a new attitude. At the center of these massive changes has been Dr. James Muyskens, who took over as president of the school in July 2002.

Facing many challenges to revitalize the colleges academics, fundraising, culture and student body, Muyskens spearheaded accomplishments like the creation of the colleges first residence hall, the addition of new courses, the hiring of top-tier faculty and the improvement of student outreach.

As he wraps up his time as president, Muyskens talked about his time at Queens College, what led him there and his plans for the future.

Before Queens College

Muyskens was first inspired to get involved in education as a high school student in South Dakota. He had a superb math teacher and thought about becoming one himself. Once he got to college though, he did not find math as challenging and switched to philosophy. Besides setting him on a new educational path, Muyskens college experiences inspired what he wanted to do at Queens College as president.

I went to a small liberal arts college, had an opportunity to interact with the faculty that were teaching me. I really wanted that here, he said. That is one of the truly exciting things about Queens College. Were big, far bigger than the place I went to as an undergraduate, but when we do student satisfaction surveys, right at the top of the list of things that students are happy about is their ability to interact with faculty.

Getting a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Michigan, Muyskens wound up beginning his career in the CUNY system, at Hunter College. Once there, he fell in love with the mission of CUNY, part of which is to provide high-quality, accessible education to students who may otherwise not have had the chance to attend college.

I actually could have gone to more of an elite type of institution, where the students would be more upper-middle class, he said. But to be able to teach students who are the first in their family to go to college and then to make a difference in their lives, that really got me.

After a couple of other jobs, Muyskens was approached by Queens College to become its ninth president. Although he said he was not looking for another job, he was once again drawn in by CUNYs and Queens Colleges mission as well as the opportunities New York City had to offer.

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Dr. James Muyskens Transformed Queens College