Bill Text: NY J01005 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Commending Dr. Gail O. Mellow upon the occasion of stepping down after almost 20 years of dedicated service to LaGuardia Community College

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-09 - ADOPTED [J01005 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01005-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 1005

BY: Senator GIANARIS

        COMMENDING Dr. Gail O. Mellow upon the occasion of
        stepping  down  after  almost  20 years of dedicated
        service  to  LaGuardia  Community  College  in  Long
        Island City, Queens

  WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and   publicly  acknowledge  individuals  of  remarkable  integrity  and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

  WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the  excellence  and
success  of  LaGuardia  Community  College  is  due in large part to the
efforts of Dr. Gail O. Mellow; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend  Dr.  Gail
O.  Mellow  upon the occasion of her retirement after almost 20 years of
dedicated service to LaGuardia Community College in  Long  Island  City,
Queens; she will officially step down in August of 2019; and

  WHEREAS,  Gail  O.  Mellow  earned her Associate of Arts degree from
Jamestown Community College, and her Bachelor of Arts degree  from  SUNY
Albany,  where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa; she furthered her education
by obtaining both  her  Master  of  Arts  degree  and  Ph.D.  in  Social
Psychology from George Washington University; and

  WHEREAS,  During  this time, Dr. Gail O. Mellow became interested in
community colleges and the substantial role they play  in  our  society;
she  believes  they  open  the  doors of higher education to all, create
economic opportunity and strengthen our democracy; and

  WHEREAS, A recognized expert on the history, development and  future
of the American community college, Dr. Gail O. Mellow coauthored Minding
the  Dream:  The  Process and Practice of the American Community College
and Taking College Teaching Seriously: Pedagogy Matters!, which explores
a  groundbreaking  digital  model  for  improving  faculty  teaching  to
increase student success; and

  WHEREAS,  With over 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. Gail O.
Mellow is frequently sought as a commentator on the  changing  landscape
of  higher  education,  strategies for improving the nation's graduation
rate and the role community colleges  play  in  strengthening  America's
economy;  she  has  been  extensively quoted in a range of publications,
including The  New  York  Times,  The  Wall  Street  Journal,  Bloomberg
Businessweek  and The Washington Post and has appeared on national radio
and television broadcasts on NPR, MSNBC and PBS; and

  WHEREAS, Since 2000, Dr. Gail O. Mellow has served as  President  of
LaGuardia Community College; a member of the City University of New York
(CUNY) system, LaGuardia is a recognized leader among community colleges
for  launching programs and teaching methods that have become pilots for
the nation; and

  WHEREAS, Under the  luminous  leadership  of  Dr.  Gail  O.  Mellow,
LaGuardia  Community  College  has  gained  increasing  recognition; the
College serves more than 57,000  credit  and  non-credit  students  each
year,  with  60% of students born outside the United States representing
148  nations  and  speaking 90 languages, making its student body one of
the most diverse in the nation; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Dr. Gail O.  Mellow  has  tirelessly
worked  to  increase  funding,  develop  cutting-edge  practices  in the
classroom, and formed groundbreaking  partnerships  with  employers  and
communities;  she  has  truly  served  as  a  trailblazer  for community
colleges throughout the country; and

  WHEREAS, In 2015, Dr. Gail O. Mellow was appointed by Mayor Bill  de
Blasio  to the New York City Economic Development Council, and currently
serves on the boards of The American Council on Education, The  American
Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on Post-Secondary Education, and
Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning; and

  WHEREAS,  For  her steadfast and unremitting commitment to LaGuardia
Community College and to education as a whole, Dr. Gail  O.  Mellow  was
the  recipient of the 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership;
and

  WHEREAS, A caring, competent  and  committed  leader,  Dr.  Gail  O.
Mellow's  character and integrity are the hallmarks of her life and work
as an educational leader, a community volunteer and as a person; and

  WHEREAS, The Long Island City  community  is  indeed  fortunate  and
blessed  to  have had such a dedicated and respected educational leader;
her wisdom and contributions to LaGuardia Community College  have  truly
made a difference in the lives of those lucky enough to have worked with
her; and

  WHEREAS,  A  significant contributor to education in New York State,
Dr.  Gail  O.  Mellow  has  continually   demonstrated   an   impressive
dedication,  an  unparalleled devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for
the quality of the educational programs  and  opportunities  offered  at
LaGuardia Community College for the benefit of its faculty and students,
as well as for the entire community; and

  WHEREAS,  In completing her service as President, Dr. Gail O. Mellow
leaves behind more than mere bricks and  mortar;  she  leaves  behind  a
legacy  to  the  students  of  LaGuardia  Community  College  and to the
residents of the Long Island City community; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  Dr.  Gail  O.  Mellow  upon the occasion of stepping down after
almost 20 years of dedicated service to LaGuardia Community College, and
to wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors; and be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Gail O. Mellow.