Terrier - Winter 2018 SFC Terrier Magazine - Winter 2018 | Page 3

Message from President Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Ph.D. To all in the St. Francis College family, N ow that our fall semester at St. Francis College has come to a close—with a student body that is among the most diverse and high-achieving in our history—I wanted to touch base with just a few quick updates about the important work being done by our incredible faculty and staff, work that our believers make possible. Thanks in large part to our strong partnerships with our alumni, parents, friends of the college, including our widows and widowers, foundations, corporations, and elected officials from all levels of government, St. Francis has been able to grow our academic programs, expand and upgrade our facilities, and ultimately earn national recognition that reinforces the many special things happening right here in Brooklyn. As you know, while we may be a small school, we dream big. That’s why I’m particularly excited to share these latest milestones: SFC ranked in top 15 nationally for student economic mobility by The Chronicle of Higher Education I truly believe that going to college is only meaningful if we can deliver on the promise of student success…both during their time on campus and, importantly, beyond. That is why I am so proud to report that The Chronicle of Higher Education recently named St. Francis College as one of the top 15 colleges in the entire nation for student economic mobility. They measured the percentage of college students born between 1980 and 1982 to households in the bottom 20% for income and who then reached the top 20% for individual earnings in 2014 (meaning they would have attended college in the early 2000s). St. Francis ranked number three in the United States among four-year private institutions, reinforcing our long-held belief in the transformational potential of higher education. However, The Chronicle also highlighted a recent paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research indicating that fewer students from low-income families are enrolling at high-mobility schools. This is obviously a discouraging trend, which is why our commitment to providing a high-quality, private college education that everyone can afford continues to be our enacted mission, a mission that the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn started 160 years ago. With your ongoing loyal and generous support, all can be assured that we remain laser focused on remaining a “college of opportunity.” SFC Innovate opens at Industry City to connect students to the innovation economy That core focus on opportunity and access is perhaps nowhere more concretely illustrated than in the opening this fall of SFC Innovate at Industry City in Sunset Park. SFC Innovate is a new center dedicated to enhancing hands-on, co-curricular experiences and career exploration which will connect students to New York’s leading edge innovation economy. The office, a partnership between St. Francis College and Ikove Venture Partners, will give students the opportunity to ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER   |  WINTER 2018, VOLUME 82, NUMBER 1 intern with startup companies and network with the hundreds of compa- nies based at Industry City. Two “Entrepreneurs in Residence” will serve as liaisons between the College and more than 450 businesses and will assist student entrepreneurs in developing business skills including leadership, self-reflection, managing others, and communication. Again, if we hope to continue making economic mobility a reality for our students, then we must engage in a thoughtful manner with those sectors of our economy demonstrating true growth potential and offering real pathways to success. We are confident that SFC Innovate can open that door to the innovation economy and I look forward to sharing additional updates on its success in the coming months. Our 160/50 Celebration This year we remember, celebrate and believe! We remember it all began in 1858 when a group of Franciscan Brothers came to Brooklyn and opened this institution in 1859. We celebrate 160 years of changing lives through the gift of an SFC education and in a special way the last 50 years when lay women joined the religious women who were the trailblazers, all enhancing the student body and student experience of the College. Finally, we believe the best is yet to come. Please be sure to read the 160/50 article to learn more about this milestone year and the activities associated with the celebration. Opportunity, innovation, and integration make us who we are—you and all believers in our Big Dreams make it all possible. For this and so much more, the students and all in the St. Francis College family, offer our heartfelt thanks. In peace and friendship, Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Ph.D. President, St. Francis College 1