LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez upon the
occasion of his investiture as the sixth President of Eugenio Maria de
Hostos Community College

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and charac-
ter whose endeavors enhance the quality of education in this great
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr.
Felix V. Matos Rodriguez upon the occasion of his investiture as the
sixth President of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College; this
auspicious occasion will be celebrated on Friday, June 4, 2010, prior to
the 39th Commencement ceremony at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community
College in the Bronx, New York; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1968, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College is
CUNY's first and only bilingual college; located in the South Bronx, it
currently serves more than 6,000 students; and
WHEREAS, In addition to offering associate degree programs that facil-
itate easy transfer to CUNY's four year colleges or baccalaureate
studies at other higher degree granting academic institutions, Eugenio
Maria de Hostos Community College also has an award winning continuing
education and professional studies department that offers courses for
professional development and certificate-bearing workforce training
programs; and
WHEREAS, In four decades, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College
has grown from a class of 623 in the fall of 1970 to its spring 2010
enrollment of over 6,000 students; the college also serves an additional
10,000 students through its continuing education and professional
studies department; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the 39th Commencement ceremony at Eugenio Maria de
Hostos Community College in the Bronx on June 4, 2010, CUNY Board of
Trustees Vice Chair Phillip Berry, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and
representatives of the Board of Trustees will oversee the investiture of
Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez as the sixth President of Eugenio Maria de
Hostos Community College; and
WHEREAS, Appointed as President of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community
College in July 2009, Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez is a prominent schol-
ar and educator; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, the former Secretary of the
Department of Family in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a graduate
of Yale University and earned his doctorate in history from Columbia
University; and
WHEREAS, A member of the history department at the CUNY Graduate
School and University Center, Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez is currently
on leave from his position as associate professor of Black and Puerto
Rican/Latino Studies at Hunter College; and
WHEREAS, From 2000 to 2005, Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez was the
Director of Hunter College's Center for Puerto Rican Studies; he has
taught at Yale and Northeastern universities, Boston College and Univer-
sidad Interamericana in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez has continually demonstrated an
impressive dedication, an unparalleled devotion and an unremitting

enthusiasm for the quality of the educational programs and opportunities
at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez upon the occasion of his investiture
as the sixth President of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez.