Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), was recognized by City & State New York with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award for Labor and Law in ceremonies held earlier this month.
“City & State New York concentrates on our region’s government and politics, and outstanding leaders like Greg Mantsios come to our attention,” explains Tom Allon, president of City & State. “We are honored to present him with the CSR Award for Labor & Law in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the well-being of New Yorkers, to education, and his demonstrated regard for human rights, labor, and community.”
In 1984, through a collaboration with NYC labor unions to meet the higher education needs of working adults, Mantsios founded the Murphy Institute, named for the former CUNY Chancellor, a forceful advocate for working people and the labor movement. In 2005, the Murphy Institute moved from Queens College to midtown Manhattan under the aegis of CUNY SPS to better accommodate students across the university system. Today, the Murphy Institute offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificate programs, and academic internships in Labor Studies and Urban Studies, to over 1,500 students.
Mantsios has served as a higher education officer – first in SUNY and then in CUNY – for over three decades. His tireless work to advance access to higher education for non-traditional students, particularly those from poor and working class backgrounds, has provided thousands of students with new opportunities and, often, subsequent careers in areas of public service. His own educational path – he holds a BA and PhD in sociology and an MA in urban studies – solidified his scholarly interests and activism in the areas of poverty, inequality, labor relations, and education.
Under his direction, the Murphy Institute’s Center for Labor, Community, and Policy Studies has become a leading voice for scholarly analysis of the current challenges confronting workers and working-class communities through its journal, New Labor Forum, and through its monthly forums and conferences.
City & State New York is the only media company devoted solely to covering government and politics in New York. Formed from the merger of City Hall and The Capitol newspapers in 2012, City & State provides insightful and detailed coverage of the politics, the policies and the influential individuals and organizations all over New York. The City & State CSR program showcases New York business leaders for their outstanding work and contributions.
ABOUT THE MURPHY INSTITUTE:
The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies, part of the CUNY system, located at 25 West 43rd Street in Manhattan, New York, offers higher education programs for working adults and union members, and serves as a resource center to labor, academic, and community leaders seeking a deeper understanding of labor and urban issues.