SLU’s Labor and Community Advisory Board is a key stakeholder in the School and plays a critical role in advancing its mission. The Board promotes the School to its various constituencies and provides tuition support for those who enroll in its programs. It represents the School at every level of government in New York City and State, helping to secure funding to guarantee the integrity of the School for years to come. It also raises funds for scholarships; places and provides stipends for student interns; and employs graduates of the School.
The Advisory Board is committed to the principle of academic freedom and respects prerogatives of the University in determining academic and organizational policies and practices of its administrative unit. At the same time—and on behalf of its constituents—the Board plays a pro-active role in deliberations over the School’s policies, practices, and strategic planning initiatives. It also provides guidance to ensure that curriculum stays current and relevant to the labor movement and urban communities.
Labor & Community Representatives
Arthur Cheliotes
Chair of the Advisory Board, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies and Business Manager, CWA 1180
New York State AFL-CIO
Mario Cilento, President
New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Vincent Alvarez, President
Local 1180, Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Gloria Middleton, President
District Council 37, American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Henry Garrido, Executive Director
(alt. Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Dir. of Field Operations)
Jahmila Edwards, Assistant Associate Director
Workers United (SEIU)
Edgar Romney, Secretary-Treasurer
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
George Gresham, President
(alt. Samantha Morales, Director of Education)
1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund
Sandi Vito, Executive Director
(alt. Vilma Linares Vaughn, Deputy Executive Director)
United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
Michael Mulgrew, President
(alt. Evelyn DeJesus, Vice President of Education)
Public Employees Federation (PEF)
Wayne Spence, President
(alt. Adreina Adams, Vice President)
Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Region 2
Lester Crockett, President
(alt. Matthew D’Amico, Political Action Coordinator)
Local 237, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
Gregory Floyd, President
(alt. Bertha Aiken, Director of Education)
Consortium for Worker Education (CWE)
Joseph McDermott, Executive Director
(alt. Deborah Buxton, Deputy Director of Education)
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Gerald Hudson, Executive Vice President
(alt. Mark Levinson, Chief Economist)
Local 32BJ, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Kyle Bragg, President
(alt. Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President)
Linda Nelson, Director of Thomas Shortman Training Fund
(alt. James Barry, Manager, Program Development)
Transport Workers Union (TWU)
John Samuelsen, President
Anthony Utano, President TWU Local 100
(alt. Michele Gilliam, Political Director)
Local 94, International Union of Operating Engineers
Kuba Brown, Business Manager/Financial Secretary
(alt. Howard Styles, Director of Training)
Local 1549, NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees
Eddie Rodriguez, President
Professional Staff Congress (PSC)
Barbara Bowen, President
Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)
Lowell Peterson, Executive Director
Region 9A, United Auto Workers (UAW)
Beverly Brakeman, Director
(alt. Ken Lang, Sub-Regional Director for New York City)
Local 371, Social Service Employees Union (SSEU)
Anthony Wells, President
District 1, Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President, CWA District 1
(alt. Robert Master, Assistant to the Vice President)
New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
Charlene Obernauer, Executive Director
Community Voices Heard
Afua Atta-Mensah, Executive Director
New York Communities for Change
Jonathan Westin, Executive Director
New York Immigration Coalition
Steve Choi, Executive Director
(alt. Murad Awawdeh, Vice President of Advocacy)
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.
Richard Winsten, Esq