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

New York State AFL-CIO
Mario Cilento, President

New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Brendan Griffith, President

Local 1180, Communications Workers of America (CWA)
* Gloria Middleton, President
(alt. Robin Blair-Batte, Secretary Treasurer)

District Council 37, American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Henry Garrido, Executive Director
(alt. Jeremy John, Associate Director)
(alt. Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, Dir. of Field Operations)
(alt. Stephen Johnson, Administrator, Education Fund)

Local 1549, NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees
Anthony Lackhan, President
Elson Primus, Officer-At-Large

Workers United (SEIU)
Edgar Romney, Secretary-Treasurer

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Yvonne Armstrong, President
(alt. Danielle Copeland, Director Education/Leadership Dev)

1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund
Daniel Bustillo, Executive Director

United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
Michael Mulgrew, President
(alt. Mary Vaccaro, Vice President of Education)

Public Employees Federation (PEF)
Wayne Spence, President
(alt. Bruce Giddings, 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. Shanell Grayson, Director of Education)

Consortium for Worker Education (CWE)
Marco Carrión, President
(alt. Deborah Buxton, Deputy Director of Education)

* Chair

Region 9A, United Auto Workers (UAW)
Brandon Mancilla, Director
(alt. Ken Lang, Director of Higher Ed Sector Organizing)

Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 100
John V. Chiarello
(alt. Charles Jenkins, Director, Training and Upgrading Fund)

Professional Staff Congress (PSC)
James Davis, President

Local 371, Social Service Employees Union (SSEU)
Anthony Wells, President
(alt Denise Barr, Associate Administrator)

District 1, Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President, CWA District 1
(alt. vacant)

The NewsGuild of New York-CWA
Susan DeCarava, President

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Stuart Appelbaum, President

New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
Charlene Obernauer, Executive Director

New York State Nurses Association
Nancy Hagans, President

Community Voices Heard
Juanita Lewis, Executive Director

New York Immigration Coalition
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director

State & Broadway, Inc.
Richard Winsten, Esq

Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)
Sam Wheeler, Executive Director

Local 32BJ, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Manny Pastreich, President
(alt. Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President)
(alt. Linda Nelson, Director, Thomas Shortman, Training Fund)

Local 94, International Union of Operating Engineers
Raymond Macco, Business Manager/Financial Secretary
(alt David Hakins, Director of Training)

University Representatives

Kafui Attoh
Chair, Academic Governing Council, School of Labor and Urban Studies

Stephanie Luce
Chair, Labor Studies, School of Labor and Urban Studies

Steve London
Chair, Urban Studies, School of Labor and Urban Studies