BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON RETIREMENT OF MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. EDISON O. JACKSON

I have to admit, it is with a heavy heart that I bid Medgar Evers College President Dr. Edison O. Jackson a fond farewell after twenty thrilling years of visionary leadership that made Medgar Evers one of the true jewels of the CUNY system. When Dr. Jackson became president, he promised to make Medgar Evers the flagship of CUNY. Promise made, promise kept! He also became a great builder—steering the massive construction of Medgar Evers’ expansion and transforming it into one of America’s largest institutions of higher education dedicated to African-American and Caribbean-American students. Now, enrollment is way up, the school’s academic programs have been strengthened and world-class faculty and facilities provide students with a unique learning experience at one of America’s most beautiful campuses—all the result of Dr. Jackson’s vision and tenacity. On behalf of the nearly 2.6 million Brooklynites whose lives have been enriched by Dr. Jackson’s invaluable contributions to our City and enduring legacy to higher education, I wish him well as he begins his next chapter.