Decisions about education at CCNY don’t just begin in a classroom — it takes the dedication of the behind-the-scenes individuals in administration, who decide on how best to bring about the success of students and faculty day in and day out.
Meet Dr. Doris Cintron, the Senior Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Her decades-long career at City has been steeped in a commitment to experiential learning, resource equity and fostering growth in others. But a changing world, she said, dictates flexibility; she is always, always learning.
“I oversee undergraduate education in several offices within the college,” Cintron told The RICC. These include the Writing Center, the Teaching and Learning Center and the Career Center — spaces that serve as critical support systems for both students and staff.
“My work is always about supporting the success and interests of faculty and students,” she said. Importantly, it includes leveraging external funding to bring new experiences and opportunities to the CCNY community.
Still, her efforts go a bit beyond administrative oversight. In 2022, she launched the Office for Experiential Learning, a space designed to provide hands-on opportunities for students and faculty alike. “It’s about helping them explore their interests and find the resources to pursue the work they are passionate about,” she said.
The office is one of many instrumental in securing grants and partnerships for the college that create internships and practical experiences — like a $3 million 2023 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program — all meant to equip students with the skills and confidence to navigate their careers.
Her drive to level the playing field stems from her own experiences in New York City public schools.
“I know what I got, what I didn’t receive, and what I had to struggle to make up for,” she said. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, she came to CCNY as a 17-year-old student in the mid-1960s.
“This place is very special to me,” Cintron said. “I saw myself coming and going in a lot of the students. It wasn’t like I didn’t belong — it was, oh, this place is familiar.”
That history informs her work to address systemic inequities, she said, particularly in urban schools serving underprivileged populations. It’s not without its challenges.
“Poorly resourced schools are usually in urban settings with underprivileged populations and are not equitably funded,” she said. While she acknowledges the political discourse surrounding such disparities, her focus remains on what can be done to bridge these gaps.
In a way, higher education is in peril. Cintron is primarily concerned about the resources in public education — especially as economic pressures send young people a message that higher education is unnecessary, she said.
Among the young people who do enroll, there are those who can afford to take a break from their studies with the safety net in their lives afforded to them — and there are those who can’t, and who often don’t make it back to the classroom when life puts a halt on college education.
Cintron’s sense of belonging and duty, combined with the challenges and support she’s encountered throughout life, have shaped her approach as an educator and administrator.
Over the years, Cintron has witnessed shifts in higher education, including the rise of new technologies and modalities for learning. While she embraces innovation, she remains focused on the enduring mission of education, she said.
“There will always be new technologies, but the charge is always the same: to learn something new so you can push forward and develop something new.”
The charge is deeply personal. She recalls moments of self-doubt and external discouragement, she said, including being told that certain opportunities were “not for her.” These experiences left a lasting impact, motivating her to champion students’ potential, she said.
“Never be the first to say no to yourself,” she advises students. “Put yourself out there. Bring your best self, always.”
As CCNY continues to navigate the complexities of modern education, Cintron elaborated on her guiding philosophy of leadership, wrapped in a reminder of the power of service.
“When you take leadership positions, it’s no longer about you. It’s about the people you’re here to serve, to help grow.”
Judah is a senior at CUNY Baruch College, pursuing a major in journalism and minors in computer science and environmental sustainability. He is also the business editor for Baruch’s independent student newspaper, The Ticker, and co-managing editor for the Baruch Journalism Department’s magazine Dollars & Sense.