NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Anthony J. Polemeni, Ph.D., dean of Touro College's School of Education & Psychology, Graduate Division, today announced the appointment of The Honorable Herman Badillo -- former U.S. Congressman, New York City Deputy Mayor and Bronx Borough President -- as Distinguished Professor of Education.
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Professor Badillo will offer the courses Education and the Hispanic Community and City Planning and Urban Education in the spring 2007 semester. The course Education and the Hispanic Community is based, in part, on Professor Badillo's new book, "One Nation, One Standard: An Ex-Liberal on How Hispanics Can Succeed Just Like Other Immigrant Groups." Professor Badillo will also present seminars and workshops on urban education.
"Herman Badillo has long been a leading force in educational reform in New York and the nation," said Dean Polemeni. "I am pleased that he is joining the Touro College family. Our students and staff will benefit greatly from Professor Badillo's unique perspective on the subject of the impact of education on society and the influence of social trends on teaching and learning." Noting his attraction to Touro College, Professor Badillo observed, "I am particularly delighted to become professor at Touro College because I know that Touro is as deeply concerned as I am in helping African-Americans and Latinos to improve their lives through education and to make a contribution to the people of New York City."
Professor Badillo brings to his position decades of experience and public service. Currently, he is counsel to the New York City-based law firm Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C. Professor Badillo began his public service career in 1962 as New York City's housing commissioner. He was elected Bronx Borough President in 1964, becoming the first borough president of Hispanic origin in the city's history. In 1970, another milestone in American history was achieved when he was elected to the House of Representatives from the 21st Congressional District, becoming the first person born in Puerto Rico elected to Congress. He was re-elected three times, and was the principal sponsor of the Bilingual Education Act of 1974. His other accomplishments in Congress include having established the first-ever subcommittee on Urban Affairs as part of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, and sponsoring and securing an amendment to the Voting Right Act for bilingual voting.
After leaving Washington in 1978, Professor Badillo was appointed Deputy Mayor of New York City by Mayor Edward I. Koch, where he led the way in the rebuilding of the South Bronx. After a time in the private sector, Professor Badillo returned to public service and was appointed by Governor Mario M. Cuomo in 1984 to the post of chairman of the board of directors of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, Special Counsel for the Fiscal Oversight of Education for Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, and most recently, chairman of the board of trustees of the City University of New York, appointed by Governor George E. Pataki. As chairman he secured approval from the New York State Board of Regents for a change in the policy of open admissions.
Created in 1993, Touro's School of Education & Psychology enrolls over 4,000 students in seven graduate degree programs and two certificate programs leading to New York state certification. Offerings include master's programs in education and special education, school leadership and psychology, mental health counseling, instructional technology, teaching literacy, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), as well as bilingual advanced certificate programs in special education and speech and hearing handicapped and school psychology. Based at 43 West 23rd Street in Manhattan, the School also offers courses at the Kings Highway Graduate Center, in Brooklyn.
Touro College has experienced phenomenal growth since its founding in 1971, and is currently educating more than 23,000 students at locations in New York, California, Florida, Nevada, Jerusalem, Moscow and Berlin. Touro College continues to have a profound impact on the lives of its students and on the Jewish and general communities.
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