E
MEET DR. FLYNN
Charles L. Flynn, Jr., Ph.D., began
his tenure as President of the
College of Mount Saint Vincent
in 2000. Dr. Flynn is a historian
whose works, such as “White Land,
Black Labor: Caste and Class in the
Late Nineteenth Century Georgia”
and “Race, Class, and Politics in
Southern History” have received
critical recognition and awards.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa,
he earned a B.A. from Hamilton
College and both an M.A. and Ph.D.
from Duke University. Dr. Flynn is
also involved in the community in
numerous ways, including serving
as a member of both the Executive
Committee of the Commission
on Independent Colleges and
Universities of the State of New
York (CICU) and the Executive
Committee and Board of Directors
of the National Association
of Independent Colleges and
Universities (NAICU).
stablished in 1847 by the Sisters
of Charity, the College of Mount
Saint Vincent—known affection-
ately as “the Mount”—has a long history
of providing excellent education for
students from the region, around the
country, and the world. The academic
programs are designed to inspire crit-
ical thinking, build analytical skills,
and help students become better verbal
and written communicators. Each class-
room is centered on the students, and
educators attempt to teach material
in ways that will inspire students to
retain knowledge, discover new ways of
thinking, and apply ideas to practical life.
Every student from every background
is welcome; the institution celebrates its
inclusive environment.
The College of Mount Saint Vincent is
led by a team, including President Charles
L. Flynn, Jr., Ph.D.; five vice presidents; the
provost; and other associates. This team
meets often to find strategies and initia-
tives to move the college forward.
The Mount’s unusually beautiful,
pastoral campus, just inside the city
limits, contributes to its success.
Students can enjoy rolling hills and a
view of the Hudson River, while a short
12 miles away, midtown Manhattan
glitters with endless opportunities.
“We’re a liberal arts college in the
greatest city in the world,” says Dr. Flynn.
“Not only are we distinctive in the
quality of what we do, but we are also
distinctive in our location and campus.”
A Model to be Admired
Even journalist Frank Bruni of New
York Times fame mentioned the
College of Mount Saint Vincent in
his keynote address to the largest
meeting of college presidents in the
country at the Council of Independent
Colleges. While Bruni complimented
the beautiful 70-acre campus, he also
praised the close community where
“all dreams are welcome.”
The College of Mount Saint Vincent
continues down the path of inclusivity
by extending outreach to refugees.
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Inspired by the actions of Pope Francis,
the College recently created the
Gaudium et Spes Refugee Scholarship
program offering qualified students
full tuition as well as room and board
at the college and other Catholic
colleges and universities.
“The College of Mount Saint Vincent
is the treasure of the Hudson,” says
Abed Elkeshk, Treasurer, Executive
Vice President, and CFO at the Mount.
“In education, tradition, diversity, and
equality—it’s the model of what educa-
tion should be.”
Success Through
Strategic Partnerships
The biggest advantage of the College
of Mount Saint Vincent’s location is the
proximity to world-renowned institu-
tions in every field. The institution has
excelled in its nursing program, with
practicum placement opportunities at
all major hospital systems and health
care providers in the region, including
New York-Presbyterian/Columbia
University Medical Center, Montefiore,
and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center. Students in business and finance
can intern on Wall Street or with major
banking and insurance companies, and
students who hope to work in the media
can find roles at ABC, Fox, CBS, or on
Broadway. Students are also encouraged
to experience other cultures and study
abroad, possibly in India, Vietnam, the
Galápagos Islands, Vienna, or Dublin.
The College of Mount Saint Vincent also
partners with the New York Law School
to sponsor a charter school in the Morris
Heights, where education students from
the Mount can find student teaching
placements.
During a time of economic recession,
the College of Mount Saint Vincent expe-
rienced steady growth and increased
quality of services. The campus is even
home to the largest solar panel array
in New York City, and the College and
maximizes every dollar spent and every
resource, purchasing supplies through
state and regional consortia.