Bronx Community College (BCC) will mark a historic moment on Friday, August 28, 2026 (11 a.m. start), as Dr. Larry D. Johnson, Jr. is formally invested as the College’s seventh president during a ceremony at Gould Memorial Library. The occasion will bring together higher education leaders, elected officials, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to honor BCC’s legacy and look ahead to its future under President Johnson’s leadership.
The investiture marks two significant milestones for the College: the formal installation of President Johnson and the beginning of BCC’s yearlong 70th Anniversary celebration, honoring seven decades of educational opportunity and impact in the Bronx.
During his inaugural address, President Johnson will outline his vision for the next chapter of Bronx Community College, anchored by Bronx Renaissance 2031, the College’s strategic framework for strengthening student success, expanding workforce and community partnerships, fostering innovation and enhancing institutional capacity.
The ceremony will feature an academic procession, musical performances, greetings from distinguished guests and the formal presentation of the symbols of office to President Johnson. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of The City University of New York, will be joined by members of the CUNY Board of Trustees, college presidents and higher education leaders, elected officials and other distinguished guests in recognizing the occasion.
The investiture comes as BCC celebrates 70 years of transforming lives through education. Since its founding in 1957, the College has served as a gateway to opportunity for generations of students and has played a vital role in the educational, economic and civic life of the Bronx. Now, as the College enters its eighth decade, Bronx Renaissance 2031 provides a roadmap for building on that legacy while preparing BCC to meet the needs of a changing student population, workforce and community.
The strategic plan centers on four overarching priorities: strengthening enrollment, retention and graduation; preparing students for long-term success; enhancing institutional capacity and operational excellence; and cultivating inclusive community connections.
The celebration also will reaffirm BCC’s role as the Crown Jewel of the Bronx, a designation that reflects the College’s enduring connection to the borough and its commitment to creating new pathways to opportunity.
“As Bronx Community College enters its 70th Anniversary year, we celebrate the generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who have built this extraordinary institution,” President Johnson said. “But this moment is also about looking forward. We are building on the strength of our history, listening to the needs of our community and moving with purpose toward a future filled with greater opportunity and possibility. Through Bronx Renaissance 2031, we are reclaiming our time, strengthening the Crown Jewel of the Bronx and writing the next chapter of BCC’s story together. The best is still yet to come.”
About Bronx Community College
The Bronx Community College (BCC) is home to more than 40 academic programs that will prepare you to continue your education at a four-year institution or begin your career. In addition to our high-quality academic programs, we offer you the opportunity to learn from our outstanding faculty, create flexible class schedules and grow with the support of our academic community. A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), we enroll students from nearly 100 countries. Our campus is also home to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the country’s first hall of fame. In October 2012, our campus was declared a National Historic Landmark, becoming the country’s first community college campus to receive such a designation.
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