With a new president taking the reins at Mercy College, students and faculty, as well as neighbors in the Hutchinson Metro Center which houses the Bronx Campus, are eager to hear about her plans for the school.
Dr. Kimberly Cline was appointed the 10th president of Mercy College at the start of this academic year, and has big plans to expand the Bronx campus two-fold.
Cline comes to her post at Mercy College fresh from being the Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the State University of New York, where she had been responsible for all financial and administrative functions and oversaw SUNY’s $10 billion budget.
“All of the campuses of Mercy College are really integrated with one another, and we have 1500 students in the Bronx and plan on growing our Bronx campus,” Cline said. “Our campus in the Bronx is also our only one with a child care center. The emergency childcare center is a special place. We want to do everything we can to help students get through their program.”
Cline said that the Bronx campus is the home of the popular physicians assistant program, which offers well paying job to those who have dedication enough to succeed in the competitive field. The Bronx campus offers many of the same amenities as the main campus, in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
“We have a student government and honors program at our Bronx campus, and I think we can grow and even double the enrollment in the next three to five years,” Cline said. “When we moved over to the Hutchinson Metro Center, it was a good move because it is convenient for the students, and a safe and welcoming environment.”
Mercy College’s Bronx campus’ move to the Hutchinson Metro Center at 1200 Waters Place allowed the school to put a more positive face on its Bronx operations. The former Mercy College campus was located in an older building.
Cline also said that the school is expanding its goal of making the entire Bronx with its diverse array of secondary schools aware of the fabulous programs it has to offer in the medical, business, and education fields, as well as beyond.
“We are expanding the number of recruiters we have going to Bronx high schools,” Cline said. “We are doing financial aid nights in high schools.”
