The CUNY Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Alicia Alvero as executive vice chancellor and university provost on Feb. 23.
Alvero, who served in the role on an interim basis since November 2024, became the first Latina to hold the position in CUNY’s history.
As executive vice chancellor and university provost, Alvero manages all areas of the student and faculty experience, including overseeing academic programs and policies; research initiatives; strategic planning and innovation efforts; student success and inclusion programs; faculty and student affairs; institutional effectiveness; K-16 partnerships and workforce development.
In a statement, Alvero expressed her gratitude.
“As a first-generation college student, a first-generation American, the daughter of Cuban refugees and a product of public higher education, my personal and career trajectory is representative of the CUNY experience,” she said. “It’s the result of people who recognized something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself, which is why I constantly work to ‘pay it forward’ and empower others to reach their potential.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez praised Alvero’s commitment to students and faculty.
“Dr. Alvero brings an empathetic, forward‑looking perspective to her work and a deep connection to our students, faculty and staff,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
He also credited her with advancing key university priorities, including CUNY’s 2025-2034 Master Plan and the development of the Transfer Initiative.
Alvero has over two decades of experience within CUNY. She joined the faculty at Queens College in 2003 as a professor of organizational behavior management.
Later, Alvero served as associate provost for academic and faculty affairs. She oversaw academics, expanded faculty support and created leadership pipeline workshops and formal department chair training.
In 2022, Alvero moved to CUNY Central where she was the associate vice chancellor for academic effectiveness and innovation before moving up to vice chancellor for academic and faculty affairs in February 2024.
In her role, Alvero created Faculty Transfer Fellows and improved tools like CUNY Transfer Explorer, efforts aimed to minimize course repetition and prevent students from losing credits earned at other institutions, ultimately lowering degree costs.
Alvero also promoted access and equity through programs like SEEK’s Innovative Career Opportunity and Research program, new cohorts for College Discovery and SEEK and the CUNY Reconnect Credentials Earned project, which has awarded 400+ degrees to date.
Alvero she steps into the role at a pivotal moment as CUNY works to promote student and faculty success. Her experience is expected to play a major role in shaping CUNY’s academic direction in years ahead.
