Metropolitan College of New York, located at 75 Varick St., has just appointed Joan Straumanis interim president while it searches for a long-term replacement for Stephen Greenwald, who has been president of the college since 1999.
Straumanis, who is coming out of retirement, was the president of Antioch College from 2002 to 2004.
Metropolitan College was founded in 1964 by educational advocate Audrey Cohen, the school’s former namesake, and today it offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as some of its courses online to facilitate learning. In 2004, the college created New York state’s first master’s degree in emergency and disaster management.
Straumanis officially took the post on May 15, and plans to live near Battery Park.
“It’s exciting,” she said of her new post at the college. “It’s going to be challenging, and it’s going to be an adventure.”
As for her future, Straumanis says she plans to re-retire after Metropolitan College finds its new long-term president.
— Jennifer Milne
