Cabinet
Bridget Barbera
Counsel to the President – Labor Designee, Interim Executive in Charge of Human Resources
Bridget Barbera joined Lehman College in September 2019 as counsel to the President and Lehman College labor designee. She previously served as Associate General Counsel for The City University of New York. Ms. Barbara holds degrees from Brown University and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
Richard T. Finger
Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management
Richard T. Finger became the interim vice president for Enrollment Management in April 2022 after serving in various positions at Lehman College since 2009. Most recently, he was the senior director of Enrollment Management and Director of Graduate Studies. He is also a faculty member in the School of Business, teaching courses in Strategic Management. Richard has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior, an MBA in Marketing, and a doctorate in Healthcare Administration.
Richard Relkin
Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing
Richard Relkin became Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Lehman College in May 2023. His previous jobs include Director of Media Relations at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and St. Francis College, as well as Executive Producer at Spectrum News NY1. He holds a B.A. from Binghamton University and an M.A. from Baruch College.
Rene Rotolo
Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer
Rene M. Rotolo became the executive in charge of the Division of Administration and Finance in August 2018 after serving in various positions at Lehman College since 1991. Most recently, she was assistant vice president of Campus Planning and Facilities. Prior to working at Lehman, she worked for several architectural and interior design firms and operated her own firm. She received her undergraduate degree in interior design and space planning from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College.
Ediltrudys Ruiz
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Before becoming the vice president and chief information officer in September 2022, Ediltrudys (Edi) Ruiz was, since September 2015, the assistant vice president for Information Technology. Prior to joining Lehman, Edi served as the Medgar Evers College assistant vice president and chief information officer. Her career in higher education started in accounting and finance, serving at LaGuardia Community College in various capacities, including director of budget and financial accounting systems, fund accountant, and assistant purchasing coordinator. Subsequently, in 2000 Edi joined Bronx Community College, holding several positions with increased responsibilities in Information Technology. Edi holds an M.S. Ed in Higher Education Administration, M.S. in Business Computer Information Systems, and a B.B.A. in Accounting degrees from Bernard Baruch College, and an A.S. degree from LaGuardia Community College. Throughout her twenty plus years career in higher education, Edi has been the recipient of numerous recognitions, including the CUNY 2011 Ribaudo Award for Information Technology Excellence, the Jane N. Ryland Fellowship from EDUCAUSE, the Bronx Community College 2012 “Extra-Mile” Award, multiple CUNY IT awards and others.
Jorge Silva-Puras
Interim Provost
Jorge Silva-Puras joined Lehman College as Interim Provost August 17, 2023. Prior to that he was Interim Dean at the CUNY School of Professional Studies and Provost at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan Puerto Rico. Silva-Puras has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Yale; a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico; and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs Graduate School of Business and the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark.
Jermaine A. Wright
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Jermaine A. Wright joined Lehman College as the vice president for Student Affairs in November 2020. Prior to his arrival at Lehman College, he served as the associate vice president for student affairs at Southern Connecticut State University and held several positions at the City University of New York Central Office. Dr. Wright holds a dual B.A. degree in political science and sociology from Binghamton University, an M.P.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration. He is also a graduate of the Institute of Higher Education at Harvard University, Management Development Program.