BMCC Mourns Former VP of Administration and Planning Scott Anderson

Editor’s Note: The following tribute was written by Robert Diaz, BMCC’s Vice President of Human Resources

It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and wonderful colleague, Scott Anderson. Scott was a champion of CUNY and Prince of BMCC. He was CUNY through and through.

Granville Scott Anderson is a graduate of the City University of New York. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Queensborough Community College in 1971. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Queens College. In 1996, he received his Masters in Higher Education Administration degree from Baruch College.

Scott had an enormously varied career at CUNY. In 1971 he began his service at CUNY. From 1971 to 1980 he served in a variety of positions at the CUNY Central Office, the final position being Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chancellor of the City University of New York.

In 1982 Scott accepted a position at the City College of New York. He served as the Chief of Staff for the Office of the President.

In January of 1987 he returned to CUNY Central to serve as Project Manager and Special Assistant to the Director of CUNY’s Office of Admissions Services. He then served as the Interim University Director of Student Affairs from December 1990 to August 1992, at which time he was appointed to serve as the Deputy Director of CUNY’s Office of Admission Services.

 In 1994, Scott left CUNY Central and began his association with BMCC. His first appointment at BMCC was to serve as Deputy to the President. He was subsequently appointed to serve as the Director of Human Resources and Labor Designee. He served in this capacity until October 2000 when he assumed the position of Vice President for Administration, Planning and Finance.

During Scott’s 19 years as Vice President for Administration, Planning & Finance, he distinguished himself as a hardworking, hard-driving, invaluable and forward-looking administrator. He never allowed any challenge to deter him from finding a solution that was in the best interest of the college.

Scott fearlessly led BMCC through the facilities and budgeting challenges presented as a result of 9/11 and the loss of Fiterman Hall. Within three weeks after 9/11, he and our B&G staff had 199 Chambers Street ready for returning students. Scott was at the center of the battle to get a building erected to replace the destroyed Fiterman Hall building and the 2012-2013 academic year was launched with the opening of the Miles and Shirley Fiterman Hall.

Scott helped identify Murray Street as a venue that BMCC could use to hold classes, helped get leased space in the building, and renovated the space for college use. He also led a massive effort to upgrade 199 Chambers Street with more attractive common areas, modernized office space and new bathroom facilities.

Scott’s forward-looking vision led him to launch an annual sustainability fair at BMCC and he worked closely with the New York City Power Authority to install on the 199 Chambers Street building rooftop 947 Solar energy panels, making BMCC solar panels the largest public solar panel facility in Manhattan.

Scott oversaw our budget operations with wisdom. Never in his 19 years as our chief budget officer did the college have a deficit.

These are just a few examples of why Scott was so important to BMCC. His leadership, sense of humor, concern for the well-being of our students and determination to make BMCC a great institution will be greatly missed.