Interim VP Cynthia King Vance is concluding her role at Hunter College as Interim Vice President for Strategic Initiatives on June 30, having fulfilled her mandate to help Hunter navigate its leadership transition to a new president.
“It is no exaggeration to say that this would have been a different transition had Cynthia not agreed to re-join Hunter College in July 2023,” said Hunter President Ann Kirschner. “For her, it was a return to Hunter, where she served for seven years as a strategic adviser to the president, focusing primarily on initiatives to drive student success. For us, what a huge boost for the transition team!”
Cynthia also knows Hunter in the classroom having created and taught its entrepreneurship course for many years.
“It has been an honor to serve Hunter this year. I am grateful to President Kirshner for her leadership and her generosity as a partner, to my colleagues for their talents and commitment and to Hunter’s students for their inspiration,” Vance said. “I look forward to cheering on Hunter’s continuing success in its next chapter.”
In a letter announcing Vance’s departure, Kirschner praised her dedication to public education, the benefits of her executive and consulting background, and her experience in managing organizations during leadership transitions — plus her “all-around sparkling smarts.” In 2022, Vance served as the Interim President and CEO of New York Public Radio and has spent 20 years working in public education.
During the past year, Vance worked as President Kirschner’s deputy, helping assess Hunter’s organizational capacity, strategy and culture while advancing academic, budget, and operational priorities. Vance, a Harvard MBA who started her career at McKinsey & Company, brought a data-driven approach to engage the leadership team in creative problem-solving.
“In this year of extreme highs and lows, Hunter benefited so much from a colleague so skillful and committed,” Kirschner said. “I am fortunate to have her as the trusted partner and friend who helped me to fill the 17th floor with ideas, energy, compassion, analysis, and — as often as possible — laughter.”
