LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Dr. Karen L. Gould upon the occasion
of her retirement after seven years of distinguished service to Brooklyn
College on June 16, 2016

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its
history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educa-
tional professionals and the students they inspire; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant milestones in the distinguished careers of those outstanding
educational leaders, whose dedication and achievements have been instru-
mental in developing character and academic excellence in the young
people of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Dr. Karen L. Gould upon the occasion of her retirement after seven years
of distinguished service to Brooklyn College, to be feted with a Retire-
ment Celebration and Cocktail Party held in her honor on Thursday, June
16, 2016, at Liberty Warehouse, Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born in San Francisco, California, in 1948, Karen L. Gould
spent her junior year of high school as an exchange student in Southern
France, the foundation of her interest in French culture and literature;
and
WHEREAS, In 1969, Karen L. Gould received her diploma from the
Sorbonne in Paris, France; one year later, she earned her Bachelor's
degree cum laude in French from Occidental College; she then furthered
her education by obtaining her Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the
University of Oregon in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Karen L. Gould began her teaching career at Bucknell
University in 1973; she also held tenured faculty appointments at Virgi-
nia Polytechnic University from 1980-1985, and Bowling Green State
University from 1985-1996; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Dr. Karen L. Gould served as Dean of the College of
Arts and Letters at Old Dominion University from 1996-2001, Dean of the
McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati
from 2001-2007, and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic
Affairs at California State University, Long Beach, from 2007-2009; and
WHEREAS, In June of 2009, Dr. Karen L. Gould was named the ninth Pres-
ident of Brooklyn College, a campus of the City University of New York,
a position from which she will officially retire in June of 2016; she is
the first woman to hold this distinguished post; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Karen L. Gould's luminous leadership, Brooklyn
College has significantly increased student retention and graduation
rates, accelerated fundraising goals, expanded international education
and global partnerships, increased internship opportunities for
students, advanced business and community partnerships, raised signif-
icant funds to launch the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema
at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, completed construction of
a new athletic field, launched construction of the new Leonard and
Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts, and purchased an adjacent lot
for future academic program development, as well as received significant
state support towards the construction of a new Roosevelt Science Teach-
ing Commons facility; and
WHEREAS, An internationally known scholar in the field of French-Cana-
dian literature, Dr. Karen L. Gould is the author or co-editor of six
books and more than 50 articles and essays on contemporary Quebec liter-
ature, francophone women writers, and the modern French novel; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Karen L. Gould has received numerous grants,
fellowships and awards, including a Fulbright Senior Fellowship and
fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, American
Association of University Women, and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to both her community and profession, Dr. Karen L.
Gould is a vital member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors and served two terms on the CUNY Research Foundation Board of
Directors; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Karen L. Gould is also a participant of numerous organ-
izations committed to furthering academic, local and global initiatives
in higher education, international affairs and women's leadership; and
WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to education,
Dr. Karen L. Gould received commendation from the United Way for her
philanthropic activities and was honored by her alma mater, Occidental
College, as a distinguished alumna in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Educators like Dr. Karen L. Gould have provided a tremendous
service to the future of our State and Nation, inspiring generations of
young people in their educational journeys and ensuring their success in
their future years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Karen L. Gould's dedication to her students, faculty and
staff at Brooklyn College has been her hallmark for seven years; under
her luminous leadership, the college has increased programs and
services, significantly expanding access to high education opportunities
for Kings County residents; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Karen L. Gould's quest for excellence is well known; she
attributes much of her success to the dedicated ethical team of educa-
tors, supportive friends, caring and involved parents, and wonderful,
enthusiastic students; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Karen L. Gould has clearly had an enduring impact on the
students of Brooklyn College, as well as on the community-at-large, and
accordingly merits recognition and applause for her impressive dedi-
cation to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those individuals who work to support our proud tradition of
institutions of higher education by providing their skills and talents
to our colleges; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Dr. Karen L. Gould upon the occasion of her retirement after
seven years of distinguished service to Brooklyn College; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
.SO DOC S R4897 RESO TEXT 2015
smitted to Dr. Karen L. Gould.