2007 marked the 50th anniversary of Bronx Community College which
was established in 1957 after a decade of effort by civic-minded groups in Bronx County to meet the growing need for increased higher education facilities in the “Borough of Universities and Progress.” Classes began with 125 students on February 2, 1959 at the former site of the Bronx High School of Science at Creston Avenue and 184th Street. With Dr. Morris Meister as its first president, the college soon developed into a much-acclaimed comprehensive community college offering a broad range of academic programs.
Dr. James A. Colston became the second president of Bronx Community College on August 1, 1966, following Dr. Meister’s retirement. For the next decade, the college grew dramatically, spurred in 1970 by the introduction of open admissions. By 1972, the College was occupying seven additional centers within walking distance of the main building and serving approximately 14,000 matriculated students.
In 1973, the New York State Dormitory Authority acquired the New York University Heights Campus for the use of Bronx Community College. Beginning with the Fall, 1973 semester, operations were moved to the present 50-acre site overlooking the Harlem River.
Upon Dr. Colston’s retirement in 1976, Dr. Morton Rosenstock was named Acting President.
On September 1, 1977, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr., became the third president of the college. During his 17-year tenure, the college intensified its outreach to New York City's economic and educational institutions through partnerships with business and industry to better ensure the success of graduates. New programs were developed in high growth professions in the fields of health, the technologies and human services.
Dr. Leo A. Corbie was named Acting President after Dr. Brown’s retirement in June, 1993.
Dr. Carolyn G. Williams became the college’s fourth President on August 26, 1996. Under her ten years of leadership, national and international outreach programs have been expanded through the National Center for Educational Alliances (NCEA). Among others, there are ongoing activities in Salzburg, Austria and South Africa.
Facilities have been renovated to accommodate the increased demand for classroom and laboratory space in the liberal arts in Colston Hall and the sciences and technologies in Meister Hall, and the Academic Computing Center and Learning Center have been enhanced with the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment.
Funding has been secured and plans are under way for construction of a new classroom building and a new facility to house the campus Child Development Center for the preschool children of students. Presently, Bronx Community College is experiencing a major transformation heralding expansion of its campus facilities, its curricula and its services for students.