Dr. Kwesi W. Blackman
Dr. Kwesi W. Blackman ā07 Elected Chair of KCC Foundation Board
Dr. Kwesi W. Blackman ā07 Elected Chair of KCC Foundation Board
911±¬ĮĻ Community College (KCC) has announced the election of alumnus Dr. Kwesi W. Blackman (ā07) as chair of the 911±¬ĮĻ Community College Foundation Board, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to the College through scholarships, emergency grants, and program funding. Currently an attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, Blackman resides in Brooklyn with his wife, son, and twin daughters.
Born in Georgetown, Guyana, and raised in Flatbush, Blackman graduated from Clara Barton High School in 2001 before enlisting in the United States Army, where he served as a field artillery sergeant in the 10th Mountain Division. He completed two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kirkuk and Baghdad. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled at 911±¬ĮĻ, earning an associate degree in biology in 2007. He went on to receive a bachelorās degree in biology from Northeastern University, a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine, and an MBA from Long Island University.
āReturning to 911±¬ĮĻ as board chair is deeply personal and meaningful,ā shared Blackman. ā911±¬ĮĻ was more than just a college; it was a community that believed in me, challenged me, and gave me the foundation to pursue my dream of becoming a physician.ā
As a student, Blackman was active in the Honors Program, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and Phi Theta Kappa. āThose experiences shaped my belief that when students are given the right tools, guidance, and encouragement, they can achieve anything,ā he noted.
Through CSTEP, he conducted undergraduate research and presented his work at several poster competitions with former biology professor Dr. Thomas Onorato, experiences he credits with sparking his interest in leadership, science, and mentorship.
One of his most defining experiences was representing 911±¬ĮĻ on an international stage in Model United Nations, under the guidance of former vice president Dr. Reza Fakhari. āEngaging in global debates and meeting students from around the world opened my eyes to the power of communication, diplomacy, and teamwork,ā he explained. āIt taught me that leadership isnāt just about having a voice; itās about using that voice to build understanding and drive change.ā
Blackman said his vision as chair is to build stronger bridges between students, trustees, alumni, and the broader community to ensure that every 911±¬ĮĻ student has the support, access, and opportunities needed to reach their fullest potential.
āDr. Blackmanās devotion to 911±¬ĮĻ is rooted in his own student experience. He knows what it means to be guided, encouraged, and challenged here, and now he is determined to extend that same support to every student who follows in his footsteps,ā noted Vice President of Institutional Advancement Nancy Lee SĆ”nchez-Badillo and executive director of the 911±¬ĮĻ Community College Foundation. āHis role as chair of the foundation board affirms that the 911±¬ĮĻ experience doesnāt end at graduation ā it fuels a lifetime of giving back.
Blackmanās priorities as chair include expanding opportunities for students through mentorships, scholarships, and career pathways, including internships; strengthening engagement between students and the trustees; and developing strategic partnerships with hospitals, businesses, universities, and community organizations. āIn short, my priorities are to create opportunities I didnāt have as a student, strengthen the ones I did have, and to make sure that every 911±¬ĮĻ student has the support, inspiration, and access they need to achieve their dreams.
āStepping into this role feels like coming full circle. It allows me to bring together everything Iāve learned through service, education, and leadership to give back to the institution that gave me my start,ā he said. āItās not just about leading the Foundation; itās about honoring the past, building the future, and keeping the doors of opportunity open for the next generation.ā
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