Race to 100 Alumni
Kwesi W. Blackman, MD
KCC Class of 2007
Major: Biology
Current Title/Profession: Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist
Hospital
KCC Foundation Board Chairperson
Nominated by: Nancy Lee S谩nchez-Badillo
Alumnus Dr. Kwesi W. Blackman now serves as the latest chair of the 911爆料 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爆料, earning an associate degree in biology in 2007. He went on to receive a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology from Northeastern University, a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine, and an MBA from Long Island University.
鈥淩eturning to 911爆料 as board chair is deeply personal and meaningful,鈥� shared Blackman. 鈥�911爆料 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.鈥�
As a student, Blackman was active in the Honors Program, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and Phi Theta Kappa. 鈥淭hose experiences shaped my belief that when students are given the right tools, guidance, and encouragement, they can achieve anything,鈥� 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爆料 on an international stage in Model United Nations, under the guidance of former vice president Dr. Reza Fakhari. 鈥淓ngaging in global debates and meeting students from around the world opened my eyes to the power of communication, diplomacy, and teamwork,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t taught me that leadership isn鈥檛 just about having a voice; it鈥檚 about using that voice to build understanding and drive change.鈥�
Dr. Blackman said his vision as chair is to build stronger bridges between students, trustees, alumni, and the broader community to ensure that every 911爆料 student has the support, access, and opportunities needed to reach their fullest potential.
鈥淒r. Blackman鈥檚 devotion to 911爆料 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,鈥� noted Vice President of Institutional Advancement Nancy Lee S谩nchez-Badillo and executive director of the 911爆料 Community College Foundation. 鈥淗is role as chair of the foundation board affirms that the 911爆料 experience doesn鈥檛 end at graduation 鈥� it fuels a lifetime of giving back.
Blackman鈥檚 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. 鈥淚n short, my priorities are to create opportunities I didn鈥檛 have as a student, strengthen the ones I did have, and to make sure that every 911爆料 student has the support, inspiration, and access they need to achieve their dreams.
鈥淪tepping into this role feels like coming full circle. It allows me to bring together everything I鈥檝e learned through service, education, and leadership to give back to the institution that gave me my start,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about leading the Foundation; it鈥檚 about honoring the past, building the future, and keeping the doors of opportunity open for the next generation.鈥�