Anthony Cruz
Anthony is the CFA’s Project Administrator.
My role in the CFA
As Project Administrator, I provide leadership and support for the full suite of programs, events, initiatives, and special projects emanating from and across the Center and our dynamic Vice Provost, Charlton McIlwain. I also serve as a member of Assistant Vice Provost Usheevii King’s cabinet, offering my insights into the Center’s ongoing strategizing and planning of the opportunities we offer faculty.
Favorite part of my job
My favorite part of being a Project Administrator is that I have a great balance between behind-the-scenes work—the communications, logistics planning, and strategy-setting that makes our programs and events happen—and managing the tangible and positive impact of our work and how it affects faculty. I love work that looks a bit different every day, and the Center’s range of programming allows me to grow and learn through the variety of projects we roll out each semester.
Proudest recent accomplishment at work
My first major event as Project Administrator (and my favorite event so far at CFA!) was our 2024 University-wide New Faculty Orientation. I was excited to help welcome over 150 new faculty to the NYU community and introduce them to the wide variety of offices and centers that support our faculty and global network. I noted their excitement too at being in a room full of like-minded colleagues and peers, and the camaraderie they experienced, especially when playing NYU Jeopardy!
I love work that looks a bit different every day
Anthony presenting at a Fall Fridays workshop for new faculty in September 2024
Proudest recent accomplishment outside work
I am passionate about advocacy efforts to make our communities a better and more equitable place to live. As a Governance Team Member at the New York State PTA, I recently advocated for every K–12 student in New York to be guaranteed free breakfast and lunch, and the proposal was included in Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address! This has been several years in the making, so I am proud to have this issue recognized by our state as a priority. I look forward to the work ahead to make this proposal a reality.
What I’d do at NYU if I could switch jobs for one week
I think I would switch jobs with NYU’s Chief of Staff or another senior advisor to the President. Experiencing NYU from this vantage point would be incredibly insightful in learning how strategic priorities balance out with the day-to-day operations of managing an institution as large, global, and diverse as ours.
Gillian Gualtieri-Miller
Director, Faculty Cluster Initiative
Anthony is an incredible colleague. His kind spirit, attention to detail, and dedication to the university, his colleagues, and his work are rare and admirable. Whether it’s organizing a large-scale event, attending to the most minute of needs, or simply providing a smile and a fun story to brighten your day, my work life (and the work of the Center at large) is more effective, more efficient, more thoughtful, and more fun because of Anthony’s kindness and brilliance. He is a leader in our office and a bright light for the future of higher education more broadly.
Alexandria Martinez Meier
Director, Strategic Initiatives & Community Engagement
One of the qualities I value most about working with Anthony is his proactive mindset. He consistently approaches challenges with a solution-oriented attitude, often being the first to propose thoughtful, well-informed solutions. Whether leveraging his past experiences or conducting quick, effective research, Anthony’s resourcefulness has set a high standard for collaboration.