Charles L. DeCicco

I received a Pulitzer Scholarship from Columbia University, which would have paid full tuition for four years. Nevertheless I chose to attend CCNY because it was an outstanding school and also offered free tuition. I have never regretted that choice. Professor Irving Rosenthal, who trained many outstanding journalists, liked my writing and recommended me to Israel Levine, the director of public relations. He arranged for several freelance writing assignments and hired me upon my graduation in 1967. That opened the door to a wonderful career at CCNY. Beginning as a writer I served for a time as sports information director, acting PR director, and eventually director of public relations until retiring in 2003. Then I became editor of the CCNY Alumnus Magazine until 2014, and also a writer-consultant for CUNY's Office of University Relations from 2003 to 2017. My career brought me into contact with a host of extraordinary faculty, students, alumni, and campus visitors. For example in 1990 I had the honor of greeting and then accompanying Nelson Mandela when he arrived on campus for a nationally televised town hall meeting. That was a truly memorable moment!