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Vintage black and white photo of a ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ classroom with ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ 120 wordmark over it.
A ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Deep Dive

ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ at 120

Celebrating 120 Years of ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ.

Since 1906, ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ has been built on belief—in access, in ambition, and in the people willing to chase something more. One hundred and twenty years later, that belief still drives everything forward. This is a deep dive into the archives...and into what makes ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ, ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ.

Homer ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ at his desk in the ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Study.

The Purpose of ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ

Some institutions wait for the future to arrive. ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ has spent 120 years going after it—preparing lawyers, nurses, technologists, and artists not for the world that was, but for the one taking shape now. This isn’t ambition or luck. It’s 120 years of deliberate evolution.

120 Years in Motion

For 120 years, ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ has moved with New York, transforming ambition into action and education into opportunity. From one classroom to a university shaped by its city, this is the story of momentum made human.

Black and white image fading to color of the groundbreaking of One ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Plaza in 1967.
Black and white composite image of Marks Hall and Helen and Wayne Marks in 1962.

Winning in Westchester

What began as quiet farmland in Pleasantville has grown into a vibrant hub of learning, partnership, and possibility. As ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ celebrates 120 years, the institution’s presence in Westchester tells a remarkable story—of community impact, student opportunity, and the power of place. Discover how ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ’s roots in Westchester continue to shape its future.

Not just dates and milestones, but momentum. This timeline traces the defining moments that shaped ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ, from its founding in 1906 to the institution it is today.

Black and what photo of the New York Tribune building circa 1900.

In This Moment, In This Place

ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ students wears a tan blazer

"The thing that connects all ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ students is the shared goal of chasing your dreams."

—Lizi Imedashili ’26, BS in Information Systems

ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ student speaks into a phonr

"I think that every student that goes here has this underlying ambition and high-achieving personality."

—Aubrie Swaenepoel ’27, BFA in Acting for Film and Media

Omar Tabanjeh in a Haub Law classroom.

"I think Haub expects us to be decent advocates. I don't mean decent in the sense that we're good at what we do, but decent in the sense that we treat everyone with respect."

—Omar Tabanjeh '27, Juris Doctor Program

close up of the contents list of the university's archival cornerstone box

Curating Curiosities

Did you know Fred Kelly, brother to Gene, taught dance at ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ? Or that the public speaking requirement was a passionate value of founder Homer ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ? Or that ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ used to have a championship fencing team? For 42 years, University archivist and resident ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ historian Ellen Sowchek has been sharing her infectious enthusiasm for ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ history.

A Milestone Year

As we celebrate 120 years of ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ, we’re honoring a legacy that began in 1906 with a bold belief that education should create opportunity. For 120 years, ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ has opened doors, launched careers, and transformed lives. That story continues because of you.

On April 22–23, we invite you to be part of the next chapter during our 1906 Giving Day Challenge.

1906 Challenge ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Giving Day superimposed over an image of the ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Glee Club from 1951.

About This Publication

Produced by ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ's Division of University Relations, this award-winning digital publication is distributed to the ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Community and friends of ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ biannually. This deep dive was developed by a team of writers with the assistance of a custom GPT model using OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While the team collaborated on research, writing, and editing, they take collective responsibility for the final text. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ.

Special thanks to University Archivist Ellen Sowchek.