Medgar Evers College’s President Dr. Rudolph F. Crew says the recent passing of former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning “has a special resonance” at the Central Brooklyn college.
Manning, who was born on Aug. 17, 1946, died on July 2, 2016. He was 69.
The former Trinidad and Tobago leader had received an honorary degree from Medgar Evers College in 2007 and “was committed to strengthening the nation through education,” Dr. Crew said.
“Beyond his commitment to education, his passing is significant to us because so many members of the college community are from Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
Crew noted that, during Manning’s tenure as Prime Minister (1991 to 1995, 2001 to 2010), he “championed the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) program, which gave countless students in his country access to higher education and opportunities.
“His understanding of the importance of human capital in the age of globalization underscores his connection to an institution such as ours,” Dr. Crew added. “We here at Medgar Evers College join our friends, colleagues and families in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world in mourning the passing of Patrick Manning.”
Manning’s death was caused by acute myeloid leukemia.
He is survived by his wife Hazel Manning, and two sons, Brian and David Manning.
Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Medgar Evers College is a growing institution offering both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
The nearly 7,000-member student body primarily comprises those who are the first in their families to attend college.
A senior college within The City University of New York (CUNY) system, Medgar Evers College said it iwas established in 1970 “with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community.
“With a commitment to students who desire a sound academic foundation, as well as an opportunity for personal development, Medgar Evers College seeks to provide high-quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education,” the college said.
