Harper Named a Black Trailblazer by City & State
Brian Harper, M.D., M.P.H., vice president for equity and inclusion and chief medical officer, is featured among other honorees selected for inclusion in the inaugural Black Trailblazers list introduced by City & State New York.

The Black Trailblazers list puts a spotlight on Black innovators and groundbreakers shaping politics and policy across the state of New York, including government officials, business executives, nonprofit and labor leaders, academics, activists, and other individuals.
This is Harper’s second recognition in as many months. In December, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) honored him as the Academic Chief Medical Officer of the Year, celebrating his leadership, dedication to addressing inequities in underrepresented communities, and commitment to fostering more inclusive and equitable environments.
“This recognition in City & State New York, in addition to his other recent honor from the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, underscores Dr. Harper’s unwavering commitment to creating positive change as he continues to inspire all of us in the New York Tech community and beyond,” says President Henry C. Foley, Ph.D.
Throughout February, New York Institute of Technology will celebrate Black History Month by hosting a series of events as well as recognize our Black alumni, students, and faculty who are doing great things in their professional and academic careers as well as their communities.
More News
Convocation 2026: Success in a Time of Change
At the annual faculty and staff convocation, New York Tech President Jerry Balentine reflected on the accomplishments over the past year and presented his vision for the future.
The Evolutionary Significance of Humans’ Unique Heel-Toe Walking Pattern
Associate Professor of Anatomy Nathan E. Thompson, Ph.D., contributes to research unveiling clues to the origin of humans’ stride pattern.
Robust Research
New York Tech’s commitment to research paves the way for important and groundbreaking work. Meet three Ph.D. students whose work may improve disaster response, recovery after muscle and bone injuries, and anticancer therapies.
NYITCOM-Arkansas Receives $1.5 Million Grant for Maternal Health Initiative
NYITCOM-Arkansas will use the grant to extend its clinical services focused on rural maternal healthcare access.
Intern Insight: Brandon Vasquez
This summer, architecture student Brandon Vasquez interned with Gensler, a globally recognized architecture, design, and planning firm.
Discover Jiangxi: Two Undergraduate Students’ Experience
For two weeks in July, a nursing student and an architecture student studied on the other side of the globe through the Discover Jiangxi program.