"The arrival of Amazon’s 'HQ2' in Long Island City truly is an exciting opportunity for our region," writes NYIT President Hank Foley, Ph.D., in an op-ed published in Long Island Business News. "The headquartering of a company with a market value 30 times what it was 10 years ago in proximity to the world’s financial capital will prove very compelling to smaller tech companies and entrepreneurs normally attracted to Silicon Valley. Beyond business, it will be an amazing socioeconomic advantage for greater New York."

Thousands of new jobs and an estimated revenue boost of $27.5 billion total over the next quarter century are promised to accompany Amazon's Long Island City headquarters, he adds. But with a new HQ2 facility comes the need for a talented workforce tailor-made for maximizing this opportunity for the good of the company, NYIT students, and the regional economy.

"Especially appealing to a company like Amazon is the makeup of the regional student body," Foley continues. "Given NYIT’s 'majority minority' population, with a significant percentage of students who are first-generation collegians, Amazon’s eyes are sure to light up: Similar demographics comprise the bulk of its customer base."