Carnegie Honors UMSV President Susan R. Burns
Carnegie selected University of Mount Saint Vincent President Susan R. Burns for its 2027 Courageous Leadership Award.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in People
Carnegie has chosen Susan R. Burns, president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, to receive its 2027 Courageous Leadership Award. The award honors a college or university president whose strategic vision, student focus and collaborative spirit have moved their institution forward.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes leadership at a Bronx-based institution that has expanded affordability and workforce-focused programs. For New York City students and families, it highlights a university effort to offer lower-cost degree pathways.
The Flex15 undergraduate pathway is priced at $15,000 a year, against a university that has operated for nearly 180 years. The announcement does not disclose financial outcomes or enrollment effects attributable to the programs.
The players
Susan R. Burns
Burns has led the University of Mount Saint Vincent since 2021 and previously held senior academic roles at Clarke University and Morningside College in Iowa.
Carnegie
Carnegie is a philanthropic organization that announced the award and hosts the annual Presidential Appreciation Dinner.
The details
Carnegie's Presidential Appreciation Dinner will host the presentation. Under Burns, the College of Mount Saint Vincent became the University of Mount Saint Vincent in 2024, and she oversaw the formation of Seton College, a two-year associate degree program for students with high academic and financial need. Her tenure also includes The Vincentian Promise, which helps Pell Grant-eligible New Yorkers cover the gap between aid and tuition and fees.
Timeline
2021: Burns assumed the university presidency.
2024: The College of Mount Saint Vincent became the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
January 5, 2027: The award will be presented at Carnegie's Presidential Appreciation Dinner.
Leadership Recognition
Carnegie's Courageous Leadership Award is given each year to one college or university president, and the 2027 honor extends that annual series. Burns' selection places a New York City institution within a program that otherwise recognizes presidents from across higher education.
For students weighing New York City colleges, the Flex15 pathway at $15,000 a year and the Vincentian Promise aid program show concrete options for lower-cost enrollment. Prospective students should compare net costs directly with each institution's aid offerings.
The takeaway
Leadership recognition can spotlight how institutions expand access, and the programs cited here show how a presidency can shape affordability for New York City students. Readers considering higher education should examine tuition pathways alongside financial aid.
What happens next
The award will be presented at Carnegie's Presidential Appreciation Dinner on January 5, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more People profiles of leaders shaping New York City's business and higher education landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
