CCNY’s Dee Dee Mozeleski is a 2025 Crain’s Notable in Philanthropy

Dee Dee Mozeleski—senior vice president of the Office of Institutional Advancement, Communications and External Relations (OIACER), executive director of the Foundation for City College, Inc. and senior advisor to the president of The City College of New York—has been named a 2025 Crain’s New York Business Notable Leader in Philanthropy. Mozeleski was selected for her commitment to advancing her industry and community.  

This is not the first time that Crain’s has recognized Mozeleski for her achievements. In 2023, she was a Crain’s Notable in Advertising, Marketing & PR. In 2021, the publication selected her as one of 57 Notables in Nonprofits and Philanthropy for her efforts to help New Yorkers ride out the upheaval wrought by Covid-19.

In her capacity as executive director of the Foundation for City College, Mozeleski manages total assets of more than $405 million. In FY 2023-24, the Foundation raised more than $30 million in contributions and grants as it continued to advance its mission to provide access to educational and research excellence, particularly to students who might not otherwise attend a senior college.

Mozeleski was instrumental in forming the Foundation in late 2019, culminating a three-year process that merged two precursor, and often conflicting, organizations. The current Foundation began operations with an endowment of more than $290 million.

Since then, Mozeleski overhauled CCNY’s public philanthropic profile. She launched its billion-dollar campaign, Doing Remarkable Things Together, in 2022, the 175th anniversary of the College’s founding, while improving the College’s infrastructure to allow greater reach and better stewardship.

Mozeleski’s responsibilities also include workforce development activities, community engagement projects and management of campus emergency needs programs. One such program, Benny's Food Pantry, continues to serve all CUNY staff and students beyond its initial expansion during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Overseeing a diverse staff of 125—many of whom are CCNY alumni—as senior vice president of OIACER, Mozeleski is responsible for the College's external communication profile, and government and community relations. She has been a trusted advisor and confidant to CCNY President Vincent G. Boudreau since she arrived at the College in 2012 as the development director of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, of which Boudreau was then the founding dean.

"Upgrading City College’s philanthropic operation was a central aspect of my strategic plans for the College,” said Boudreau. “Dee Dee has been the chief architect, engineer and implementer of those plans, and the fact that we are well on our way to meeting our ambitious campaign goals is entirely a testament to her professionalism and vision. She richly deserves this recognition, and I am thrilled that she is receiving it this year.”

Mozeleski is also: a cabinet member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s District II, which honored her as Professional of the Year in 2021; a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ New York City chapter and an ethics committee member of AFP Global; and a board member and mentor of the National Scholarship Providers Association. She is also the proud mother of a two-time CCNY graduate.

Since 2017, Crain’s Notables has recognized over 5,000 outstanding leaders across industries. Honorees are selected through a peer nomination and editorial review process.