News & Events
Chan Named Special Counsel at NYC College of Technology/CUNY
Gilen Chan, an attorney with expertise in ethics, compliance and employment and labor law, has been appointed to the new position of special counsel at New York City College of Technology/CUNY (City Tech). She reports directly to President Russell K. Hotzler and is the College's liaison to The City University Office of the General Counsel.
In her new position, Chan serves as City Tech's legal designee, providing the College with guidance on a wide range of legal and administrative matters. She also functions as the College's affirmative action officer, records management officer, ethics officer and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act program coordinator (in which capacity she oversees the safeguarding of student financial and other nonpublic information).
"I am pleased that Gilen Chan will be working with me to advance the interests of this institution," says President Hotzler. "She brings to City Tech extensive experience as legal counsel for complex public and private organizations. In fact, she has the distinction of having been the first chief compliance officer in the advertising industry. Her credentials as an engineer enhance her ability to make a significant contribution to the life of the College."
Chan, a longtime Brooklyn resident who most recently was senior vice president/director of ethics, Global Compliance Department, for Citigroup Inc., developed and implemented the corporation's global ethics program. Previously, she was vice president/chief compliance officer for Grey Global Group Inc. and, before that, director of human resources for Lifetime Entertainment Services. She also served as compliance counsel and deputy ombudsperson at the National Broadcasting Company Inc., a General Electric Company (GE).
In the public sector, she was managing attorney for the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, employment and labor law attorney for The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and attorney for the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus Inc.
Chan, a native of Brazil, is the oldest of seven children born to Chinese parents (her mother is from Shanghai and her father is from Guangdong), who immigrated to South America and then settled in the United States in the late sixties.
Early on, Chan developed an interest in the sciences during her studies at Brooklyn Technical High School. After receiving an associate degree in mechanical technology from the College of Staten Island/CUNY and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Pratt Institute School of Engineering, she was hired as an engineer at GE Aircraft Engines and went on to hold the position of senior auditor.
It was her mentors at GE who motivated Chan to pursue law school, and after she graduated from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, she started out in the public sector.
"I am so thrilled to return to the public sector in my position at City Tech," Chan says. "I believe the skill-set I’ve gained in my legal career thus far would be helpful in any industry, public or private, and I think it will be very useful in an academic environment."
Chan's foray into ethics and compliance stemmed from her time at GE Aircraft, when investigations and reviews were made into allegations of wrongdoing. She continued focusing on these areas at Grey, NBC and Citigroup. "This type of work is demanding, challenging and rewarding, though frequently time-consuming, so you must believe in yourself, be patient and thoughtful," she explains.
Working with people, gathering information and analyzing processes is what I find most interesting about my job," Chan adds. "Fundamentally, people need rules to set life boundaries, and offering relevant training is key to communicating those rules. I believe I will be able to successfully contribute to City Tech given everything I’ve learned so far in life. Ultimately, the students, our customers, will reap the greatest benefit."
She notes that working in Brooklyn is an added bonus. "Once a Brooklynite, always a Brooklynite," she says with a laugh.
Chan lives in Bay Ridge with her husband, Gene Preudhomme, who is principal law librarian of the New York State Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, and their son.
9/4/07
