Félix Matos Rodríguez oversees the largest urban public university system in the United States.
Mr. Rodríguez, principal of City University of New York (CUNY). He was appointed to the role in 2019, becoming the first Hispanic and person of color to lead the sprawling organization. “It was a great honor,” he said. “You know you’re opening the door to others and you hope that leads to more inclusion.”
Rodríguez, 60, who grew up in Puerto Rico, began teaching at Hunter College in 2000, including a course on women’s history in the Caribbean. He lives in the Pelham town of Westchester, near the Bronx border, with his wife, Liliana Arabia, 59, a retired dentist, their cairn terrier, Bailey, and occasionally, their two sons, Lucas Matos, 20, and Juan Carlos Matos, 19, are in college and go home often.
SILENT I put my iPhone at 6am. It’s a classic ringtone and reminds me of something that doesn’t exist anymore. Guys and my wife are not morning people, so this is my peaceful time. I drink two different coffees, with skim milk, that I have shipped from Puerto Rico: Café Madre Isla and 787, was the old area code for Puerto Rico. They are very sacred. Then I got a bowl of branded cereal and a chocolate chip cookie from Madonia Bakery.
NEWS, CARBS Three years ago, I turned cold and started reading everything online. I read The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, El Nuevo Dia, a Puerto Rican newspaper, and two newsletters, Politico and City & State. I check my work email to make sure nothing urgent happened. Then I took Bailey, the queen of the house, for the first walk. If I don’t have enough biscotti, I get in our pickup truck and run fast to pick up more. When I get there, I’ll have another cookie or some olive bread. You always cheat when you go to the bakery.
TWO-CAKE PLANT Around 7:30 or 8:00 Liliana might still be in bed reading her phone and I’ll grab my bike, a Blue Trek that I bought during the pandemic, and go for a walk. Cycling during the pandemic has become a life-saving escape mechanism. There is a great network of paths in the Bronx. Sometimes I go to Orchard Beach, City Island or Pelham Bay, but usually the Hutchinson River Park Road to Whitestone Bridge or the path of Mercy College in the Bronx. Sometimes I cycle with my friends. If that happens, we stop at Archie’s in City Island.
GO OUT FOR LUNCH At 10:30 I returned. Negotiations begin about where to eat brunch. Consensus restaurants that all family members enjoy are: PersepolisUpper East Side Persian of Manhattan, or Thai Villa, at Union Square. Then we get gelato. I like candy. I don’t make desserts during the week, so weekends are special. I’m a chestnut and chocolate guy.
SILVER SCREEN We gradually felt comfortable filming again. We can go to a Royal Cinema theater or hit Angelika. My wife has great power, we try to influence her. With a family of four, there is a compromise. Guys, when they’re with us, like action and mainstream movies; we like foreign movies and art.
SMALLER SCREEN We will be back before 5 or so. I took Bailey for a walk. Liliana and I could hang out on the deck or we could watch TV. My wife likes the British series and the copyright on Netflix. During the pandemic, my boys cast me in “Better Call Saul”, the movie I am still watching, and two anime series, “Attack on Titan” and “Death Note”. I also watched “Operation Mincemeat.” Around 6:30 or 7, we might snack on cheese and crackers or hummus with pita.
MOTHERS We each called our moms and started talking to them around 8. Liliana’s mother was in Puerto Rico; mine in Orlando, Fla. Both of our mothers are transitioning to assisted living. It is a great sense of responsibility and a sense of relief that they will be well taken care of. My brother works remotely from my mom’s house, but he’s going back to work so this will be a big transition for her.
SENDING MISSIONS Then I go into work mode. I respond to important emails – flooding the classroom; power outages on campus – with 25 facilities there’s always something going on, or I’m getting ready for upcoming meetings or events, like cutting the ribbon to inaugurate a new science facility.
BED At 11:30 or midnight I arrive. My wife was already in bed, watching the news or “The Great British Baking Show”. We chatted about the upcoming week and whether she would join me for a specific appearance. We just did the Dominica Day Parade. These events are something different for her. I can read a little bit. Currently, it is “Walls around opportunity“By Gary Orfield. Usually I try to convince her to turn off the TV. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don’t.
Sunday Routine readers can follow Félix Matos Rodríguez @ChancellorCUNY or on Instagram @cunychancellor.
