Gregory Mantsios

Dr. Gregory Mantsios is the Founding Dean of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLUS), having been appointed to this position in January 2018. Prior to this role, he served for 34 years as the founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies at CUNY. His academic career includes faculty positions in sociology at William Paterson University and leadership as Director of Labor Studies at SUNY's Empire State College. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Urban Studies from Queens College, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the Union Institute and University.

Dr. Mantsios's research focuses on critical areas of social and economic justice, with primary interests including:

• Labor education and workforce development
• Economic inequality and poverty studies
• Labor relations and union revitalization
• Urban community development
• Class dynamics in American society
• Worker empowerment and social movements

His publications consistently address themes of class analysis, labor movement strategies, media representation of social issues, and international labor comparisons, particularly examining Vietnam and China. The research trajectory shows a strong emphasis on systemic inequality, worker education reform, and the evolving role of labor in global economies.

Dr. Mantsios has received significant recognition for his contributions, including:

• 2018 Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Labor Education Award from the United Association for Labor Education
• 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Labor and Law from City & State New York

He pioneered transformative educational initiatives, creating college-degree pathways for thousands of non-traditional students from working-class backgrounds. At the Murphy Institute, he established a Center for public programming and leadership training. As chief architect of SLUS, he successfully campaigned for its establishment, cementing his legacy in creating institutional structures for worker education and urban studies.