Matthew Goldstein (born November 10, 1941) is formerly the chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY). Goldstein was appointed CUNY chancellor on September 1, 1999. He is the first City University graduate to head the University, having received his undergraduate degree from City College. Previously, Goldstein served as president of Baruch College from 1991 to 1998, and president of Adelphi University, from 1998 to 1999.
Goldstein is credited for raising CUNY admissions standards, creating thousands of additional full-time faculty positions, and otherwise reforming a system deemed by a 1999 mayoral task force report to be "an institution adrift." Goldstein led a successful effort to revitalize the CUNY system. During his tenure, he established CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College, CUNY School of Pharmacy at York College, the William E. Macaulay Honors College, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and CUNY School of Professional Studies. He proclaimed Decade of Science to create the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, on the The City College of New York campus in Manhattan, as well as additional new science facilities on CUNY campus in each the five boroughs of the City of New York. Moreover, distinguished faculty in the STEM fields where recruited and retained from around the world. Under Goldstein's leadership, the State's Teacher Certification exams rose above a 98% pass-rate, and CUNY's first capital fundraising campaign successfully raised over $1.4 billion.
On April 12, 2013, Goldstein announced his plans to retire, effective summer of 2013.
Goldstein's honors include the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Academic Leadership Award (2007). He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006).