Columbia U VP Marcelo Velez Arrested Sexual Assault Of Child Under 13

NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Marcelo Velez, a vice president at Columbia University, is facing charges of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13, according to Tuesday reports.

Velez, 56, of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, was taken into custody and charged with aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault by contact, according to authorities.

Woodcliff Lake police responded Sunday to alleged sexual criminal acts that occurred inside Velez’s home.

The relationship between Velez and the victim was not known.

Via Columbia University website:

Marcelo Velez is the Vice President for Manhattanville Development at Columbia University. He serves as the University’s point person on all aspects of development, design and construction of the University’s 6.8 million sq. foot Manhattanville in West Harlem campus expansion.

Marcelo has been with Columbia since 1995 and has held a number of positions with increasing responsibilities. In a prior position as Associate Vice President for Capital Project Management for the Morningside Campus, Marcelo managed a design and construction staff of over 40 and was responsible for a portfolio of active projects budgeted at over half a billion dollars. He has been with Columbia’s Manhattanville Development Group since 2007, first as Associate Vice President for Project Management and Construction before becoming Vice President in 2016. Over the years, he has managed, supervised, or otherwise presided over $1 billion worth of capital construction.

Marcelo holds a BS in civil engineering from Rutgers University, an MBA from Columbia, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York. Marcelo currently serves on the advisor board for the ACE Mentorship Program, Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education’s new master’s degree program in Construction Administration, and as Vice Chair of the Greater New York Construction User Council.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square – wikipedia.