Assisting returning troops with obtaining the credentials they need to successfully enter the workforce was the theme at the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing, held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on April 29.  The Forum provided an opportunity for key stakeholders from around the country, to share ideas on how to streamline credentialing and licensing opportunities for U. S. service members, veterans, and their spouses.

Alexandra Tarasko, Professor and Deputy Chairperson, Nursing; Chair, Faculty Executive Committee atQueensborough, attended the event on behalf of Dr. William Ebenstein, Dean for Health and Human Services at The City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Ebenstein recently chose Queensborough to initiate a pilot program in nursing that would help accelerate the education of Veterans who are medics by offering college credits for content based on previous education and training.  This could potentially be used as a template for other CUNY schools.

“The training for medics is standardized across all branches of the armed services,” said Professor Tarasko. “Our mission is to provide them with additional skills through a bridge program so that qualified candidates may enter our nursing program.”

The Veterans Initiative for Accelerated Access in the Nursing Program at QCC will feature a specialized team of nursing faculty and administrators, including Kevin Stevens, Coordinator of Veterans Affairs in the Office of Veterans Affairs.

“This is huge step forward in working toward a military-friendly campus model,” said Mr. Stevens, who estimated that approximately 300 Veterans are currently enrolled at Queensborough.

Professor and Project Director Georgina Colalillo said, “The first challenge we face is identifying students who want to be nurses and already have the military training.  The next step is to develop an appropriate curriculum.”

“We believe Veterans can have career transition and ability as well as credit for their expertise,” said Professor Carol Soto, who is heading Curriculum Development and Design. “The program will afford them the opportunity to enter the nursing program and achieve upward mobility.”

Currently there are some 4,200 Veterans attending two and four-year colleges across CUNY with a vast number of additional troops expected to be returning soon from Afghanistan, many of whom will be in need of support services as they begin navigating CUNY’s academic terrain.

Gail Patterson, Advisor for the Health Related Sciences Academy offered her perspective. “My role will be to help Veterans connect to the College’s many academic resources, and encourage them to check in with me on a regular basis.”

Additional team leaders for The City University of New York include Lisa Beatha, Director of CUNY Course & Transfer Information.

Veteran and QCC Alum Pursues a New Calling in Healthcare

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Eric Kim, ʻ12, R.N., who resides with his family in Bellerose, Queens, graduated fromQueensborough in December of 2012 with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Nursing.

Eric served stateside as a U.S. Marine Corps Radio Operator in the Communications Battalion from 1996-2002. In that capacity, he traveled around the country for other units and to train with various divisions. He also interacted with Navy Hospital Corpsmen, with whom he felt a “strong camaraderie and a profound respect for their bravery on the battlefield.” His inspiring experiences with medical orderlies planted a seed that would grow in the years to come.

During Eric’s duties as a Marine Reservist, he enrolled at John Jay College of Criminal Justice because “it felt like a natural next step,” however, he realized that it wasn’t the right time for him to return to school and so he entered the international wholesale courier industry field, in which he worked for the next decade.

In the midst of this period, a member of Eric’s immediate family became extremely ill and was hospitalized for many weeks. The long days and nights in the I.C.U. gave him ample opportunity to observe the complexities of medical care, especially from a nurses’ perspective.

“Watching what my loved one went through awoke a calling in me,” said Eric.  “I made a commitment to myself to be part of something bigger, to have a fulfilling career, to become a good nurse.”

Eric described being attracted to the Nursing program at Queensborough because of its renowned reputation as one the strongest and largest nursing programs in New York State.

He remembers that, upon enrolling in 2009, he was greeted with personalized support and encouragement from faculty and administrators who urged him to continue his education.

Eric added, “Just as important was connecting with other Veterans at QCC who understood not only what we’d all been through together but also what it was like for us to be back in school.”

Upon graduation from Queensborough, Eric received the Eva Bobrow Nursing Award in memory of Abdul Bodden, “for a graduate who exhibits excellent academic performance and high professional standards.” “Eric is truly worthy of this award,” said Anne Marie Menendez, Professor and Chairperson, Nursing.

Eric passed the NCLEX-RN in March of 2013 and is in the process of applying for positions as a Registered Nurse in Hospital Emergency Rooms. He is also pursuing an RN-BSN degree at Drexel University Online.

When asked what advice he would offer fellow Veterans, he said, “You can shine in school and in a new career, just as you did on the battlefield. You may wear a different uniform or be in a different surrounding, but your positive attitude can transfer into a rewarding civilian life.”

Over the past year, QCC’s science and mathematics students have been engaging in research activities funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program, Research Initiative for Minority Students (RIMS). They presented their research at the final seminar, held at QCC in the Medical Arts Building on May 10.

Students conducted research in areas that included Antifungal Activity of Chinese Herbal Extracts, Metal Contamination in Dandelion Supplements, Effects of Graphine Oxide on Escherichia coli and the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum in New York City.

The student researchers were mentored by distinguished faculty mentors in the Department of Biological Sciences and Geology at Queensborough as well as by Dr. Francisco Villegas, Behavioral Sciences at York College and Dr. Sanjai Kumar, Biochemistry, Queens College.

In November of 2012, biology students Michael Wilkinson and Christian Rivoira presented their research at the national Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) where they received the Cell Biology and Physiology Awards, respectively.

From left: Diane Marin, Student;  Trisha Griffith, Student; Evelyn Teran, Program Associate; Christian Rivoira, Student; Dr. Patricia Schneider, Director QCC-NIH Bridges Program; Dr. James Timbilla; Viviana Torres, Student; Michael Wilkinson, Student; Dr. Raji Subramaniam, Seminar Coordinator; Dr. Mohammad Javdan; Paola Lozada, Student; Dr. Francisco Villegas, Behavioral Sciences at York College; Dr. Urzula Golebiewska; Dr. Regina Sullivan; Cynthia Webster, Student

More than 255 abstracts – an all-time record – were presented by more than 300 students at the 9th Annual Honors Conference, held May 3 at Queensborough Community College. Five other colleges took part: Borough of Manhattan Community College, Kingsborough Community College, New York City College of Technology, Nassau Community College and Queens College. Five additional institutions: Hofstra, St. John’s, Berkeley College, LIU-CW Post and SUNY-Empire State College sent representatives for potentially interested transfer students.

Dr. Diane B. Call, President of Queensborough Community College, welcomed guests and thanked the faculty and staff “who tirelessly help students reach beyond the limits of the classroom through their guidance and mentorship.”

Dr. Avrom J. Caplan, Associate University Dean for Research at The City College of New York, congratulated the mentors and mentees for their dedication to academic success.

The opening program spotlighted three QCC student performances, including two from the Department of Music: the Mozart aria Un ́aura Amorosa sung by Tito Gutierrez and a composition based on the Species Counterpoint by Utsab Giri. Katerina Cinquemani, Sean Harrison and Peter Huang from the Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department enacted selected scenes from Our Town by Thornton Wilder.

Students made their scholarly presentations across the academic disciplines including Biological Sciences and Geology, English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Engineering Technology, Service Learning, Business, andMathematics and Computer Science.

Special recognition was given to the members of Queensborough’s supportive administration and dedicated faculty mentors who helped make the occasion possible: Dr. Diane B. Call, President; Dr. Karen Steele, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs; Michele Cuomo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; and Dr. Paris Svoronos, Professor, Chemistry and Chair of the Honors Committee.

Dr. Svoronos said, “This is an academic feast that once more proves our jobs are priceless.”

The Single Stop program at Queensborough – which provides students and their families access to benefits through a grant from Single Stop USA – reports a 1,333 percent increase in cash and non-cash benefits over the past three years.

“The remarkable success of the program is a testament both to our students’ determination to succeed academically and to the quality of our proactive, comprehensive support services,” said Antonio Luna, ’08, Project Coordinator for Single Stop USA, a non-profit organization. During the time that Mr. Luna was a student at Queensborough, he worked part-time as a College Assistant in the Office of New Student Enrollment Services. When the Freshman Academies launched in 2009, Mr. Luna served as a Freshman Coordinator and as an academic advisor in the summer of 2011.

He adds “Many of our students are under enormous pressure to hold down a job, care for their families, and do well in school. Our mission is to help them determine their eligibility for such necessities as childcare, Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance and much more.”

One such student is Yecenia Congote, who is majoring in liberal arts and sciences. She lives with her family in Bayside and aspires to become a radiologist – in part because of her aunt, who was a nurse in Colombia. When Yecenia’s not working or studying, she enjoys karaoke and participates in volunteer activities within her community.

The road leading to this point in Yecenia’s life is complex. She first enrolled at Queensborough six years ago but her academic experience was derailed after her father was deported to Colombia. As a result, she became a part-time student so that she could work to help support her mother and younger brother, Bryan.

“At first it was difficult to balance work and school and eventually it became impossible,” she said.

In 2009, Yecenia withdrew from Queensborough and worked full-time for an international real estate company,Multicasa, where she was quickly promoted to assistant manager. Two years later, a record number of illegal immigrants were deported which led to a free fall in the companies’ client base and the office closed.

“When I applied for other real estate jobs I was repeatedly rejected and realized I needed to go back to school and continue my education.”

In 2011, Yecenia returned to Queensborough, the same year that immigration issues forced her mother to leave New York. Yecenia was about to lose her footing again when Tony Luna stepped in to offer assistance through the Single Stop program.

“He hired me as a work study student in the Single Stop office and helped me prepare paperwork for benefits such as food stamps. He even connected us with a lawyer who counseled my mother and made it possible for her to stay in the U.S.

“Tony instilled in me the resolve to never give up,” said Yecenia. “I hope other students learn from my experience because they may also be eligible for these services that can make a big difference in their lives.”

Single Stop Project Coordinator Comes Full Circle

Amawati Gonesh was first introduced to Queensborough as a student atMartin Van Buren High School in Queens Village. There, she participated in Queensborough’s Tech Prep (College Now) program and earned six college credits to jump start the next phase of her academic career.

Upon her graduation from high school, Amawati attended LaGuardia Community College and obtained an Associate degree in Liberal Arts before moving on to Queens College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

In 2009, Amawati was hired as a College Assistant in the office of New Student Enrollment Services and then became an adjunct for the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) academy where she assisted incoming STEM students with advisement and registration. Soon thereafter she was encouraged to apply for the full-time position of Project Coordinator at Single Stop where she began working in December of 2011.

“I remember when I first started working at Single Stop how rewarding it was to help students get access to basic services, such as health insurance. I still feel that way each time I can open a door of hope for someone,” said Amawati, whose main responsibility is benefit screening.

She added, “Looking back, I wish I had had professional, free, one-on-one counseling about filing my taxes, managing my budget and other services when I was in college.”

Ruby Singh, a Business Administration major, has received the David A. Garfinkel CUNY Community Colleges Essay Contest prize, a statewide writing contest sponsored by the Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York.

Students from approximately fifty SUNY and CUNY community colleges participated in the contest, submitting essays based on Cyberspace and the Law: What are Our Rights and Responsibilities?

Ms. Singh, who chose the issue of Digital Piracy: How to Balance Your Personal Life vs. the Digital World, received a $1,000 award at a ceremony in Albany on May 1, attended by the offices of the Chief Judge of the State of New York, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Bench and Bar of New York. She is the second student at Queensborough to receive the award. In 2009, Business student Dawar Jamal was named the winner of the David A. Garfinkel Essay Prize.

“The research I conducted for my essay exposed how casual browsing of the internet can have a potentially negative effect on major areas of your life—beyond just job applications.” Ms. Singh will graduate from QCC in June 2013 and continue her studies at Baruch College with a major in Finance and a minor in Business Law.

Read Ruby’s essay here.

“The Garfinkel Essay contest has been an amazing opportunity for our students to distinguish themselves as writers and researchers,” said Dr. Christine Mooney, Business. “It is truly an honor to have the outstanding abilities of our students recognized again this year.”

After attending an internship fair at QCC last fall, Ms. Singh became an intern at the Central Office of Procurements at the Department of Corrections. There, she purchases various goods for employees and inmates at Rikers Island.

“I’ve learned fascinating things about the intricacies of law through the constant communications with my co-workers.” Ms. Singh added that one day she would like to be a Chief Executive Officer within the finance industry.

Queensborough’s Business Department students who were recognized with Honorable Mentions are: Husni Abdelqader; Kristi Diaz; Jeinson Espinosa; Beatrice LaViscount; Farah Naz; and Sara Sahibzada.

Faculty members of the Business Department who served as mentors are Drs. Christine Mooney and Stephen Hammel, along with Dr. Adam Luedtke, Social Sciences.

The prize-winning essays are published on the website of The Historical Society of the New York Courts.

New York, NY – (May 21, 2013).  Professors Alan Levine and Darren Staloff will lead a discussion of the challenges, rewards and pitfalls of grappling with some of the great works of philosophy, literature, political speculation and social theory.

How does one interpret a text?  What must one bring to its examination?  What is required for fruitful discussion and prose exposition?  These and other questions will be examined from a multi-disciplinary and multi-perspectival context.

This talk replaced W.B. Allen’s “To Preserve, Protect, and Defend: The Emancipation Proclamation at 150.”

Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 PM. Dinner will be served.

Contact Nicole Da Silva, Project Coordinator of the Hertog Scholars Program, at nicole.dasilva@mhc.cuny.edu for more information.

About Macaulay Honors College

Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York offers exceptional students a uniquely personalized education with access to the vast resources of the nation’s largest urban university and New York City itself.   Selected for their top high school records and leadership potential, Macaulay students receive a full-tuition scholarship, a laptop and technology support, and a $7,500 Opportunities Fund to pursue global learning and service opportunities.  A Cultural Passport provides access to museums, libraries, and other treasures around New York City. Macaulay students enroll in one of eight CUNY senior colleges (Baruch, Brooklyn, City, Hunter, John Jay, Lehman, Queens and Staten Island). For more information, see macaulay.cuny.edu.

Long Island City, NY—Dr. Suresh Canagarajah, a professor of Applied Linguistics and English at Pennsylvania State University and an award-winning author, will be the featured speaker at LaGuardia Community College’s Literacy Brokers Program’s inaugural event on May 30.

In his presentation/workshop, “Brokering Academic Publishing Conventions,” Dr. Canagarajah will discuss and demystify academic publishing conventions, show how they are biased to certain ways of relating to knowledge and discuss possibilities of renegotiating them.  Following his presentation, there will be focused discussion groups and a large group exchange.

The presentation is geared toward multilingual faculty/scholars and those who support their efforts toward academic publications: writing and English language teachers and support services; academic department chairs; and academic administrators.

The event is sponsored by LaGuardia’s Center for Teaching and Learning in support of the Literacy Brokers Program initiative.  The initiative, which is coordinated by Associate Professor Maria Jerskey of the Education and Language Acquisition Department, promotes the academic writing and publishing practices of multilingual faculty members by cultivating networks of literacy brokers—behind-the-scene-mediators—that are instrumental in shaping multilingual scholars’ texts as they move to completion.

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Canagarajah has advocated for practices that empower language learners at all levels and make use of the inherent creativity multilinguals bring to their acquisition of language and literacy competence.

Dr. Canagarajah was the editor of TESOL Quarterly from 2005 to 2009, and an editor and author of several books and over 50 journal articles and book chapters. 

For his writing, he was awarded the MLA’s Mina Shaughnessy Award, the Gary Olsen Award from the Association for the Teachers of Advanced Composition and the CCC Richard Braddock Award.

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LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, was founded in 1971 as a bold experiment in opening the doors of higher education to all, and we proudly carry forward that legacy today. LaGuardia educates students through over 50 degree, certificate and continuing education programs, providing an inspiring place for students to achieve their dreams. Upon graduation, LaGuardia students’ lives are transformed as family income increases 17%, and students transfer to four-year colleges at three times the national average. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges for boundary-breaking success educating underserved students. At LaGuardia we imagine new ideas, create new curriculum and pioneer programs to make our community and our country stronger. Visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

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Brooklyn, NY — Cuando Jessica era una niña, jugaba con legos construyendo casas y pirámides pensando ser constructora. Jessica comenta “constantemente estaba pensando en construir cosas, intentaba usar todas las piezas posibles para hacer grandes estructuras.”  Jessica fue elegida Salutatorian 2013 de New York City College of Technology (City Tech), siendo la segunda de su promoción.

Castillo,  de 25 años, recibirá su título de bachillerato en tecnología arquitectónica en la graduación de City Tech a realizarse el 4 de Junio, se ha preparado para una carrera en arquitectura con especialidad en preservación histórica.

Comenta que “amo los edificios antiguos”, siendo uno de sus favoritos el terminal Grand Central. “Vivimos en la ciudad mas importante del mundo. Tenemos tanta historia y hay demasiado daño estructural que la gente desconoce. Me apasiona ayudar a preservar la arquitectura, así futuras generaciones también podrán disfrutar de ellas.”

Castillo, quien ha sido una artista, desde que ella tiene memoria, comenzó su carrera en Brooklyn Technical High School, estudiando arquitectura, aprendiendo a usar el computador para diseñar (CAD, computer-aided design), planificación de edificios y construcción. En City Tech, ella combinó sus habilidades para el dibujo con cursos en diseño y planificación espacial y también  como tutora, apoyando a estudiantes de arquitectura.

Jessica comenta “mis profesores siempre me motivaron a desarrollarme más y a ver las cosas desde distintas perspectivas,” ella termina sus estudios con un promedio final de 3.84 de un total de 4.0 puntos. Ella continua diciendo, “para llegar a lograr hacer realidad algo que se tiene en mente, algo que es funcional y que todos puedan usar, usted debe pensar no solo en como usted  siente acerca de eso, pero además, como otros sienten acerca de lo mismo.”

Como ejemplo, ella recuerda un proyecto que realizó en una de sus últimas clases de diseño como parte de su programa en City Tech. El desafío fue diseñar algo en un estilo que nunca lo hubiese usado anteriormente. “Decidí crear una universidad que estuviese enfocada en animación. Animación es otra de mis pasiones.”

Castillo se desafió a si misma para cambiar el hábito de crear cosas simétricas y rectilíneas. Y para hacer las cosas aún mas difíciles, ella escogió un sitio triangular y con pendiente. Todo el semestre fue dedicado a este proyecto, diseñando la escuela, investigando que equipos se necesitan en una escuela de animación y creando el currículo. “Ella recuerda que estuvo tan concentrada en este proyecto, que tenia sueños acerca de él.”

La experiencia que ella acumuló es algo que le apoyará en su futuro. “Una de las partes más difíciles del proyecto fue crear un modelo tridimensional, puesto que mi diseño era muy orgánico; las formas eran curvas como páginas moviéndose.”

“Me dí cuenta que la única manera de lidiar con esto era enfocándome en mis fortalezas para completar el proyecto, fui capaz de crear dibujos y un modelo físico para apoyar mi visión del plano tridimensional.”

Castillo sabe que ser un arquitecto exitoso requiere más que habilidades artísticas y técnicas. Después de graduarse de Brooklyn Tech, ella trabajó como guía en New York Hall of Science en Queens, guiando y educando a los visitantes.

Siendo estudiante en City Tech, ella fue parte del programa Hall of Science’s Science Carreer Ladder, un programa de educación y empleo que ofrece experiencia de trabajo a los estudiantes de universidad. Ella llegó a ser supervisora de otros guías, fue líder de seminarios de trabajo, de programas después del colegio y dio demostraciones, incluyendo una en la cual disecó el ojo de una vaca y explicó sus diferentes partes

“Lo que es fantástico acerca de mi experiencia en Hall of Science, es que aprendí acerca de liderazgo y de hablar en público. Como arquitecto, cuando se habla con un cliente o se presenta un proyecto a un comité, es necesario estar preparada para defender y explicar lo que se ha diseñado. Si se esta en una posición de poder en una firma, hay que ser capaz de ser un líder que lleve adelante la visión de la compañía.”

Para lograr sus sueños, Jessica ha tenido que hacer grandes esfuerzos. Ella espera obtener un trabajo de práctica para poder aprender todos los bemoles de trabajar en una compañía de arquitectura. También estoy considerando continuar con mi educación. Mis planes no están escritos en piedra, pero hay ciertas cosas que se que quiero hacer. Quiero estar aquí en la ciudad de Nueva York. No solamente es mi casa, pero es también una de las mejores salas de clase que un estudiante y entusiasta de arquitectura podría soñar.”

Jessica, quien vive en Briarwood, Queens, se da cuenta que tiene mucho que agradecer; a sus padres, quienes vinieron a Estados Unidos desde El Salvador en los 80, ellos la apoyaron y también a su hermana mayor, a ir a la universidad. La carga de trabajo y el problema financiero fueron un desafío, ella comenta “pero con una familia dedicada, ambición y un chocolate, no había nada que me detuviera.”

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York (CUNY) es el colegio tecnológico público más grande del Estado de Nueva York. Localizado en la calle 300 Jay, en el centro de Brooklyn, City Tech tiene una matricula de más de 16,000 estudiantes en 65 programas de bachillerato, asociado y certificación.

Brooklyn, NY — Cuando Dany Salas salió de la Republica Dominicana para asistir a la universidad en la ciudad de Nueva York, él permaneció en silencio por un par de meses en su nuevo país, algo que no es característico en él. Sintiéndose temeroso de hablar Inglés y no ser entendido dado su pesado acento.

Pero Salas, quien tiene 25 años, encontró como solucionar este problema y no ha vuelto a mirar atrás. Durante la ceremonia de Graduación de City Tech, el Martes 4 de Junio a las 11:30 a.m., en el Centro Javits en Manhattan, Salas marchará al frente de todos los alumnos que se gradúan como el estudiante con el más alto promedio de notas. Durante sus estudios el obtuvo un grado de tecnología  en sistemas de computación con un promedio de 3.93 de un máximo posible de 4.00 y se está graduando con el más alto honor que es posible alcanzar, Summa Cum Laude.

La ceremonia de graduación será muy especial para él ya que su mamá, hermana y hermano serán parte de la audiencia de aproximadamente 6,000 personas que escucharán su discurso de graduación en representación de todos los estudiantes. Para su familia es un momento de relevancia ya que por primera vez estáran fuera de la Republica Dominicana y la primera vez que Salas les verá desde que dejo su tierra natal más de cuatro años atrás. Su papá y uno de sus primos también estarán presentes.

La razón principal de su éxito extraordinario, además de su inteligencia y perseverancia a toda prueba, es su decisión de aprovechar cada oportunidad y pareciera que es mas exitoso cuando los desafíos son mayores.

Tomemos como ejemplo la circunstancia por la cual él llego a City Tech. Salas encontró un artículo en un periódico local en la Republica Dominicana donde el Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología, institución dirigida por la excelentísima Doctora Ligia Amada Melo, anunciaba la convocatoria para otorgar becas de cobertura completa para estudiar en la Universidad de la ciudad de New York (The City University of New York) en los Estados Unidos. Salas fue uno de los 48 becados seleccionados de un total de alrededor 300 postulantes.

En la Republica Dominicana, Salas egresó del instituto politécnico Loyola, de donde recibió un título de tecnólogo en Electrónica Digital Industrial. Su interes en los sistemas de computación con concentración en administración de redes y seguridad  lo guiaron hacia City Tech.

Al llegar a New York en Enero 2008, fue asignado a tomar clases intensivas de inglés como segunda lengua (ESL) en su primer semestre. A pesar de sus problemas al hablar inglés, fue contratado como consejero de grupo en un campamento de verano, trabajando con niños de siete y ocho años. “Algunos de los niños me ayudaron con mi problema de pronunciación y sin duda alguna fueron mis maestros más rígidos. Ellos me ayudaron a sentirme más a gusto hablando inglés,” Salas comenta. Al final del campamento, el director confesó que nunca pensó que Salas iba a tener éxito como líder de grupo, no obstante él había superado sus expectativas. Salas regresó al campamento por dos veranos consecutivos y fue condecorado como  consejero del año en el 2010.

Sin el apoyo y sustento de su familia inmediata para ayudarlo en la transición hacia un nuevo país y cultura, Salas se hizo amigo con el resto de los estudiantes que vinieron de la Republica Dominicana para realizar sus estudios universitarios, como también desarrollo otras amistades fuera de este ámbito. Él comenta: “Aprendí que los verdaderos amigos se vuelven parte de tu familia y son un pilar importante para ayudarte a cumplir tus sueños.”

En poco tiempo City Tech se convirtió en su segundo hogar y Salas decidió tomar un puesto de liderazgo en la comunidad universitaria. Él ejerció el puesto de presidente del club de computación, vicepresidente y fundador del club Gay-Straight Alliance, consejero de estudiantes de primer año, embajador representante de Microsoft en su universidad, miembro de la sociedad de estudiantes de honor y participante de los retiros anuales de liderazgo ofrecidos por la Oficina de Desarrollo y Vida Estudiantil. “Este era mi turno de ayudar a otros más necesitados,” él comenta acerca de su posición de consejero de estudiantes de primer año.

“Todas estas actividades extracurriculares me ayudaron a desarrollar como ejercer mis habilidades de liderazgo, pensamiento crítico, análisis y toma de decisiones, como planificar y ejecutar proyectos, como escuchar a la gente y crear la sinergía necesaria para lograr metas,” comenta Salas. “Me enseñaron a socializar e incrementar mi red de amigos y conocidos, además de otras habilidades, entre ellas mis habilidades verbales y de comunicación.”  Él esta muy agradecido de la Oficina de Desarrollo y Vida Estudiantil, en especial de su Director Daniel Fictum  y también de la Directora Asistente Alice Tucker por todo su apoyo e incentivos.

Los éxitos de Salas han sido reconocidos por la Vicepresidenta de la División de Registración y Servicio Estudiantil, Dra. Marcela Armoza quien comenta, “He observado la trayectoria de Salas aquí en City Tech con gran orgullo, estoy absolutamente contenta, pero no sorprendida con su éxito académico. El nunca ha perdido de vista sus objetivos. Él es un hombre de honor y con capacidad de decisión, definitivamente un modelo para otros estudiantes Latinos.”

Tiempo atrás Salas vio un aviso en City Tech  anunciando un internado en Goldman Sachs . El postuló y  fue uno de los 7 estudiantes aceptados para un internado pagado por seis semanas. Después de este, él fue llamado para un internado de verano por 10 semanas. Como resultado de esto le fue ofrecido un trabajo a tiempo completo. Hoy, él trabaja como un analista en tecnología de información para Goldman Sachs en las oficinas en Jersey City. Sus planes son el obtener una  Maestría  y otras certificaciones en información tecnológica.

“Realmente me gusta mi trabajo,” dice Salas. “Tengo la oportunidad de usar mis conocimientos y habilidades para resolver problemas de la compañía, al mismo tiempo, que me dan muchas oportunidades de desarrollo y crecimiento profesional. Trabajo con gente que viene de distintas partes del mundo y que están dispuestos a compartir su experiencia y conocimientos conmigo.

Salas quien ahora vive en Jersey City, es un apasionado de la educación y la tecnología como resultado de trabajar con sus profesores de sistemas de computación en City Tech promoviendo la primera competencia en robótica entre alumnos de escuela secundaria. “Creo que hay mucho que hacer para enseñarle a los niños y los jóvenes el uso de la tecnología en la solución de problemas prácticos. Me gustaría hacer algo así para los niños de la Republica Dominicana.”

Y no es que él sea un fanático de los computadores. Salas siente gran afinidad por el arte en general. Entre sus pasatiempos están la guitarra, el cantar y la fotografía. “Mis padres me dieron mi primera guitarra cuando tenía 16 años y comencé mis clases de inmediato. En alrededor de un mes ya estaba dirigiendo y tocando la guitarra para un coro de niños en la iglesia de mi pueblo. Yo veo la música y la interpretación como un desafío- uno no puede ser exitoso sin poner el tiempo necesario para ensayar y así perfeccionar la técnica.”

Salas con su mejor amigo, recientemente, formaron LVLUP Entertainment, una alianza para producir música y canciones. “Nosotros dimos nuestro primer concierto en Septiembre pasado y pensamos continuar con este proyecto, lo que comenzó como una entretención podría eventualmente llegar a ser una compañía exitosa.”

Uno tiene la sensación de que no importa lo que Salas emprenda, él será exitoso. “Yo he aprendido que si uno se está desafiando constantemente  y no da nada por hecho, en realidad uno no perderá las oportunidades que se presentan. Este es el mensaje que daré a mis compañeros de graduación,” dice Salas.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York (CUNY) es el colegio tecnológico público más grande del Estado de Nueva York. Localizado en la calle 300 Jay, en el centro de Brooklyn, City Tech tiene una matricula de más de 16,000 estudiantes en 65 carreras de cuatro años, grado asociado (dos años) y programas de certificación.

Senior Mehak Kapoor, an Economics major, has been selected as the second recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s CUNY Student Leader of the Year award. The Division of Student Affairs selected Kapoor for her extraordinary service to CUNY throughout her student career in addition to her outstanding academic achievement.

Kapoor’s family emigrated from New Delhi, India, when she was 8 years old so that she and her brother could have a chance to a better education. Although she said leaving her hometown, friends, and family was a difficult transition, it was worth it. Ever since she took classes at John Jay through the College Now program as a senior in high school, she knew John Jay was the college for her.

“Attending John Jay has been one of my best decisions,” she said.  “I love John Jay, its welcoming atmosphere, the professors are very helpful in providing constructive criticism on students’ work and providing additional time to their office hours to help students. Also the student life here is amazing. There is an abundance of opportunities here. John Jay has made me the person I am today. It has turned the girl who came in as a freshman into the woman who is leaving.”

Kapoor’s service on behalf of student life and community at John Jay and CUNY is exemplary. She is currently finishing her term as President of the Student Council, and has also served as its  Vice President and Sophomore Representative.  She has been a Peer Ambassador for Student Affairs and served as a Peer Mentor for First Year Experience. Some of the accomplishments of Student Council this year include John Jay’s student activity fee increase, creation of scholarships for graduate and undergraduate student leaders, and the donation of a display case to student organizations to showcase their achievements and diligence. “I would like to thank my colleagues Jeffrey Aikens, Whitney Brown and Stephanie Montero for their support, service and dedication.”

She is on the Dean’s List, a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and received the Captain Edward Leuchs Scholarship, the Upper Division Scholarship, Maria I. Ramirez Scholarship, Rising Sophomore Scholarship and the Peter F. Vallone Scholarship.

Kapoor said she is honored to receive the CUNY Student Leader of the Year award, although, she feels that John Jay pride is the most important aspect about the award, “I’m glad to be able to represent John Jay at a higher level.”

Kapoor is eager to begin applying to law schools and hopes to become a corporate or immigration lawyer, yet she says her upcoming graduation is both “sweet and sour”.

“I have worked four years to get to this degree, but I am very sad to leave this place,” said Kapoor.

Established in 1964, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York is an international leader in educating for justice. It offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

After a four-decade absence, the Army Senior Reserve Officers Training Corps is returning to City College, which will serve as The City University of New York headquarters for the new University-wide ROTC program, offering rigorous academics and training for leadership in the armed services to students from all CUNY campuses.

Maj. Gen. Jeff Smith, commander of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, and Chancellor Matthew Goldstein launched the program at the college’s historic Great Hall in a special signing ceremony that included former U.S. Secretary of State and retired Army Gen. Colin Powell, a 1958 graduate of City College whose career was launched by his experience as an ROTC cadet at the college, and City College President Lisa S. Coico.

CUNY colleges have a long history with ROTC. City College enrolled its first ROTC student in 1917 and graduated new officers until 1972. There were Air Force ROTC programs at Brooklyn College and Queens College in the 1950s and the 1960s, and some Army ROTC courses offered on other campuses, such as those at John Jay College of Criminal Justice from the 1970s to 1989.

Participants included Col. Twala Mathis, commander of the 2nd ROTC Brigade and retired Gen. John Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. University leaders included Allan Dobrin, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer; Marcia V. Keizs, president of York College; and Richard Ventola, president of City College’s ROTC Alumni Group. Recent City College Alumnus Don Gomez, a highly decorated Iraqi war veteran, Truman Scholar and Colin Powell Fellow, was also in attendance.

The new CCNY location will serve as the CUNY-wide base for Army ROTC activities in partnership with York College, which began offering ROTC courses earlier this academic year, and Medgar Evers College, which will start its program in the fall. Additionally, all three locations will provide military and leadership education opportunities for students attending other University colleges. Students participating in ROTC are eligible for competitive scholarships that cover full tuition, fees and books, along with a monthly stipend. After graduation, students are commissioned as Army second lieutenants and can serve in one of 16 career fields.

Gen. Smith said: “ROTC provides officers to the Army from a diverse mix of more than 1,200 colleges and universities. The addition of CUNY campuses will provide the Army’s officer corps urban experience and could contribute significantly to the racial, ethnic and geographic diversity that makes our Army strong.”

Chancellor Goldstein said: “The launching of a University-wide program at City College and the collaboration with program partners at York College and Medgar Evers College marks a new opportunity for scholarships and career options for all students. We welcome the resumption of the long and distinguished history of military service by members of the CUNY community.”

General Powell has credited his ROTC training with focusing his interests and abilities midway through his freshman year at City College. He graduated with a commission as an Army second lieutenant, and eventually became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State. City College recently named its Division of Social Sciences the Colin L. Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.

Gen. Powell said: “CCNY ROTC gave me structure and a passion to do my best and serve my country. CCNY started me off as a good second lieutenant. I just built on the great start I got here in Harlem at this marvelous citadel of education — The City College of New York. I am so pleased that ROTC has returned to prepare new generations of leaders.”

President Coico said: “For generations, City College has produced leaders in all walks of American Life. We are thrilled that our community — which so values excellence, service and inclusion — is joining with the ROTC to offer our students another avenue to service and career fulfillment.”

ROTC training focuses on leadership and military science. Students take 24 elective credits as part of a four-year college degree program that stresses academics, leadership and critical thinking and communication skills. Students learn to assess and adapt to changing environments, plan and set goals to achieve objectives, and to persist when plans change.

Hands-on experience in navigation, tactics and strategies are integral to the program. Students learn cultural awareness and sensitivity, protocols of how to engage dignitaries and diplomats, and practice through professional development the ethical values of respect, loyalty, duty, service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

The return to CUNY is part of a national resurgence of ROTC. Harvard, Yale and Columbia are among those that added ROTC in the past two years.

About The City University of New York:
The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university. Founded in New York City in 1847, the University comprises 24 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, the CUNY Graduate School and University Center, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. The University serves more than 269,000-degree credit students and 218,083 adult, continuing and professional education students. College Now, the University’s academic enrichment program, is offered at CUNY campuses and more than 300 high schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The University offers online baccalaureate degrees through the School of Professional Studies and an individualized baccalaureate through the CUNY Baccalaureate Degree. Nearly 3 million unique visitors and 10 million page views are served each month via www.cuny.edu, the University’s website.

Dr. Ernest McDuffie, director, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education

Dr. Ernest McDuffie leads federal initiative that spans personal ‘cyber hygiene’ to professional development

In a world increasingly dependent upon interconnected computer systems, cybersecurity cannot be ignored. Dr. Ernest McDuffie directs the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), a federal program with a portfolio that ranges from teaching people how to protect themselves on the Internet to preparing people for careers as cybersecurity professionals. Last month, he was keynote speaker for the 12th annual NOAA-CREST Day at The City College of New York.

Four areas – national awareness, formal education, workforce development, training and professionalization – comprise NICE’s agenda. While Dr. McDuffie says 80 percent of his work involves outreach to business, state and local governments, education and consumers, it also coordinates activities across more than 20 different government agencies.

Public awareness is of paramount importance to national security and prosperity, Dr. McDuffie points out, and society’s dependence upon the Internet heightens that importance. “The Internet was not built with security in mind. It has all sorts of vulnerabilities, and large computer systems are vulnerable, too, whether they are connected to the Internet or not,” he says.

Further, he notes, “People are the weakest link in computer systems.” To address the human issue, NICE promotes “cyber hygiene,” educating people about security procedures that the public can follow to protect themselves against identity theft, bullying on social media sites and other cyber menaces. One of the program’s goals is to expand the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Month into a year-round agenda of activities.

NICE’s formal education agenda involves curriculum development initiatives that span from kindergarten to post-graduate education. They are run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. “This is a young and rapidly evolving field and people need to be lifelong learners,” Dr. McDuffie says. One of the education initiatives involves the support of cyber competitions at all levels.

The Department of Homeland Security is also working with the National Academies to professionalize the field. Dr. McDuffie compares the effort to what medicine went through in the early 20th century.

“We want people to talk about cybersecurity in common language across agencies and establish a national cybersecurity workforce framework for people in the private sector,” he explains. One of the initiatives involves certifying companies, contractors and academic institutions as centers of excellence.

The NICE program has been well received by the information technology industry, Dr. McDuffie adds. “People look to us (federal government) for leadership. We’re a huge consumer, and where we go the market follows.”

He added that technology companies have the same workforce issues as the federal government, noting that cybersecurity represents a growth area for job-seekers. The Department of Defense, which is the biggest employer, is looking to hire 4,000 cybersecurity professionals in the near future. Other potential opportunities may be found in energy as the nation moves toward a smart grid infrastructure and in healthcare due to the need to secure electronic medical records.

“These are good jobs that are attractive to young people,” Dr. McDuffie says. While demand is strongest for people with computer science, computer engineering and math backgrounds, people with liberal arts backgrounds and strong communications skills are needed, as well.

On the Internet

• National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education
• NOAA-CREST

 

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This week, CUER begins a six-week educational workshop at PS85 in Astoria, Queens, with 100 fifth graders. The workshop will use a curriculum built around Mayah’s Lot to help students cultivate an understanding of environmental law and environmental justice, and also to help them develop more sophisticated advocacy and fact-based reasoning skills. On May 31, CUER will begin a similar four-week workshop with PS122 with more than 100 sixth graders.

Mayah’s Lot

“I wanted a non-traditional way to bring environmental messages to my daughter’s generation and especially to urban youth,” said Rebecca Bratspies, professor of law at CUNY and director of CUER. “Too many city dwellers think that ‘the environment’ exists elsewhere, rather than in the places where they live, work, learn, and play. Mayah’s Lot helps readers understand that environmentalism is not just about protecting the wilderness but also about protecting their own neighborhoods.”

To develop Mayah’s Lot, Bratspies collaborated with graphic artist Charlie LaGreca of Comicbook Classroom and a group of middle-school students at PS122 (The Mamie Fay School) in Queens, New York. “It was amazing to see how engaged our students were using academic skills to tackle a real-world problem,” said Dimitria Kamaris, a teacher at PS122. “We strive to have our students personally invested in their own education, and through Mayah’s Lot and its curriculum, we’ve been able to do just that.”

CUER developed its lesson plans for a range of grade levels that work with the core curriculum and are suitable for classroom adoption, with support from the Greening Western Queens Fund of the North Star Fund, CUNY School of Law, and the U.S. Forest Service.  These materials will be available from the CUER website.

“I am so impressed by Mayah’s Lot. EPA has used the comic book form before to deliver information to targeted audiences,” said Cliff Villa, assistant regional counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, “but I’ve never seen anything approaching the artistic and literary quality of Mayah’s Lot.”

Download Mayah’s Lot and watch the video on CUER’s website at http://www.law.cuny.edu/academics/social-justice/cuer.html.

Mayah’s Lot is the first project of CUER, which promotes environmental democracy as a critical aspect of social justice. It seeks to expand participation in public decision-making and to increase transparency and overall access to information to enhance both the legitimacy of environmental decision-making processes and the fairness of decisions reached.

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Founded in 1983, CUNY School of Law is the premier public interest law school in the country. The school trains lawyers to serve the underprivileged and disempowered and to make a difference in their communities. A greater percentage of graduates from CUNY Law choose careers in public interest and public service than any other law school in the nation. PreLaw magazine ranks CUNY Law as the #1 law school in the nation for public interest, and National Jurist ranks the Law School second in the nation for diversity. U.S. News & World Report ranks CUNY fourth in the nation for “Best Clinical Programs,” and the Princeton Review ranks CUNY Law in the top ten in the nation for “Best Law Professors.” The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has praised CUNY Law School for being one of the few law schools in the country to prepare students for practice through integrated instruction in theory, skills, and ethics.

CONTACT: Abbi Leman, abbi.leman@law.cuny.edu or 718-340-4472

Monday, May 20, 2013 (Bronx, NY) – United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver the keynote address at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College’s 42nd commencement ceremony, to be held in New York City Center at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2013. The College will confer degrees on approximately 800 students.

“I am honored to have Secretary Duncan serve as Hostos’ commencement speaker during our 45^th Anniversary year. Secretary Duncan believes in what we believe in—that every student has the right to a high quality education no matter where he or she comes from.  Hostos exemplifies this very premise. On that day I am certain that Secretary Duncan will inspire all of us to press onward and upward,” said Hostos President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.

The 45^th anniversary year has been an extraordinary one for Hostos. Among its major accomplishments this year are the following: a $900,000 award from the National Science Foundation to support STEM curriculum and courses; the opening of two new Continuing Education and Workforce Development facilities with a combined cost of $3 million; the naming of Hostos Professor Rees Shad as New York State Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE); the launching of the Hostos Heritage Lecture Series with presentations by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, celebrated author Junot Díaz, and news anchor Cheryl Wills; invitation of the Hostos Repertory Company to the prestigious 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival —the only community college in the nation to be invited to this year’s Festival.

While Commencement is all about celebrating the accomplishments of our current crop of graduates, Hostos Community College is looking forward to a bright future. Retention and graduation rates have increased during the past four years and enrollment has doubled over the past decade. The College is also embarking on an expansion of its campus with the construction of a new building dedicated to Allied Health and Natural Sciences, and the launching of an innovative high school (Hero High) in partnership with Montefiore Hospital.

About Arne Duncan

Arne Duncan was named U.S. secretary of education by President Barack Obama and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Jan. 20, 2009.  Prior to his appointment, Duncan served as the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools from June 2001 through December 2008, becoming the longest-serving big-city education superintendent in the country. Before joining the Chicago Public Schools, Duncan ran the Ariel Education Initiative (1992–1998), a nonprofit focused on advancing educational opportunities in economically disadvantaged areas. He has served on the boards of the Ariel Education Initiative, Chicago Cares, the Children’s Center, the Golden Apple Foundation, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Jobs for America’s Graduates, Junior Achievement, the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Kellogg School of Management, the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation, Renaissance Schools Fund, Scholarship Chicago and the South Side YMCA. He has also served on the Board of Overseers for Harvard College, the Visiting Committees for Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. From 1987 to 1991, Duncan played professional basketball in Australia, where he worked with children who were wards of the state. Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987. He is married to Karen Duncan and has two children, Claire, 7, and Ryan, 5.

 Press Inquiries:

The Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 at New York City Center located at 131 West 55th St (between 6th & 7th Avenues) in New York City.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.

For general questions about the ceremony, please contact: Office of Student Activities

(718) 518-6561

For press inquiries, please contact: Soldanela Rivera: srlopez@hostos.cuny.edu

Phone: 917-627-9097 or 718-518-6872

For press inquires for Secretary Duncan, please contact: Sara Gast: Sara.Gast@ed.gov

Phone: 202-401-1989

 About Hostos Community College:
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, part of The City University of New York (CUNY) system, was founded in 1968.  In addition to associate degree programs that facilitate easy transfer to CUNY’s four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions, Hostos also has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development that offers courses for professional development and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. In four decades, Hostos has grown from a class of 623 in 1970 to more than 7,000 students in 2012. The college also serves an additional 12,000 students through its Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. For more news and stories about Hostos Community College, visit www.hostos.cuny.edu.

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FLUSHING, N.Y., May 20, 2013 – A diploma from Queens College pays off, literally. Former Secretary of Education William Bennett, co-author of Is College Worth It?, has evaluated 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities for their return on investment, or ROI. Citing PayScale surveys of jobholders who earned bachelor’s degrees, but nothing higher, Bennett finds that many schools offer poor returns for students’ payments.

QC, by contrast, provides an excellent ROI. According to the 2013 rankings from PayScale—a company that analyzes salary data—the college’s 7.6 percent annual return places it 37th in the nation, outperforming University of California-Berkeley, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. If financial aid is factored in, QC records a 10.7 percent return and 33rd place.

“We know that a college education is the ultimate portable asset,” says President James Muyskens. “It’s great to get confirmation that students can bank on QC’s reputation.”

As it celebrates its 75th year, Queens College enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional programs. With its graduate and undergraduate degrees, honors programs, and research and internship opportunities, the college helps its over 20,000 students realize their potential in countless ways, assisted by an accessible, award-winning faculty. Located on a beautiful, 77-acre campus in Flushing, the college is cited each year in the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s 100 “Best Value” colleges, thanks to its outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages, and relatively low costs. More info on Queens College at www.qc.cuny.edu.

For more about Queens College visit http://www.qc.cuny.edu/Pages/default.aspx

Contact: Phyllis Cohen Stevens
Deputy Director of News Services
718-997-5597
phyllis.cohen-stevens@qc.cuny.edu

Maria Matteo Assistant
Director of News Services
718-997-5593
maria.matteo@qc.cuny.edu

Spitzer School distinguished professor recognized in Design Mind category

Michael Sorkin, distinguished professor of architecture in The City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture, seen during a critique in his graduate urban design studio, is a 2013 recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. The award, in the Design Mind category, recognizes his contributions as a teacher, designer and writer.

Much of Professor Sorkin’s work is done in China, where he designed this office building now under construction in Xi’an.

Michael Sorkin, distinguished professor of architecture and director of the graduate urban design program at The City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture, has won a 2013 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. Professor Sorkin was selected in the Design Mind category, which recognizes “a visionary, such as an educator, author, critic, curator, or designer, who has had a profound impact on design theory, practice, or public awareness.”

The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum conceived the National Design Awards to honor lasting achievement in American design. They are bestowed in 10 categories to recognize excellence, innovation and enhancement of the quality of life, and will be presented at a gala dinner and awards ceremony to be held October 17 in New York.

Professor Sorkin is an architect and urbanist whose practice spans design, criticism and teaching. In addition to his teaching duties at City College, he is the principal of Michael Sorkin Studio, a global design practice focused on urbanism and green architecture and president of Terreform, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and intervention in issues of urban morphology, sustainability and equity. He also serves as chair of the Institute for Urban Design, a civic organization focused on issues related to urban planning, development and design.

A contributing editor at “Architectural Record” and an architecture critic for “The Nation,” Professor Sorkin has written and edited numerous books. They include: “All Over the Map” (Verso, 2011); “Twenty Minutes in Manhattan” (Reaktion Books, 2009); “Starting From Zero” (Routledge, 2003); “The Next Jerusalem” (The Monacelli Press, 2002); “Other Plans” (Princeton Architectural Press, 2001); “Some Assembly Required” (University of Minnesota Press, 2001). “Local Code” (Princeton Architectural Press, 1996), and “Variations on a Theme Park” (Hill and Wang, 1992).

Among the numerous booked he has authored or edited it “All Over the Map,” published in 2011.

Professor Sorkin has taught at CCNY since 2000. He joined the College from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he was professor and director of the Institute for Urbanism from 1993 to 2000. He has also held professorships at Cooper Union, Harvard University, Yale University (Davenport and Bishop chairs), Cornell University (Gensler Chair), Columbia University, The University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, University of Michigan (Saarinen Chair) and University of Nebraska (Hyde Chair).

He received his MArch from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 and a bachelor’s degree from University of Chicago in 1969. In addition, he has an MA in English from Columbia University, which he received in 1970. In 2009, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The following year he received the architecture prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

On the Internet

• Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards
• Sorkin Studio
• Terreform

 

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Shuka Kalantari, 08, interviews students in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia about a new solar-powered drinking water system in their schools.

Kalantari was one of 14 U.S. journalists selected for the 2013 Bringing Home the World: International Reporting Fellowship Program for Minority Journalists. She will travel to Turkey and Canada to cover sexual minorities as refugees. Gold, who will cover religious minority issues in Burma, was among six winners in the inaugural Social Justice Reporting for a Global America Program.

Three other alums landed 2013 New York Press Club awards. A photo Tuan Nguyen, ’11, snapped for DNAinfo.com of devastated Breezy Point took Spot News honors. DNA’s Patrick Wall, ’11, won the Nellie Bly Cub Reporter award for his work covering Bronx schools. Matt Townsend, ’08, was part of a Bloomberg team that won for Continuing Coverage for its reporting on Sandy’s impact.

Finally, current student Craig Giammona from the Class of 2013 was one of 10 winners of a $3,000 New York Financial Writers Scholarship.

See article here