McDonald Family Overcomes Chronic Illness, Manages Autism and Defies Ageism to Soar at BMCC and Beyond
Beverley McDonald was in her fifties when she entered BMCC in 2017 as a freshman. She earned an associate degree in Health Education and was just accepted to a graduate program at Pace University. At BMCC, she had made the Dean’s List—as did both her son Mikhail and daughter Annika, who are crossing the BMCC commencement stage on June 8. Annika, whose associate degree is in Science for Health majors, just started classes at Hunter College. Proud of having overcome chronic lung illness, she plans to become a pediatric nurse. Mikhail, who is thriving with autism, completed a Music Performance associate degree and just entered Hunter’s bachelor’s degree program in Music.
BMCC Hosts Asian American Studies Across CUNY Symposium
More than 130 people attended the Asian American Studies Across CUNY Symposium, “Reflections, Connections, Futures,” held at BMCC’s Fiterman Hall on May 12. The day-long event was organized by the Asian American/Asian Research Institute and co-sponsored by the BMCC Department of Ethnic and Race Studies. "While there has been a long history of student and faculty organizing for Asian American studies across CUNY, we have yet to see the needed institutionalization of this field at our university," said Dr. Soniya Munshi, Interim Director of AAARI and an Associate Professor in the BMCC Department of Ethnic and Race Studies. "The Symposium offered a space to gather, build connections and take stock of where we are at this moment," said Dr. Linta Varghese, Assistant Professor of Asian and Asian American Studies in the Department of Ethnic and Race Studies. Along with Dr. Munshi and Dr. Varghese, the Symposium was co-organized by Dr. Caroline Hong from Queens College, CUNY and Dr. Yung-Yi Diana Pan from Brooklyn College, CUNY.
Graduates Age 60 and Over Prove That Achievement Is Ageless
Pollyann Austin, age 61, earned a 4.0 GPA, majored in Gerontology and completed her associate degree in December 2022. Jacqueline Santiago turned 60 while completing her Liberal Arts associate degree and won a full scholarship to Columbia College, Columbia University for Fall 2023. Both graduates raised families and put their goals on hold for decades—but once at BMCC, they thrived, as have other graduates age 60 and older, who inspire students of all ages with their perseverance and positive outlook.
Black Studies Across the Americas Program Celebrates Third Round of Faculty Research
The Black Studies Across the Americas (BSAA) program celebrated the third round of its faculty-student research presentation. This semester, the BSAA cohorts produced Open Educational Resources about the Garifuna populations in Haiti and Puerto Rico. Faculty and students worked collaboratively with Afro-descendant activists across the Americas to create educational materials that weave Black Studies content into disciplines where it is not traditionally included. Countries represented in the research include Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. The program also represented the Garifuna communities of Central America, Haiti, Peru and Puerto Rico. The free educational products created in this research are shared on Openlab.
BMCC Athletics Award Banquet Honors Scholar Athletes
A celebratory BMCC Athletics Awards Banquet was hosted in the BMCC gym on Friday, May 12. The purpose of the event was to honor BMCC’s outstanding men and women student-athletes who competed during the 2022-23 academic year on BMCC teams including Men's Basketball, Men's Baseball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, and Men's and Women's Esports. Also recognized at the event were student-athletes that earned CUNY Athletic Conference awards, NJCAA Region 15 awards, and NJCAA All-American awards. Special guest speakers included BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, Vice President for Student Affairs Marva Craig and Dean of Student Affairs Michael Hutmaker.
BMCC Hosts Second Annual Assessment Day Colloquium
On May 12, the BMCC community came together to share strategies for supporting student engagement, learning and success. Provost Erwin Wong welcomed the audience and a plenary session, facilitated by Dr. Gabriella Morvay, featured VP Marva Craig, Director of Technology IRT John Gallagher and Human Services Professor Lisa Rose. Professors Joshua Belknap and Cynthia Wiseman presented the session, “Upgrading vs. Grading” and OAA/BLA Director Sara Crosby reported on early findings related to seminars provided to incoming Undeclared Health students. Professor Henry Bulley facilitated a zoom session with breakout sessions focused on the collaborative midterm, communication strategies that help students build accountability and feel connected at college, using ChapGPT and AI in the classroom and on Blackboard, disability-sensitive instruction, and ways to assess students’ calculus knowledge. From the perspective of many disciplines, the sessions prioritized student needs, goals and strengths. Closing remarks were delivered by Dean Christopher Shults and Media Arts and Technology Chair Christopher Stein.
BMCC Student Ambassadors Engage Campus in Citywide Participatory Budget Voting
In partnership with the Mayor’s Civic Engagement Commission, BMCC has hired seven Participatory Budgeting Student Ambassadors to encourage BMCC students, staff and faculty to vote in the city’s first-ever citywide Participatory Budgeting process. The process, called the The People’s Money, is a direct opportunity for New Yorkers to decide how to spend $5 million of mayoral expense funding. BMCC Student Ambassadors will be tabling on the main campus and at CUNY in The Heights, and engaging the broader community via social media and other outreach activities. “We are thrilled to be able to engage the BMCC community in the Participatory Budgeting process,” said Doug Israel, Director of Government and Community Relations. “This is grassroots democracy in action and BMCC students are leading the charge.” If you live in New York City and are over the age of 11, regardless of citizenship status, you can vote to fund projects in your borough and neighborhood. Vote Online Now!
Scholarship Reception Brings Together BMCC Donors and Scholars Impacted by Their Generosity
BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and the BMCC Foundation Board hosted the 2023 Scholarship Reception and luncheon on May 11 in the 13th-floor conference room at Fiterman Hall. This annual celebration brings together BMCC’s student scholars with the generous donors who have supported their journeys. President Munroe, along with Vice President of Institutional Advancement Karen Wilson-Stevenson and BMCC Scholarship Coordinator Sussie Gyamfi spoke at the event, thanking BMCC’s visionary donors and talking about the positive impact of scholarships. Special guests included Lior Rachmany, CEO and Founder, Dumbo Moving & Storage, as well as BMCC Board Foundation members John Sutter, Sandra Lindsay and Elizabeth Butson, who has made many scholarships possible, including one in the name of her mother, Katy Halepli. For more information on Naming Opportunities at BMCC and Ways to Give, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (212) 220-8020. Shown above, L-R: John Sutter, three student scholars, Sandra Lindsay, Lior Rachmany, two student scholars
BMCC Hosts Delegates from Malaysia to Raise Awareness of Disabilities Education
Delegates from Malaysia, City Council member Lee Jen Uyin, and Anne Sivanathan, CEO of Inclusive Playgrounds in Malaysia, met with members of the BMCC Cabinet as well as from Academic and Student Affairs to discuss a potential partnership to raise awareness of disabilities education.
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BMCC Has Highest Number of Selectees Among CUNY Students in All Write!, Symphony Space Event
On May 11, selected original writing by nine students in the Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) division of the BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development was read in a moving performance by professional actors at the citywide event, “All Write!” The annual event is connected to the acclaimed Selected Shorts program at Symphony Space, on the upper west side of Manhattan. According to Madeline Cohen, director of the All Write! program, out of almost 270 submissions, 14 CUNY students were selected, and of those, nine were from BMCC. |
Digital Marketing Major Performs at Carnegie Hall
Pamela Rivera, a Digital Marketing major in the BMCC Business department set to graduate in Fall 2023, is also a singer who takes vocal theory and performance lessons. "I live within two worlds," says Ms. Rivera. "As a singer, I pursue performance as an escape, through my passion for music. As a digital marketing major, I pursue a career in which I would position a brand identity, product or client in a creative light." As part of the choral group Shepherd Academy of Vocal Arts, Ms. Rivera participated in an April 2023 Masterwork Festival Chorus performance at Carnegie Hall. “I want to keep singing and someday, with my business degrees, I could see helping people, including artists and performing groups, find their market.” Ms. Rivera plans to apply to bachelor’s degree Business programs at two CUNY colleges: City College of New York and Baruch College, for Spring 2024. |
