News

President Munroe Hosts Luncheon for BMCC’s Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Semi-finalists
BMCC President, Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, hosted a luncheon for the College’s 13 Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship semi-finalists on April 3, in the President’s conference room at 199 Chambers St. Among CUNY and New York State community colleges, BMCC has the highest number of JKC undergraduate transfer semi-finalists as well as the second highest number in the entire country. Many of the BMCC semi-finalists hail from a diversity of places around the globe, including Guinea, Myanmar and Albania. "I look forward to hearing more about you as you create new paths of excellence at whatever institutions you choose," said President Munroe. "We recognize what you go through as a student, especially being a student in this day and time, and to be a student that’s performing at such an incredibly high level, says a lot about your determination. You’re living our motto, Start Here, Go Anywhere, so congratulations to you all."

BMCC Community Expands Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence at AI Literacy Day Event
Students, faculty, and staff filled Richard Harris Terrace on March 28 for BMCC’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Day: Solving Local Challenges with People-First AI. The event was open to all academic majors, and no prior experience in AI was required. Sponsored by BMCC Blackstone LaunchPad, AI Innovation Day featured a fascinating question-and-answer session with keynote speaker and presenter Siya Raj Purohit, Education GTM Leader at OpenAI. Purohit’s presentation was followed by an afternoon of hands-on, fast-paced innovation, during which students broke into teams, each led by faculty mentors who collaboratively utilized AI to develop real-world solutions to existing problems. Each team’s solution was then presented to a panel of expert judges, who selected winning teams.

BMCC Co-Hosts CUNY-Wide Immigrant Advocacy Conference BMCC President, Dr. Anthony. E. Munroe welcomed attendees from across CUNY to the two-day Immigrant Advocacy Conference on April 3 and 4 in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers St. BMCC and the CUNY Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs (UISP) co-hosted the event. The conference was designed for undocumented students and community members as well as all CUNY faculty, staff and allies. In his remarks, President Munroe said the conference would serve as a hub of dialogue, learning and action. The President recognized some of the distinguished guests scheduled to participate in the conference including Hunter College President Nancy Cantor and LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams. CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez attended part of the conference as well. “Their presence and participation underscore the significance of this gathering  and the dedication of CUNY leadership to supporting our immigrant and undocumented student communities." The event included a number of presentations, workshops and panels, including one specifically intended for CUNY Faculty and Staff Members to learn from each other on how to support undocumented and immigrant students at CUNY.

Inspiring “Change Agent” Judge Victoria Pratt Connects with BMCC Criminal Justice Students
More than 80 students attended an inspiring “Change Agent” event hosted by BMCC’s Criminal Justice program featuring former Chief Judge of Newark Municipal Court, the Honorable Victoria Pratt, on March 27 in Fiterman Hall Conference Center. Judge Pratt’s work in procedural justice, including the implementation of innovative alternatives to incarceration and reflective assignments for court participants, has earned national attention and continues to reshape the criminal legal system according to event organizer Criminal Justice Professor Shenique S. Davis. “Seeing so many students attend this event on a Thursday morning was truly moving,” said Professor Davis. “Judge Pratt powerfully conveyed the importance of dignity within our criminal legal system, sharing impactful stories from her time on the bench. She also provided invaluable advice, emphasizing the significance of choosing a strong and supportive peer group and reminding our students of their inherent capacity for leadership, even when facing obstacles.” Funded by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), this event provided Criminal Justice students with invaluable real-world perspectives and encouraged them to think critically about the future of justice. Professor Davis extended the BMCC community’s sincere gratitude to Judge Pratt for her time, and wisdom, and for connecting with a small group of students after her presentation.

More Than 250 Students Attend Health & Wellness Expo
More than 250 students attended the Spring 2025 Health & Wellness Expo on March 31 and April 1 in Richard Harris terrace at 199 Chambers St. The event offered free health screenings, access to wellness resources and opportunities for students to ask questions about physical and mental well-being. Representatives from NYU Langone Health, Northwell Health, NYU Dentistry, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and several BMCC departments participated and stressed the importance of early intervention and holistic care.  The event’s sponsor was AT&T. “Given the strong turnout and positive feedback, we are already in the planning stages for another Health & Wellness Fair in Fall 2025 as we continue our mission to promote wellness and build a healthier BMCC,” said Darin Soliman, Student Health and Wellness Services Manager.

Criminal Justice Program Hosts Seventh Annual Career Event
The BMCC Criminal Justice Program, in collaboration with the Urban Studies Program, the Center for Career Development, and Conexiones/Connections, hosted the seventh annual Career Event panel discussion featuring a dynamic group of experienced legal and urban studies professionals who shared insight and valuable advice for achieving career success. The event, led by Criminal Justice Professor Shirley Leyro, featured the following panelists: The Honorable Marcia M. Henry, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York; John Montero, Senior Court Clerk for the Criminal Court, State of New York; David Park, Urban Planner for the MTA; Raquel Batista, Esq., Immigration Attorney; Erica Dubno, Esq., Attorney; and Andreina Rosa, Esq., Attorney and Entrepreneur. After the panelists shared details from their current positions and professional journeys, students had the opportunity to ask questions.

Making Headlines

BMCC students highlighted in Community College Week release
April 1, 2025—CUNY News

Did You Know?

BMCC’s Theatre program will present seven performances of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream starting April 23. 
Find out more here.

Announcements

Middle States Commission on Higher Education Forum on April 22
Faculty, staff and students are invited to a Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Open Forum with MSCHE Representative Tiffany Lee on April 22 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. in Room N-451 at 199 Chambers St. MSCHE is a globally recognized institutional accreditor and a key member of the regulatory triad, ensuring the educational quality of over 500 higher education institutions. BMCC’s self-study is being led by English Professor, Dr. Holly Messitt and Social Sciences Professor, Dr. Brenda Vollman. Learn more about the Middle States Commission here.

Teacher Education Dept. Hosting Career Fair on April 8
The Teacher Education Department will host its fourth annual Teacher Education Career Fair on April 8 from 12 to 2 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers St. Agencies hiring people to work with children ages birth through high school and other professional organizations will be in attendance. The event will also feature refreshments and the raffling of prizes. Job seekers are encouraged to bring at least 10 copies of their resume and wear professional attire. For questions, please reach out to Professor Jennifer Longley at jlongley@bmcc.cuny.edu

BMCC Film Festival Accepting Submissions until April 28
Students are invited to submit their films to the BMCC Film Festival by April 28. All genres are welcome, including animation and multi-camera studio TV production. Students can submit more than one project each. Any films produced in the last 12 months are eligible. The festival is scheduled for May 4 at 3 p.m. in Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers St. To submit a film, click here. To RSVP for the festival, click here. For more information, contact Video, Arts and Technology Professor Tassos Rigopoulos at arigopoulos@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Cafeterias Closed for Spring Break The Cafeterias at 199 Chambers St. and Fiterman Hall will be closed for Spring Break 2025 April 14 to 18. Both cafeterias will reopen on April 21.

Center for Career Development Temporarily Relocates to Room S103 at 199 Chambers
BMCC’s Center for Career Development has temporarily relocated to Room S103 in the 199 Chambers Street building. The Center will keep the College community updated as student services areas move into new spaces with upgraded offerings. Faculty or staff who need to refer students can contact the Center for Career Development at career@bmcc.cuny.edu or contact Director Robert Earl at rearl@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC’s ARC to Host Immigration Information Session
The BMCC Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) has partnered with City Bar Justice Center, Fragomen, and CUNY Citizenship Now! to sponsor a free Immigration Information Session on April 9 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Currently enrolled BMCC students who are taking classes can find answers to general and frequently asked immigration questions during the session. No registration required.

Handshake: Student Career Connection Available
Handshake is BMCC's premier career services platform, connecting students and alumni with a wealth of opportunities. Whether an individual is searching for internships, part-time jobs, full-time positions or simply exploring career paths, Handshake is a good resource. Job or intern seekers can claim their profile to showcase skills and experience and gain access to thousands of job postings and other resources. Handshake also allows individuals to register for career events, schedule appointments with career advisors and receive personalized job recommendations. Handshake is a one-stop shop for launching a career! BMCC community members with questions about Handshake can contact Director of Career Development Robert Earl at rearl@bmcc.cuny.edu.

LinkedIn Learning Platform Now Available LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform designed to assist users with improving business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. The LinkedIn Learning video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by industry experts allows users to learn at their own pace. Available courses include Developing Presentation Skills, Learning Time Management Skills, How to Be An Effective Leader, QuickBooks Tutorials for Accountants, Adobe Creative Cloud Tutorials Web/Fashion Designers, AutoCad Tutorial for Engineers, Scripting Languages for the Application Developers and more. For more information, contact Leticia Dinkins, Instructional Computer Services Manager, at the Learning Resource Center, at ldinkins@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Enrollment

Summer and Fall 2025 Advisement and Registration Available Now
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to talk to their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. All students must meet with their advisor before registering. Students can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a Panther Station Specialist on Zoom. When choosing classes on CUNYfirst, students should pay close attention to the class meeting mode (in-person, online or hybrid), as well as the class session (15, 8 or 7 weeks). For more information, visit the Registration page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Human Resources

Register Now for Spring 2025 Professional Development Trainings
College Resources, Professional Development and Learning (PDL), in the office of University Human Resources provides professional development opportunities for Spring 2025.

• PDL Spring Courses. Provided through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), these courses range from $75 to $150 per person and require supervisory approval. Register online.
• DCAS Open Enrollment: Citywide training is provided in cultural awareness, management, technology and more.
• Campus On-Site Training Requests. Custom training sessions can be requested through DCAS.

For full details, please refer to the Spring 2025 Professional Development Opportunities Catalog. CUNY employees who participate in professional development outside of PDL’s offerings are asked to log those activities on the Professional Development Tracking Form. Questions can be sent to University.Training@cuny.edu. 

Meet with a Financial Consultant on Campus Christian Hawkinson from TIAA will be on the BMCC campus to assist employees in person with investment planning, retirement and more. One-on-one appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Room N599P, on these dates: Thurs. Apr. 24; Wed., May 14 and Wed., June 11. Space is limited, so register online now or by calling (800) 732-8353.

Sports and Wellness

PROGRAM HISTORY! Panthers Have Their 1st Relay Team In School History To Punch Their Ticket To Nationals

Follow the Panthers The BMCC athletic program leads eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For more news on the Panthers, visit the official site of BMCC Athletics and follow the Panthers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Calendar

Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025: A Talk by Consul General of Malaysia in New York Amir Farid Abu Hasan
April 7

Spring Blood Drive Saves Lives
April 9

Asian Heritage Month: Open Mic featuring Pichchenda Bao
April 10

Connect with BMCC

@BMCC is produced and published by the Office of Public Affairs.

Faculty and staff: Submit items for consideration in an upcoming @BMCC to publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu by 12 noon, Wednesday.