News

Kaplan Educational Foundation Names BMCC Students as Kaplan Scholars

Three BMCC students—Science major Nura Baalla, Sociology major Tashem (Ty) Porter and Criminal Justice major Devin Dong (not pictured)—have been named to the 2025/26 cohort of Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) Leadership scholars. For almost 20 years, BMCC has partnered with the Kaplan Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships, stipends and a supportive community to guide students from associate degree programs to exceptional four-year colleges. “Our Kaplan scholars are known for their perseverance and leadership skills, as well as their commitment to making a difference in their community and beyond,” says BMCC Scholarship Manager Sussie Gyamfi. Since its inception in 2006, Kaplan Leadership Scholars have been accepted to many of the country’s most competitive schools, including Yale, Stanford, Brown, Amherst, Cornell, Mount Holyoke, Smith and many others. Ninety-two percent of Kaplan Scholars earn a bachelor’s degree. Two of BMCC’s scholars shared some insight on their experiences and goals for the future.

BMCC’s Healing Through Hip Hop Workshops Host Video World Premiere Event

BMCC’s Counseling Center, Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA) and R.H.Y.M.E. (Rhymes Help Young Minds Excel) hosted a world premiere event for “Breakthrough,” an original music video created by BMCC students from the Healing Through Hip Hop and Creative Expression workshops on December 11 in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street. The joy-filled interactive event not only featured several live performances but also opportunities for students and guests—some, who may not have any experience doing Hip Hop—the chance to participate in rhyme schemes and other exercises. The video itself demonstrates how vulnerability, creativity, and unity came together in the past semester’s workshops and paved the way for a powerful “Breakthrough.” BMCC’s Healing through Hip Hop workshops are a collaboration with Thrive Collective, R.H.Y.M.E. and the BMCC Counseling Center. The workshops, which take place each semester, aim to provide students a space where they can engage in a healing practice.

BMCC’s Fall 2025 AI Innovation Student Summit Showcases Student Creativity, Social Good and Real-World Problem Solving

More than 100 BMCC students filled the Fiterman Hall Conference Center this past November for the College’s Fall 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Student Summit, an all-day immersive event that continues to grow in size and scope each year. The bi-annual summit is organized by Computer Information Systems (CIS) Professor Dr. Mohammad Q. Azhar and supported by Google and a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Students from a wide range of majors worked in teams to develop AI-assisted projects aimed at addressing real-world social challenges. The initiative builds on BMCC’s emphasis on experiential learning and positions students at the forefront of emerging fields such as public interest technology, data science, and AI-driven innovation.

Office of Diplomatic Engagement and Training Director Daniel Katz Featured in CFR Newsletter and Events BMCC Office of Diplomatic Engagement and Training Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor Daniel Katz was featured in a recent issue of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) newsletter, which highlighted his use of CFR Education simulations in Introduction to Diplomacy courses. The newsletter reaches educators and global affairs practitioners across the United States. Professor Katz was also invited to present at the CFR Education Higher Education Ambassadors meeting on December 10. His presentation, titled “Preparing Future Leaders through Active Learning,” focused on engaging students through experiential learning. This past summer, Professor Katz was named a Distinguished Ambassador in the CFR Education Higher Education Ambassadors program for the 2025–2026 academic year. Additionally, he was selected to co-present at the March 2026 Annual Conference of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA). The title of the panel will be “Inspiring Resilience with Active Learning from CFR Education.”

Criminology and Criminal Justice Deputy Chair Shenique Davis Co-Authors Journal Manuscript in “Race and Justice: An International Journal” Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Deputy Chair and Associate Professor Shenique S. Davis has co-authored a new manuscript, “Piercing the Veil, Resisting Erasure: Identity, Prison Visitation, and the Carceral Self,” which appears in a special issue of the journal Race and Justice: An International Journal titled W.E.B. Du Bois and Criminology. Professor Davis serves on the publication’s editorial board and is chair of the American Society of Criminology’s Division on People of Color and Crime (DPCC), which manages the journal. Click here to read the manuscript.

BISI Hosts 2025 Championship Game

The BMCC Intramural Sports Initiative (BISI) program hosted its championship game on December 11 in the gymnasium. BISI is an intramural sports league that allows students to play basketball while also receiving various support services. The coaches are faculty and staff from offices such as Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA), The Counseling Center, The Learning Resource Center, and The Career Development Center. BISI players receive mentoring and a college coach who helps them plan their classes during the semester and checks their progress. Students also check in with their coaches to update them on their progress and attend workshops throughout the semester.  For more information, contact the Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA) at umla@bmcc.cuny.edu or (212) 776-2745.

Accounting Students Attend Deloitte Networking Event

The Center for Career Development and the BMCC Accounting Club hosted a networking session with professionals from Deloitte on December 10 at Fiterman Hall conference center. Students had the opportunity to meet with accounting professionals and learn more about future career opportunities from Deloitte recruiters.

Making Headlines

Jeffrey Alan Woodley, a nationally celebrated celebrity hairstylist and BMCC alumnus, passes away

December 15, 2025—Hollywood Reporter, Philadelphia Tribune

BMCC alumnus discusses the transfer process to Pomona College

December 9, 2025—Pomona website

Did You Know?

The BMCC Newsletter team at the Office of Public Affairs wishes you a Happy Holiday Season!
We'll see you in the New Year!

Announcements

Cafeteria Announces Holiday Hours The BMCC cafeteria at 199 Chambers Street will close on December 20 and reopen on January 5. The cafeteria will be open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fiterman Café will also close on December 20 and remain closed until the start of the Spring semester.

Call for Proposals: BMCC Transitions and Transactions Conference

BMCC’s English department invites faculty to submit paper and panel proposals for “Transitions and Transactions VIII: Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and the Classroom,” scheduled for April 17-18, 2026. The Transitions and Transactions conference is dedicated to helping community college teachers of literature flourish and excel as they envision, invent and expand ideas. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2026. For more information, visit the event’s web page.

Enrollment

Winter, Spring and Summer 2026 Advisement and Registration is Open

Faculty and staff, please encourage students to talk to their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. Things to know: 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

Annual Compliance Training Available Online

We are pleased to announce the launch of CUNY’s 2025–2026 annual compliance training program. All employees are required to complete their assigned trainings in Brightspace, the University’s new learning management system. This is the first year compliance trainings are being offered through Brightspace. We encourage all employees to log in and complete the required courses as soon as possible.

Required Trainings:

• ESPARC: Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course
• WVP: Workplace Violence Prevention Training
• GBVT: Gender-Based Violence Training (Required for HR professionals and employees who supervise at least one direct report)

Deadlines:

• Full-time employees must complete all assigned trainings by May 29, 2026.
• Part-time employees, including adjuncts, must complete their trainings by May 29, 2026, or by the end of their employment for the semester, whichever comes first.
• Employees who become inactive in CUNYfirst will lose access to the trainings.

How to Access Your Trainings:
You have been automatically enrolled in your required compliance courses.
To get started:

1. Log in to Brightspace
2. Go to the "Compliance" section under My Courses

New employees will gain access the day after their CUNYfirst record becomes active.

Resources and Supports:

• Employee Navigation Guide
• Compliance Training FAQs
• Need help? Contact your campus compliance administrator.

Thank you for your continued commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for all members of the CUNY community.

Calendar

Spring New Student Orientation

January 12

Connect with BMCC

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