News

Dr. Liesl Jones Appointed BMCC Provost and Senior Vice President

Dr. Liesl Jones has been appointed Provost and Senior Vice President of BMCC. In a message to the College community, BMCC President Dr. Anthony E. Munroe said the appointment came after a national search conducted by an inclusive search committee with representation from faculty, faculty leadership, students, and staff, and approval by the CUNY Board of Trustees. The president said, “Dr. Jones has served as Interim Provost since April 2024, providing continuity of academic leadership following the retirement of Dr. Erwin Wong in January 2025. During this period, she has worked collaboratively with faculty, academic leadership, and staff to support the College’s academic programs, shared governance processes, and student success priorities.” Read the President's message here.

BMCC Men’s Volleyball Team Headed to National Championship

BMCC’s men’s volleyball team—ranked No. 7 nationwide—is headed to the NJCAA National Championship in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, on April 23. The Panthers recently won the CUNY Community College Championship after defeating Kingsborough College during a match on April 6. The team followed that with an April 11 victory over Monroe University in the Bronx.“We are extremely excited and proud of the growth of our Men’s Volleyball program,” said BMCC Director of Athletics and Registration Matthew Ruiz. “This is only the third year for the program, and we have already been Region XV runners-up twice, won the inaugural CUNY Community College Men’s Volleyball Championship this year, and now have been selected No. 6 overall in the inaugural NJCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. This is a testament to the hard work that our student-athletes, coaches, and team manager have put into the program. I am very excited to see them compete in Illinois next week.” Both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams are coached by Vaughn Titus.

BMCC Community Celebrates Asian Heritage Month at Opening Ceremony

BMCC kicked off the start of its Asian Heritage Month celebration on April 11 at Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street. Vice President for Enrollment Management Sanjay Ramdath welcomed attendees and delivered BMCC President Dr. Anthony E. Munroe’s remarks. Asian Heritage Month co-chairs Shahreen Laskar, Director of First Year & New Student Programs, and Professor NaRhee Ahn, Media Arts and Technology, extended gratitude to BMCC leadership for their support of Asian Heritage Month and other cultural initiatives hosted by the College. Dean of Student Affairs Ralph W. Davis made inspiring remarks about the history of rebels—which is the theme of this year’s Asian Heritage Month—both within the Asian community as well as America at large. Professor Ling Luo, Modern Languages, introduced the dance, vocal, and magic performances by the New York Chinese Qipao Association, produced by the Chinese Culture Association Club, followed by a lunch of Asian foods. “The Asian Heritage Month Committee hopes that the 20 planned programs and events that highlight the richness, diversity, and contributions of the Asian diaspora will be enjoyed by all in the BMCC community, a collaboration that truly reflects the spirit of BMCC,” said co-chair NaRhee Ahn. View upcoming Asian Heritage Month events here.

Paramedic Program Healthcare Expo Features Latest Advancements in Pre-Hospital Care and Job Opportunities

EMS clinicians, leaders, and students gathered for the third annual BMCC Paramedic Program Healthcare Expo on March 29 in the BMCC gymnasium at 199 Chambers Street. The event showcased the latest technology and advancements in pre-hospital care. Representatives from the New York State Department of Health Division of State EMS and the Regional EMS Council of New York City spoke with guests about resources for mental health support, scholarships, and where the future of EMS in New York is headed, as well as available scholarships. America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation, along with the dogs themselves, led a presentation on EMS and service dogs. Several EMS recruiters also shared details about employment opportunities available both in New York and other states. Read more about BMCC’s Paramedic Program here.

BMCC Student Named to ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll Economics major Jasmine Suin has been named to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s  2026 Student Voting Honor Roll.  Suin was one of two CUNY students and one of 168 nationwide recognized for the honor. The ALL IN Honor Roll recognizes students for their contributions to creating a more civically engaged culture within their campus communities. From civic learning to voter participation, these students lead by example and empower their peers to become lifelong participants in democracy. Read more here.

Modern Languages Professor Sophie Maríñez Selected as CUNY Graduate Center 2026 Alumni Award Winner The CUNY Graduate Center has announced that Modern Languages Professor Sophie Maríñez is one of seven winners of the 2026 Alumni Awards, recognizing graduates whose distinguished work spans research, education, public service, health, and the arts. Together, this year’s honorees embody the Graduate Center’s commitment to research for the public good, according to a press release. Their work has shaped fields, informed practice, expanded access to knowledge and care, and strengthened institutions in New York and around the world. Professor Maríñez is an award-winning scholar specializing in early modern French literature, Afro-Latinx studies, and Caribbean intellectual history. Her research has been recognized with major fellowships and grants from the American Council of Learned Societies, including an ACLS Fellowship and multiple Mellon/ACLS awards, as well as two National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends. The winners, selected by an alumni committee based on nominations from alumni and faculty, will be celebrated at the Graduate Center’s Alumni Awards ceremony on April 30 at 6 p.m. Click here to attend.

Help BMCC Students Succeed: Share Information About the Learning Resource Center

Let students know about free tutoring (in-person and online) and academic coaching offered through the BMCC Learning Resource Center (LRC) at 199 Chambers Street, room S-510. The LRC also offers computer lab hours so students can complete classwork on campus. Open lab hours are available at Fiterman Hall (F-511) Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At Chambers Street (S-510), hours run Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email lrc@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-1383 for more information.

Faculty Explore Global Learning Opportunities at Workshop in Athens, Greece

BMCC faculty from a number of different departments recently participated in a development workshop in Athens, Greece, focused on designing faculty-led study abroad programs and expanding global learning opportunities. The workshop, hosted in partnership with the Council on International Exchange (CIEE) explored best practices in higher education while immersing the BMCC faculty in Greek culture. 

Making Headlines

President Munroe to moderate discussion at Jamaican Consulate on country’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa

April 16, 2026—The Gleaner

BMCC Theatre program production “To the Unknown Soldiers” premiers at TPAC

April 13, 2026—Broadway World

Did You Know?

Wednesday April 22 is Earth Day.  
Find out more about the history of Earth Day here

Announcements

Invest in a Future, Change a Life Gala Set for April 21 at BMCC Athletic Club

The BMCC Foundation Scholarship Fund announced that it will host its annual gala, Aspiration to Action, on April 21 from 6 to 9 p.m., in the BMCC Gymnasium “Athletic Club” at 100 North Moore Street. This year’s honorees are Michael Dowling, CEO Emeritus of Northwell Health, and Shana Stephenson, Chief Brand Officer for the New York Liberty. The gala supports scholarships and other critical resources that enable student success. Visit the gala web page for more information and a link to special rates for faculty and staff. (As this event is taking place in the Athletic Club, sneakers are allowed!)

BMCC Community Invited to Attend State of the College April 30 BMCC President Dr. Anthony E. Munroe will deliver the 2026 State of the College address on April 30 starting at 1:30 p.m. in Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers Street.  All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the event, which is an opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements as a nationally recognized institution. President Munroe will discuss the College’s key priorities, growth opportunities and calls to action.

Faculty from all Disciplines Invited to Participate in Civic Learning and Knowledge Summer Institute—Register by May 1

BMCC Faculty from all disciplines are invited to participate in a 3-day Faculty Summer Institute that seeks to integrate civic learning and knowledge into every syllabus. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, BMCC students will need the skills to understand exactly how democracy works and distinguish fact from misinformation.  Faculty who are interested in helping build these skills, by using close reading of foundational texts and the building of civic knowledge, should sign up.  Funded by a 2026 Teagle Foundation grant, the Summer Institute, seeks to strengthen BMCC students' ability to participate meaningfully in New York City’s civic life. The institute will take place on Zoom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 2, 3 and 4. Interested faculty should sign up at this link by May 1.

BMCC Hosting CUNY AI Innovation Summit April 24-25

BMCC will host the first CUNY AI Innovation Challenge and BMCC’s 4th AI Innovation Challenge on April 24 and April 25. BMCC students from all academic majors are invited to join the two-day event where they will work in teams to solve real world CUNY and New York problems by utilizing AI.  Find out more here.

BMCC 61st Commencement Set for June 4 at Barclays Center

BMCC’s Office of Student Affairs has extended an invitation to the College community for the 2026 Commencement ceremony on June 4 at Barclays Center. Faculty and staff participating in the ceremony may begin arriving at 7:30 a.m., but no later than 8:30 a.m., with additional information regarding caps and gowns to follow. Students are also advised to arrive at 7:30 a.m., but no later than 8:30 a.m. The ceremony is expected to conclude by 12:30 p.m. Click here for more details.

Enrollment

Fall 2026 Advisement and Registration is Open

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

Cybersecurity Awareness Training Available Now

The 2025–26 CUNY Cybersecurity Awareness Training is now available. Every active employee is required to complete this training each year to help protect university data and enhance our cybersecurity.

This is the first year that all compliance trainings are being offered through Brightspace. While the deadline for completion has been extended to May 29, 2026, to match the schedule of other compliance training, we encourage all employees to log in and complete the required courses as soon as possible. 

Required Training:

• Cybersecurity Awareness Training

Deadline: 

• All full-time and part-time faculty and staff must complete the 40-minute course no later than May 29, 2026.
• Faculty and staff who become inactive in CUNYfirst will lose access to the training. 

How to Access Training: 

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. 
3. Select and complete Cybersecurity Awareness Training.

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

To confirm completion of any CUNY Compliance course: 

1. Log into CUNYfirst. 
2. Select Employee Self-Service and click the Other Employee Tasks tile.
3. Select the Compliance link to display all the compliance training activities.

Resources & Support: 

• Need help? Contact CIS Training at CISTraining@cuny.edu.

Thank you for your continued commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and responsible digital environment for all members of the CUNY community.

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.

Sports and Wellness

Men’s Track & Field: National Qualifying Times at Ramapo Invitational

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

BMCC Blood Drive

April 20

Let’s Clean Up Washington Market Park

April 21

Screening and Panel Discussion of Ben Wolf’s feature documentary “Changing Lanes”

April 23

@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.