"Campus Update" is a weekly e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs to provide news and information to the college community.

NEWS

Portrait of Kenneth Adams

President Kenneth Adams Among 2023 Higher Education Power 100 



This week, City & State New York recently announced its “Higher Education Power 100” recognizing New York’s most influential academic leaders. LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams is listed No. 70, among the leaders selected. For the Power 100, City & State identified the college and university officials making the biggest difference, both on campus and off, whether it’s spurring job growth, advocating for policy changes or advising city and state government officials. The Power List includes New York’s higher education leaders, also features lawmakers, labor leaders, philanthropists, advocates and other players in the world of postsecondary education. Congratulations President Adams! 

Seven LaGuardia Students Selected as JKCF Transfer Scholarship Semi-Finalists

 

Seven LaGuardia students were selected as semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Transfer Scholarship is designed to create a clear pathway for community college students to a four-year degree by offering up to $55,000 per year along with academic advising and access to a network of peers. This year’s 459 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,700 applicants, and attend 215 community colleges in 38 states. A list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar semifinalists, their respective community colleges is available HERE. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. The semi-finalists selected from LaGuardia are: Sheik Ali, Paralegal Studies major; Christin Bertin, Electrical Engineering major; Crystal Chen, Business Administration major; Bruna Lorena De Souza Vaz, Biology major; Ryan Jhin, Accounting major; Vildana Khamidullina, Journalism major; and Min Young Kim, Applied Mathematics major.

LaGuardia Community College Welcomes Benjamin E. Rohdin as Vice President for Enrollment Management  

 

LaGuardia Community College announces the hiring of Benjamin E. Rohdin as Vice President for Enrollment Management, effective March 20, 2023. As Vice President for Enrollment Management, Rohdin will serve on the President’s Cabinet and engage with Communications and External Affairs and departments across the college to collaborate on marketing, outreach, and recruitment efforts to rebuild enrollment, including initiatives to attract adult learners, international students, veterans, and students in pre-college and workforce training programs in the ACE Division. Prior to joining LaGuardia, Rohdin served as Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success with the New Jersey City University.

LaGuardia Students Visit Capitol Hill and Meet with Elected Officials  

 

On March 7, two LaGuardia Humanitarian Initiative students, Kazi Anwar (Computer Science) and Nicholas Hetherington (Political Science), were invited by CARE, LHI’s global partner for 2022-2023, to represent LaGuardia Community College at Capitol Hill on International Women’s Day. During their two days in Washington, DC, Kazi and Nick conversed with several global leaders and joined New York state delegates to present on roles assigned by CARE representatives. The students met with Senator Chuck Schumer’s cabinet member Jill Ricotta, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Legislative Assistant, Sachin C. Mathur, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s Senior Legal Assistant, Rumer Alleyne-LeGrende, and Representative Yvette D. Clarkes senior policy advisor, Nisha Thanawala. 

 

After research and discussion of current policies, the students advocated for $72.9 billion from their representatives to fund state and foreign operations as well as provide international aid for the fiscal year 2024. The representatives assured them that their proposal would be considered by their respective congress members. Inspired to “help the world,” Kazi, said, “Thank you LaGuardia for LHI, it has changed my life for the better.” To Nick, the experience provided by LHI was “thrilling, exciting, inspiring and felt like the beginning of a journey of learning and discovery.” Kazi also represented LaGuardia’s Communications and External Affairs Division as a Civic Fellow in DC, is currently an intern at CARE, and the president of LaGuardia’s LHI club. Nick has been actively involved with strengthening LHI’s vision through his commendable work with Malala Fund (LHI, 2021-2022) and presenting his LHI project at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) conference (Oct. 2022). LHI’s focus on global and experiential learning helped the students to gain a valuable leadership experience that allowed them to closely reflect on their classroom knowledge, community needs, and career goals when proposing solutions for both local and global communities in need. Prof. Tuli Chatterji, Founder and Co-Chair of LHI, designed these projects and partnerships to create opportunities for LaGuardia students. 

President’s Society Students Visit JetBlue 


On March 10, the President’s Society of LaGuardia Community College took a tour of JetBlue’s Customer Service Center in Long Island City. The students were joined by LaGuardia President Kenneth Adams and Foundation Board Member Rachel Hines. Members of JetBlue’s team included Douglas Land, manager of Infrastructure Development; Janelle Williams, JET Program; Lindsay Haggerty, Government Affairs; and Lisa Quinones, Corporate Social Responsibility team; who offered career advice to students interested in getting into the airline industry. JetBlue was founded in 2000 on the mission of “bringing humanity back to air travel.” The President’s Society was given a tour of the JetBlue Center and participated in a Q&A with the JetBlue team.

LaGuardia Representatives Participate at CUNY Women’s Conference Week 



In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8), CUNY hosted the CUNY Career Compass for Women Leaders Conference, as part of Women’s Conference Week, a new initiative designed to support, strengthen and elevate CUNY women through insight, inspiration and implementation. The 4th Annual Career Compass for Women Leaders Conference titled, “The Future of Work for Women,” was presented March 7 and 9. The conference included a series of breakout sessions and networking opportunities for participants from across the CUNY campuses. LaGuardia Community College attendees included: Dr. Anja Vojvodic, professor in Social Science; Nayelli Valencia Turrent, Chief of Staff; Dr. Assuanta Howard, Adult and Continuing Education; Marsha Oropeza, Director of Credit for Prior Learning, Experiential Learning and Articulations and Executive Associate to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Dr. Dionne Miller, Associate Dean Academic Affairs; Karen Saca, of the Business Office and Finance; Lanaia DuBose, former LaGuardia staff member and now Chief of Staff at Queensborough Community College; and Dr. Yun Ye, associate professor of the Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science Department.  


DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Enter the We Are 1LaGuardia Artwork and Video Competition

 

As one community, LaGuardia celebrates and nurtures the free expression of each person’s identity, need, and talents. Have you ever wondered who you are? It’s a philosophical question that we’ve all asked ourselves at some time or another. It involves thinking about our own identity and its meaning. LaGuardia is giving students, faculty and staff the opportunity to answer the question: “Who Are You?” as part of a Campus Climate Project, funded through the City University of New York. The 1LaGuardia competition gives participants the opportunity to express themselves through art and video in the spirit of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion on the LaGuardia campus. Submissions will be accepted through April 7, 2023.


If you missed the Campus Climate kick-off event on March 14, please check out the recording below.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication for M365 by Tuesday, March 21

 

Our new cloud-based email system, Microsoft 365 (M365) will be launched on or around April 5. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), required in advance of M365, will now be available to all faculty and staff beginning Friday, March 17. Please complete this step by Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

MFA helps protect you by adding an additional layer of security, making it harder for attackers to log in as you. Your information is safer because attackers would need access to both your password and a code or authorization from your device or cell phone. If the wrong code or no code is entered, your M365 email and Microsoft Office 365 account cannot be accessed. 


To learn how to set up MFA using a free version of the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app and more about the M365 launch, visit the Microsoft 365 website or laguardia.edu/m365. Please look out for future IT email and Campus Update notifications and announcements which will provide you with more information and links to set up MFA using Authenticator.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium to Serve as Grand Marshal of Queens Pride Parade in June 



The CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium, led by LaGuardia Community College and Queens College, has been named as one of the Grand Marshals of this year's Queens Pride Parade in Jackson Heights on Sunday, June 4, 2023. During the March 9th Queens Pride Community Advisory Council meeting, it was announced that the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium would be marshaling the parade alongside Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Council Member Linda Lee, Council Member Lynn Schulman, and NYC Council Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers. Other Grand Marshals include NYC Drag Queen Story Hour, Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society/GLITS, and Pix 11. 

“This is an honor for us,” said Dr. Allie Brashears, director of the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium and LGBTQ+ Programs at LaGuardia. “The CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium was selected due to its outstanding work changing the lives of students, faculty, and staff throughout the university system through LGBTQIA+ programs, initiatives and projects.​ It is a feather in CUNY's cap to be featured so prominently in the annual Queens Pride Parade.” 


LaGuardia Community Encouraged to Participate in DEI Women’s History Recognition  



March is Women’s History Month, and LaGuardia Community College is recognizing women from across campus. Women from the LaGuardia community who wish to be featured on the DEI Instagram page can submit their photo and information here. To learn more, visit the DEI website or contact Wendy Nicholson, Executive Director of DEI at wnicholson@lagcc.cuny.edu

Join the Sustainability Council and Help Plan Earth Day Activities 



LaGuardia’s Sustainability Council is celebrating Earth Day on April 22 and throughout the Spring semester. This year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet”. Please sign up for our newsletter and join the council to share your fresh ideas. The first Earth Day planning meeting will be in early March. Join us! 

Mindfulness Meditation Sessions Available Twice Weekly



The LaGuardia Mindfulness Project (led by Professor Koun Eum, Ellen Quish, Dr. Paul Arcario, and Deema Bayrakdar) invites all faculty, staff and students to Mindfulness Meditation sessions every Wednesday at 8:00 PM and Thursday at 12:00 PM via Zoom. Please use the NEW REGISTRATION link to participate.

LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES

LaGuardia Students Attend State of the City Address


Two of LaGuardia's Gardiner-Shenker students who are studying Women in Government, Yakira Nuñez (Commercial Photography) and Anna Tresvalles (Political Science), along with Dr. Molly Rosner from the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, attended City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams' State of the City Address on March 8th—International Women's Day—at the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center in the Bronx. They heard from Council Member Amanda Farías, the Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus, and heard Speaker Adams repeatedly articulate the importance of CUNY to the life of the city.  

 

Eight Gardiner-Shenker students studying Women in Government are contributing to a booklet called "Discover Your District" which they will hand out on March 29th in the E-Building Atrium. In honor of Women's History Month, it will be filled with facts and info about District 26 and our current (first female) City Council Member, Julie Won. 

LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Coming Soon: Emerging Choreographer Series

 

The Emerging Choreographer Series is an intensive crash-course in self-producing; offering rehearsal space, compensation, career development consultations, and professional mentorship to selected choreographers. Performances are Tuesday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. This year, the 10th Annual Emerging Choreographer Series Showcase, features eight talented choreographers Lavy Cavaliere, he/they | Adriana Ogle, she/her | Giulia Penza, she/her | Makayla Peterson, she/her | Ankita Sharma, she/they | Ameeya Sigh, she/her | Maria Angela (Mar) Talavera Tejeda, she/her | Ke'Ron Wilson, she/they. 

GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY

LaGuardia Community College and CUNY leaders attend SOMOS Conference


On March 10, LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams attended the SOMOS Conference in Albany. Other CUNY attendees included CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodriguez; Queens College President Frank Wu; Bronx Community College President Dr. Thomas Isekenegbe; and Queensborough Community College President Dr. Christine Mangino. SOMOS, Inc. is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization committed to addressing the needs of the Hispanic population of New York state. SOMOS conferences, held twice yearly, serve as a platform for legislators, scholars, and business and labor leaders to address various concerns pertinent to this community. Additionally, SOMOS, Inc. uses the funds collected through these conferences to empower youths with scholarships that encourage furthering their education; college internships to promote retention; and apprenticeships to introduce newly graduated adults into the public, non-profit, labor, and private sectors.

Congress Member Nydia Velazquez Hosts Western Queens Community Leaders Meeting 

 

On March 6, President Kenneth Adams along with Rosa Figueroa from LaGuardia's Small Business Development Center and Claudia Chan from External Affairs attended Congress Member Nydia Velazquez Western Queens Community Leaders at Sunnyside Community Service Center. The meeting provided an opportunity for the College to connect with our new Congressional representative as well as hear about her legislative priorities while sharing with her our community priorities. Also in attendance was our local elected officials, Council Member Julie Won, Assembly Member Juan Ardila and Senator Kristen Gonzalez. 

President Adams Meets with NYC Council Queens Delegation  



On March 1, President Kenneth Adams testified in front of the NYC Council Queens Delegation to advocate for $3 million in Capital Funding for our Pool Renovation. The President shared with Council Members the robust Aquatics Program at the College while highlighting the essential need to repair and update the pool infrastructure. If granted funding, the renovated pool will enable the College to continue providing much-needed affordable aquatics and recreation activities for our students and community.

Immigrant Communities Participate in Webinar to Learn about Opportunities at LaGuardia  


On March 8, International Women’s Day, Naomi Marajh and Renee Daniels from LaGuardia Office of Admissions, part of Enrollment Management, discussed opportunities offered at LaGuardia with members of Las Doñas Academy, a program of the Center for Popular Democracy that aims to connect NYC-based immigrant women with community resources that can help them better their lives. The virtual meeting, presented in Spanish, titled “Las Mujeres y el Sueño de la Educación,” was organized by Antonio Alarcón, a 2015 LaGuardia alumnus and immigration activist. Attendees learned about ESL courses, GED prep classes, services to help them start a business, and how to enroll in college.

LIBRARY NEWS

Visit LaGuardia’s Library this Spring 

 

With the start of the Spring semester, let your students know how they can take advantage of what the Library offers: 

  • The Library is open 7-days-per-week. Check out our Library Hours
  • Students can borrow Chromebooks, ipads, calculators, and laptops from the Media Help Desk. Chromebooks available for loan for the entire semester. 
  • CUNY students, staff, and faculty are eligible for free digital subscriptions to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.                             
  • For online classes, computers are available in the Media Lab with free headphones. 
  • The second floor is still closed due to construction, but study spaces are available on the first floor and the mezzanine. 

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

MESSAGE FROM FACULTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DR. ROCHELL ISAAC 


Dear Colleagues, 

We now have access to the response and completion rates of the COACHE survey. Presently, LaGuardia is leading the response rate among community colleges and we are in the top three among all CUNY institutions. However, our completion rate is a bit concerning (quite a few of us have begun the survey but have not completed it). When we last administered the COACHE survey, LaGuardia had one of the highest response rates at CUNY (67%). Let’s keep the momentum going and both take and complete the survey. Shout out to the faculty in the Health Sciences and Library who currently have the highest completion rates. Remember that the survey closes in early April. 

 

Dr. Rochell Isaac 

President of Faculty Council and LaGuardia’s COACHE Liaison 

API Tutoring is Back! 

 

The Academic Peer Instruction (API) program has relaunched, thanks to generous funding from the Queens STEM Academy. The goal of the API program is to improve students' academic performance in high-risk courses and to foster independent learning by pairing high-performing students with students needing additional support. 

As part of the relaunch, please welcome Julian Adames-Ng as the new director of the API program. Julian joined LaGuardia's Math, Engineering, and Computer Science department in Fall 2022 as a lecturer, bringing with him a wealth of experience in STEM education and a passion for supporting peer-to-peer learning. Dr. Reem Jaafar, the director of research and evaluation for the Queens STEM Academy, will continue to support the program during the transition period. Aarkieva Smith from LaGuardia's Center for Teaching and Learning is providing partial administrative support, while MD Abidur Mollah and Ivana Kragul have joined as program assistants. 

The API program recently marked its 30-year anniversary, and the team is looking forward to continuing to impact academic student success. For more information, please visit http://www.laguardia.edu/api​ or stop by E-115Q. 

STUDENT AFFAIRS

First Signing Event Held for 2023-2024 Red Hawks Season 


On Thursday, March 9, a signing event was held on the LaGuardia campus for Denise Fulwood, a senior at Harry Van Arsdale High School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the 2023-2024 Red Hawks women’s basketball team. Athletics Director Andrew Walker and Women’s Basketball Head Coach Shareika Parry were on hand to welcome Denise to LaGuardia.  

 

Denise, who lives on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was recruited to LaGuardia for her skills as a center. Attending a 2022-2023 Red Hawks women’s basketball game sealed the deal for Denise. “I enjoyed the way they played and worked together,” she said. “I decided that I’d love to be a part of their team.” 

 

Denise is looking forward to attending classes at LaGuardia in fall 2023. “A few months ago, I wasn’t even thinking about going to college. Now I’m excited to play for LaGuardia. I’m going to major in psychology because I enjoy helping people with their problems. I want to become a therapist or school guidance counselor.” 


For more information about Red Hawks teams, game schedules, tryouts, and more, visit the LaGuardia Athletics webpage.

PDA Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students


The Program for Deaf Adults (PDA) at LaGuardia is one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive programs for Deaf and Deaf-related postsecondary educational and support services. PDA is now part of the Office of Accessibility in M-143 and partners with CUNY LEADS. PDA serves 20 to 40 Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) students per semester, many require either ASL interpreting services, captioning services or other/additional support and accommodation services. Jennifer Ward is the Interim Interpreting Services Coordinator and Kimberly Lucas is the Academic Advisor and Accommodation Services Coordinator. 


The National Deaf Center has put together a Tip Sheet on best practices for communicating with Deaf and HOH people that may be helpful. To place a request for interpreters or another PDA related accommodation, please complete the accommodation request form. Please allow 48 business hours for a response. Please email Jennifer Ward with any questions or concerns.

Save the Date for Spring Fest on March 29


Campus Life and Casa de las Americas presents Spring Fest: Student Clubs, Service Learning and Civic Engagement Fair on Wednesday, March 29. Students will have the opportunity to explore more than 30 clubs and organizations, plus they'll enjoy live music, activities and prizes. Contact Campus Life for more information.

LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES

CITY & STATE NEW YORKLaGuardia President Kenneth Adams is recognized as one of New York’s most influential academic leaders.


LIC POST"Portraits of an Epicenter," a film short in which LaGuardia students chronicled their experiences under the COVID lockdown, will be shown at a special screening in Long Island City for the 2023 Queens World Film Festival.


QUEENS CHRONICLEThe LaGuardia and Wagner Archives is part of the 2023 Queens World Film Festival, marking the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

EVENTS

March 15 


March 16 


March 17


March 20


March 21

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"Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can Share a Story or send an email to CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday.