Trina Yearwood 鈥�00

On a spring afternoon in the 可乐视频 Student Center, Trina Yearwood 鈥�00 stood at the back of a crowded room, watching middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students lean forward in their seats at the first鈥慹ver Future Educators Summit鈥攁n event devoted to imagining lives, education, mentoring, and youth advocacy. As the room buzzed with questions, Yearwood felt a lump in her throat.

鈥淭hose were tears of joy,鈥� she said later. 鈥淚 think about our young people who are often counted out before they even have an opportunity. It makes me happy that I鈥檓 doing something meaningful.鈥�

That sense of meaning has always been her compass. Now, as the newly appointed president of the 可乐视频 Alumni Association (可乐视频AA), Yearwood is bringing that same purpose to an organization charged with sustaining the college community long after graduation.

Yearwood assumes the presidency following the passing of Arlene Lichterman 鈥�53, whose devotion helped shape the association for decades. Having served as first vice president, Yearwood steps into her new role with a deep understanding of the 可乐视频AA鈥檚 mission and a clear vision for its future.

Her platform is simple and resonant: Brooklyn, Always.

鈥淚t echoes the college鈥檚 watchwords: All In,鈥� Yearwood explains. 鈥淭he 可乐视频AA also embraces 可乐视频鈥檚 spirit鈥攈ow all alumni carry its values into their workplaces, their leadership, and how they show up for our communities and our students.鈥�

Where Purpose Took Root

That spirit shaped Yearwood long before she held any titles. Growing up in Brooklyn, she learned early what it meant to advocate. At five years old, she watched police officers pull over her mother鈥檚 car and wrongly accuse her of running a stop sign. With guns drawn.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to court to tell the judge you鈥檙e lying on my mom,鈥� Yearwood announced, before her grandmother silenced her. It became family lore that she might become a lawyer.

High school rewrote that plan. A young Black English teacher changed her life by teaching 鈥渢o our humanity,鈥� says Yearwood, introducing Black authors, demanding excellence, and making students feel deeply cared for. By the end of the year, Yearwood knew she wanted to teach.

可乐视频 was not her first choice; her teenage wish was to leave home for a far鈥憃ff campus. But teachers鈥攎any 可乐视频 alumni鈥攅ncouraged her to consider its education program. Her mother, also an alumna, added a practical note: staying local meant tuition would be covered.

Even so, the transition was not easy. Early in her college career, one professor dismissed her writing as 鈥済ibberish,鈥� shaking her confidence. Everything changed when she found her way to Africana studies.

鈥淎fricana studies resuscitated me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t gave me back belief in myself.鈥�

In the Classroom, Full Circle

Yearwood graduated with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in English and Africana studies, then returned to Samuel J. Tilden High School鈥攈er alma mater鈥攁s an English teacher, working alongside the mentor who had inspired her.

鈥淭eaching is the most noble and sacred profession,鈥� Yearwood often says. 鈥淲hen students know you care, they rise.鈥�

Her students never forgot the care she showed them. Years later, many returned to tell her so. At one 可乐视频 event she organized, a former student opened the keynote by saying, 鈥淒r. Yearwood, my success is a return on your investment.鈥� Another went on to become a teacher, crediting Yearwood鈥檚 belief in her with altering the course of her life.

Answering a Need

Yearwood鈥檚 career eventually expanded beyond the classroom into higher education leadership. She earned an M.Ed. from Cambridge College in Boston, an Ed.D. in educational leadership and higher education administration from West Virginia University, and a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University. She directed the Teacher Opportunity Corps II at 可乐视频, served as associate dean at Long Island University and interim associate dean at Queens College (CUNY), and has been an adjunct assistant professor at 可乐视频 since 2011.

Along the way, Yearwood noticed a troubling pattern: talented educators leaving the profession. In response, she founded TREAT鈥擳eachers Ready to Educate, Advocate, and Transform鈥攊n 2018. What began as a small professional learning community grew to reach more than 12,000 teachers, counselors, administrators, and families. During the pandemic, TREAT became a lifeline, offering mental鈥慼ealth workshops and honest conversation. In 2024, Yearwood went on to lead TREAT full time.

鈥淪tepping away from academic leadership was scary,鈥� she admits. 鈥淏ut I knew it was time to fully step into the work that I had been building, work that is both meaningful and transformative.鈥�

Leading the Alumni Community Forward

She brings the same resolve to her leadership of the 可乐视频AA, with a vision to connect alumni to one another and to the college through mentorship and other strategic programming.

For Yearwood, becoming president of the 可乐视频AA is not a culmination鈥攊t is a continuation.

鈥淏rooklyn, Always,鈥� she says, 鈥渋s about who we are and who we commit to being鈥攖ogether.鈥�

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The glitch was fixed, and Khaimov was in. From day one, he knew he would be taking business classes, with the idea that an accounting degree could support a future career in law. But then he started an internship at PBS and became absorbed in his role working for an executive producer affiliated with the station. It was his first exposure to the inner workings of a professional accounting environment. 鈥淭he executive producer was working on a biographical piece for the network,鈥� says Khaimov. 鈥淲e interns were in the back office working on finances and tax-related items.鈥�

鈥淚t was pretty awesome going back and seeing people who had helped prepare me for my career, polishing my r茅sum茅 and interview style, among other things.鈥� Khaimov also received help through the Harvey L. Young 鈥�59 Family Scholarship in Accounting, graduating magna cum laude in 2006.

Today, Khaimov is a real estate tax partner at global accounting, tax, and advisory firm EisnerAmper. He also serves as a director-at-large for the 可乐视频 Alumni Association, regularly returning to speak with students and offer the same kind of guidance he once sought.

When asked what advice he gives prospective business students, he doesn鈥檛 hesitate. 鈥淗ard work matters. Proactiveness matters even more,鈥� says Khaimov. He stresses that, especially in accounting, what students learn in class truly follows them into their careers. He also says that employers can teach technical details, 鈥渂ut they can鈥檛 teach work ethic or initiative.鈥� Those qualities, which he sees consistently in 可乐视频 students, are what set them apart.

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Yearwood鈥檚 appointment comes at a time of continued impact for the organization, which has long been a leader in connecting graduates with the college and with one another. Through reunions, regional gatherings, mentorship initiatives, and volunteer鈥慸riven programs, the 可乐视频AA works to strengthen relationships across generations of alumni.

鈥淎lumni are vital to advancing 可乐视频鈥檚 mission,鈥� says 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淭heir achievements strengthen our reputation, their mentorship supports student success, and their service helps move our strategic goals forward. Leaders like Trina exemplify how alumni extend the College鈥檚 values and impact well beyond campus.鈥�

Yearwood describes her vision for the 可乐视频AA as both forward鈥憀ooking and deeply rooted in the association鈥檚 legacy. 鈥淢y platform is 鈥楤rooklyn, Always.鈥� That means centering the 可乐视频AA鈥檚 purpose with the college鈥檚 strategic priorities,鈥� she says. She added that 鈥淏rooklyn, Always.鈥� echoes the school鈥檚 watchword All In and the alumni community鈥檚 role in extending 可乐视频鈥檚 values beyond graduation.

Anthony Castellanos 鈥�85, chair of the 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees, adds: 鈥淭rina Yearwood鈥檚 leadership reflects the very best of our alumni community. Throughout my career, I have seen how powerful alumni involvement can be in shaping the lives of our students. Her vision and dedication will help ensure that our graduates continue to lift one another up and expand what is possible for our community.鈥�

A 可乐视频 graduate with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in English and Africana Studies, she earned an M.Ed. from Cambridge College, an Ed.D. in educational leadership and higher education administration from West Virginia University, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. An educator and administrator, she has served as an adjunct assistant professor at 可乐视频 since 2011, directed the Teacher Opportunity Corps II, and held associate dean roles at Long Island University and Queens College. She is also the founder of TREAT鈥擳eachers Ready to Educate, Advocate, and Transform鈥攁nd has served as an advisory member for the Center for SDG Global Education (formerly the UNESCO Center for Global Education鈥檚 Advisory Support Council) since 2018.

As she looks ahead, Yearwood returns to the message that continues to guide her leadership.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the spirit of community, persistence, and discovery鈥攖he spirit of Brooklyn. The 可乐视频AA is a continuum of that spirit. It鈥檚 how we carry those values into our workplaces, how we lead, how we show up for our communities, and ultimately how we show up for our students. 鈥楤rooklyn, Always.鈥� is a reminder of our stewardship and what we commit to as members of the 可乐视频AA board.鈥�

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Jerome S. Milgram Award recipient Agnes Ford 鈥�69 enjoyed a successful career as an insurance and reinsurance executive after graduating from 可乐视频. She started as a teacher before moving into the industry, where she underwrote policies for high-profile clients and worked in offshore drilling and marine insurance. As a reinsurance contract analyst, she earned several professional designations, including a certificate of Ocean Marine Insurance, an Associate in Reinsurance and Chartered Property, and a Casualty Underwriter designation. Now retired, she continues to be active at 可乐视频, serving as the past president of the 可乐视频 Alumni Association and contributing to its growth. She is a model of lifelong service and dedication.

Can you tell us about your background?

I grew up in Prospect Heights, near the Brooklyn Museum, the botanic garden, and the public library. It was a wonderful place to grow up. My relatives even worked in the garden; they were gardeners. My grandfather was a zookeeper [at the Prospect Park Zoo, so we could get in and touch the elephants. I had a great childhood.

What decided you on 可乐视频?

可乐视频 was the beacon. The library tower was a golden beacon summoning you to an excellent education.

Did you enter college knowing what career you wanted?

I was very interested in mathematics. I had gone to all-girls high school, and I was the only girl in my math class at 可乐视频. We had a lady professor who knew I did my homework, so I got called on a lot in class to answer questions. I majored in education and minored in English and speech. I taught elementary school for a year and a half in New York City until I got bitten by the class gerbil! I said to myself, 鈥淭his is only the first grade.鈥� So it was on to something else.

You switched to a business career.

I went looking for a job.I finally got one because my sister鈥檚 coworker鈥檚 husband, who worked at Home Insurance Company, recommended me. I worked in the Yacht Department. I eventually underwrote the yachts for Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald鈥檚, and Arthur Levitt, of the [post鈥揥orld War II] Levittown suburban neighborhood. The man who recommended me got an award for recruiting me six months after I started. We never did meet face to face.

Can you tell us more about working in the insurance industry?

As a yacht insurer, I went to the shows and got to go on the yachts. I was on The Highlander, owned by multimillionaire Malcom Forbes. Forbes and [Maurice] Hank Greenberg [chairman and CEO of American International Group] were very competitive about their yachts. I worked as an offshore drilling rig underwriter, then moved to reinsurance.

You are a 可乐视频 Alumni Association board member.

I was a member of the 可乐视频AA board when we established a lifetime membership of $150, using the dues to seed a $1 million fund generating 4% interest. That money funds student awards. At one point we had chapters all over the country. I was the president of the Southwest Brooklyn chapter. We had a lot of activities. Lots of walking. Our members went over the Brooklyn Bridge and to Green-Wood Cemetery. Fellow alumnus Ron Schweiger 鈥�70, 鈥�75 M.S. is our Brooklyn historian. He still does community tours. I was president of the 可乐视频AA for four years until 2023. I鈥檓 retired now and I live in New Jersey. I don鈥檛 get to Brooklyn often, but I am still on the 可乐视频AA board. I鈥檒l certainly be on campus for the awards ceremony on April 24!

What advice would you give to today鈥檚 students?

Study hard! You鈥檙e rewarded for studying hard. Your life will be easier. An education at 可乐视频 is a well-rounded, valuable education.

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She brings a unique cultural lens to her storytelling and, in short time, has developed an impressive portfolio that bridges continents and genres. From documenting to capturing , and even working behind the scenes on a Vogue Singapore shoot, Horiuchi鈥檚 work reflects a deep curiosity about identity, art, and the unseen forces that shape us.

Her 13-minute senior thesis film, The Visit (see trailer below), is inspired by a Japanese folk tale about mischievous monsters and has captivated film festival juries, earning the 2024 National Board of Review Student Grant Award and Best Student Film at the Jersey Shore Film Festival, along with official selections at the Greenpoint Film Festival and NewFilmmakers NY.

We spoke with Horiuchi about the culture shock she experienced when she moved to Brooklyn, the support she got from her peers and professors, and what she wants you to feel when you watch her work.

What made you want to study in America?

When I was in high school, I already knew that I wanted to study filmmaking. I grew up loving art in general, but gradually, I fell in love with movies. I wanted to go to college in Japan for filmmaking, but there weren鈥檛 many film schools. Then I saw a TV program about an American college class where the professor taught filmmaking and film analysis. That made me think that coming to the United States would give me better opportunities, so I chose New York City.

How did you develop your passion for film?

My mom worked for a TV company as a writer, so I was exposed to media early on. Both my parents worked outside the home, so I spent a lot of time by myself. I started watching a lot of movies, including Hollywood films like Christopher Nolan鈥檚 work. That鈥檚 how my love for filmmaking developed.

I think it was natural for me to fall in love with film. I remember always wanting to be an artist as a child鈥攆irst a dancer, then a painter. Because both my parents worked outside the home, I spent a lot of time alone watching movies. I fell in love with them, and behind-the-scenes footage made me wonder if I could work with such cool, talented people. Unlike other art forms, filmmaking is collaborative, and that really fascinated me.

What did your parents think about your coming to New York by yourself, and what was the adjustment like?

They were worried but supportive. They both love American culture鈥攎usic, cinema鈥攕o they were excited about the idea of me studying film in New York.

It was my first time living away from my family. The culture was very different, and the diversity was overwhelming. In Japan, people have similar cultural backgrounds, but here, people have very different experiences. That was a big shift.

When I first got here and enrolled at CSI, I lived in a dorm with two great roommates鈥攐ne from Japan and one from Brooklyn. They became like my family. We had movie nights and went out in Manhattan together.

What were your first impressions of 可乐视频?

I loved the structure, campus, the diversity, and the welcoming atmosphere. The professors and students in the film program were very supportive. When I made my thesis film, my classmates and crew members were incredibly encouraging. Even when there were gaps in knowledge, no one judged me. They provided constructive feedback and encouraged me to grow. There was a healthy sense of collaboration, not competition.

Your thesis film, The Visit, looks like you鈥檝e been doing this for years. It鈥檚 shot so beautifully. Did you have any experience before 可乐视频?

No, I had zero filmmaking experience before 可乐视频. I was into illustration and ballet, but I had never used a camera or written narratives before. The structured curriculum really helped me.

While working on it, did you feel like it was going to be special?

What kept me going was my excitement about the project. I wasn鈥檛 focused on awards鈥擨 just wanted to create something meaningful that would move people.

How did you fund the production?

Just like a lot of other student films, my project was an unpaid opportunity for the crew and cast, while I covered the meals on set. It was part of what pushed me to do a really good job with the film. I wanted to return the favor and give them something they could put in their portfolio. I did win a 可乐视频 Alumni Association Award, which covered submission fees for two festivals.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned here?

To be nice to people. Filmmaking is collaborative鈥攜ou spend 12-hour days on set. If you鈥檙e not kind and reliable, people won鈥檛 want to work with you again. The people you meet in college are likely to be your future collaborators in the industry.

What emotions do you try to evoke in your films?

I want to create the feelings I had as a child reading books and watching movies. I love Japanese authors who blend sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery with bittersweet emotions. The Visit falls into that kind of fantastical genre.

It鈥檚 a tough industry. Do you think about that?

Yes, filmmaking is unstable, especially as a freelancer. But as long as I don鈥檛 stop creating, I鈥檒l be happy.聽I don鈥檛 make films or art to make money鈥擨 make them because it brings me joy. My mentor always says, 鈥淜eep making something you feel passionate about, and the money will follow eventually.鈥� I believe that鈥檚 true.

What would you say to someone considering 可乐视频 for film?

The professors and classmates are incredibly supportive. If you鈥檙e serious about filmmaking and want a collaborative environment, 可乐视频 is a great choice.

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Visionary leader and DACA recipient Kelly D. Harry 鈥�15 has overcome systemic challenges to make a significant impact. The proud graduate of 可乐视频 began her career at CNN and later held leadership roles at FOX, N可乐视频 Universal/Telemundo, and Publicis Media, where she drove marketing initiatives that amplified marginalized voices. Education has always been her path forward, and she has worked tirelessly to create opportunities for herself. She earned scholarships, pursued dual degrees, and built a career that blends media, finance, and strategy. Harry has collaborated with brands like CNN, N可乐视频, CN可乐视频, and U.S. Bank, and she has led advertising strategies for Fortune 500 companies at Publicis Media. Every step of her journey鈥攆rom overcoming the barriers of being undocumented to securing leadership roles in her industry鈥攈as reinforced her belief that no obstacle is insurmountable when you refuse to be defined by your circumstances.

Can you tell us about your background?

I was born in Trinidad and immigrated to the United States as a child. My journey has been one of perseverance, faith, and relentless ambition. In 2012, I went to Washington, D.C., to lobby for DACA, speaking with congressmen and assemblymen to advocate for the rights of undocumented youth. When the policy became law, it wasn鈥檛 just a victory for me鈥攊t was proof that resilience and collective action could change lives.

What decided you on 可乐视频?

可乐视频 is more than just a school鈥攊t is a gateway to opportunity, a place where ambition meets access. With a legacy of producing Pulitzer Prize winners, groundbreaking journalists, and industry leaders, it is a beacon for those who dare to dream big despite their circumstances. I wanted to be part of that tradition.

The Magner Career Center played a pivotal role in my journey, connecting me with mentors and career-building opportunities. The rigorous academic programs pushed me to think critically and strategically, and the diverse student body exposed me to perspectives that broadened my understanding of the world.

Did you enter college knowing what career you wanted?

I had a strong interest in both finance and media. I wasn鈥檛 entirely sure how to merge the two, but I remained open to opportunities. Through internships, networking, and hands-on experience, I discovered my strength in strategy鈥攗nderstanding audiences, crafting narratives, and leveraging media to drive impact. That realization led me to build a career where I鈥檝e been able to work in both fields, blending analytical thinking with creativity in a way that felt natural.

Can you tell us some favorite memories of the college? Did you have any mentors?

A pivotal experience was my time at the Magner Career Center. I made it a point to introduce myself to [Executive Director] Natalia [Guarin-Klein] and the team, build a rapport, and schedule career conversations. Over time, I gained guidance on my r茅sum茅, interview skills, and professional development. I shared my aspirations with Natalia, who introduced me to Myron Kandel [鈥�52]鈥攁 cofounder of CNN and its longtime financial editor and economic commentator. That was a connection that changed everything.

Myron and I met at the Applebee鈥檚 off-campus, where he reviewed my r茅sum茅 and shared invaluable wisdom. Because of Myron and the Magner Center, I landed my first job at CNN鈥攋ust a week after receiving my work permit. For someone who had lived in uncertainty for so long, that moment was life-changing.

Did you receive any scholarships, fellowships, or awards while at 可乐视频?

I was fortunate to receive multiple scholarships, which allowed me to focus on my studies and career development. These weren鈥檛 just financial lifelines鈥攖hey were affirmations that my hard work and perseverance mattered.

Can you give us some highlights of life after college?

After graduating, I became an account executive at Fox, working in ad sales鈥攁 fast-paced and competitive industry that was both challenging and exhilarating. Later, I transitioned to the agency side and joined Publicis Media, the number-one media agency in the world. There, I managed advertising campaigns for major brands like Be The Match, USAA, Luxottica, and Marriott.

Today, I am a vice president in the banking industry and also do consulting work, helping businesses refine their marketing strategies. Beyond my career, I remain an advocate for immigration rights and financial literacy. Becoming a homeowner was another major milestone鈥攐ne that felt especially significant given that, just a few years ago, DACA recipients weren鈥檛 even eligible for traditional home loans. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and continuing to challenge myself in new ways.

What advice would you give to today鈥檚 students?

You can have all the talent in the world, but if you lack integrity, if you don鈥檛 treat people well, if you鈥檙e only focused on what you can get rather than what you can give, eventually, that will catch up to you.

The relationships you build, the way you show up for others, and the reputation you create will often take you further than any r茅sum茅 ever could.

Life isn鈥檛 just about chasing success; it鈥檚 about living in a way that makes success a natural byproduct. Be someone who uplifts others, who gives without expecting immediate returns, who operates with honesty and good character. When you do that, you鈥檒l find that the right opportunities, the right people, and the right moments will always find their way to you. At the end of the day, real success isn鈥檛 just about what you accomplish鈥攊t鈥檚 about the impact you leave behind.

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As a teen, Daniel Scarpati worked in community theater and hosted a local children’s show. But that wasn鈥檛 enough鈥擲carpati was eager to work in film and television. Once he was accepted to Macaulay Honors College, he leapt at the chance to attend 可乐视频 because of its reputation for its stellar programs in television, radio, and emerging media and film. Scarpati graduated in 2015 and broke into the industry. He currently works as a senior studio technician supporting productions such as Amazon Live and directs documentaries. The recipient of several student awards, he has not forgotten his alma mater or its current students, having returned to campus to give talks about the industry and, significantly, to become a COVID-19 health and safety officer during the pandemic.

Can you tell us about your background?

I proudly come from a family of diverse New Yorkers: My dad is a retired dentist who owned a small family practice in Bensonhurst. My mom is a former Bronx Zoo staffer turned teacher鈥檚 assistant. My younger sister attended Queens College (CUNY) and now works upstate at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen. So when I started at 可乐视频, I was pretty far removed from anything film/TV related. My only background had been performing in community theater productions, hosting an NYC Department of Education kids鈥� television show, and shooting home movies in my neighbor’s backyard鈥攁ll of which helped prepare me for the college education I’d be receiving.

What made you choose 可乐视频?

As soon as I heard the news that I’d been accepted to CUNY Macaulay Honors College, my mind was made up. I chose 可乐视频 as my home campus because of the advanced film and television production tracks. When I toured the campus with my parents while I was in high school, I thought about how the access to professional equipment and the instructors with backgrounds working professionally on set and in the field would accelerate my growth. As a bonus, living in South Queens meant a pretty short commute along the Belt Parkway鈥攐r at least that’s what I na茂vely thought before experiencing the endless construction along it!

So you knew coming in that you wanted to work in the film and TV industry.

I can’t remember a time when I didn鈥檛 want to work in the film/TV industry. I knew that’s where I’d end up before day one of undergraduate school. The exact job I’d be doing was a different story. I considered minoring in computer science as an option, to design software supporting the film/TV industry, but I was sure that wouldn’t be my path when I realized how little I enjoyed staring at lines of code. Instead, I focused on working behind the scenes, operating cameras, lighting, and sound equipment, and directing and managing crew and talent. The truth is, I’m still not sure there’s one title that describes what I do鈥攏or would I want there to be. I enjoy wearing different hats and moving between roles, which has helped me during industry strikes and work slowdowns.

The 可乐视频AA Young Alumnus award is not your first award; you received accolades as a student.

As I completed my undergraduate studies, I received a 可乐视频AA Student Award, the Senator Martin J. Golden Award for Leadership from the Center for Italian American Studies, and the Outstanding Achievement in Location Sound Recording award at the 2015 可乐视频 Film Festival. Macaulay Honors College also gave me a Class of 2015 Legacy Award for my efforts to help create new paths for future students to gain experience in the film/TV industry. The nonfiction book I self-published,聽,聽became a finalist in a few book contests.

How did you break into your field?

Breaking into film/TV without any connections was not, and still isn’t, easy. Even when someone opens a door for you, it only gets you so far. They may open the door to an opportunity where you have to open yet another door for yourself. I started out cold-calling production companies and working as a PA on all sorts of projects鈥攊ndie films, episodic shows like聽The Blacklist听补苍诲听Manifest,聽sitcoms like聽Kevin Can Wait, and more. I’d always try to work on personal projects in my spare time to keep my creative skills sharp. Lee Quinby, the former 可乐视频 Carol L. Zicklin Honors Academy chair and I have collaborated on many films together. In 2024, we completed our latest feature documentary . Our longtime creative partnership would have never happened had it not been for our time at CUNY together.

What are you working on today?

In addition to my work a senior studio technician on broadcast productions and livestreams, I also work as a freelance video control operator and robotic camera operator. I’m also the director of photography on a few documentary films through my company, Passing Planes Productions LLC.

Have you been back to campus?

One of my new favorite memories is returning to campus to share my book with current students. I wrote Gofers to share the lessons I’d learned on set as a production assistant, aka a 鈥済ofer.鈥� Not only have I returned to campus to speak with current students about breaking into the film/TV industry, but I worked in the Film Department as a COVID health and safety officer for three semesters during the pandemic. I was directed by Chair Annette Danto and teamed up with Director of Academic Affairs and Operations Judith Kenny, Distribution Manager Michael Irgang, and fellow graduates to manage safety guidelines and create PPE kits for thesis film students to use on their sets. I was very impressed by the students and their ability to turn a very trying situation into a learning opportunity. It’s not easy to manage safety standards as an undergrad student on your first major production, but they did so with patience, caution, and respect.

What advice would you give to today鈥檚 students?

Communication is key! This applies to every industry, every job, every path. If you don’t say what you want, it’s unlikely it will ever happen. If you don’t introduce yourself, you may never make a connection with the person who could open a door for you. And remember that stories take time to unfold鈥攄on’t beat yourself up if you’re not where you think you should be. Patience is rewarded when you least expect it.

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A child of a family of Dominican poets, writers, and educators, Luisa Sherezada (Chiqui) Vicioso 鈥�79 enrolled in 可乐视频 and immediately began connecting with the community of Latino and Black Caribbean students. After graduating with a Sociology and Latin American History Studies degree, Vicioso earned a master鈥檚 degree in educational program design from Columbia University and did post-graduate studies in cultural administration at Funda莽茫o Getulio Vargas in Brazil. She has worked for over 20 years at the United Nations specializing in women鈥檚 issues and education.聽A promoter of Dominican women poets, Vicioso has supported their work throughout her career. She was appointed as the ambassador for women鈥檚, children鈥檚, and youth affairs for the Foreign Relations Ministry in her native country. In 2012, she was the vice presidential candidate for the Alianza Pa铆s party. The author of numerous publications, including plays, volumes of poetry, essays, short stories and novels, today, Vicioso is working on a English publication of her novel Sireno (2020) and has begun her next, titled Nuyol, about the first Dominican immigrants to arrive in 1896 New York.

Can you tell us about your background?

I was born into a family of artists. My grandfather was a journalist and poet in charge of the social chronicles of the leading newspaper on the island: The Listin Diario. My father, Tony Vicioso, revolutionized poetry and music on the island. He and my mother Maria Luisa Sanchez led a cultural group that questioned the rigid cannons we had inherited from Spain. My father was also a musician. He played seven instruments, and after he traveled to the U.S. on a scholarship for winning a painting prize, he traveled to the South. He revolutionized Spanish boleros with blues and other southern rhythms.

What decided you on 可乐视频?

In 1965, President [Lyndon B.] Johnson enacted a law requiring all universities that received federal funding to enroll minorities. 可乐视频 reached out to the Hispanic community, and eight other Dominicans and I were enrolled, with the generous help of Puerto Rican students. We subsequently met with Black students and students from other parts of the Caribbean, which provided us with new knowledge about the region since we thought the Caribbean was only 鈥淭he Greater Antilles,” which includes Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. We formed the Third World Peoples Alliance, and that is also how I learned about the great thinkers of Jamaica, like Marcus Garvey, Martinique鈥檚 Frantz Fanon, Eugenio Maria de Hostos, and leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Angela Davis, among many others. My Caribbean vision expanded.

Did you enter college knowing what career you wanted?聽

When I enrolled, I ignored what career to choose. Six months enrolled and I was ready to abandon college for what I felt was the lack of intellectual challenges and debates. At the time, everyone seemed in a hurry to finish their career and get a job. I was bored. But then I met several professors essential for my intellectual development and human values. Of those, Prof. Hobart Spalding taught me to always look for the other side of the story and history. Everything I learned about my own history as a Dominican and Latino woman I owe to him. I consider Professor Huebner the best philosopher I have ever met. He taught me to love the discipline and is only surpassed by Herbert Marcuse and Eric Fromm, whom I met through him. To this day, Eros and Civilization and One Dimensional Man are books that I always recommend. I owe my professors and the university my intellectual development and sense of identity.

There was a time when women鈥檚 voices were less prominent in Dominican literature. Could you speak about that?

When I returned to the Dominican Republic all the female poets complained about not being taken聽seriously and not being able聽to publish, so I created聽The Circle for Women Poets so we could promote our own work and that聽of previous poets ignored or dismissed by the literary establishment. We also highlighted the work of peasant women who had a very particular聽way of expressing themselves poetically.聽I wrote the first book of feminist聽literary聽criticism influenced by the work of Elaine Showalter called Algo que decir, Something to Declare. The kind of aggression聽against us from the patriarchy that聽we received was enormous.聽So I introduced what I call 鈥淐ultural Guerilla Warfare,鈥� which means that聽when they聽closed聽the door to us as poets, we wrote essays; when they closed聽that聽door,聽we wrote theater. I earned the National Prize in Theater Cristobal de Llerena聽for my first play Wish-ky Sour. It was the first time it was awarded to a woman in the Dominican Republic; that only won me more backlash. But I also learned聽resilience聽in the United States, so no small island was going to defeat me or any of the Dominican women poets and writers.

You have been involved in non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations and ran for vice president in the Dominican Republic in 2012.

I worked 22 years at the United Nations and UN.-related聽NGOs on women issues and education. I also ran for the vice presidency with presidential candidate Guillermo Moreno of the Alianza Pais Party, while working for the Ministry of Foreign Relations as an ambassador for women, children, and adolescent issues. It was quite an experience.

What are you are doing/working on today?

I am working聽now on launching my novel Sireno and its translation into Portuguese in Brazil.聽I already launched it in Lisbon, Portugal, at the Jose Saramago Foundation.聽Hopefully,聽in July, I will start聽writing my next novel, Nuyol, about 1896 New York, when the first Dominican immigrants聽arrived in the聽U.S.

What advice would you give to today鈥檚 students?

I would advise students to be curious, read, and research.聽Do not take any knowledge聽or viewpoint for granted.聽University education聽will then be exciting and challenging.聽Not doing so can only contribute to your homogenization and that聽is a waste of your uniqueness聽and intelligence.

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“The sacrifices these graduates made and the commitment they showed to complete their degrees were extraordinary,” said 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson. “We are thrilled to be able to hold this commencement for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 on our beautiful campus to share their joy as they continue with this next chapter in their lives.”

The event had a distinct theme鈥攔ecovery, remaining, and resilience鈥攁nd several special guests were on hand to deliver that message.

The stars of Commencement were the resilient and dedicated Roby Daniel, the valedictorian for the Class of 2020, and Asma Awad, the valedictorian for the Class of 2021.

Awad, who is working as a software engineer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., offered advice based on her experiences doing something she loves: coding.

“None of us are immune to making mistakes. It’s one thing to be perfect and another to be your best, and I think that the latter says more about someone than the former,” Award said. “Problems come our way on a daily basis, and we probably share more of them than we think. It doesn鈥檛 take a code review to open up to different perspectives on a single problem鈥�. I can only hope that when so many of you are undoubtedly in positions to recruit, to promote, or to simply make an impact, that you recognize the importance of representation and what it means for the future.”

Daniel, who is currently studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said while he was proud to deliver his speech online to his fellow graduates in 2020, the in-person event was extra special.

“Class of 2020, I want to remind you that adversity was not new to us, even if it may have taken on a different shape and form,” Daniel said. “We made it through our undergraduate journey and two years of our postgraduate career, all while following 可乐视频’s motto: nil sine magno labore鈥攏othing without great effort. As we celebrate today, we can proudly say all the hard work has paid off. Our struggle has forged us into the leaders of tomorrow as we have learned a new way to learn, a new way to teach, and, most importantly, a new way to succeed.”

Serving as keynote speaker was actor, producer, writer, and prolific podcaster ’01, who serves on the board of directors of the 可乐视频 Alumni Association and was also a former adjunct lecturer. Now the executive producer and host of the 2021 Webby Award鈥搉ominated podcast Latinos Out Loud, she is one of seven selected writers for the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s 2021 LatinX Stream Showcase, where her short film The Swimmers premiered. It was also featured in the 2021 Official Latino Film Festival. Her one-woman show, Ink, was a featured selection in the 2021 ONE Festival.

Strauss-Muniz brought energy and humor to the event, expressing her deep love for both Brooklyn and 可乐视频. Comparing the pivots she has made during her eclectic career鈥攑articularly during the pandemic鈥攖hat spanned working in media, marketing, and entertainment, she lauded the more than 9,000 total 可乐视频 graduates of the two classes who also had to pivot to earn their degrees.

“You had a choice to plummet or pivot and you did it. You all rose to the occasion. We all made the decision to shift, adapt, and overcome,” Muniz said. “That ability to shift and still operate will serve you sell as you pursue your ambitions.” Commencement also featured CEO and President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce ’96 as another special guest speaker. From 2002 to 2006, Peers served as vice president of economic development at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce under former President Kenneth Adams, developing a portfolio of projects, including the Good Help program and Real Estate Development industry initiative, as well as developing the concept for the Business Solutions Center.

Peers told the graduates that, as a Brooklyn native who had to work and take classes, he related and respected the difficult journey the classes of 2020 and 2021 had made.

Comparing his work on the city-wide program he helped create to assist 3,000 businesses citywide and 11,000 businesses in Brooklyn over the past difficult few years that leaned on being adaptive and creative, he also marveled at the work that was done by both graduating classes.

“Nothing I experienced at 可乐视频 matches what you went through during your two years navigating the pandemic,”聽Peers said. “No matter how you were impacted or how you pivoted, here you are.鈥� You should be congratulated for your own resiliency.鈥� Never forget the life lessons this challenge has taught you.”

The commencement was led by President Anderson, Vice President for Student Affairs Ronald C. Jackson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes, and other college faculty and staff. The CUNY extended family was also in attendance, including Denise B. Maybank ’78, CUNY Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.

Jackson congratulated the graduates of both classes, emphasizing that they earned a combined 6,793 bachelor’s and 2,231 master’s degrees, along with 137 students who received advance certificates.

New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker was also in attendance, and a video greeting from Jumaane Williams ’01, ’05 M.A. was shared.

Williams called 可乐视频 a “special place,” telling the classes of 2020 and 2021: “Your success comes after your hard work, your sacrifice, and your ability to overcome challenges of the two years and throughout your education… You’re not the leaders of tomorrow, you are the leaders of today, and we are going to need you.”

Stating the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education she earned from 可乐视频 has drawn as much attention and has held as much weight as a degree earned Ivy League institutions, Vice Chancellor Maybank said: “I got an education for a lifetime from the School of Education at 可乐视频… Know that you are the difference the world needs as such a time as this.”

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Civil rights activist Tarana Burke gave the keynote address and accepted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, presented by 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson聽at the 2019 Commencement Ceremony, held at the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn May 30. The founder of the #MeToo movement emphasized the need for people to create movements based on working collectively.

鈥淭here is an expectation that you will leverage the privilege that the degrees you received today afford you toward the edification and empowerment of your folks,鈥� said Burke. 鈥淵ou should not only be using it for your individual success but it should be used toward the liberation of folks who look like you and live like you and love you. Movements aren鈥檛 built by just trained activists and professional organizers. They are built by everyday people with made up minds that they can change and will affect change. We need to build our communities collectively and make the challenges our own. We all have a role to play. Everyone won鈥檛 be on the front line, but we all can help not just hold the line, but move it forward.鈥�

A 2017 Time magazine Person of the Year, Burke is also the founder of the nonprofit organization Just Be, Inc. and has been dedicated to helping vulnerable communities put an end to socioeconomic injustice and sexual violence for decades. In 2006, Burke began using the phrase 鈥渕e too鈥� to draw attention to the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in a society that often ignores or penalizes survivors of such crimes, and to assure these survivors that they were not alone and could find healing in safer spaces in the community. In 2014, Burke was a consultant for Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay鈥檚 2014 hit Hollywood film, Selma, based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis.

鈥淏e bold, be visible, be brave, be authentic, be you,鈥� Burke said in conclusion. 鈥淓very version of you is important and needed for us to win.鈥�

The Class of 2019 was one of the largest in the borough, with more than 4,300 graduates鈥�3,097 baccalaureate, 1,183 master’s, and 61 Advanced Certificate students. The very diverse body of scholars comes from more than 125 countries and speak more than 80 languages. Approximately 98 members of the class identify as disabled, and 53 students are veterans or currently enlisted in the U.S. military. President Anderson highlighted the college鈥檚 diversity as its great strength, enhancing the academic experience for everyone.

鈥淥ur graduating students here today are prepared to go out into the world and assume challenging positions of leadership,鈥� said Anderson, 鈥渘ot only because they are the beneficiaries of a great education but also the tutelage of excellent professors and they have benefited from the diversity of our student body, which makes them interculturally competent and conversant across difference.鈥�

This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor and activist Jimmy Smits 鈥�80,聽spoke of today鈥檚 challenging times requiring fresh new ideas. 鈥淭he country is entrusting you with a giant ball of issues to help unravel. It is your turn, not just to turn the tassels. As college graduates, you are an essential part of the change that is already taking place in the vanguard of our future. Your presence here today erases apathy and ignorance with leadership and knowledge for the betterment of our community, our nation and our world,鈥� said Smits.

With a stellar career that spans more than three decades, Smits has starred in some of the most popular films, plays, and television shows in history, including films in the Star Wars franchise, Anna in the Tropics, L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, The West Wing, and Sons of Anarchy. At 可乐视频, he performed in a number of plays, including Of Mice and Men, Othello, and Everyman. Smits鈥� first big network television role was in 1984 on the hit N可乐视频 series Miami Vice. His big-screen debut came two years later in the Gregory Hines/Billy Crystal film Running Scared. Soon after, Smits landed a starring role on the hit N可乐视频 show L.A. Law, for which he received seven Emmy Award nominations, winning in 1990 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

鈥淚f I were given the ability today to instill one thing in you, it would be perseverance鈥攆all down, feel the fall, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and you try again,鈥� said Smits. 鈥淵ou give everything your best shot, and once you have, you live with the results. The thing that I hope the most for all of you is something easily achieved: Be good people. Be decent and helpful, and think of others before you think of yourself because the rewards that will come back to you will be limitless.鈥�

The valedictorian of the Class of 2019, Salvatore Casto,聽spoke of a solution to a better tomorrow: 鈥淎 study from the Pew Research Center finds that this current generation promises to be the most diverse in history along with having higher percentages of college graduates than ever before. The political pressures placed upon this graduating class are immense. The power and diversity we share must be used to systematically change how we perceive and accept differences. And we do so by engaging. Witnessing. Creating. Deconstructing. Listening. And, instead of ignoring, embracing.鈥�

Other distinguished guests included Senator Chuck Schumer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, members of the 可乐视频 50th Anniversary Class of 1969, the 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees, and the 可乐视频 Alumni Association.

For more on 可乐视频’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony, follow the hashtag #可乐视频Grad2019 on , , and .

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