鈥淚’m deeply grateful for this honor as well as the support and learning opportunities I’ve received at 可乐视频,鈥� says Jackson. 鈥淭he challenging environment pushed me beyond my limits, fostering both personal and professional growth. The encouragement from the 可乐视频 community has been invaluable, inspiring me to continually strive for excellence.鈥�

A Michigan native, Jackson first came to 可乐视频 10 years ago as the dean of students with a pledge 鈥渢o do a lot of relationship building so that the students get to know and trust me.鈥�

Today, he is responsible for the development and management of a comprehensive student life program for the Division of Student Affairs.聽He oversees a number of offices and programs that are critical for student success and well being, including , Personal Counseling, the Center for Student Disability Services, and more.

ACPA, the American College Personnel Association, credited him with developing and implementing data-driven programs and initiatives that align with the college鈥檚 mission, pointing to his implementation of the Food Pantry and the Immigrant Student Success Office.

His peers in the association also noted that he has been a strong mentor to his colleagues in the student affairs community and an advocate for people of color in higher education.

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Athletically, Smiles knew it was a great place that he could help continue to grow, as Filosa had done a terrific job rebuilding the athletic department as it transitioned from Division I to Division III and added great facilities like the West Quad Center and turf field. The foundation built over the last three decades allowed the college to expand and improve the student-athlete experience.聽What also helped Smiles was that he was no stranger to the CUNY Athletic Conference, having served as Hostos Community College鈥檚 director of athletics, recreation, and intramurals since 2019. During his tenure there, he helped oversee both a women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 basketball program that won NJCAA D-III, CUNYAC, and Region XV titles.

Smiles talked about his love for sports, particularly basketball, and what drew him to 可乐视频 and CUNY.

What makes CUNYAC unique, and why do you feel athletics are so important at this level?

The Division III level and CUNYAC within that are special in my opinion because we have some of the most diverse and hard-working student-athletes in the country. Many of our student-athletes are first-generation Americans and first-generation college students, and they have worked so hard to get where they are. Many not only play their sport and attend classes full time but also have a part-time job to help pay for school and help their families.

I think athletics is so important at this level for two reasons. First, being a part of a team teaches you so many lessons that are going to be important to these student-athletes as they transition to their profession. Teamwork, communication, dealing with adversity, how to stay humble in success, leadership, and dedication are just some of the lessons that are taught in real-time by being part of a college athletic team. The bonds that are built between teammates, coaches, and the institution itself by going through a season are remarkable and lead to great future Bulldog alumni.

Second, with all that is going on in the world, I think there is no better outlet than being a part of a team for both your physical and mental health. It is proven that exercise and activity are major components of mental health, and what better way to achieve that than working toward a common goal of a championship with your teammates?

Tell us about some pleasant surprises you encountered at 可乐视频.

The first surprise was I did not realize how beautiful the campus is and how centrally located it is to everything in Brooklyn.

The second thing, I don鈥檛 want to call it a surprise, is that the athletic staff I inherited is great. The staff and coaches have so much experience and are great at what they do. They have made my transition to Brooklyn so much easier than I thought it would be. They are really focused on giving the student-athletes a great experience and want to make sure we grow and give them every chance to win and represent 可乐视频 the right way.

Where would you like to see growth in the athletics programs?

One area that I would love to see us grow is our relationship with our alumni. Our athletic alumni are a large and diverse group, but the common theme for all of these different groups is that they loved their time at 可乐视频 and want to be involved. So, I think it is really important that over these next few years, we work hard in re-engaging alumni and getting them back on campus. We are already working on a few events and programs, such as reactivating our Athletics Hall of Fame Committee, developing an athletic alumni group, and an annual golf outing. We held an alumni night at our basketball doubleheader in early December and had close to 75 basketball and cheerleading alumni attend. It was great to see such a turnout! We are also working with some of our alumni from the 1970s and 1980s on starting an alumni mentoring program, where some of our older or retired alumni mentor our current senior student-athletes as they get ready to transition to their professional life post-graduation.

You have a strong background in basketball. What other sports are you especially drawn to?

Actually, all of them. I think that, with our turf field being the best outdoor facility in CUNYAC, we have the potential to grow our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs as well as our softball program. We have some really good coaches leading those programs, so the pieces are in place for the programs to grow in terms of their competitiveness. We also have made some investments in the aquatics area, so I am excited to see our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming programs grow and become not only locally but regionally competitive.

Another sport that I am hoping we can make some investments in is our men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis programs. Our tennis coach is a knowledgeable veteran who really knows the game of tennis, and the student-athletes who make up those teams are some of the coolest kids we have in the athletic department. Unfortunately, our tennis courts are aged and need renovation. I hope that we can dedicate some funds to bringing the courts up to the level that our student-athletes deserve and enable our tennis programs to continue to grow.

What would you tell a student who was debating joining a team at 可乐视频?

I would tell them to reach out to the coach of that specific sport and find out what the commitment is, and if they can do it to give it a chance. We have great coaches, great facilities, and a great institution that is going to give you a world-class education. As I mentioned before, there are many positive lessons that are learned from being a part of a team as well as the lifelong bonds with teammates and coaches.

Also, if being on a team is not for you, that鈥檚 fine, because we offer so much in our department. We have intramurals for students who want to play team sports but may not be able to be on the varsity team. We offer a comprehensive recreation program that is open daily and offers the fitness center, swimming pool, gymnasium, and racquetball as well as all of our outdoor facilities. There is something for everybody, depending on what you are looking for. But if you want to stay active and healthy, we are the place to be!

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College President Michelle J. Anderson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes, and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Ron Jackson, helped lead the conferring of degrees in the college鈥檚 School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts, Murray Koppleman School of Business, School of Education, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Welcoming the special guests, as well as the families and friends of the graduates, President Anderson congratulated the Class of 2023, while thanking the strong faculty and classmates who helped get the graduates to the finish line.

鈥淭hese students worked hard to get here,鈥� President Anderson said. 鈥淭hey tackled rigorous academic work, research projects, internships, jobs, and numerous assignments. Today, they are not the same people who graduated from high school and came to our doors. As a result, they evolved. They explored new ideas about life and what is possible within it, about our history and what makes us human, and ideas that have shaped and changed them for the better, as a college education is designed to do.鈥�

Professor Emerita and Pulitzer and Kennedy Center award-winner served as the keynote speaker and was given an honorary degree. Le贸n, who taught at 可乐视频 for 35 years until her retirement in 2019, was director of music composition at the school鈥檚 Conservatory of Music. She is the first faculty member in any of the City University of New York (CUNY) schools to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center award. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her work “鈥� in 2021.

Having grown up in a lower-income family in Cuba, Le贸n told the Class of 2023 she always dreamed of earning a college degree and that what her family lacked in material wealth they made up in spirit, encouragement, and support. A twist of fate landed her in the United States in her early 20s, and what followed was an incredible career as one of the world鈥檚 preeminent composers, conductors, and educators.

鈥淢y life in 可乐视频, where I taught for 33 years in the Music Department, eventually becoming a distinguished professor, has been the source of enriching experiences, personal growth, and many talented students and personal friends, which have become members of my extended family,鈥� Le贸n said. 鈥淢any of these colleagues and students have been inspirational through their passion and their contributions to society. To see students graduate is a joyful moment for all the professors involved in their journey, including myself. … As you continue on your journey and give service to our societies with your unique talents, you, in turn, will offer your support, encouragement, and powerful spirit that will help others realize their dreams.鈥�

Following Le贸n鈥檚 commencement speech, 可乐视频 Foundation Trustee Leonard Tow 鈥�50, founder and chairman of The Tow Foundation, surprised the audience by announcing that the foundation would be providing support toward the establishment of the Tania Le贸n Chair of Music鈥攖he first-ever named chair in the Conservatory of Music at 可乐视频.

鈥淭he Tania Le贸n Chair will forever recognize and honor your unmatched legacy at 可乐视频 and in the larger world,鈥� Tow said.

可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson presents Leonard Tow 鈥�50, 可乐视频 Foundation Trustee and founder and chairman of The Tow Foundation, with a birthday cake as Evan Silverstein 鈥�76 (left) and Tania Le贸n look on.

President Anderson thanked Tow for his continued support, as the crowd helped him celebrate his recent 95th birthday by singing 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� led by Joe Damon Chappel 鈥�23 M.M., singer from the 可乐视频 Brass Ensemble.

Silverstein, 鈥�76, 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor. Silverstein has served as a Trustee since 2009. He has led the Foundation鈥檚 efforts to secure vital support for students. Silverstein was a lead supporter of the effort to raise emergency funds for students during the pandemic and established the Renee and Evan Silverstein Internship Fund at 可乐视频.

可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson awards Evan Silverstein, 鈥�76, 可乐视频 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair, with the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Silverstein dedicated his award to 可乐视频 students past, present, and future.

鈥淭o me, my years at 可乐视频 were not just academic,鈥� Silverstein said. 鈥淭he growth, maturity, and awareness that I experienced made me aware of a much bigger world that I never knew. I grew up at 可乐视频. I, my fellow board members, and many others do what we do because we feel we owe it to 可乐视频 to give back and enhance the opportunity for students any which way we can. The fact that you are committed to earning a college degree says a lot about you and bodes well for your future.鈥�

The valedictorian of the Class of 2023 was Chaim Janani, who received his bachelor’s degree in honors for chemistry. Janani congratulated his fellow graduates and credited his academic success to the support and mentorship he received at 可乐视频, which helped him to fulfill his dream of becoming a physician. Following commencement, he will pursue medical school in the fall at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.

The salutatorian, Lisa Leopold- Chaparro, a , and co-teacher at a private preschool in Manhattan, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood. Leopold- Chaparro will continue her studies at 可乐视频 and attend the early childhood education graduate program. She plans to work with at-risk students in public schools.

(Left to right) Class of 2023 Salutatorian Lisa Leopold- Chaparro, 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson, and the valedictorian Chaim Janani.

Other special guests who addressed the Class of 2023 and offered congratulations were U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams ’01, ’05 M.A., and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

The CUNY family was also well-represented, including CUNY Trustee Kevin Kim, who addressed the Class of 2023.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Officially, 可乐视频 conferred 2,871 students who have received baccalaureate degrees, 850 who earned master鈥檚 degrees, and 88 students who will receive advanced certificates.

The Class of 2023 celebrates commencement at Barclays Center.

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He wanted to be a theater actor and director, but after graduating, getting married, and having a family, he thought about how challenging it would be to make a living in the field. He was also coming to an understanding鈥攁fter taking a job as an adviser in the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success鈥攖hat he might have an additional calling.

鈥淭he more I worked in advisement, the more I realized that this was a job that could satisfy my soul and my need to pay for a mortgage,鈥� says LoPorto, now the associate director of the Student Success Unit.

In his position, he heads a group called the Transfer Student Success Team鈥攁 unit generously funded in part by 鈥攚hich offers personalized coaching, workshops, and a variety of other services to transfer students. He also runs the Student Success Connection Coach team, oversees DegreeWorks, and coordinates the college鈥檚 DegreeMaps.

You鈥檝e been in the 可乐视频 family for more than 30 years now! How did your experiences as a student here shape the work you do today?

I was a terrible student! I was grateful to be here because I had so many other things going on. I would not have succeeded were it not for a former 可乐视频 dean, Kathy Gover, who mentored me and showed me different opportunities.

So this idea of how transformative CUNY can be, simply by making college accessible, is very real to me. I get how important it is for the college to be as proactive as possible in our outreach. I get鈥攐n a personal level鈥攖he need for connection and catered programming.

The college received funding for your team of transfer specialists in 2020. What has it been like building that team?

We got the original grant right before the pandemic and told students, 鈥淪ee you in a couple weeks once this pause is over.鈥� Ha! Pretty quickly, we realized this had to be operationalized online, and funny how life works, but that turned out to be beneficial. That created a greater opportunity to engage with students that didn鈥檛 rely on them coming to our space at a certain time. It helped change the dynamics of how and when we engage our students. It changed the way we reach out to other colleges.

It鈥檚 been great building the team and seeing the satisfaction they get when a student graduates or finds that professor they were looking for. The team is made up of all CUNY graduates who understand that CUNY students live complicated lives. We鈥檙e here to smooth out the parts of their lives that we can.

You continue to work in the theater world. Do you see a connection between that world and your role in advising?

One of the pillars of theater-making is that everyone throws out ideas and you collaborate and respect everyone鈥檚 contribution. My experiences as a director leading casts and crews have helped me apply that here. I鈥檓 not afraid to tear something down and start again. That leads to innovation. We have to do that here sometimes to meet the needs of a new generation of students. It鈥檚 taught me the flexibility I need.

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鈥淭hanks to the generosity of The Tow Foundation, the college will be able to provide students with life-changing mentors who will expand their sense of what is possible to achieve,鈥� 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson said. 鈥淔aculty mentors and mentors-in-residence will connect deeply with students, providing them with academic opportunities, opening doors, and enriching their lives. We want to build a commitment to mentorship into the college鈥檚 DNA so that excellent mentorship defines the 可乐视频 experience.鈥�

Leonard Tow 鈥�50, founder and chairman of The Tow Foundation, himself knows first-hand how mentorship can transform lives. Tow, who also serves on the Board of Trustees of the 可乐视频 Foundation, recently spoke of his experiences as a student at the College鈥檚 2022 Commencement, where he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Pointing to the 鈥済ifts鈥� he received at his alma mater, Tow recalled a powerful relationship he developed with his economics professor, Martha Steffy Browne.

鈥淪teffy Browne, an immigrant herself, took me under her wing and introduced me to a life I never knew existed and pushed me to pursue my dreams,鈥� Tow said. 鈥淚t set me off through graduate school where she was guiding me every step of the way. Giving back does not have to always involve material things,鈥� Tow added. 鈥淭here are a lot of ways to change lives, including offering your time, guidance, and mentorship.鈥�

A number of programs already constitute a rich mentoring ecosystem at 可乐视频, including the Mellon Undergraduate Transfer Student Program (MTSRP), which supports transfer students in the humanities; the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, an honors program for minority students pursuing Ph.D.s in specific fields; as well as other mentoring programs in the Office of Academic Affairs, the Immigrant Student Success Office, and the Magner Career Center, among others. The Tow Mentoring Initiative will deeply enrich the existing ecosystem, giving students across disciplines more opportunities to thrive and grow.

Key components of the new Mentoring Initiative include Tow Mentors-in-Residence, the Tow Mentoring and Research Program, the Tow Mentoring Prize, and five Tow Senior Faculty Mentors. The goals are to enhance student opportunities for high-impact academic engagement and faculty-student collaboration; increase the number of students winning prestigious grants and awards; increase the number of students going to graduate school; and enhance junior faculty research, scholarship, and creative endeavors, such as grants, awards, and publishing.

The college is thrilled to have 鈥淕ridlock Sam鈥� as its first Tow Mentor-in-Residence. Sam Schwartz is a celebrated transportation engineer and former New York City Traffic Commissioner who will engage with students and faculty over the course of the semester by offering guest lectures and providing formal and informal academic and professional guidance to students. Schwartz helped to launch the Tow Mentoring Initiative with his visit to campus for a special keynote presentation and reception on October 19.

Students will also benefit from the Tow Mentoring and Research Program, which consists of 25 student/faculty collaborative research teams. Students will receive mentoring in research, plus additional workshops on applying for graduate school and awards, coaching on professional presentations, small group meetings on goal setting and time management, and other personalized trainings.

The Tow Mentoring Initiative also supports the mentoring of faculty themselves. The Tow Senior Faculty program supports five senior faculty members from each of the five schools. They work with chairs, deans, and faculty in their schools to mentor junior faculty members to achieve tenure and promotion through excellence in research, scholarship and creative work, teaching, and service.

Professor of Sociology and former Associate Provost Tammy Lewis leads the Tow Mentoring Initiative. She is excited to see how this effort will benefit both students and faculty. 鈥淭his new initiative provides 可乐视频 with the opportunity to intentionally engage in the process of institutionalizing mentorship on campus for both students and faculty,鈥� Lewis said. 鈥淭hrough the Tow Research and Mentoring Program, we are creating structures to guide students to become agents of their futures and to realize that they have the capacity to shape their own lives and the world around them. Through the Tow Senior Faculty Mentors and the Tow Mentoring Prize, we are providing structured mentorship and recognition for faculty mentors, which deepens a culture of mentorship at the college.鈥�

Fact Box: The Tow Mentoring Initiative

The Tow Mentoring and Research Program includes 25 student/faculty collaborative research teams. Students receive mentoring in research plus additional workshops on applying for graduate school and awards, coaching on professional presentations, and other personalized training.

Tow Summer Intensive, which starts in summer of 2023, will host a program for students, led by a faculty member, to assist them with applying for awards, grants, graduate school, and other opportunities that will help them transform their lives.

The Tow Mentor-in-Residence Program will recruit high-profile, senior scholars and practitioners for structured engagement with students and faculty over the course of a semester. Mentors-in-Residence are outstanding leaders across various fields. They will engage in guest lecturing in select classes, giving talks to students and faculty, and providing formal and informal academic and professional guidance to groups of students.

Tow Senior Faculty Mentors will lead the effort at the five schools at college: Education, Visual, Media and Performing Arts; Natural and Behavioral Sciences; Koppelman School of Business; and Humanities and Social Sciences. This part of the program connects senior faculty with junior faculty in an in-depth peer mentoring experience.

The Tow Mentoring Prize will be awarded annually to a faculty member for excellence in mentoring.

About 可乐视频

Widely known for its offer of an excellent education at an affordable tuition and recognized nationally for its diverse student body, 可乐视频 has been an anchor institution within the Borough of Brooklyn and greater New York City for more than 90 years. With approximately 16,000 students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, education, and business, the college is renowned for its rigorous academics, award-winning faculty, distinguished alumni, and community impact. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), 可乐视频 offers a vibrant and supportive student experience on a beautifully landscaped 35-acre campus in the borough鈥檚 Midwood neighborhood.

About The Tow Foundation

The Tow Foundation, established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow, supports visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, help individuals contribute to their communities, and champion advancements and experiences that make it possible for all people to live healthy and joyous lives. It invests in innovative programs and reform in culture, higher education, journalism, justice and community wellness, and medicine. For more information, visit or follow The Tow Foundation on , , and .

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鈥淎s an anchor institution in one of the most diverse regions of the country, we are proud to join Hillel International鈥檚 Campus Climate Initiative and our fellow CUNY campuses working together to fight antisemitism and support our Jewish students, faculty, and staff,鈥� said 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson.

is helping to lead this partnership with President Anderson, the college鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Equity Programs. Tanger Hillel is the largest Hillel facility at a New York campus that serves a diverse population of students, including Russian-speaking Jews, Israeli, Kavkazi, Bukharin, Orthodox, and American students.

Joining Hillel International will allow 可乐视频 and CUNY to be key partners in:

• incorporating antisemitism in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and campus-based trainings;
• expanding DEI training for staff, administrators, and student leaders to help them understand and recognize the various forms of antisemitism and utilizing educational tools such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism for these efforts;
• developing a system-wide web page for reporting campus incidents, including antisemitism, to facilitate and standardize reporting. This central page will connect to the individual campus reporting sites. It will also be shared with the college president or dean, who will be required to report on these cases on a semi-annual basis and develop policy and training as needed;
• allocating $750,000 in new funding for events and programs that counter antisemitism and other forms of religious or ethnic bigotry, or for the expansion of DEI training incorporating antisemitism.

Currently in its third year, CCI works proactively with campuses to foster a positive campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity and values, free of antisemitism, harassment, or marginalization.

This new collaboration with Hillel International is one core component of a broad action plan to address antisemitism, as arrests for antisemitic crimes are up 45% in New York this year. Other CUNY campuses selected for this CCI expansion include Baruch College, The City College of New York, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Queens College.

The effort follows the JCRC-NY Scholars as Bridge Builders鈥� visit to Israel in late April, when President Anderson was invited by CUNY Chancellor F茅lix V. Matos Rodr铆guez to join a delegation of 12 CUNY college presidents and deans to Israel and the West Bank to participate in a weeklong study tour of the country鈥檚 cities, historic sites, and higher education institutions that included meetings with academics, activists, and public officials.

鈥淚 am so proud of the partnerships we have developed with dozens of colleges and universities who are deeply committed to improving the experiences of Jewish students as part of their DEI commitments for all students,鈥� said Mark Rotenberg, Hillel鈥檚 vice president for University Initiatives & Legal Affairs. 鈥淭he challenges of antisemitic hate, harassment, and marginalization on campus require awareness and commitment to change by university leaders, and the CCI program鈥檚 dramatic growth from eight schools to 40 in two years shows that those leaders are out there.鈥�

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She is currently an adjunct English instructor and the director of the college鈥檚 CUNY EDGE program, which helps students receiving public assistance achieve academic excellence, graduate on time, and find employment after college. But she has always lived something of a double life, working in the world of student affairs by day and singing and reading her poetry with her husband鈥檚 jazz band. She鈥檚 also done some freelance literary reviews and has interviewed poetry giants Jayne Cortez, Maya Angelou, and Ntozake Shange.

Still, Ngozi Nri didn鈥檛 feel fully legitimate as a poet. She had undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Bristol in England in politics and sociology, economics, and public policy. She had even published some of her poetry. But she didn鈥檛 have anything that gave her the same academic seal that other poets have.

鈥淚鈥檓 especially critical of myself,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to be out there without the degree.鈥�

One day, when she was sitting at her desk in her Boylan Hall office and someone asked for directions to the open house for the English Department鈥檚 M.F.A. programs, she decided to take a gander herself. The next thing she knew, she was enrolled in the M.F.A. in Creative Writing program.

A series of poems she began as an exercise for her master鈥檚 degree ended up taking on a whole new life, helping her make sense of the tumult that COVID-19 wrought and landing her a prominent role last spring in the college鈥檚 commemoration of those lost during the pandemic.

可乐视频: What is your background and what sparked your love of poetry and literature?

MNN: I was born in England and went to Nigeria when I was five months old and then back to England when I was nine. My mum is from Barbados and my dad from Nigeria.

My mother would tell stories of me as a kid: I was shy. I got bullied at school. I guess because of that I just always preferred to be in a book. From that came my love of reading. But all my life, I went to predominantly White schools where I didn鈥檛 know any Black writers. I remember reading the book by Paule Marshall [鈥�53], Brown Girl, Brownstones [Random House, 1959], when I was in the equivalent of high school. She was the first Black woman writer I knew.

可乐视频: What brought you to the States?

MNN:I met my husband, Ahmed Abdullah, in 1991 and moved here with him the next year. When I first came to New York, I worked at The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine for 8 years then The New School for 14 years as director of international student services. Then I went to Lehman College where I ran a program for sophomores.

We eventually moved to Flatlands in Brooklyn, and we used to drive past the college and I鈥檇 say, 鈥淚 wish I could work there.鈥�

可乐视频: You began the M.F.A. program in fall 2019 and then of course the next semester, COVID-19 shut down in-person classes. You ended up writing a whole poetry series about it. What was that like?

MNN: My husband鈥檚 first cousin, Teelah, passed away from COVID. Early in the pandemic, my aunt passed away from flu-like symptoms. And I had a few other people close to me who left the planet because of COVID. My daughter Tara was home from college. My whole experience working with students was turned upside down.

And then there were all the people from the college who passed away. It was quite shocking. That鈥檚 how I came to write a series of poems which were about different aspects of my experience. Writing is my therapy. It鈥檚 my way of coming to terms with things.

可乐视频: How did the structure of the program help you process everything that was going on?

MNN: One of the great things about really studying your craft is learning about different forms. I wrote a series of four poems that I called 鈥淐ovidium,鈥� about different aspects of my experiences with COVID. It鈥檚 very interesting what happens when you try to fit ideas into a form. It creates something other than what you necessarily began with. It鈥檚 like pouring liquid into a vessel.

可乐视频: You also tragically lost your mother just before you graduated. How did that change you?

MNN: My mum Celeste died on Mother鈥檚 Day 2021, the day of my thesis reading. My thesis was dedicated to her. She passed away about 30 minutes before the reading. I had just sung with her her favorite hymn, 鈥淎bide With Me.鈥� Her death has had a profound effect on me. She always wanted me to publish a book so I鈥檝e been trying to really focus this summer on seeing if I can get the book finished. Hopefully I will publish the book and be recognized in the real world as a poet.

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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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可乐视频 will hold a special in-person commencement on its campus at 10 a.m. on July 12 to recognize the graduating classes of both 2020 and 2021 since the college was unable to hold an in-person ceremony for them due to pandemic restrictions. The event will be held in the Claire Tow Theater in Whitman Hall.

鈥淭he sacrifices these graduates made and the commitment they showed to complete their degrees were extraordinary,鈥� said 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�

The commencement will be 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. There will be an address by Roby Daniel, the valedictorian for the Class of 2020 and Asma Awad, the valedictorian for the Class of 2021.

Serving as keynote speaker is actor, producer, writer, and prolific podcaster Rachel Strauss-Mu帽iz 鈥�01. She is executive producer and host of the 2021 Webby Award-nominated podcast, Latinos Out Loud. She is one of seven selected writers for NHMC鈥檚 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 Theatre Festival.

Mu帽iz is currently voicing the role of 鈥淢ama鈥� on the animated series, The Tuttle Twins. Her feature film debut as an actress in Superblocked premiered at the 2021 Warner Media Latino Film Festival and won Best Feature at The Official Latino Film Festival. She also performs alongside Room 28, the multicultural sketch comedy troupe she also produces that is part of the program Bring the Funny. Aside from off-Broadway live comedy show runs, Room 28 won a NYC Indie Film Festival Award for Latino Vortex, a short directed by Saturday Night Live鈥檚 Oz Rodriguez. She is also the creator/producer of The HERlarious Show, an all-female variety show featuring some of the best BIPOC females in sketch, improvisation, stand-up, and musical comedy, among her many other projects.

Commencement will also feature CEO and President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Randy Peers 鈥�96 as another special guest speaker. From 2002鈥�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 that included the Good Help program and Real Estate Development (RED) industry initiative, as well as developing the concept for the Business Solutions Center. He previously served as the inaugural president and CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) in Berks County, Pennsylvania, overseeing the alignment of the Chamber of Commerce and two economic development organizations. For over a decade, Peers was CEO of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), a Brooklyn-headquartered workforce development organization that was the leading provider of disconnected youth job training services in New York City.

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After nine years at Medgar Evers College as an adviser and assistant director in the admissions office and a coordinator of veterans affairs, Raymond came to 可乐视频 in 2019 as the director of student activities in the Division of Student Affairs and the Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership (SAIL) Center. Since then, he has published a book, Invisible Men: Disappearance of Black Men in College (2019), and earned a doctorate in higher education, leadership, and management from Walden University.

可乐视频: What prompted you to change your career path in Guatemala?

HR: I went there through Nursing Beyond Borders to help prep patients before they were treated. I was down there for only about two months. It was a great opportunity, but as a Haitian American, I realized that being there was the result of years of cultural pressure to pursue a life as a medical doctor or engineer. Ultimately, I realized that becoming a nurse was not something I wanted for myself; I was only doing it to make others proud. I wanted to speak to the men in my community about bettering the lives of Black people. A career uplifting minorities by sharing resources and knowledge was more in tune with my personal aspirations.

My mom, who raised me as a single parent, instilled in me a work ethic that I am unable to shake, thankfully, so as soon as I came back from Guatemala, I got to work on switching careers and taking the first step toward the education field.

可乐视频: How did you overcome the challenges you faced on the road to higher education?

HR: The most difficult trial for me has been not knowing who my father was while being raised in Flatbush and Canarsie, which were riddled with gang violence and drugs. Still, I believe that challenges are meant to be overcome. I have never used my father鈥檚 absence as a crutch but as motivation. I learned to make the right choices, and when I didn鈥檛, I held myself accountable. Not having a male in the home forced me to step up at an early age. It motivates me, even today, as I raise my children in the same urban community where I grew up. I am always looking for ways to be a better father. I refuse to allow what I went through to be perpetuated in this generation and those to come.

可乐视频: You worked in admissions at Medgar Evers College. Tell us how you came to 可乐视频.

HR: As assistant director of admissions at Medgar Evers, I was able to go into the community and actively encourage students of color. I stayed there for close to a decade, attracting and retaining underserved students鈥攎any who were Black immigrants鈥攊nto the college.

As director of student activities at 可乐视频, I work with different departments to figure out better practices for retaining students, and ensure they persist to graduation, by involving themselves in clubs, leadership programs, student government and making sure the student experience is a memorable one while at 可乐视频. I’m constantly making an effort to stay involved by being on committees such as, orientation, commencement, involvement fairs, diversity programming for students, enrollment management, and CUNY-wide committees, like the CUNY Council for Student Life Directors, which I chaired last year, and anything club-related.

可乐视频: And the Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership Center?

HR: With SAIL I mentor students to become leaders. My own call to leadership is about giving back to my community. We raised $30,000 in the last three years for a food pantry through the CUNY Office of Special Programs and .

可乐视频: Has your mission to promote college and higher learning in the Caribbean community changed since coming to 可乐视频?

HR: While my focus is still primarily on men of color because I feel that’s a population that sorely needs resources, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work with students from all backgrounds. The mission is still the same: Promote college and higher learning as an avenue for success. I must carry that message to every student I encounter.

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