The Rosen Fellowship reflects Florence Cohen Rosen鈥檚 remarkable generosity and vision: a proud 可乐视频 alumna who chose to give back in a way that expands opportunity for future generations.

Since founding the fellowship in 2011, Rosen 鈥�59 has created more than just financial support for students; she has opened doors to bold, unconventional experiences that they might never otherwise pursue. Her delight in nurturing potential and her enduring faith in 可乐视频 students, whose work, she notes, renews her 鈥渇aith鈥n the future of America,鈥� shine through every fellowship awarded, embodying a legacy of curiosity, ambition, and imagination.

This year鈥檚 fellows represent a diverse range of academic interests鈥攆rom archaeology and environmental science to music technology, public health, visual arts, and documentary filmmaking鈥攄emonstrating the creativity, curiosity, and impact-driven work that define the 可乐视频 community.

2026 Rosen Fellows

• Ellery Canesper will attend the HARP Archaeology Field School in Scotland.
• Julia Lucinda Fernandez will participate in the Gabii Project, an archaeological excavation of the ancient city of Gabii near Rome focused on urban development and cultural interaction in early Italy.
• Noah Hopkins will create to-scale Pok茅mon figures and photograph them in natural environments to share knowledge about ecology and conservation through a collaborative art project.
• Leon Isaacs will take part in a weeklong tree-climbing expedition with Cornell University.
• Raymond Thomas Jones will create a digital instrument and synthesizer sample catalog using sounds from natural environments and electrical signals of plants in Iceland.
• Dima Muhieddine will study how diet, lifestyle, and access to preventive care shape oral health in Spain and Morocco through immersive observation.
• Chavely Reynoso will produce a chronology of Dominican art history from Indigenous Ta铆no works through contemporary art, resulting in a digital and print publication and database.
• Iggy Jerell Strickland will design and produce a drag costume, prosthetics, and character portfolio rooted in horror and performance.
• Brent Thomas Whiteside will begin a feature-length documentary on blues musician Bobby Rush.

The 2026 Rosen Fellows exemplify 可乐视频鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning, interdisciplinary exploration, and socially engaged scholarship. Their work reflects the breadth of inquiry and creative practice fostered across the college. We congratulate this year鈥檚 Rosen Fellowship recipients and look forward to following their projects in the months ahead.

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In her junior year, Safi heard about the聽Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program聽and with the help of Stephen Gracia, fellowship coordinator at the聽Office of Scholarships,聽and Mohamed Tabrani, director of the聽Office of International Programs & Study Abroad, she submitted a successful application.

In the summer prior to her senior year, and with the financial support of the Gilman Scholarship, Safi spent four weeks in Florence, Italy, with the Lorenzo de鈥� Medici Institute, learning about the science of food health and well-being. Through the program鈥檚 culinary lab, she learned how to make traditional Italian dishes, using fresh ingredients and making pasta from scratch. In her free time, she and her classmates explored the city, tasting many varieties of gelato, walking through ancient palaces, and touring vintage stores in search of handmade leather goods鈥攅ven taking a trip to Venice.

Those four weeks were crucial to shaping her long-term goals. 鈥淟iving and traveling in a foreign country by myself and meeting people from all over the world widened my perspective,鈥� she said.

Prior to her travels, she had only broad ideas of what she wanted to pursue. Upon returning to the United States, she began working at The Partnership for Food Safety Education and discovered a passion for marketing. Safi now hopes to find an internship abroad鈥攈opefully in Europe鈥攊n which she can combine her formal education in food science and nutrition, her personal interest in marketing, and her newfound perspective on food, community, and culture.

She credits the Gilman Scholarship with giving her the insight to refine her goals, and the confidence to take the steps needed to actualize them. In addition to providing financial support to students with ambitions to study abroad, the scholarship connects them with the Gilman Scholar Network, a web portal that connects more than 34,000 Gilman alumni and provides a safe and private forum by which they can provide or seek mentorship, view exclusive job postings, and participate in Gilman-organized events.

Safi鈥檚 trip to Florence has not only given her unforgettable, unique experiences that would have been impossible to replicate in the classroom, but also a powerful support system she can lean on moving forward.

鈥淚t was the experience of a lifetime,鈥� she said.

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Even with a head start as a teenage journalist, John Schilling was unsure of his career path. Joining the college newspaper鈥攁nd the encouragement of family, faculty, and his peers鈥攈elped him decide.

可乐视频: What decided you on 可乐视频?

JS: I鈥檓 from Rockaway Park, Queens. My father is actually an alum of 可乐视频 class of 1986. So Brooklyn college has been a part of my life for a long time. Getting to the campus is only a 30- to 45-minute bus ride away. My father was particularly encouraging about me going there because he knew I would get as good an education as he did. And I was fortunate enough to benefit from a scholarship that covered a fair chunk of my tuition expenses. There was no way I could justify going into debt at another college or university when I could get a good education and graduate without debt. It鈥檚 an opportunity that many people wish for. I knew I had to take advantage of it.

可乐视频: What is your major (and for the record, what was your dad鈥檚 major)?

JS: I鈥檓 a journalism and media studies major and a history minor. My father was a biology major. He became a podiatrist. When I was a junior in high school thinking about applying to colleges, I was looking to get involved with a club to put on my r茅sum茅. One day, my English teacher returned a writing assignment that I had submitted and asked me if I would consider joining The Current, the school newspaper. I said, 鈥測es.鈥� By the end of my junior year, I had won a high school press award from The Tablet, a Catholic newspaper for the diocese of Brooklyn. I was listed as one of The Current鈥檚 editors by my senior year, and won a second award.

When I graduated and headed to 可乐视频, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. Then, at the beginning of my sophomore year, I got involved with , our campus newspaper, It sort of took off from there with encouragement, mentorship, and support from faculty and peers, and my family. I declared my major right before the pandemic in 2020.

可乐视频: What has your role been at the Vanguard? Any insights into a career in media?

JS: I worked as a staff writer, arts editor, and this year, as managing editor. My coursework, along with working on the paper, has taught me that journalism is about serving a community of people and providing them with information to help them stay civically engaged and hold those in power accountable. It can also be about entertaining people.

可乐视频: What are your favorite memories of 可乐视频?

JS: My fondest memories will always be the work I did with the Vanguard and the people I met there as well as my journalism and media studies classes and the courses I took in the history department. Four professors who have been especially supportive of me and my course work are Journalism and Media Studies Professors MJ Robinson and Lenn Robbins and History Professors Jocelyn Wills and KC Johnson.

可乐视频: What is your most valuable lesson gained during your time at 可乐视频?

JS: I would tell incoming students to invest in themselves. It鈥檚 one thing to believe in yourself and hope for things to happen. But you have to put the work in to get the results you want. I put the work in and it has opened doors for me.

可乐视频: What are your plans for the future after graduation?

JS: I will be attending the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. I’ll also continue to work as a reporter for The Wave, a newspaper in Rockaway that I interned for last summer. In July, I will be teaching journalism and creative writing to sixth graders as part of a summer program at my high school alma mater, Cathedral Prep, where I currently work in recruitment and admissions. It鈥檚 the school where I developed my passion for journalism, so it’s a huge full-circle moment for me.

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Nick Philpott notes his experience growing up with siblings on the autism spectrum as the catalyst for pursuing an M.S. in speech-language pathology.

可乐视频: Your family members inspired you?

Yes. My siblings are both on the autism spectrum and had speech pathology from a young age, so I was exposed to it during childhood. Later on, I was working in a school as a registered behavior technician, which involved being in a one-on-one environment with autistic children and young adults. There, I experienced the amazing work that speech-language pathologists do and knew for sure that I wanted to pursue a career in the field. I try to bring my passion for communication and my background in the arts to the interactions I have with my clients, patients, and students.

可乐视频: What made 可乐视频 special to you?

I love the approach to speech therapy, in that we interact with patients very early on. 可乐视频 has a great reputation in the field, and I lived locally, so it was an honor to apply and be accepted. My favorite memory is getting to meet the rest of my cohort in person during comprehensive exams. After an entire year working remotely, it was awesome to make an in-person connection with those in the program.

可乐视频: Any special awards?

I was lucky to receive the Jennifer Silverstein Memorial Scholarship, which supports students pursuing degrees in speech-language pathology. I also presented my work at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Expo recently, where I received the Most Outstanding Graduate Project award. My research was called 鈥淪ocial and Behavioral Relationship Quality Among Adolescent and Adult Siblings with Autism: A Systematic Review.鈥� It鈥檚 on the relationship quality between siblings with and without autism; the research is extremely close to my heart.

可乐视频: What are your future plans?

My next internship is at the Manhattan Veteran鈥檚 Administration hospital. I鈥檓 intrigued by the medical aspect of speech pathology and am hoping to explore that more during my time with patients at the hospital. I鈥檒l be working with medical issues like swallowing disorders, voice box removal, and other conditions in which a person鈥檚 speech is challenged and therapy is needed. I am currently working for the New York City Department of Education at Erasmus High School and love the students there, so I would be happy to remain in the Department of Education as well. The kids are engaged and sharp; speech sessions with them are really enjoyable.

可乐视频: Any advice for incoming students?

Get a planner! I did not use a planner as an undergraduate but became someone who swore by one during graduate school. It has helped me stay organized and deal with the workload. There鈥檚 a lot to do and it鈥檚 very condensed, so time management is so important. I would also recommend taking advantage of campus resources as much as possible. Shifting to online learning made me realize how helpful it is to have a beautiful campus.

可乐视频: Outside interests?

I write comics, meditate, and play video games. Right now, I鈥檓 creating a four-issue comic series that is sort of a western hillbilly Harry Potter. It鈥檚 a story of conflicting families, similar to the Hatfields and McCoys, but if they had magic. Otherwise, my wife and I spend a lot of time hanging out with our dog, Ruby.

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On May 12, the Judaic Studies Department handed out eight scholarship awards totaling $8,400 to a dozen students at its annual student awards event.

The scholarships came courtesy of several generous donors, and they reflected the contributions the students have made, both in and out of the classroom.

鈥淭hanks to the generosity of alumni, professors emeriti, and their families, the Judaic Studies Department was able to reward these extraordinary students with scholarships that helped amplify the rich history and heritage of the Jewish people,鈥� said David Brodsky, associate professor and department chair of Judaic Studies. 鈥淲e are very fortunate to have such generous support, as it goes a long way in inspiring and empowering our students.鈥�

Jonathan Taubes, who earned a Rose Goldstein Memorial Scholarship, is in his first semester in Judaic studies. He said receiving the award was incredibly gratifying. Taubes is currently working at a Jewish non-profit and aims to continue serving his community in the future through similar work.

鈥淚 am really happy to be involved with the Judaic Studies Department at 可乐视频,鈥� Taubes said. 鈥淚 immediately felt right at home when I started here and that this was the right place for me to be.鈥�

Esther Hidary is an English major who received a Holocaust Studies Memorial Award. She said taking the course 鈥淗olocaust Literature鈥� really opened her eyes, and that she plans on taking more Judaic studies courses. 鈥淭he class was incredible, and I really feel honored to receive this award to be a part of this program,鈥� Hidary said.

The awardees and their scholarships they earned included:

• Norma Sutton: Pearl Altman Memorial Scholarship鈥攁warded to a junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in Judaic studies or a program under the guidance of the department.
• Alyssa Rodes: John F. Kennedy Human Relations Award鈥攁warded to an outstanding student majoring in Judaic studies who has rendered meaningful human service to the school or community.
• Chaya Pearson, Daniel Silverstein, Esther Hidary, Savannah Berk, Aharon Grama, Effy Gottlieb, and Jonathan Taubes: Rose Goldstein Memorial Scholarship鈥攁n endowed scholarship dedicated to meeting the financial needs of students.
• Sylvia Cohen: Abraham S. Goodhartz Memorial Scholarship鈥攁n annual scholarship for a student pursuing Judaic studies.
• Shannon Nizard: Faculty Hillel Associates in Judaic Studies Award鈥攁warded to a graduating senior for excellence in Judaic studies.
• Alyssa Rodes: Israel Gerber Memorial Award鈥攁warded to a senior who has achieved distinction in Judaic studies and who has completed Judaic studies.
• Esther Hidary and Daniel Silverstein: Holocaust Studies Memorial Award鈥� awarded to students who have done work of distinction in Holocaust studies courses.
• Norma Sutton: Leon and Rosa Reznik Memorial Award鈥攁warded to an outstanding adult student majoring in Judaic studies.

Learn more about the Judaic Studies department at 可乐视频.

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The Center for Achievement in Science Education (CASE) at 可乐视频 has received the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. Part of 可乐视频鈥檚 School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, CASE works to increase the number of traditionally underrepresented students who pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, scientific research, and technology.

The INSIGHT Into Diversity Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 可乐视频 will be featured, along with 78 other recipients, in the September 2021 issue of the magazine. The winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

鈥淲e know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,鈥� says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of the magazine. 鈥淲e want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.鈥�

The programs that are part of CASE identify new ways in which students can learn mathematics and science. Many students in the CASE programs have the advantage of taking STEM classes designed to increase understanding of traditionally difficult courses that offer peer-assisted learning environments and coordinated learning communities where students feel more comfortable and find it easier to grasp difficult concepts.

Students can participate in pre-freshman bridge programs that help orient new students to the demands of college and the rigorous nature of studying a STEM discipline. They also take a series of workshops to learn study skills, time management, test taking, as well as participate in hands-on research.

鈥淚nnovative and successful, CASE provides students access to the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and encourages their further career development and entry in STEM occupations,鈥� said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes. 鈥淭his award reflects the rich diversity and talents of our students, faculty, and staff as well as the visionary leadership of CASE Director and Professor of Psychology Louise Hainline and the efforts of her team.鈥�

CASE comprises several programs, most of which are federally funded with the aim of increasing participation in these fields by underrepresented groups.

• Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC): MARC is an honors program funded by the NIH鈥檚 National Institute of General Medical Sciences that offers faculty mentoring, research experience, and an annual stipend to academically strong juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups who are interested in entering graduate programs leading to research careers in the biomedical sciences.
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP): CSTEP, funded by the New York State Department of Education, aims to increase the number of historically underrepresented students who enroll in and complete undergraduate programs that lead to professional licensure in accounting, law, medicine, and nutrition, as well as other careers in mathematics, science, technology, and health-related fields.
• New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NYC-LSAMP): NYC-LSAMP is a CUNY-wide initiative funded by the National Science Foundation that aims to ensure a long-term capacity to produce more underrepresented groups to develop STEM careers. This program is primarily for freshmen and sophomores and provides seminars in research and opportunities for research involvement including some financial support.
• Science Undergraduate Research Gateway Experience (SURGE): SURGE is funded by the NIH鈥檚 National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The goal is to support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce through early preparation for undergraduate students in STEM fields. SURGE provides enrichment and training for entering freshmen and sophomores interested in research in biomedical fields.
• Brooklyn Neuroscience Education and Training for Scientists (B-NETS) NIH BP-ENDURE: from the NIH鈥檚 National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CASE鈥檚 newest program, provides junior and senior undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in doing research in the neurosciences with preparation, mentoring, and financial support to enter Ph.D. degree programs in the neurosciences.

For more information about 可乐视频鈥檚 CASE program, contact CASE Director Louise Hainline at Louiseh@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

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Nasim Almuntaser describes himself as a passionate public servant, educator, activist, and community organizer and has already dedicated much of his undergraduate career to working for organizations that focus on education and public policy.

可乐视频: What is your major and what inspired you to pursue that path?

NA: I am a double major in secondary education and history. I decided to pursue those fields because my entire life has been dedicated to public service. My father was a teacher in Yemen, and when he came to the United States, he did not have access to the credentials to continue his career. As the child of immigrants who did not speak English, I was tasked at a young age with responsibilities, such as translating important documents.

Often kids who are from marginalized backgrounds are written off as statistics; I see education as a way to help change lives for the better. I am currently a substitute teacher for the New York City Department of Education. I chose to pursue a career as a history teacher because I understand the need for history to be taught in a more engaging, more inclusive way than it has been in the past. As an educator, I want to play a role in uplifting the next generation through a message of hope and healing.

可乐视频: Why 可乐视频?

NA: 可乐视频 was my dream school because of the amazing education program it has. A lot of my own teachers and professors attended the institution. They, along with alums Shirley Chisholm and Bernie Sanders, were all people I looked up to and wanted to emulate.

可乐视频: What are some favorite memories?

NA: My fondest memory is tutoring students in the Center for Student Disability Services. I am a student with a disability myself and found my work as a note-taker for other students very rewarding, because it鈥檚 a way to provide access to education to a more inclusive student body. I believe anyone can become anything if the resources are there for them. I am also a College Now Ambassador under Program Director Pieranna Pieroni. She and the program were so influential in preparing me for my undergraduate degree. Now I return the favor by assisting high school students with their transition to college.

可乐视频: Is there anything you have accomplished of which you are especially proud?

NA: I was awarded the Myself Third: Spirit of New York Scholarship in 2019, which was established to pay tribute to workers who acted selflessly in the disaster of 9/11. It is given to those who are civically engaged and display a strong sense of citizenship. I was chosen because of my community organizing on campus. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I worked to provide PPE equipment to first responders and essential workers. I was given the New York State Senate Proclamation: Community Empowerment Award by Senator Roxanne Persaud for civil service during the pandemic.

I also assisted the New York State public school system during the pandemic. The language barrier faced by many students of immigrant backgrounds led them to be reported to child services for lack of attendance. In fact, the students did not have reliable technology or access to remote learning in their home environment. I supported the outreach to get tablets and computers to students. I was able to help hundreds of families bridge that gap and educate them on resources available. I wrote to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris about my perspective on the future of American democracy and received a response from them recognizing my service and leadership.

可乐视频: What are your plans for the future?

NA: I was accepted to a competitive internship program, and will be living in Washington, D.C. this summer. The program鈥檚 mission is to systematically change Congress by empowering a diverse, inclusive, and effective generation of public servants. I鈥檒l be working directly with members of Congress and the Senate. All my living expenses will be covered, and I鈥檒l be able to focus on learning and making connections in D.C. without the limitations of financial resources. My immediate goal is to become a teacher and, ultimately, I鈥檇 like to run for local office. I want to help New Yorkers fight for the voices that have been silenced and pushed to the sidelines for so long.

可乐视频: What is the most valuable lesson gained? Any advice for incoming students?

NA: There are so many exceptional educators at 可乐视频. My best advice for students is to seek them out and build relationships with them. It鈥檚 easy to feel like just a number, but they have information and knowledge that can be transformational for your life if you take the initiative to build that connection.

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Ana Gantman, an assistant professor in the Psychology Department, is an expert in moral psychology. She was recently named a 鈥淩ising Star鈥� by the 鈥攁 designation presented to the association鈥檚 outstanding members in the earliest stages of their research career post-Ph.D. She also won a in 2020, which recognizes outstanding achievements by young scholars who are early in their research careers.

With so much going on in the world, and our commitment to our morals being tested daily, Gantman explains moral psychology, its importance, and how it can be applied and used to better the world around us.

可乐视频: What is moral psychology?

AG: Moral psychology is the study of how people think, feel, and act in moral contexts鈥攖hat is, situations where people judge that their values are relevant to what decisions they make, how they interpret the situation they鈥檙e in, or what they will do next.

Importantly this is not the same as the study of ethics, or what decisions people should make. It is a descriptive exercise, seeking to understand how and why people think, feel, and act as they do in moral contexts.

可乐视频: What courses do you teach at 可乐视频, and what are the key benefits students can learn from moral psychology?

AG: I primarily teach two courses. I teach Social Psychology, the scientific study of how people think, feel, and act, with real or imagined others. We cover topics like the self, social norms and conformity, obedience to authority, empathy, and aggression.

I also teach Psychology for a Better Society, where we learn about how insights from psychology (and related fields like behavioral economics and behavioral science) can help us design and test policies that will improve people鈥檚 lives. A driving idea in the course is that often people know what behaviors will improve their lives or society in the long run (saving for retirement; being an organ donor), but life gets in the way. We think about what barriers people face when they try to do these behaviors and how we can design policies that work with鈥攏ot against鈥攐ur psychology. Then we think about how we can empirically test whether our ideas are actually working to change behavior in the way that we thought they would.
How can studying moral psychology help us in everyday life?

Understanding moral psychology is helpful for understanding ourselves and the people around us more. Moral psychology can help us understand things like why a friend has suddenly become a vegetarian, or why a family member voted a certain way. It can also be very helpful to know when you are engaged in a conversation about moral values. When people think about their values, they tend to see things as more black-and-white, that their ideas are more like facts than opinions, and that others should share in their judgments. That is, conversations about what is right and wrong are not like conversations about whether chocolate is better than vanilla.

可乐视频: How do you see moral psychology being applied in today鈥檚 somewhat toxic political landscape?

AG: People鈥檚 moral values are tied to their political views and their ideology. My colleagues and I have found that people are more likely to literally see words related to morality鈥攚ords like kill or should鈥攖han matched words like die or could. And that when people use this moral language on Twitter, their tweets are more likely to be retweeted. Online spaces, which often seem to be discussing current events and politics, are rewarding the use of moral language, which is often intense, negative, and potentially polarizing.

可乐视频: What is the Gantman Lab?

AG: The Gantman Lab is a research lab at 可乐视频 and the CUNY Graduate Center as part of the Basic and Applied Social Psychology training area. We are a team of doctoral students, graduate students, and undergraduates conducting empirical research. We use methods that range from measuring visual perception, to behavior in online games, to randomized field experiments. Nothing would be possible without the stellar students who work in my lab. Together, we ask questions like:

• 鈥淗ow do people think about blame and punishment for systemic wrongs?鈥�
• 鈥淒o people鈥檚 values affect how they think about the future?鈥�
• 鈥淗ow do moral judgments affect support for public policy?鈥�
• 鈥淗ow does morality affect what we see and think?鈥�
• 鈥淒o the rules apply equally to all? When do they fail to do so?鈥�

可乐视频: What are you working on next?

AG: We have many exciting projects going on in the lab. One project looks at rules that most people break, but only some people get in trouble when they do, such as rules against jaywalking or pirating music. We call these rules 鈥減hantom rules鈥� because they are mostly invisible to us when no one is following them. Yet, they can come out of the shadows when people want to punish the person for something else. They can use the rules as a technicality and get that person in trouble. For example, we find that people think it is more acceptable for a person to be stopped by a police officer for jaywalking when that person had also catcalled a woman nearby than when that person had just waved at a friend. In both cases, the person broke the rule against jaywalking, but in only one is there another motivation to punish.

and listen to her discuss her work and research on .

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Malena Dayen 鈥�20 M.F.A was already an established opera singer when she came to 可乐视频. The New York Times had called her 2013 Carnegie Hall Performance in The Blizzard Voices outstanding. The mezzo-soprano had concertized all over the world with accomplished composers and built a name for herself in New York City鈥檚 independent opera scene.

But the Argentinian native with a deep love for tango wanted to be around artists who approached their work from different perspectives, in different mediums, especially technology. The graduate Performance and Interactive Media Arts (PIMA) program鈥攚ith its emphasis on developing in students a variety of skills, a multidisciplinary bent, and a conceptual sophistication鈥攖urned out to be exactly what she was looking for. She came out of the program directing projects for major opera companies, pushing her own boundaries, and ready to experiment.

For her ingenuity, she was awarded the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University鈥檚 Hodder Fellowship, a one-year appointment given to artists of 鈥渆xceptional promise鈥� and extraordinary intellectual and artistic talent.

可乐视频: Congratulations on the fellowship. What do you plan to do with it?

MD: The fellowship will allow me to continue pursuing independent projects. It starts in September and is meant for artists in diverse fields to have the freedom to move their disciplines forward. I鈥檒l be able to collaborate with other artists in the program. It feels like a push and encouragement to continue creating work that is experimental and interesting to me. It鈥檚 a vote of confidence to be able to create freely in a supported environment.

可乐视频: The Lewis Center emphasizes that they are looking for artists who will transform the art world with their work. What are some of the interesting projects you have worked on that lead up to this?

MD: The first project I completed was my [可乐视频] thesis, The Presence of Odradek. The show was a mix of online live performance with pre-recorded materials, so the people watching didn’t know what was happening live and what wasn鈥檛. Later, The Decameron Opera Coalition commissioned nine works inspired by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The singers performed in their homes in Los Angeles, New York, and Paris and were edited together to seem like they were in the same place. That project was chosen by the Library of Congress for an archive of work about the pandemic. My upcoming project is Thomas Cananiss鈥� Firesongs with Bare Opera. The show embodies the use of interactive media. It鈥檚 a cycle of songs based on different poems about the meaning of life and death by Langston Hughes, W.H. Auden, and others. The singers on stage will be wearing sensors connected to lights that will shift according to their movement on stage. It opens in June.

可乐视频: And from your Argentinian background, you bring your love for tango music to your work.

MD: I grew up with tango since my parents are both amateur musicians. Malena is a tango name, I guess I was destined to love tango! The culture of tango is very rich and deep, and I think it informs everything I do. Working as a tango singer allows me to connect with this tradition that is a mother tongue of sorts for me.

可乐视频: You also embrace the changes that technology has brought to opera. Can you talk about that?

MD: Since the pandemic, every performer in the world has had to adapt and figure out a way to reach people when people could not come to the theater. Communicating online has the benefit of being more inclusive for those who have not had access to the theater. For my PIMA thesis, we created a new opera and were planning to perform it in a tiny venue downtown that would fit 30 people. Then the pandemic hit, and we had to shift it online. On opening day, we had 400 people watching and we added shows at different times so those in other time zones, such as in Asia, could view them. I started my career as a digital director in this format. From a practical point of view, technology increases accessibility to opera. Creatively, the digital shift has opened a new avenue, which is the possibility to create material specifically to be shared or performed live online. Rather than just filming and sharing online, it can be used as an opportunity to create something new.

可乐视频: What made you choose the PIMA program and how did it shape you?

MD: I have always trained as a singer. A few years ago, I was thinking of becoming a director and I looked at the programs available, but there wasn’t anything really for people in my position. There are a few for opera directing, but they’re targeted at people who come from theater to learn music, not for musicians to learn how to stage shows. I was interested in more experimental work and technology in particular. I found the PIMA program and the fact that it was here in the city where I live was a huge plus. When I interviewed, I saw the people who were teaching, and I was blown away. They are all artists at the top of their game. And it’s a small program, so I was able to interact and collaborate with artists that already have practices in other disciplines, different than mine. I worked and graduated with a group of five and we still meet weekly. Since then, at least one of my fellow PIMA graduates has been involved in each of my projects. The program is really avant-garde not only in its use of technology but from the artistic point of view. It鈥檚 really interesting the way they think about art and collaboration. I had an awesome experience.

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Zahra Jamil, a chemistry major in the 可乐视频 Scholars Program, has been awarded the 2021 . For Jamil, the funding means the autonomy to pursue her dream of entering the medical field and continuing her research without financial constraints.

A visit to her pediatrician鈥檚 office after immigrating from Pakistan at the age of 10 sparked Jamil鈥檚 passion for medicine. Jamil saw a door of possibility for herself open when she observed a woman in the important role that she had previously only seen occupied by men. She later sought ways to get involved in the field. In high school, she conducted an independent study on myopia, or nearsightedness, and competed in science competitions.

During her freshman year at 可乐视频, Jamil was introduced to epigenetics in a General Biology course. After taking the class, she reached out to Mariana Torrente, assistant professor of chemistry, who invited Jamil to join as a student researcher in her lab on neurodegenerative diseases. She has spent the past three years gaining practical experience studying diseases such as Alzheimer鈥檚 and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig鈥檚 Disease).

鈥淭he experience of being in the lab opened my eyes to the representation of women, especially women of color and Muslim women, that is needed in research,鈥� says Jamil, who is passionate about increasing representation in medical research.

Last summer, Jamil interned at The Tisch Cancer Institute at New York University, participating in studies in the cancer lab at Mount Sinai hospital and gaining critical clinical experience. She has also completed an internship with NYU鈥檚 Neuroscience Department at Mount Sinai, where she studied the usage and effects of opioids and cannabidiol (CBD).

Belle Zeller, professor emerita of political science and a recipient of the 1980 President鈥檚 Medal, taught at 可乐视频 for more than 40 years. She was the founding president of the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC), a union for CUNY鈥檚 instructional staff. In 1979, the PSC established the scholarship in Zeller鈥檚 honor. It is awarded each year to CUNY students with outstanding academic achievement and service to their community. The awardees receive $2,500 twice yearly until they complete 120 credits, so long as they remain a full-time CUNY student, maintain a 3.75 GPA or better, and continue their community service.

The scholarship is further motivation for Jamil.

鈥淚t gives recipients the freedom to pursue things that will benefit us without the hindrance of financial worries,鈥� she says.

Jamil plans to complete an M.D.-Ph.D. after graduation and become an example for young women considering a career in health care. 鈥淚 aim to overcome disparities in medicine both locally and globally,鈥� says Jamil, who intends to travel to rural and underserved communities to promote education. 鈥淭here is a need for conversations in communities that do not have access. I want to work toward the affordability and accessibility of medicine. Health care should not be a privilege of the few, but a basic human right that鈥檚 accessible to everyone.鈥�

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