The English Language and Literature graduate was a published poet, a Broadway enthusiast, and lover of books and music.

鈥淜ayla was a bright star who shared her talents and jovial spirit with staff and students alike,鈥� said Randall Clarke, director of the SEEK program. 鈥淪he improved 可乐视频 SEEK’s social media presence and the quality of our events. We will forever miss her.鈥�

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可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson reflected on the SEEK Program鈥檚 origins in the Civil Rights Movement and recognized the visionary leadership of Percy Ellis Sutton and 可乐视频 alumna Shirley Chisholm 鈥�46. Established as the nation鈥檚 first state-funded higher education opportunity program, SEEK has empowered generations of underrepresented students to pursue academic achievement, leadership, and community impact.

Deputy Borough President and Reverend Kim Council (left) and 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson at SEEK Day.

President Anderson also thanked community partners for their continued commitment to educational equity, including Deputy Borough President and Reverend Kim Council, who attended the event. Deputy Borough President Council highlighted the SEEK Program鈥檚 enduring impact on generations of students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders and active contributors in their communities.

Randall Clarke, director of the 可乐视频 SEEK Program addresses attendees at SEEK Day.

Randall Clarke, director of the 可乐视频 SEEK Program, highlighted the program鈥檚 ongoing commitment to student success through academic support, mentoring, counseling, financial assistance, and career guidance. He also emphasized the college鈥檚 continued investment in SEEK鈥檚 mission through initiatives such as the Innovative Career Opportunity and Research Program (ICORP), which expands research and graduate school preparation opportunities for students across disciplines.

During the celebration, SEEK staff members recognized longtime colleagues Annette Nesbit and Professor Zoya Khalfin for their decades of service to the program. Both have dedicated more than 30 years to supporting SEEK students.

SEEK Day also honored longtime colleagues Professor Zoya Khalfin (left) and Annette Nesbit for more than 30 years of dedication and service to the program and its students.

Nesbit has served 可乐视频 in several roles, including adjunct lecturer in the Mathematics Department, academic adviser for the 可乐视频 Bound Program, and SEEK administrative assistant. Khalfin, a 可乐视频 SEEK alumna, has spent three decades serving students as both a professor and counselor.

The event also showcased the accomplishments and contributions of SEEK students through presentations highlighting their work in ICORP, the SEEK Club, and the SEEK Peer Mentors program.

SEEK Day concluded a series of events celebrating the nation鈥檚 first state-funded academic opportunity initiative, which has opened doors to higher education for more than 100,000 CUNY students from underrepresented communities. Since 1990, SEEK participants across CUNY have earned more than 60,000 associate and bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

可乐视频 students were at the heart of SEEK Day.

At 可乐视频, the SEEK Program continues to provide academic support, tutoring, counseling, financial assistance, and career guidance to help students overcome barriers and achieve their goals. During the 2025鈥�2026 academic year, SEEK is supporting 525 students through opportunities that include study abroad programs, leadership development activities, and participation in campus expositions.

可乐视频 recently expanded these efforts through ICORP, which offers research experience and graduate school preparation for up to 150 students annually.

The celebration concluded with a tribute to SEEK students and alumni whose resilience, determination, and achievements continue to shape the program鈥檚 legacy and inspire the 可乐视频 community.

(Left to right) The SEEK Mascot, 鈥淏rooklyn,鈥� Deputy Borough President Kim Council, and Michael Kravets Filatov.

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The psychology major has taken full advantage of the academic and experiential opportunities available to him. Through The Tow Mentoring and Research Program, which pairs students with faculty mentors to conduct scholarship, Shaad worked in a biochemistry lab studying the link between bone health and diabetes.

Through Global Medical Brigades, he volunteered in rural clinics in Panama and Belize. He later interned in Morocco through a study-abroad internship, observing surgeries and shadowing physicians. He most recently spent a summer in Kenya through Columbia University鈥檚 ICAP Next Generation Internship, an initiative funded by The Tow Foundation that provides students with opportunities in global public health. In addition to the internship, he worked alongside a doctor building a new hospital鈥攕omething he dreams of doing in his native Bangladesh.

Shaad鈥檚 engagement extends far beyond the classroom. He has served as president of the Philosophy Society, competed internationally with the Speech and Debate Team, and played on the 可乐视频 tennis team, helping lead them to two City University of New York Athletic Conference finals. These experiences strengthened his leadership skills while reinforcing a sense of belonging and purpose.

鈥溈衫质悠� has so many opportunities,鈥� Shaad says. 鈥淚f you reach out, the people and resources here can truly change your life.鈥�

He is on track to graduate in spring 2026 and is applying to medical school, carrying forward the impact of an education designed to open doors and transform lives.

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As the nation鈥檚 first state鈥慺unded academic opportunity initiative, SEEK has opened doors to higher education for more than 100,000 CUNY students from underrepresented communities, helping generations of 可乐视频 students achieve academic success, leadership excellence, and lifelong impact.

鈥淪EEK has not only opened doors to higher education, but it has also transformed lives,鈥� said 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淗ere at 可乐视频, we see every day how this program empowers students. Celebrating this anniversary reaffirms our commitment to access, equity, and opportunity for generations to come.鈥�

Reflecting on the strength of the SEEK community at 可乐视频, SEEK Director Randall Clarke said: 鈥淓very day in SEEK, we see students push boundaries, discover new strengths, and build futures they once thought were out of reach. This anniversary honors not just six decades of history, but the resilience, dedication, and brilliance of our students and alumni. We are proud to be part of their journeys and to continue supporting their success.鈥�

A Legacy Born from the Civil Rights Era

SEEK was born out of the Civil Rights movement and student activism of the 1960s, responding to calls for greater equity in higher education. Initially piloted at City College in 1965 to increase enrollment of Black and Hispanic students, SEEK provided individualized courses, specialized academic support, and mentorship from trained educators.

In 1966, the program became the nation鈥檚 first state鈥慺unded academic opportunity initiative, thanks to the legislative leadership of Assembly Members Percy E. Sutton and Shirley Chisholm, a 可乐视频 alumna and trailblazing congresswoman. SEEK鈥檚 success inspired similar programs, including the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at SUNY, and laid the foundation for expanded access at 可乐视频 and across CUNY.

Celebrating 鈥淪EEK at 60!鈥� at 可乐视频

可乐视频鈥檚 anniversary series honors six decades of achievement and community impact:

• February 24: Tribute to the legacies of Percy E. Sutton and Shirley Chisholm, featuring alumni reflections on how SEEK shaped their journeys.
• March 17: 鈥淭hey Lead! Celebrating Women鈥檚 Strength and Success鈥� panel, featuring accomplished SEEK alumnae discussing mentorship, representation, and resilience.
• April 23: Quilt鈥慚aking Marathon Workshop, an intergenerational collaboration between students and alumni creating a visual tribute to SEEK鈥檚 vibrant community.
• May 11: 鈥淪EEK Day鈥� officially recognized by the Brooklyn Borough President鈥檚 Office, celebrating the program鈥檚 transformative role in higher education and public service.
• All the information and registration for these events are .

Transforming Lives Across Generations

At 可乐视频, SEEK continues to provide academic support, tutoring, financial assistance, counseling, and career guidance, helping students overcome barriers and realize their full potential. Since 1990, CUNY-wide SEEK participants have earned over 60,000 associate and bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 可乐视频 recently launched the Innovative Career Opportunity and Research Program, providing research experience and graduate school preparation for up to 150 students each year.

可乐视频 is proud to sustain SEEK鈥檚 mission for the next generation. Through continued access, academic support, mentorship, and community engagement, the College ensures that students from all backgrounds can thrive academically, professionally, and personally. SEEK remains at the heart of 可乐视频鈥檚 commitment to opportunity, excellence, and social mobility.

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Celebrating its 60^th anniversary, SEEK is a state-mandated CUNY program that provides comprehensive academic, financial, and counseling support to economically disadvantaged, first-time college students to help them succeed in earning a bachelor’s degree. It offers tutoring, advisement, workshops, and career services to build academic skills, promote personal growth, and ensure equitable access to higher education for capable students who might otherwise face barriers.

During the visit, Hodge experienced how deeply SEEK is woven into the cultural fabric of 可乐视频, highlighted by the annual SEEK quilt project. Created by first-year students, the quilt stands as both artwork and affirmation鈥攁 collective statement of identity, resilience, and belonging.

With strong leadership from Bedford and thoughtful coordination by Clarke, the visit sparked rich conversations about expanding student support. Topics included enhanced English Language Learner initiatives, STEAM-focused tutoring, and new opportunities for study abroad.

鈥淪EEK students are essential to 可乐视频,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淭heir energy, engagement, and leadership make them a vital part of our campus community.鈥�

The day concluded with students, staff, and the Office of Special Programs team gathering for an Academic Support presentation, where SEEK counseling staff offered candid insights that inspired meaningful dialogue and reinforced the program鈥檚 commitment to student success.

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Jacques decided there may be something to his late-night thought. In spring 2023, after a year-and-a-half hiatus from school, the sophomore returned to 可乐视频, where he received an invitation to participate in an arranged by the Koppelman School of Business. The contest required students to come up with an idea for a business, pitch it, and create a business plan. He kept reading: Faculty and alumni judges would be critiquing his work, helping him to fine-tune his idea. He didn鈥檛 want to miss this unique mentorship opportunity.

How did you go from idea to pitching your concept to entrepreneurs?

I鈥檓 constantly thinking about all kinds of things: fashion, finance, entrepreneurship, storytelling. The pandemic took away get-togethers and group experiences. People were not meeting in person, in real-time, as much as we had before. We had lost the opportunities to socialize face-to-face in groups while we isolated. In 2022, I was falling asleep in my bedroom, and the idea just came to me: Good Time Cinema.

How would Good Time Cinema work?

I鈥檓 looking to bring back the experience of movie-going with a twist. Theatergoers would reserve one of several screening rooms in the theater for a specific time of day to watch a film of their choice鈥攑rovided by a partnered streaming service鈥攚ith family and friends. The concept is about bringing people together.

How did you decide to pitch the idea to your peers, professors, and fellow entrepreneurs?

My minor is business, so I enrolled in a business marketing class taught by Assistant Professor of Business Management Laura Rifkin and heard about the competition. I thought it would be a cool way to promote my idea. I sent a six-minute YouTube pitch to the Idea Competition judges, who were faculty and alumni. The video was pretty rough, but I was allowed to enter the next stage, the Pitch Competition. This is where you present a more polished version of your idea. The next and final stage was the Business Plan Competition, where I came in third.

So, the Business Plan Competition allowed you to fine-tune your idea with experts.

Yes. The competition was great because the judges gave me constructive criticism; it was more than just 鈥渢hat鈥檚 a good idea.鈥� I got some very helpful feedback from alumnus Ted Liebowitz 鈥�79, who has been a mentor at 可乐视频 for quite some time. I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten as far as I did without the help of Mr. Liebowitz and Roger Gonzalez, director of the Entrepreneurship Lab here. The same goes for Douglas Adams, director of the CUNY Technology Commercialization Office. He connected me with people who helped me flesh out my idea even further. And Associate Professor Veronica Manlow was key in running the competition and mentoring students.

Professor Rifkin鈥檚 course also helped me understand the nuts and bolts of creating a business plan and about partnerships. In my case, I鈥檇 need to partner with a streaming service, such as Netflix or other services, to make as much content available to customers as possible. And then there鈥檚 marketing. I鈥檓 looking to market Good Time Cinema as an authentic experience, but also an experience that鈥檚 not available anywhere else. Something exclusive. I鈥檝e done the research and there are few, if any, theaters in the United States that would offer a unique experience such as mine.

What progress have you made since the competition?

Last spring, I was able to set up a screening in the West End Building of an episode of HBO鈥檚 The Last of Us, and the turnout was very good. There were shared laughs, cries, and jokes. It was the type of experience I鈥檓 looking to provide鈥攆un among friends and peers at the movies. I learned the mechanics of how to work with a streaming service. This past summer, I had Zoom calls and exchanged e-mails with an executive director from a movie theater company, learning how to make my plan a reality. I鈥檓 grateful for that.

So 可乐视频 has delivered for you as a place to find support toward your career goals?

Yes, and I hadn鈥檛 planned to attend 可乐视频! I wanted to go upstate, like my brother and a couple of my friends. But I got into SEEK (the Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge Program), which is an incredibly supportive program for someone like me, who was a first-time college student. SEEK got me to 可乐视频, Koppelman, the competition, and a chance to incubate more ideas using the resources the school offers. I鈥檓 looking forward to the rest of my time here.

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None of his friends wanted to go, but he saw a day off from classes and thought, why not? He ended up with a full ride to study at Queens to become a math teacher. After graduation, a fortuitous invitation to visit the Red Cross landed him a job as a youth coordinator. Just over a year later, an administrator at Queens, remembering that Clarke had tutored in the college鈥檚 Upward Bound program as an undergraduate, invited him to apply to be its assistant director.

鈥淚 just go where I鈥檓 invited,鈥� says Clarke, who came to 可乐视频 in 2012 and now serves as director of the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program, which is funded by New York state and provides increased access to higher education for students who are considered economically disadvantaged and academically underprepared. 鈥淚t has worked out for me.鈥�

Clarke talks about his work with his students, his love for soca music, and why he knows he鈥檚 exactly where he was meant to be despite life鈥檚 detours.

You鈥檝e managed to create an intimate, niche community with the SEEK Program. How has that come together?

I start that from Day One, when the first-year students come in for our summer program. It鈥檚 important to me to get to know their names. And once they see I鈥檓 trying, they start testing me and are always pleasantly surprised that I remember. I am very purposeful about trying to create a community feeling. I want them to see me on the quad and say hello, which they do. Or if they鈥檙e going through a crisis and need someone to speak to, they feel comfortable enough to say, 鈥淢r. Clarke, can I talk to you for a minute?鈥�

I like to talk about the things that impact their education. I don鈥檛 tell them that they have to work hard. That鈥檚 not tangible. I need to engage them in what they physically need to do. So we talk about what time they go to sleep. I ask questions: Are you drinking water? Are you eating meals? Do you exercise? What are your goals? Why are you here? Who is supporting you, and who are you supporting?

You refer to their start in the summer program as Day One, but lately you鈥檝e been doing a lot of work to plant the seed before students even get here.

听Well, with my background with TRIO Talent Search and Upward Bound, where I had to do recruitment to make sure we had our numbers to keep our funding, I connected with many high schools. So I had contacts that allowed me to do presentations about the program. I saw that there was a stigma attached to SEEK, like it was a program for students who are not smart, so they need SEEK. In actuality, it鈥檚 not that eligible students are not smart, they just haven鈥檛 had a chance to demonstrate their academic abilities. So we give them the opportunity in an intentional space to demonstrate that they can do the work.

I kind of jumped in the recruitment game on my own. I saw a lot of young Black males in some of the schools who wanted mentorship, so I started inviting [Black and Latino Male Initiative Director] David [Wells] ’08, ’20 M.S., to come along. I saw many undocumented students who needed that support, so I invited Jesus [Perez 鈥�95, director of the Immigrant Student Success Office]. And then we started thinking about programming and trying to design different interactions that will keep us engaged with a variety of schools.

听And recruitment isn鈥檛 the only thing you鈥檙e moonlighting!

听I DJ with my brother from time to time. I love soca music. He鈥檚 actually the DJ and I鈥檓 the emcee, and I mostly just help at family gatherings. I鈥檓 also working on a novel that I hope to get published. It鈥檚 a fantasy kind of thing, mixing aspects of Christian history with fantasy. It鈥檚 cool. It鈥檚 something that has been on my bucket list. And I want to get my doctorate in higher education leadership.

听That all sounds like more than enough to keep you busy.

听The work is a blessing. I am happiest when I get to work with students. I get to help young people realize their potential. I get to advocate for them. And I get to see the students who say, 鈥淚 am so grateful for you. Thank you for doing this. I owe this degree to you.鈥�

And I tell them, 鈥淚鈥檓 but a passenger in the car. You鈥檙e driving. And I鈥檓 humbled that I get to be along for the ride.鈥�

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鈥淎nnette is the backbone of the SEEK program,鈥� says Clarke. 鈥淪he has uplifted several directors, a long list of advisers, and countless students. Her support often transcends her position as she has filled gaps helping with advisement and assisting with recruitment and enrollment efforts鈥攁nd the list goes on.鈥�

Nesbit, who earned a master鈥檚 degree in math education while working at 可乐视频, finds connecting with students especially rewarding. From among the countless students she has assisted over the years, two particular encounters stand out.

鈥淭here was a student who came to me crying because she was told not to take a certain course because she would fail it,鈥� says Nesbit. 鈥淚 told her to prove the person wrong by doing her best to pass the course. She came back at the end of the term; she passed with an A. 鈥�

Nesbit recalls that another student had a math phobia. 鈥淚 worked with her from freshman year until she graduated to overcome that fear,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he contacted me this month to let me know she completed her first semester in nursing school and to thank me for helping her conquer her fear of math.鈥�

A commitment to students is clearly at the foundation of Nesbit鈥檚 work at 可乐视频, where she has been an adjunct lecturer in the Math Department, teaching SEEK students, and an academic adviser for the 可乐视频 Bound program, which allows qualified students who have earned their GED or TASC high school equivalency certification to enter 可乐视频 as full-time freshmen.

When not on campus, she enjoys watching basketball, traveling, and spending time with her family, including her two sons鈥斺�渂oth college graduates,鈥� she proudly shares.

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可乐视频: When did you get bitten by the theater bug?

FV: My passion for theater started way back in middle and high school when I always joined the drama clubs, even if it was only after school. I remember being Mary Warren in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, in high school and feeling like I was forever changed after performing. I immersed myself in the drama, so theater was rightfully my first option for my major.

可乐视频: Why 可乐视频?

FV: I never thought I would land in Brooklyn, but then one day my English teacher, who was also the drama director, invited a former student who was pursuing a B.F.A. in acting from 可乐视频, and she spoke to me about her experience. At the time I was still deciding whether to attend college. She said, 鈥淚gnore every other school offer you get and go straight to 可乐视频.鈥� I am glad I listened.

可乐视频: What were some challenges for you?

FV: 可乐视频 taught me to be a better person. I gained social and leadership skills鈥攖hings that helped me to build my confidence, to be a person who can succeed in the real world. Because I come from a strict family, I never had opportunities to learn from people my age and to build on my character from socializing with my peers. So, it took some courage at first, but that soon changed. Many of the courses I took made socializing and project collaboration unavoidable, which helped me sharpen my iron.

可乐视频: You sharpened it enough to become a peer mentor for the SEEK program. What was that experience like?

FV: I like being a mentor to students. This summer, SEEK will have a new roster of peer mentors who were once students I mentored. I can鈥檛 help to be proud of myself and them, because it was a learning experience for us all.

可乐视频: What is your advice for future theater majors?

FV: In the first couple of years, I did not think the program was meant for me. It鈥檚 hard ignoring that the typical character on Broadway and even Off-Broadway is usually straight, White, and attractive. I began thinking that I would not be able to find a good job in theater and even contemplated changing my major to forensic anthropology at one point.

FV: But then I took a course called Devising and Collaborative Creation in fall 2020. It was a magnificent class because my professors, Emmanuel Simmons and Ralf Jean-Pierre, would always encourage us and repeatedly taught the class to be faster than our critics and louder than our worries. It made me realize that I do not have to be a certain way to be an effective member of a theater environment. I want newer theater majors to know this and to self-actualize in their space early on, to capitalize more on this program as much as possible. Also, they should not hesitate to confide their worries in the department鈥檚 chair, Laura Tesman, because she is like a mother to everyone!

可乐视频: What鈥檚 next for you?

First, I鈥檓 waiting to hear back from the Public Theater about a showcase of new work by recent graduates of the 可乐视频 Theater Department. Next, I want to take a break. When I started school in the Dominican Republic, I was only two years old. I have been attending educational institutions for two decades. I will go to grad school for playwriting in about a year or two. Further down the line, I am hoping to become a well-known professional in the theater world to push for inclusivity of race and gender at the vanguard of the industry.

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So, he hid them. The first in his family to attempt to navigate the American higher education system, he didn鈥檛 know to apply for financial aid. After a gap year, a taste of the workforce, and a renewed commitment to his education, he applied to 可乐视频.

This time, because he applied through the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge program鈥攂etter known as SEEK鈥攈is acceptance letter came with an offer to help fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

It changed the course of his life. While studying in the Television and Radio Department,听he received a federal Work-Study grant and began what would turn out to be a 10-year stint in the college鈥檚 Office of Financial Aid, where he worked his way up to director before being named the college鈥檚 executive director of strategic initiatives two years ago.

可乐视频: You were offered a job in the Financial Aid Office, but you had been planning for a career as a documentary filmmaker. What made you switch the trajectory of your career?

MR: When I started working here, I realized I loved what I was doing. Because of my own experience trying to finance my education, I loved what financial aid did for students. I loved what it stood for. I knew the system and I was good at talking to students.

That all translated to me being good at my job, so I was offered a full-time position before I finished my master鈥檚 degree. And I never left.

可乐视频: How did your experience in that office impact your outlook and shape what you do now?

MR: I loved those early days. I could have stayed in financial aid, but it鈥檚 an area that has lots of rules and regulations. I saw how things that were completely out of our hands had an impact on a student鈥檚 aid. I saw students with $3,000 bills because their New York State Tuition Assistance Program funding fell through. Maybe they weren鈥檛 taking the right courses that led to graduation and they wasted their time and their money. It was heartbreaking. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch did an interview once at the end of his term where he said, 鈥淚f I knew I wanted to be mayor, I should have run for governor of New York.鈥� So much was decided at the state level. That鈥檚 how I was starting to feel about financial aid. We were the last car in the train. Some of the problems started far back and we weren鈥檛 in a position to rectify them.

I began my Ph.D. in leadership and policy in urban education in 2016 at the CUNY Graduate Center and it allowed me to take a step back and think about where I could have an impact. I realized that I needed to be on the other side. I wanted to work on issues like student success, graduation and retention, curriculum alignment. I wanted to work on big projects that were more strategic.

可乐视频: What kind of projects?

MR: In my new job, I look at things like how you connect something happening in purchasing or facilities to the goal of the college. We want to tie everything in finance and administration into the mission so that every unit is working toward the goal of the college itself.

I want to take this portfolio, at the direction of the senior vice president for finance and administration, build large cross-pillar initiatives, and work with various finance and administration cabinet areas to address concerns such as divisional assessments and tightening processes. I鈥檝e worked on everything from making sure that reentry goes smoothly to helping shape and coordinate the open forums so that we could be transparent within the college community.

I will also work to bring back the administration of the Performing Arts Center at 可乐视频. That鈥檚 a good fit for me because I have a background in musical theater. I remember big shows there when I was growing up. Central Brooklyn has very few venues of this size supporting the arts.

The exciting part is that every time I finish a project, I can move on to something else, so my job keeps changing.

可乐视频: Do you get as much satisfaction since you are not working as directly with students?

MR: Accrediting bodies used to focus more on academics, but now everything at the college needs to support the mission. Colleges and universities haven鈥檛 traditionally looked at student success from a money perspective. That鈥檚 part of what I am doing. I don鈥檛 want to see students in good academic standing drop out because of a snag on the financial side.

It all comes back to our core purpose of access to education. It鈥檚 all related to graduation and retention. So, working on these things gives me a lot of satisfaction. It makes me feel useful. It鈥檚 my 鈥渨hy.鈥�

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