In her first article, “” she explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping U.S. higher education, the labor market, and the expectations surrounding studying abroad. The piece highlights how AI-driven automation is influencing entry-level opportunities, prompting students to rethink traditional pathways into professional careers. She points to emerging initiatives at institutions including CUNY and NYU Tandon that are helping students build applied AI competencies to remain competitive in a shifting workforce.

The second article, “” examines the role of interpersonal and professional skills in shaping student success, particularly for international students in the U.S. higher education system. The essay argues that while academic achievement聽remains聽important, communication, presentation skills, leadership, and confidence are increasingly decisive in hiring decisions. It also explores how an emphasis on grades can sometimes overshadow the development of these essential soft skills, especially among Asian students entering competitive job markets.

These conversations reflect the core mission of the聽聽that has聽equipped聽students with practical AI competencies, human-centered skills, and career readiness tools that matter in a rapidly changing world. Through speaker sessions, industry partnerships, and peer mentoring, the聽series is building a bridge between classroom learning and the real demands of the workforce. By reaching international audiences through platforms like聽罢耻峄昳听罢谤岷�,听Pham is amplifying these conversations beyond 可乐视频, positioning CUNY as a leader in聽equitable, experiential AI education.聽 Both articles are available in English through your browser.

Also related to the CUNY AI Literacy and Professional Readiness Series, Pham鈥檚 working paper, 鈥�,鈥� was published online by Social Science Research Network.

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The transformative program helped Freeman build connections with local communities and fellow international educators, and reenergize her focus on supporting the college鈥檚 mission to grow internationalization on campus and nurture future global leaders.

Ashanti Freeman (left) speaks on a panel during her trip to Taiwan as part of her Fulbright International Education Administrators Award.

鈥淚 learned so much from everyone I met in Taiwan and from the representatives of the 15 U.S. universities in my cohort,鈥� Freeman said. 鈥淥ne of my biggest goals moving forward is to improve the quality of advising for students applying to study abroad programs and scholarships. I want to grow not just the number, but the strength of our applications so that more 可乐视频 students can have transformative international experiences and feel truly part of a global community.鈥�

The Fulbright IEA Award is a competitive program designed to support U.S. higher education professionals in building international networks and learning about education systems abroad. Participants return with new insights, strategies, and partnerships to strengthen their institutions’ global engagement.

Freeman鈥檚 experience in Taiwan has sparked a renewed commitment to improving access to international opportunities for students, particularly through personalized advising and outreach.

鈥淓xpanding access to study abroad means meeting students where they are and helping them envision themselves as global citizens,鈥� she added.

The Fulbright Program is one of the world鈥檚 most prestigious international exchange initiatives, playing a key role in U.S. public diplomacy and academic collaboration. Its alumni include 63 Nobel Laureates, 98 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 82 MacArthur Fellows.

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Xie is a Tow mentee who has been researching alongside Assistant Professor Yana Kuchirko about how White parents socialize their children to understand race. Though the research is still evolving, he is laying the foundation for uncovering how racial biases get passed down from parent to child.

We sat down with Xie to get to know him better.

What drew you to research?

I like hearing people鈥檚 stories. My dad used to tell me about how when he first immigrated here from China, he helped run a Chinese restaurant with my grandpa and two aunts. One day they got held up at gunpoint and robbed. It鈥檚 a crazy story to me. I鈥檝e never seen a gun in my life. It鈥檚 what made me curious about what else he and my family did before I was born. I used to be shy until I started working at a sushi restaurant in high school, which made me realize that I love getting to know people. That鈥檚 a big part of qualitative research. I think that hearing people鈥檚 stories is a catalyst for change.

Why did you want to be part of this research team?

I鈥檝e always wanted to work with kids. I used to be a summer camp counselor at the YMCA. I learned that kids are really smart, which people don鈥檛 give them credit for. I just think they鈥檙e fascinating creatures, and also very emotional, which is something I鈥檓 drawn to. The research focuses on how parents socialize their children to understand race. We鈥檝e been observing parents and kids and studying their emotions, which has been exciting.

What are you most proud of?

It鈥檚 sort of a spiritual thing. I鈥檝e been trying to live life day by day and appreciate the small things. When my grandma had a stroke and had to learn how to walk again, I鈥檇 come home after school and sit with her and talk to her. I鈥檓 most proud of developing that mindset and learning to appreciate the little things.

How would you describe your college experience?

I love 可乐视频. You get off the bus and you see the trees and everything is so nice. The mix of people is very interesting. It鈥檚 one of the only places where you can sit down and the person next to you is a 62-year-old barber and then someone in your class is a bus driver who just got off his shift.

I鈥檓 a Macaulay Honors College student and I鈥檝e gotten a lot out of that and my Tow mentorship. Before the Tow Mentorship Program, I didn鈥檛 know what to do. Professor Tammy Lewis is the director of the program. She encouraged me to take some cool classes and think about studying abroad and graduate school.

What鈥檚 most important to you?
Family is really important to me. We all live together and have always been very close. Family is a huge system, and it goes both ways. In the dynamic interactions between parent and child, wisdom doesn’t just go from the parent to the kid鈥攖he child also gives important insights that inevitably help them both learn.

Where do you imagine yourself in the future?

I鈥檓 still figuring it out, but I鈥檝e been looking into school psychology master鈥檚 degrees鈥攊ncluding 可乐视频鈥檚 program鈥攂ecause I want to help kids develop emotional skills and give them mental health resources at school. I鈥檓 also considering someday doing a developmental psychology Ph.D. program. Besides school, I want to stay close to my family but also work to live independently soon. I鈥檓 taking it one step at a time.

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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,听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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“We salute 可乐视频 for its outstanding academics and we are truly pleased to recommend it to prospective applicants searching for their personal 鈥榖est-fit鈥� college,鈥� said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 386 Colleges. The education services company surveyed 143,000 students nationwide about their school鈥檚 academics, campus life, and student body.

In the profile, was praised for its rigorous academic standards. Students called the CUNY senior college 鈥渢he perfect representative of Brooklyn as a borough and [of] success in the community,鈥� and an institution that, like its home borough, 鈥渆ducates its students in an environment that reflects diversity, opportunity (study abroad, research, athletics, employment), and support.鈥�

鈥淭his national ranking is the latest affirmation that 可乐视频 is committed to offering an excellent educational experience to its diverse student body,鈥� 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson said. 鈥溈衫质悠� is an exceptional choice for any undergraduate or graduate student looking for a great academic challenge.鈥�

The Princeton Review also cited the success of the college鈥檚 Magner Career Center, which provides students the knowledge, skills, values, and opportunities that are essential to fulfilling their career aspirations and succeeding in today鈥檚 competitive global economy.

The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in the book from 1 to 386. Instead, it reports 62 ranking lists of top 20 schools in various categories important to prospective applicants and their parents. The guidebook profiles 14 percent of 2,800 four-year colleges in the United States. .

As the fall semester approached, 可乐视频 received more accolades when examined which 24 U.S. colleges provided the best return on students鈥� investment based on earnings and cost data, and ranked the college at number 11.

Business Insider used the most recent available data from the Department of Education’s Scorecard that includes such figures as cost of tuition, enrollment, and student debt, and created a ratio of median earnings from 10 years after first attending college to the average cost of attendance.

also highlighted schools that best combine quality and affordability in its 鈥淏est Colleges in America, Ranked by Value鈥� list, and 可乐视频 made that list at number 164.

Some other recent recognitions 可乐视频 has earned include:

• Among 200 Best Value Colleges in the United States鈥擯rinceton Review, 2020
• Top 40 Best Colleges for Your Money in the United States鈥�Money, 2019
• 100 Best Value Colleges in the United States鈥擣orbes, 2019
• The #1 most ethnically diverse U.S. college in the north鈥�U.S. News & World Report, 2019
• Best Value Colleges in the United States鈥擯rinceton Review, 2019
• Top 15 U.S. colleges in the north with the best undergraduate teaching program鈥�U.S. News & World Report, 2019
• Top 20 U.S. public colleges in the north鈥�U.S. News & World Report, 2019
• Top 10 Four-year Public Institutions for Student-mobility Rates鈥�Chronicle of Higher Education, 2018
• Top Colleges in New York State鈥擯rinceton Review, 2018
• Best Value Colleges鈥擣orbes, 2018

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“I like to go to new places so this is great because I get to hone my professional skills and travel at the same time,” says Tam, who wants to either be a classroom teacher or work in museum education.

Tam, who minored in Chinese, will be helping teach English to elementary school children who are mostly native Mandarin speakers in Hualien City, on the east coast of Taiwan.

When Tam herself was a young student, her parents did not speak much English. During her time at 可乐视频, she has conducted field work in New York City schools with kids who are native Mandarin speakers.

“Working with this population is something I wanted to pursue,” she says. “It鈥檚 really rewarding to me to help them understand.”

Tam, a former Macaulay Honors College student, has studied abroad twice鈥攐nce in 可乐视频鈥檚 three-week Study Abroad China program and also through a six-week Queens College program in South Korea. She has also been to China twice with her family.

Additionally, she is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education, and interned at the Children鈥檚 Museum of the Arts.

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Alumnus ‘s reaction to winning an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and numerous other awards for his work on the visual effects (VFX) of the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was one of sheer disbelief.

“There were a few nights where I cried in my room and thought, ‘This can’t be real!'” says Wright. “I do sometimes have a problem accepting compliments or praise. As an artist, coming out of an academic program where you become accustomed to critique, you have to adjust to the idea of your hard work paying off, being deserving of commendation, and not being suspicious of accolades.”

Yet, it is precisely Wright’s聽enormous talent for the visual arts, honed as an undergraduate student in the 可乐视频 Department of Art, that makes him deserving of the acclaim his diligence has garnered him. His was part of the artistic vision that helped put a contemporary spin on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man, introducing the character to a whole new generation of consumers. Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse鈥�about the exploits of an alternate universe Spider-Man named Miles Morales, an Afro-Latinx middle school student鈥攊s unlike any animated film that came before it. Inspired by the layouts, lettering, and unique coloring style of print comic books, it bursts onto the screen like a moving version of a graphic novel, with all the high-energy, imagination, “BOOMS!” and “BAMS!” one would expect of a superhero blockbuster.

“I was part of an incredible team of like-minded and motivated technical artists. Specifically, as one of the lighting and compositing technical directors, I was responsible for coloring and assembling layers of animated elements to help influence the overall look and final image that we see on the big screen,” Wright says. “Although our title is ‘technical,’ for Spider-Verse, we were artists. Our teams were given some liberty in directing and mimicking shading styles that resemble the traditional Marvel Comics universe. Small and bright halftone dots were used to represent highlights. Other times, techniques such as cross hatching and line thickness represented the darkest areas of the image. The technical leads, team supervisors, and worked in unison to present the best possible version of shots to the film’s directors.”

Wright is a third-generation artist born and raised in Brooklyn. His mother is African American, and his father, a former graffiti artist (just like Miles Morales, the main character in Into the Spider-Verse), is of Trinidadian-Venezuelan descent. Wright’s is a painter, and his is an interior designer. Though the pursuit of art is clearly generational, he did not initially imagine a career in the field.

“Even when going to Edward R. Murrow, a high school that focuses on the arts, my teachers encouraged me academically, steering me toward advanced English and science classes. I thought I would eventually become a teacher. I always looked up to my teachers; they were my heroes.”

It was Wright’s father, a Kingsborough Community College alumnus and vocal supporter of the City University of New York (CUNY) education system, who suggested he attend 可乐视频 based on its reputation for providing a rigorous curriculum taught by award-winning faculty. Wright initially took one computer science course and one art course at the college. He enjoyed them so much that he enrolled as a full-time student the following semester, majoring in studio art with minors and concentrations in Africana studies and computer science. Still, he thought he would become a photographer or a painter. He did not yet know that the merging of those first classes would catapult him on his award-winning trajectory.

While at 可乐视频, Wright became a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. The fellowship is an upper-division honors program designed to attract highly qualified minority students and others who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in a specific field and demonstrate a commitment to eradicating racial disparities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities on college faculties by helping minority students of exceptional promise to aspire to academic careers.

Wright’s participation in the fellowship led him to become a peer computer science/math tutor, one of three part-time employment positions he held while a student. He also interned at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a community outreach coordinator, helping younger generations understand the benefits of visiting museums via promotional cultural events. And finally, he was a cadet for the New York Police Department (NYPD) for which he received an academic scholarship.

Wright also took advantage of other available opportunities at the college, including a transformative experience in the Ghana Study Abroad Program.

“Professor Lynda Day is, hands-down, the whole reason I applied to participate in the study abroad program and also the reason I applied for the Mellon Fellowship. She’s a great counselor and constantly reminded me of the prospects available to me. She wanted me to broaden my artistic experience.”

Wright visited Kumasi, Ghana, where he got to speak with the residents and learn from them how to craft their native kente cloth. It was both a cultural and social immersion for him and an inherently political one as he recognized his privileges as an American visiting a space outside of his frame of reference. Still, he was welcomed.

“A kid off the street named Armstrong called out to me kindly: ‘What are you here for, brother?’ And I told him that I wanted to weave kente cloth. And he said: ‘I’m going to take you to my village.’ And from that moment, the trip changed,” Wright remembers. “With Professor Day’s permission, I diverted from the program’s scheduled stop at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and went to Armstrong’s village. We ate food together in his customary way, without utensils, using just our fingers. And after we ate, he took me to a place to weave kente.”

This experience sparked his sense of adventure and his realization that his artistic talents were borderless and could take him around the globe.

“I remember Tyquane as one of the big talents in the college’s art program at the time,” says Professor of Art Ronaldo Kiel. He was energetic and not afraid of doing extra work. In an independent study project with me, he was the first student I had to present a fully animated character in a dance sequence. I have taught computer art at the college since the early 2000s, and I was certain that Tyquane would make a mark in this highly competitive field.”

After graduating from 可乐视频 cum laude with a B.F.A., Wright attended New York University (NYU), where he received his master of science in digital imaging. He spent some time as a freelance digital artist, working on various independent projects, including the “When I See U” music video for American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, then served as technical director of lighting at Rising Sun Pictures in Adelaide, Australia. Wright scored a position at Sony Imageworks when a recruiter came across his thesis film online and sent him an e-mail. Wright has been at Sony since 2009, and is currently senior look development technical director, operating out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Opportunities often fell into my lap simply by me sharing the best versions of my homework,” Wright says. “I always gave 100% to my class assignments. I treated homework as if I was delivering work to a client.”

Wright has no plans to rest on his laurels. He is already hard at work on another highly anticipated Sony film, Spider-Man: Far From Home. He believes the key to his success has been in being open to the possibilities. Additionally, he is a mentor to other up-and-coming artists in the industry and is always happy to assists those in need of his talents. Not too long ago, he returned to the campus to聽lend his experience and expertise聽to the Black and Latino Male Initiative (BLMI), an academic support program designed to increase the graduation and retention rates of black, Latino, and other historically underrepresented male students enrolled at 可乐视频. He believes giving back is essential to achievement, and that there were many whose mentorship and interest was central to his own accomplishments, including 可乐视频 faculty members Day, Kiel, William T. Williams (emeritus), and others.

“I did not plan to work on animated feature films. My interest was in traditional photography or painting. I knew I loved computer graphics and art. So before graduating from 可乐视频 and NYU, I met countless people who shaped my career within that industry,” he says. “Possibilities will open up by making genuine connections with those who have similar passions. Eventually, it will lead to great things. Oh, and one more thing: Always be generous and thankful to all those you encounter along the way!”

可乐视频 is able to provide students with the rigorous education and artistic experiences that allow them to become the leaders in local and global communities and sought-after experts in their fields just like Tyquane Wright thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends received through the 可乐视频 Foundation. To learn about the various ways to contribute to student success, please visit the foundation website.

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Over three weeks this intersession, 68 students from different CUNY campuses and beyond are exploring five Chinese cities: Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhou, and Xi’an, as well as side trips to Guilin, Hong Kong, Sanya, Tibet, Yangzhou, and Yellow Mountain. Students can take three to seven credits of courses ranging from Asian Business to the Development of Silk Road to Intensive Elementary Chinese and Revolutionary China.

China鈥檚 re-emergence as a global economic power and a bigger player on the international political stage makes it an invaluable trip for students.

“China is one of the oldest civilizations on the planet and one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” said Shuming Lu, a professor of communication arts, sciences, and disorders who leads the study abroad program. “The program not only provides an opportunity for our students to travel, broaden their cultural perspectives, experience personal growth, make new friends, and develop valuable career skills, but it also gives them an advantage in diplomacy. An academic understanding of China is now an employable skill in the global job market.”

For Anastasios Filippou, a sociology major, the trip was life changing. “We have had the most enlightening cultural experiences living and traveling in the East just like the locals would,鈥澛爃e says. 鈥淭here were multiple times in this trip that my body and mind felt completely out of place. As a sociology major and marketing minor, I have observed multiple differences and similarities regarding the west and the east that will definitely define me as a person and as a professional.”

Natalie Lisiewicz is a senior double majoring in communication arts, sciences, and disorders and linguistics. She says she decided to study abroad in China because she wanted to go to a country that she might not otherwise visit.

“The Chinese culture is so different from my own Polish-American culture,” she says. “I have tried many different foods and interacted with so many wonderful people, despite a difficult language barrier. Visiting China taught me how to be more open to trying new things and how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Omar Yakoup, a sophomore majoring in business administration says he initially went to take an Asian business course but will leave with a trove of other experiences that have influenced him all the same.

“Moments such as climbing The Great Wall of China, taking a high speed train, visiting Xi’ An University and Nanjing University of the arts, and climbing the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum will never be forgotten and have been pivotal in helping me grow as an individual and intellectually,” he says.

Prajwal Prabhu, a senior majoring in finance and business administration, agrees that the trip has been transformative.

“I am growing as a person and am expanding both myself and the network of my peers,” he says. “The Chinese call this Guan Xi, the development of relationships with other individuals. The sense of community and friendship within this study abroad group has been unparalleled and future groups should look forward to learning a lot from it.”

Lu has been taking students on the trip every summer and winter since 2003. Each trip consists of anywhere from 50 to 75 students, both graduate and undergraduate. All of the courses are taught by 可乐视频 faculty and students have used funds from sources like the Chancellor鈥檚 Global Scholarship for Study Abroad and the Study Abroad Scholarship Association to finance their trips.

For more information, students can contact the Office of International Education and Global Engagement.

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“I have friends everywhere now,” says Raven Wilson鈥斂衫质悠� (可乐视频) senior, Korean popular music (K-pop) aficionado, and teaching/program assistant in the Media Production and Cultural Studies in South Korea Program. One of the first students to participate in the inaugural 可乐视频-Dongguk South Korea Exchange Program, Wilson, who double majors in communication and theater, is now the exchange program’s student ambassador.

“This program is great for students because you’re not being thrown into a situation where there’s no one there for you,” Wilson says. “This particular program doesn’t send students abroad solo; you’re always traveling with a group, so you always have a base that has your back.”

The exchange kicked off in the fall 2017 semester. Wilson, whose tuition cost was reimbursed through the , stayed at an off-campus dormitory near Seoul Station (the equivalent of New York City’s Penn Station). As a New Yorker, she had no problem navigating South Korea’s mass-transit system to get to school each day. It helped that the system made all announcements in Korean, English, Japanese, and Mandarin.

“The value of cultural competency cannot be overestimated,” says Gail Bier, senior director of International Education and Global Engagement at 可乐视频. “For students to be able to say to a potential employer that they spent time studying in another country demonstrates that they are proficient in working with people very different from themselves, in environments very different from ones they are accustomed to, that they are able to communicate across challenges and are open to expanding their worldview. This gives them the edge needed to stand out among other candidates.”

While at Dongguk, Wilson took some courses that were taught fully in English and others that were taught at a 60/40 percent split (60 English, 40 in Korean), including communication theory, introduction to Korean film, Korean language, and film production. Wilson said that of those, the film production class was the toughest, as she and her classmates were required to make a short film every week for the first six weeks. Afterward, they were placed into groups and instructed to make a feature-length film out of their disparate short pieces in a way that interlocked to create a single narrative. Additionally, the students were each assigned to make their own experimental film project that contained no dialogue, but told the story through images.

“That was the most intense class of all the courses I took at Dongguk,” says Wilson, who earned A’s in every class, despite the Korean grading system that limits the number of students who can receive an A grade in each course.

JiHoon Song, a Dongguk University junior who is majoring in business management, was among the students who spent a semester at 可乐视频. He says he chose to study at the college because of its reputation for providing a rigorous education and its location in one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

“New York has different kinds of food from all over the world, and I could enjoy the best quality of many things such as musicals, museums, concerts, and other arts. I chose 可乐视频 for this semester because the professors are passionate and the courses are extremely useful.”

Song took six courses: Aerobics, Principles of Marketing, Global Business Environment, Introduction to Mass Media, Intercultural Communication, and Introduction to Communication.

“I loved the campus,” he says. “It was so quiet and has many places to sit and contemplate or study. I could lie on the grass. I liked the college’s gym as well. I worked out four times a week. I became healthier because of it. Another great place was the . I will recommend other Dongguk students participate in the exchange program because 可乐视频 has awesome professors and wonderful students.”

Wilson, who befriended Song and keeps in touch with him via KakaoTalk, a South Korea texting app, will be graduating with the Class of 2019 in the spring. She plans to pursue a career in entertainment management and artist representation.

Interested in taking your education around the globe? The Tow Undergraduate/Graduate International Research Stipend enables undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research in settings outside the United States during the winter intersession. It is designed to expand students’ academic experiences and to enrich their lives, and that of the college, by providing access to educational opportunities abroad. The online application is available on the 可乐视频 Scholarships and Awards homepage. The deadline is October 31, 2018.

可乐视频 is able to provide its students with the kind of global engagement opportunities they need to expand their learning and stand out in the marketplace thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends received through the 可乐视频 Foundation. To learn about the various ways to contribute to student success, please visit the foundation website.

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Homeland. Lucifer. And now, Empire. Those are the hit television shows that Kade Wise ’11 has starred in鈥攁nd he has only just begun.

In his Empire role, his biggest to date, Wise stars as “Preacher Azal,” a politically conscious, Muslim rapper who works as a tattoo artist. He’s approached by Jussie Smollett’s character, Jamal Lyon, to become a member of an anonymous collective of musicians, free of the economic and political constraints of the music industry. Azal is, at first, apprehensive, but Jamal eventually wins him over. This gives Wise the chance to show off his real-life musical acumen.

“I love working on the show. Most of my scenes are with Jussie. He’s such a great dude.”

Wise revealed that he had initially auditioned for a different role, but the showrunners were so impressed by Wise’s performance that they offered him the role of Azal, which seems tailor-made for him.

“I feel like I’m playing a parallel-universe version of myself,” Wise says of his role as Azal. “I’m honoring that character’s mission.”

The top-rated series just concluded its fourth season and has been renewed for a fifth, which premieres on Sept. 26.

Born in Algiers, Algeria, Wise came to the United States with his family when he was five years old. He grew up in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn and is the first person in his family to graduate from college. Before enrolling in 可乐视频, he wondered why he needed a degree. “I’m an artist. Why do I need college?” was his way of thinking.

“I started rapping when I was 11 years old. I didn’t know anyone in the business. Here I am, an Algerian immigrant, no one holding my hand or telling me what to do. But something inside me said, ‘Market yourself!'”

At age 12, he cold-called several record companies and left voicemail messages for staff members in which he demonstrated his eagerness to work for them, and his skill, by rapping. That scored him an interview at Roc-A-Fella Records, the label once owned by Grammy Award-winning rapper Jay-Z and his partner, rap mogul Damon Dash;聽 he got to meet them both. While nothing came of this initial meeting, he scored an internship at the company two years later as a member of the “street team,” performing such tasks as putting together promotional packages and running errands. He was eventually promoted to interning in the A&R department before finally moving on.

In addition to acting and rapping, Wise is also an artist, poet, and singer鈥攁ll talents he discovered during childhood. He also has directing, producing, and editing credits under his belt. But before making a full leap into his artistic ventures, Wise’s practical side took hold, and he realized that in the slim chance that his dreams did not materialize, he needed a backup plan. He decided to attend 可乐视频 because of its standing as a top institution of higher learning and its proximity to his home and family in the borough.

“And I felt proud about attending a college with the word ‘Brooklyn’ in it,” he says.

A Dean’s List honoree, Wise studied abroad in Spain to learn Spanish, which he said was a mind-broadening experience that sparked his desire to travel the world. His next destination was a little closer to home.

“I went to Los Angeles for the first time, and that’s when I knew I would pursue acting professionally.”

Encouraging Wise to make the venture was Michael Sarrao ’02, career education and training specialist in the Magner Career Center. Sarrao met him during a class visit he made to an entrepreneurial course Wise was taking at the time.

“I discovered that he was an aspiring rapper, songwriter, and actor,” says Sarrao. “He already had the energy, determination, and optimism necessary for success in the entertainment industry.” So much so, that Sarrao offered Wise a starring role in a short film he was working on to promote a Kickstarter campaign for his graphic novel, Unmasked. “When I was casting for the roles, I immediately thought of Kade and wrote a character specifically for him.聽 I wanted to help him gain more acting credentials on his resume. He did a great job, and I truly believe the webisode helped us surpass our Kickstarter goal as we raised more than $14,000.”

Knowing that the multitalented Wise was determined to pursue his dream, Sarrao used the college’s connections to help him prepare for it. Sarrao says, “The last thing I would’ve wanted was for him to look back years later and regret not exploring that creative side, and wondering ‘what if?'”

Through the Magner Center, Wise received help with his resume, attended workshops, and was paired with several alumni through the center’s mentoring program. Sarrao put him in touch with one alumni鈥攊n particular, Sue Nadell ’83, a film and television producer who received her bachelor of arts degree in television and radio from the college鈥攚ho resided in the Los Angeles area or who worked in the entertainment industry, helping Wise to build a network of support before making the leap.

Wise received a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in marketing from what is now the college’s Murray Koppelman School of Business and worked in the corporate sector for about nine months before he realized that he could not take half measures toward his acting career. He left his job and moved to Los Angeles to focus on acting full time.

His first big break came when he was offered a role on the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning Showtime series, Homeland.

“It was such a great experience. Homeland is a gritty show and gives you the opportunity to showcase a darker acting style.”

He says that sometimes he wishes he had pursued a degree in the arts, particularly given the reputation of 可乐视频’s Conservatory of Music, Department of Art, and , noting: “I think it took me this long to breakthrough because of the unconventional route I chose to take.聽 But I’m okay with all of that because had I chosen differently, I wouldn’t be the person I am now, in the space I’m in now, as well-rounded as I am now.”

One of the many benefits of his education at the college was that it afforded him the opportunity to participate in the founded by 可乐视频 alumnus and Adjunct Professor Ted Liebowitz ’79. The program trains students how to start and run their own businesses. In 2014, Wise returned to the college to participate in the Magner Center’s Entrepreneur in the Arts event, where he discussed living in Los Angeles and pursuing his acting career.聽 His visit afforded him the opportunity to mentor students in the same way he was mentored, giving them advice about what he learned and how they could persevere in the industry.

“I’m a businessperson at heart,” Wise says. “And the skills I learned in my major continue to serve me in my current industry because many of the behind-the-scenes situations require a business mind.”

To hone his acting talent, Wise did eventually study with the , a popular off-Broadway theater company in New York City, as well as and in Los Angeles鈥攖he latter of which he said was particularly transformative.

“Sedita offered a film/television technique master class that really helped me get to where I needed to get to in terms of being conscious and getting rid of habits and quirks that I didn’t even know I had.”

He also appeared on FOX’s Lucifer, which he said was the first time he had ever traveled internationally to work on an acting project. Lucifer was also the first time he had been exposed to and started to become accustomed to the access, attention, and perks associated with the industry. But then, Wise says, he received a wake-up call.

“I didn’t work for a year after that. Talk about the universe saying, ‘Have a seat, young man. Be humble!'”

Heeding the universe’s advice and taking the time to look inward to develop his spirituality, and outward to perfect his skill, he was rewarded with his greatest professional job so far: the recurring role on Empire.

And this is not where Wise’s aspirations end. His goal is to be the kind of actor whose art and achievements are recognized globally. He would also like to focus more fully on his musical talents.

“There are so many things I want to do with my life,” he says. “Perhaps one day I’ll work in the nonprofit/philanthropy sector, or maybe in politics. I’m an idealist, but I realize that idealism works gradually and with a great deal of effort. Little by little, I’d like to be the change I’d like to see in the world.”

Next up for Wise: He will be appearing alongside Ryan Phillipe and Omar Epps in the third season of the USA Network television series, Shooter.

To learn more about Kade Wise and keep up to date on his projects, visit his , , and pages.

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