LaGuardia Community College President Delivers Her Final Commencement Address & Confers Nearly 2,000 Associate Degrees June 13, 2019
View/Download Commencement 2019 Photos
LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow today presided over her final commencement for the college. She will step down in August after 19 years as LaGuardia’s president. Associate degrees were conferred to nearly 2,000 graduates at the college’s 47th Commencement.
“Presiding over the granting of associate degrees each year for the past 19 years has been an absolute privilege. These degrees represent the culmination of an incredible amount of work, dedication, and juggling for our students, many of whom work, are parents of young children or have other family responsibilities, or are recent immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S. It’s also a celebration for our dedicated and creative faculty and staff, who provide high-quality education, as well as guidance and support to our students.
“Knowing that this was my last commencement as LaGuardia’s president, a role that has been the honor of my lifetime, has been bittersweet. Just like today’s graduates, I’m looking towards the next phase of my life with excitement and trepidation. One certainty is that each June, I’ll be thinking about LaGuardia and its newest graduates with pride,” said Dr. Mellow.
With nearly 2,000 participating in today’s commencement exercises at Barclays Center, this was LaGuardia’s largest graduating class to date. Reflecting the college’s diverse student body, more than 20 percent of today’s graduates are age 30 or older, and 25 percent are between the ages of 25 and 29. Students who identify as Hispanic remain the largest ethnic group, at 45 percent. Sixty-two percent live in Queens; 16 percent in Brooklyn, and 10 percent in The Bronx.
Graduates earned an associate degree in one of more than 60 majors including creative writing, nursing, mechanical engineering, industrial design, fine arts, paralegal studies, and more. The top three majors of the Class of 2019 were business administration, liberal arts: social science and humanities, and liberal arts: mathematics and science.
Aida Akim-Escriva, LaGuardia’15, represented LaGuardia alumni in a speech to the graduates. Ms. Akim-Escriva spent her childhood in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, before moving to New York City a decade ago to pursue a college degree that would enable her to advocate for the rights of women around the world. She earned her associate degree in journalism, and her bachelor’s from Amherst College, which she attended on a full scholarship. Today she works in fundraising for the Global Fund for Women.
She urged today’s graduates to speak up and be bold as they move forward in their journeys. “Remember all the doors that were closed before you? With graduation, many of them will now open for you.” But she reminded graduates that some barriers will remain, “Society does not yet know the full potential of a community college student and graduate. Knock on the doors that are closed. Teach them that graduating from a community college takes determination and resilience. Teach them that a person who held a job to support their family while gaining a degree is capable of great things. You might be the first community college graduate they hire, but you will not be the last once you pave the way for all those yet to come.”
Kishauna Givans, age 30, received her associate degree in Therapeutic Recreation and represented the Class of 2019 in a speech in which she shared her personal story about moving to the U.S. from Jamaica to seek medical attention for a mysterious illness that caused her to be paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors predicted that she’d be paralyzed for the rest of her life. Thankfully, she’s recovered, and with a lot of hard work, she’s regained most of her mobility. Although her doctors still don’t know what caused her paralysis or if it could return.
Ms. Givans reminded her fellow graduates to be proud of the obstacles they’ve overcome along their way to graduation, and to own their individuality, “We have beaten the odds and now we sit before each other on the cushion of hard work and sacrifice. I am proving to the world that yes, this person of color who overcame a serious illness, completed her associate degree.
“We each have our own story to tell. The experiences that you’ve had, whatever they may have been, are instrumental and priceless in building your character. Know that these experiences will take you the new heights that are greater than your imagination. It is not by chance that we are here; it’s the end result of the hard work we’ve invested into attaining another milestone in our lives. Now with the knowledge and power that we have obtained at LaGuardia, let’s proudly walk out of Barclays Center on this spectacular day, because you hold the pen that writes your future. Dare to be great.”
Ms. Givans plans to transfer to a four-year college to earn her bachelor’s and then pursue a career in public policy, so that she can advocate for people who don’t have the voice to do so themselves—something she felt during her illness.
LaGuardia’s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Paul Arcario, Ed.D., gave welcoming remarks and introductions. The City University of New York was represented by the Honorable Henry T. Berger, J.D., a member of the Board of Trustees, who addressed the audience. LaGuardia sociology professor Arianna Martinez, Ph.D. served as grand marshal.
The LaGuardia Vocal Ensemble performed the Star-Spangled Banner, under the direction of LaGuardia music professor Lisa DeSpain, BMus Comp, MMus, and conducted by LaGuardia music professor Thomas Dempsey, BMus, MMus.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
#### After 19 Years As President Of LaGuardia Community College, Dr. Gail O. Mellow To Give Her Final Commencement Address
—More Than 1,700 to Graduate at LaGuardia’s 2019 Commencement—
Thursday, June 13, 2019 @ Barclays Center
Long Island City, NY—LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow will give the keynote address at LaGuardia Community College’s 47th Commencement on June 13, 2019 at Barclays Center. It will be the last commencement that Dr. Mellow will preside over as president of the college; she recently announced plans to step down in August 2019.
Dr. Mellow has served as president of LaGuardia Community College since 2000. During her tenure, she’s become a national voice for community colleges—advocating for increased funding for and acknowledgement of the significant role that two-year colleges play in the U.S higher education system. In 2017, she was awarded the TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence, one of the most prestigious awards in academia.
Under Dr. Mellow’s leadership, LaGuardia is among the top 1% of two-year colleges nationwide (#5 out of 604) with the greatest success in lifting the poorest students into jobs that enable them to create better lives for themselves and their families, according to research led by analysts at Stanford University’s Center on Poverty and Inequality.
WHO: Members of LaGuardia’s Class of 2019
• More than 1,700 students will receive their associate degree in one of more than 60 majors from LaGuardia Community College
• LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow; additional college leadership, faculty and staff; representatives of the City University of New York (CUNY); and other esteemed guests
• Alumni Speaker: Aida Akim-Escriva (LaGuardia’15), who works in fundraising for the Global Fund for Women. Ms. Akim-Escriva spent her childhood in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, before immigrating to the United States. After earning her associate degree in journalism from LaGuardia, she went on to earn her bachelor’s from Amherst College.
• Class of 2019 Speaker: Kishauna Givans, a 30-year-old therapeutic recreation major who was born and raised in Jamaica. Ms. Givans plans to transfer to a four-year college to earn her bachelor’s, and then pursue a career in health care public policy.
WHAT: LaGuardia Community College’s 47th Commencement
WHERE: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11217
WHEN: Tuesday, June 13, 2019, 9 a.m. ET
Press Call: 8 a.m. ET. Reporters should enter Barclays Center via the VIP Entrance at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Fort Greene Place.
Commencement will be live-streamed on LaGuardia’s YouTube channel.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
#### May 6, 2019
Queens College And LaGuardia Community College Launch Small Business Development Center (SBDC) At Queens College— SBDC Serves Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Other Under-Represented Populations in Flushing, Initial Outreach is Offered in English and Mandarin;
U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng Facilitated the Launch —
 At a ribbon-cutting marking the opening of the Queens College SBDC on Monday, May 6, 2019, with (from left to right): Queens College Dean of Arts and Humanities Michael Wolfe; The Honorable Congresswoman Grace Meng; CUNY Chancellor and Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez; LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow; and Director of the LaGuardia Community College SBDC Rosa Figueroa (photo credit: CUNY).
Queens College and LaGuardia Community College jointly launched a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Queens College today, with a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Made possible with support from U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Queens), the center serves immigrant entrepreneurs and other underrepresented populations of Flushing, Queens. Services will initially be offered in English and Mandarin. The center is located at Queens College, Kissena Hall, 64-19 Kissena Boulevard, opposite the main campus. It is the third SBDC in the borough of Queens, and the ninth in New York City
City University of New York Chancellor and Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez stated, “This new center will provide vital assistance to budding entrepreneurs, including immigrants, whose start-up businesses are indispensable to our borough and city. We very much look forward to seeing the results of successful collaborations between the center’s clients and its skilled staff, complemented by the talents and contributions of our Tech Incubator team, faculty, and student interns.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng facilitated the launch of the new SBDC after noting the need for additional services to support small business owners in Flushing and surrounding areas. The center is initially being overseen by Rosa Figueroa, director of the LaGuardia Community College SBDC. Since its opening in 2001, that center has served nearly 6,000 businesses, helping them invest more than $60 million in the area’s economy and create or save nearly 2,000 jobs. Figueroa will train two business advisors who will support the business community on site at the Queens College SBDC.
“Since 2014, I have worked tirelessly to create an SBDC in northeast Queens, and today, that goal is finally a reality,” said Congresswoman Meng. “What better way to celebrate National Small Business Week than to unveil this great facility. SBDC’s help small businesses grow and thrive, and this new center will ensure that local entrepreneurs have the resources they need to succeed. I am proud to have secured the funding to establish this SBDC and I’m thrilled to have selected Queens College for its home. Small businesses are the economic engine of our economy in Queens and across the nation, and it’s imperative that government be a strong partner in helping them succeed and flourish. I look forward to this facility serving the needs of local entrepreneurs for many decades to come, and I urge all local small business owners to take advantage of the valuable resources that this SBDC will be offering.”
Small Business Development Centers help small businesses grow by working with them to develop business plans and apply for government loans. Strategically located regional centers, hosted primarily on college campuses throughout the state, provide ready access to training and counseling services. This effort nurtures entrepreneurship and innovation, targets regional and local needs, and aligns with New York State’s approach to regional economic development. The state’s SBDC network is the result of collaboration among the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY), private universities, and the private sector.
“I have seen first-hand Queens College’s dedication to entrepreneurship, and when I was approached by Congresswoman Meng and Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez to explore opening a center, it soon became evident that this would be a win-win for the community and SBDC,” said Brian Goldstein, state director, New York State Small Business Development Center. “We look forward to growing small business and entrepreneurship opportunities in this wonderful new location.”
“Having this opportunity to expand support for immigrant entrepreneurs and other small business owners in Flushing, Queens through our partnership with Queens College, is extremely meaningful,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “Not only is this a model for future collaborations—bringing expertise to communities where it’s needed, and thereby shortening ramp-up time. But small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities—when they thrive, our communities thrive. They provide jobs, close access to services, and more. We’re very pleased to be working with our colleagues at Queens College in this important endeavor.”
The Tech Incubator at Queens College (TIQC)—the first facility of its kind in the borough—and the college’s programs, including its Bachelor of Business Administration and its minor in Business and Liberal Arts, will offer opportunities for collaborations among SBDC clients and QC faculty and students. The Queens College SBDC will also focus on supporting the tech business community—from start-ups to established businesses—leveraging the college’s strengths in computer and data science, and drawing on the resources of the TIQC.
LaGuardia Community College’s SBDC has successfully served such immigrant entrepreneurs as Ms. Kiyeon Nam, who sought help during the startup phase of her business, B’zT, LLC.®, which makes children’s clothing with tracking devices.
“LaGuardia’s SBDC, especially its director Rosa Figueroa and business advisor Seyoung Son, have helped me grow my business substantially,” said Kiyeon Nam, who moved to the US from Korea more than 20 years ago. “I’ve been working with them since 2016. With their guidance, I added a device that enables the tracking of up to 30 children at once—a great tool for field trips. They also supported me as I began marketing my product as a tool to monitor students’ whereabouts at school—it sets off an alarm if a student attempts to walk out of a school building.” B’zT® has been recognized by PC Magazine as one of the top tracker solutions.
• • • •
About Queens College
Queens College graduates the most teachers, counselors, and principals serving in New York City public schools. The college contributes to the local talent pool as a powerful economic engine and a leader in tech education, with more computer science majors than any college in New York City. Students from across the country and around the world are attracted to study at the Aaron Copland School of Music. Its renowned faculty and alumni include nationally recognized composers, conductors and performers who have received over 100 Grammy Awards and nominations.
Queens College enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional programs. With its graduate and undergraduate degrees, honors programs, and research and internship opportunities, the college helps its nearly 20,000 students realize their potential in countless ways, assisted by an accessible, award-winning faculty. Located on a beautiful, 80-acre campus in Flushing, the college is cited each year in the Princeton Review as one of the nation’s 100 “Best Value” colleges, as well as being ranked a U.S. News and World Report Best College and Forbes Magazine Best Value College thanks to its outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages, and relatively low costs. Visit our homepage to learn more.
About LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
#### April 29, 2019
Two LaGuardia Community College Students Among Only 61 Community College Students from Across U.S. Selected as 2019 Jack Kent Cook Scholars
Congratulations to Matthew Wilson, age 38, and Sukhrob Abdushukurov, age 22!
From left to right Matthew Wilson & Sukhrob Abdushukurov
Two LaGuardia Community College students have been selected as 2019 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars. Matthew Wilson and Sukhrob Abdushukurov are two of only 61 community college students from across the U.S. selected for this highly competitive scholarship, which provides up to $40,000/year (for up to three years) for the completion of a bachelor’s degree, thus making it the one of the most prestigious and certainly the largest transfer scholarship available to community college students. Cooke scholars are also eligible for graduate studies funding from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
With the selection of Matthew Wilson and Sukhrob Abdushukurov, LaGuardia has had 11 Cooke scholars since 2006, three of whom also received Cooke Graduate Scholarships (currently up to $75,000 for a maximum of four years).
“We are incredibly proud of Matthew and Sukhrob on their selection as 2019 Jack Kent Cooke Scholars, which not only reflects their individual achievements, but also the dedication of our faculty and staff who mentored them and supported their applications,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “Too many low-income students, who disproportionately make up student populations at community colleges, are unable to finish their bachelor’s due to financial burdens. It’s especially meaningful that Matthew is pursuing his college studies in his late 30’s while raising two children—with support like this from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, parents who want to make better lives for themselves and their families, and are able to do so.”
“Matthew and Sukhrob are remarkable in their own way for their drive, resilience, and intellectual talents; their Cooke success is truly inspiring. Also inspiring are the many meaningful support networks, opportunities, and advising & mentoring avenues found at LaGuardia, all of which have lifted these scholars closer to their dreams,” said Karlyn Koh, PhD, honors program director and professor of English at LaGuardia Community College. Dr. Koh is LaGuardia’s Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Faculty Representative.
“I thank the many at LaGuardia who worked so hard to nurture and support not just these Cooke scholars, but also the other talented and motivated students who applied for the Cooke scholarship this past year. The work of sustaining a culture that empowers all students—including the high-achieving ones—is the labor of many,” added Dr. Koh.
Matthew Wilson, age 38 and a father of two: his son Dejuan is 18 years old and his daughter Egypt is 11 months, is a Liberal Arts: Film and Television major. He came to LaGuardia through the CUNY Fatherhood Academy, which helps fathers get on track with education and employment. Fatherhood, where he currently works as a mentor, provided him with application support.
At LaGuardia, Matthew was selected as a President’s Society Ambassador, and, through the college’s Honors Internship Program, he secured a competitive internship spot at NBC, where he worked as an on the ground reporter and had items published on NBC's website. He has been accepted to Queens College and York College; he is also considering Columbia, NYU, and Long Island University as transfer options to pursue his passion for moving images. He was recommended by LaGuardia humanities professor Joyce Rheuban, PhD; and Baz Dreisinger, PhD, founding academic director of John Jay’s Prison-to-College Pipeline program.
Sukhrob Abdushukurov, age 22 and a Psychology major, is a member of many programs at LaGuardia including ASAP, the Peer Advisor Academy, and the Open Educational Resources Initiative. Born in Uzbekistan, he speaks English, Uzbek, Tadjik, Russian, and German. He moved to the U.S. three years ago, and shortly thereafter, began his academic journey at LaGuardia, where he joined the Peer Activist Learning Community (PALC). In his future career, Sukhrob plans to use psychology to develop an interdisciplinary approach to education. He has applied to Amherst, Swarthmore, Cornell, and Wesleyan, amongst other four-year colleges. He was recommended by psychology professor Eduardo Vianna, PhD; and Francisco Medina, a doctoral student in the Urban Education Program at The Graduate Center, CUNY and a PALC member.
In addition to the monetary award, these new Cooke Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from Foundation staff to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers. The Foundation will additionally provide opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.
“Our recent ‘ Persistence’ report highlights the vast potential, and achievements, of community college transfer students—who go on to outperform their non-transfer peers at selective four-year institutions,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “In an era where many high-achieving students often begin their higher education journey in community college, the Foundation is committed to enabling these transfer students to pursue their academic dreams at the nation’s top colleges and universities.”
Nearly 1,500 students applied for the 2019 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Foundation evaluated each submission based on academic ability, persistence, leadership, and service to others. The recipients selected represent 18 different states have a median household adjusted gross income of $28,000 and an average GPA of 3.93. This year’s cohort of Cooke Transfer Scholars has applied to the nation’s most selective institutions.
Previous LaGuardia Community College students selected for Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships include:
1. Yeshey Pelzom (2006); Agnes Scott; King's College, London (M.A., also funded by the JKC Foundation)
2. Harmonie Kobanghe (2012); Georgetown; Columbia (M.A., also funded by the JKC Foundation)
3. Cristina Mihailescu (2014); Columbia; NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (MPA, also funded by the JKC Foundation)
4. Xavier Medina (2015); Columbia
5. Nathan Weiss (2015); Baruch
6. Jonathan Morales (2017); Stanford
7. Konstandinos Gobakis (2017); Amherst
8. Miguel Castillo (2017); Columbia
9. Eleni Romano (2018); Columbia
Click here for the complete list of the 2019 Cooke Transfer Scholars.
• • • •
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $175 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided over $97 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org.
LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
### April 29, 2019
LaGuardia Community College Opens Exhibit of Photography by Walker Evans—One Of 20th Century’s Most Influential Artists
“Walker Evans Lyric Documentary” Exhibit at LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts Open All Summer—Free & Available to Public during College Hours—Details Below
LaGuardia Community College announces the opening of the “Walker Evans Lyric Documentary” exhibit at the LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts.
This exhibit of archival pigment prints celebrates Walker Evans' (1903-1975) work as a broad seminal influence on photography and on the arts in general. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes Evans as “one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. His elegant, crystal-clear photographs and articulate publications have inspired generations of artists...” The International Center of Photography describes him as “one of the leading photographers in the history of American documentary photography.”
Evans’ work has been shown at the Museum of Modern Art. During his career, he received three Guggenheim Fellowships, was an elected member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, worked as a staff photographer for Time and Fortune, and taught photography at Yale.
“Bringing top caliber examples of art, such as this Walker Evans exhibit, for study and discussion by faculty and students, is an important piece of our commercial photography and fine art programs,” said Scott Sternbach, director of the Commercial Photography Program. “Evans’ approach to large format photography has been a huge influence on my work, so it’s an honor to be able to showcase his work in our gallery.”
Evans’ connection to LaGuardia comes through the College’s Fine Art and Commercial Photography faculty who studied at the Yale School of Art: Hugo Fernandez and Liena Vayzman. As well, several LaGuardia graduates have transferred into the highly-selective Yale School of Arts Photography Program, including Hrvoje Slovenc and Allison Minto.
The “Walker Evans Lyric Documentary” exhibit was designed by John T. Hill, executor of his estate.
“This exhibit presents a comprehensive account of Walker Evans’ entire career,” said Mr. Hill. “A comprehensive Evans’s exhibit is virtually impossible when limited to vintage material (printed by the photographer near the time of the photographs' making). Counter to the accepted tradition, Evans was not about the precious fine print, but about the presentation of his documentation given shape as a lyric. Here was a signal of a new tradition.”
“For me, the most interesting image in the exhibit is ‘Penny Picture Display, Savannah 1936’,” said Professor Hugo Fernandez. “Evans cut up three original negatives in his possession to make enlargements. The only intact negative is in the Library of Congress, so this is an extremely rare piece to showcase.”
WHAT: “Walker Evans Lyric Documentary” exhibit at the LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts
The show will cover over 500 linear feet of exhibition walls, and will include archival pigment prints, some exceeding 48 inches, with over 200 works, including signs, pictures of Evans and interiors of his home in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
WHO: Exhibit of Walker Evans' (1903-1975) archival pigment prints—celebrating his work as a broad seminal influence on photography and all of the arts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes Evans as “one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. His elegant, crystal-clear photographs and articulate publications have inspired generations of artists...” The International Center of Photography describes him as “one of the leading photographers in the history of American documentary photography.”
WHERE: LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts, located on the 1st and 3rd floors of the B-Building of LaGuardia Community College. Address is 30-20 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, New York, 11101
WHEN: Throughout the summer.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
### The Fifth Edition of the New York Forum of Amazigh Film Festival May 9 & 10, 2019
The New York Forum of Amazigh Film (NYFAF) is an annual forum of shorts, documentaries, and feature films celebrating the Imazighen, the indigenous people of North Africa. This yearly event includes discussions between filmmakers, scholars and students as well as live musical performances, exhibits, and receptions to promote cultural awareness and exchange.
Now in its fifth edition, NYFAF will take place at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Long Island City, NY on May 9th and 10th. This year’s theme is Navigating Plural Identities, a central element of life in North Africa which encompasses many languages, ethnicities, religions, cultural practices, and artistic expressions.
Moviegoers will be immersed in a dynamic, transnational culture and live the stories and struggles of a diverse ethnic identity in search of a new lens of understanding. Farida Benlyazid’s documentary, Amazigh Wedding in the Anergui Valley and Soufian Aaraichi’s The Mountain's Echo: The Voices of Amazigh Women showcase the celebrations, labor, and choices of generations of women, including elders who encourage the next generation to gain an educated voice. Zahra’s Mother Tongue, by filmmaker Fatima Sissani, focuses on language and immigration. How do we preserve an oral tradition across borders? In the experimental feature, Defining Love, a Failed Attempt, invited director Hakim Belabbes explores the intersection of legend and modern life. Is unconditional love ever possible?
The beauty, complexity, and resilience of Amazigh culture shine through in these selected works from some of the region’s most innovative filmmakers.
Demonstrating how to keep a native culture alive despite colonial domination and continuing forms of oppression, Amazigh films contribute to a vital dialogue in today’s political and social climate. Historically, the Imazighen, formerly known as Berbers, have left evidence that researchers date as far back as 9,000 years. A diverse people living across North and Sub-Saharan Africa and now spread out through a larger diaspora, they actively seek new forms of self-representation, which NYFAF invites you to explore.
This festival is made possible by the active support of LaGuardia Community College and the Middle East Institute at Columbia University. The International Festival for Oriental Films in Geneva is a media sponsor. For further information about the 2019 program, guest speakers, and previous editions, we kindly invite you to visit the NYFAF website and contact our event producer Ms. Dima Abu Sbeitan at dimasbeitan@gmail.com.
Habiba Boumlik, founder and co-curator, hboumlik@lagcc.cuny.edu
Lucy McNair, co-curator, lmcnair@lagcc.cuny.edu
### Mount Sinai Joins Weill Cornell Medicine as a Full Employer-partner in Medical Billing Training Program at LaGuardia Community College 86% of 5th cohort grads are now employed—13 at Weill Cornell Medicine, four at Mount Sinai, and three in private practices
March 15, 2019
Medical Billing Training Program Cohort
At a recent graduation ceremony, the fifth cohort of 24 New Yorkers celebrated the completion of an intense five-month training, launched by LaGuardia Community College (“LaGuardia”) and Weill Cornell Medicine, to prepare them for rewarding, in-demand medical billing positions. Mount Sinai, which has previously hired program graduates, was announced as a full employer-partner. The Medical Billing Training Program is offered through LaGuardia’s Learning and Innovation Center.
As full employer-partners, Weill Cornell Medicine and Mount Sinai representatives collaborated with LaGuardia faculty and program staff to screen applicants, provide curriculum input, create job-shadowing opportunities for students, and interview program graduates for open medical billing positions.
“Mount Sinai has really benefited by expanding our relationship with LaGuardia Community College via their Medical Billing Training Program,” Richard Nagengast, VP of Revenue Cycle for Mount Sinai. “The overall caliber of students is impressive. They come well prepared, demonstrating the value of the solid curriculum tailored to our real work. The graduates we’ve hired are among our best employees with several promotions among them. I am pleased to have this opportunity to support Adult Education in an endeavor that facilitates hiring well qualified candidates from our local community. This has truly been a win-win experience.”
Since 2016, funding from the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (within the New York City Department of Small Business Services) has enabled the program to be offered tuition-free for participants.
“The Medical Billing Training Program reflects the innovative workforce development work that we do every day with New York City’s leading employers,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “These programs provide benefits for all parties involved—employers get an expanded pool of well-qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds, and participants get a pathway to a better life through jobs that allow them to provide for themselves and their family members.”
“With accelerated training for New Yorkers who have a high school diploma or equivalency, the Medical Billing Training Program is a flagship of our Learning and Innovation Center, which provides pathways to middle skills jobs that traditionally have gone to those with a bachelor’s,” said Mark Healy, who oversees the Learning and Innovation Center as vice president of Continuing Education at LaGuardia.
Nearly 80% of program graduates from previous classes are currently working in New York as medical billers, customer service reps, and other non-clinical entry-level positions with starting salaries of $35,000-$45,000. In addition to Weill Cornell Medicine and Mount Sinai, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, Elmhurst Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwell Health, and additional NY metro health care facilities have hired program graduates.
Based on word of mouth and media coverage of the Medical Billing Training Program, nearly 1,500 people applied for spots in the fifth cohort. The 24 graduates range in age from 21-54 years-old, with the average being 32-years-old; nearly 90% are female. Most were born outside the United States.
To the left, graduate Deborah DiGioia standing with program Director Kimberly Kendall
Fifth cohort graduate Deborah DiGioia, age 54, recently started a new medical billing job at a holistic family medical practice in Manhattan. Deborah had spent years working in retail, until she was laid off in 2017 when the Sears store she worked at closed. Working on the store’s liquidation was an enormous job—resulting in Deborah needing carpal tunnel surgery. An occupational therapist who oversaw Deborah’s post-surgery rehabilitation recommended LaGuardia’s medical billing program. Ready to leave behind the long hours and physical demands of retail, Deborah jumped on the suggestion.
“As an over-50 woman looking to switch to a new career, I was thrilled to find LaGuardia’s medical billing program,” said Ms. DiGioia. “I didn’t realize the wealth of information we’d get in the program. We learned about healthcare systems in other countries, and about the intricacies of the US healthcare system. I’m excited to be working in this field, and now my 29-year-old daughter is hoping to join me.”
“The increasing involvement of New York’s major healthcare providers validates a program we helped develop from the start,” said Barry Puritz, co-chair of the Harvard Business School Club of New York’s Skills Gap Initiative. “Graduates are being promoted as hiring managers recognize their value as detail oriented team players who understand the healthcare insurance system and are genuinely compassionate towards the patients whose treatment they help facilitate.”
According to New York Health Careers, the medical billing occupation is expected to see continued growth as state and federal reforms have made health care available to many more people. Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2014 and 2024, the number of jobs for Billing and Posting Clerks will increase by 13% nationwide. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs will increase by 20% in New York during the same period.
To read more about the Medical Billing Training Program at LaGuardia Community College, click on links below:
1. First cohort
2. Second cohort
3. Third cohort
4. Fourth cohort
Click here for a Crain’s New York Business article on the 5th graduation from the Medical Billing Training Program.
View online (subscription required): City Revives Funding for Program to Train Medical Billers
• • • •
LaGuardia’s Learning and Innovation Center provides accelerated training opportunities in strategically-selected areas that reflect job market outlooks, local workforce needs, and industry feedback. Courses are designed for fast turnaround—shrinking the time it takes to complete training and apply for jobs. Courses range between two weeks to five months, and include evening and weekend classes to accommodate family and work responsibilities. Many programs allow participants to accrue college credits, which can be applied towards an associate’s degree at LaGuardia Community College. The Center is part of LaGuardia’s Continuing Education Division, which serves approx. 30,000/yr. New Yorkers who are seeking to advance their careers, education and businesses.
LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
### Urgent Drive for Food, Toiletries, Clothes, & Household Items to Fill LaGuardia Community College’s On-Campus Pantry February 28 – March 20, 2019
♦ Pantry serves LaGuardia’s 50,000/yr. students—a majority of whom struggle to make ends meet; more than 70% come from families making less than $30,000/yr.
♦ Items needed include: non-perishable food, clothes, toiletries, childcare items, & household supplies
♦ Monetary donations always needed & greatly appreciated
Demand for the food from the pantry has risen dramatically in recent months. Particularly during the federal government shutdown at the beginning of 2019, the number of students seeking for food pantry items increased 25% (100 to 125 students per week).
The pantry is run by our Single Stop office, which as its name implies, is a one-stop shop for students needing emergency assistance. Its staff helps students sign-up for public benefits, find safe housing, and refers them to our College Foundation where they can apply for emergency funds. Nearly 1 in 4 LaGuardia students receive support from Single Stop – approx. 5,000 students each year.
The pantry provides:
- Food that hungry students can eat asap on campus, or bring home to make meals for themselves and their family members
- Toiletries, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouth wash, soap or body wash, shampoo & conditioner, and deodorant
- Diapers, wipes, and jars of baby food for student-parents
- New and gently-used clothing—for students needing business attire for interviews, coats for winter months, etc.
- Household items such as laundry detergent and cleaning supplies
In order to fill the pantry so that LaGuardia students are able to stay focused on school, donations of almost any kind are greatly appreciated—monetary, non-perishable food, clothes, toiletries, etc.
Donations can be made online via https://www.laguardia.edu/fooddrive/.
Members of the community can make in-person donations at the College’s Welcome Desk, located in the lobby of Shenker Hall, 31-10 Thomson Ave., Long Island City, Queens.
Click here to watch a NY1 story about the drive.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
#### After Two Decades at LaGuardia Community College,
Dr. Gail O. Mellow Announces Plans to Step Down as President in August 2019 February 27, 2019
 LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow today informed the campus community that she plans to step down in August 2019.
“I love LaGuardia. After almost 20 years as president, I continue to be amazed at what our community accomplishes. We are an astonishing institution and it starts with our formidable students, with their extraordinary passion for learning and determination to overcome obstacles and thrive,” said Dr. Mellow. “I remain floored by the endless dedication and talent of our faculty and staff to educate and support our students—they passionately embrace innovation and constantly seek to improve the work they do both in and out of the classroom. We have an incredible network of community supporters—from those providing funding for our at-risk students, public officials supporting our dreams, and businesses and not-for-profits providing internships and mentoring to our students. Our leadership team has never been stronger and I know that LaGuardia will continue to improve the lives of students, their families and our community for decades to come.”
LaGuardia Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY) serves more than 57,000 credit and non-credit students each year. With 60% of students born outside the U.S., representing 148 nations and speaking 90 languages, the College’s student body is among the most diverse in the nation. A majority come from families making less than $30,000 annually (view the College’s fast facts and institutional profile).
“What we do at LaGuardia is essential in today’s America—giving students the knowledge and skills they need to build careers, thereby moving them out of poverty and making our communities stronger,” said Dr. Mellow.
“One would be hard-pressed to find another educator who has done more than President Gail Mellow to champion the value of community colleges within the overall landscape of American higher education,” said CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita C. Rabinowitz. “From her tireless efforts to increase funding, to her development of cutting-edge practices in the classroom, to her groundbreaking partnerships with employers and communities, Gail has spearheaded innovations at LaGuardia that suffuse her writings and presentations and that have inspired community colleges everywhere. She has also drawn on her keen understanding of LaGuardia’s students, addressing their needs, using their strengths and positioning them to attain both academic and workforce success. Gail may be embarking on a new chapter in her career, but her legacy is assured as one of the great leaders of CUNY and of public higher education in the United States.”
“President Gail Mellow has been a pioneering leader for LaGuardia and CUNY, but that characterization does only partial justice to her illustrious and decorated career,” said CUNY Chancellor-designate Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Dr. Mellow has also been a trailblazer for community colleges everywhere; she has been an architect, an innovator, a builder, a nurturer and a visionary. She has developed so many means to harness the power of education to transform lives. LaGuardia has grown many times over, in quality as well as in size, during her decades of leadership there. Dr. Mellow has advanced CUNY's mission of embracing students of modest and diverse backgrounds, extending a hand and guiding them onto an upward track. On a personal note, she has been a good friend. We thank Dr. Mellow for her exemplary service, and wish her well in all her future endeavors.”
Under her leadership, LaGuardia has become a recognized leader among community colleges for conceptualizing and launching innovative programs and teaching methods, which have become pilots for the nation. These include programs supporting non-traditional students in learning English; professional development programs that prepare students to be successful in the workplace; initiatives assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs in building their businesses and creating jobs; and robust support services keeping the College’s mostly low-income students on track towards graduation, including a food pantry, affordable daycare for student-parents, and scholarships and emergency funds available from the College’s Foundation.
Dr. Mellow has achieved notable success propelling LaGuardia into the national dialogue about higher education, where nearly half of all undergraduates study at community colleges. She’s co-written two books, numerous articles, and spoken extensively on the centrality of community colleges in the American higher education ecosystem. She’s put a spotlight on the funding disparities between community colleges and four-year colleges, and has been an effective voice pushing for enhanced public and private support for low-income students.
“I closely relate to the struggles many of our students face. During my first-year of college at a well-known public university, I had to drop out due to unexpected financial circumstances. I returned home and enrolled in our town’s community college, where I was thrilled to meet students as eager for a chance at a better life, as was I,” said Dr. Mellow. “I appreciated the support I received there, and the opportunity to pursue a college degree at an affordable cost. That’s where my affinity for community colleges was born.”
She was among the early advocates about the benefits of free community college to narrow opportunity disparities among people from different backgrounds, and served as a board member of America’s College Promise/Heads Up!
Dr. Mellow’s focus on the importance of high-quality teaching as an instrumental student success strategy led her to launch a faculty development program, Taking College Teaching Seriously, which garnered support from the Gates and Kresge Foundations. Faculty Guild subsequently purchased the intellectual property and model, with 100% of proceeds going directly to LaGuardia’s Foundation, providing financial support for students.
Her contributions to higher education have brought numerous recognitions, including the 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence, one of the most prestigious awards in academia, and the 2016 NASPA President’s Award, for advancing the quality of student life on campus.
Highlights of LaGuardia’s success under Dr. Mellow’s leadership include:
LaGuardia: An Engine of Economic and Social Mobility • LaGuardia is among the top 1% of two-year colleges nationwide (#5 out of 604) with the greatest success in lifting the poorest students into jobs that enable them to create better lives for themselves and their families, according to an analysis led by researchers at Stanford University’s Center on Poverty and Inequality.
• LaGuardia has seen a 64% increase in enrollment of degree-seeking students and a 155% increase in non-credit students.
• The College’s graduation rate has risen 6% over the past five years.
• LaGuardia graduates are 32% more likely to transfer to a four-year college than community college students nationally.
• More than 50 academic majors have been established (a 58% increase under Dr. Mellow’s leadership), with LaGuardia now awarding degrees in a range of programs, including computer science, electrical engineering, environmental science, industrial design, and philosophy.
• Investment in faculty development grew significantly.
• With an emphasis on opening the doors to high-quality higher education to all, the College has established innovative programs, many of which have been replicated by other colleges and universities throughout the country, including: o Bridge to College and Careers Program, an innovative approach to preparing students for the high-school equivalency exam, which has seen a 200% increase in pass rates and a subsequent 300% increase in completers’ college enrollment.
o First Year Seminar, through which students learn about on-campus resources and transfer options, create a graduation plan, explore career opportunities in their major area, and more.
o The widespread use of electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) as a tool for students’ learning and assessment.
o The development of career ladder programs in technology and health care (e.g., medical billing) that allow students to earn non-credit certificates and seamlessly enroll in credit-based programs. As a result, more than 10% of degree-seeking students matriculate from LaGuardia’s non-credit programs, offered through Continuing Education. LaGuardia: A Catalyst for Economic Growth
• LaGuardia served as the anchor college in the development of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program to educate local entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and create jobs. 10,000 Small Businesses provides training in business development, capital building, contract negotiation, and more. Since the program at LaGuardia launched in 2010, it has served more than 830 business owners, with 66% showing revenue growth and 50% creating new jobs within six months of program completion. With the success of the program at LaGuardia, Goldman Sachs expanded it to all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
• NYDesigns is a 30,000-ft2 non-profit business incubator for design and hardware tech startups located on the LaGuardia campus. Twenty-two businesses are incubated bi-annually. Since its founding in 2006, dozens of companies have benefited from the use of studio spaces, access to a network of mentors and advisers, and the ability to prototype their designs and ideas in a fabrication lab.
• LaGuardia’s business services are boosting the local economy by growing businesses, creating jobs, and helping entrepreneurs successfully launch their companies. Over the last 15 years, LaGuardia has provided hands-on education and specialized technical assistance to more than 22,000 small businesses that have secured over half-a-billion dollars in contracts.
Growing Support for LaGuardia Students
• The LaGuardia Community College Foundation, launched in 2005, has raised more than $23 million to date to support student scholarships, on-campus employment and emergency aid. LaGuardia’s largest donations include $2 million from the Goldman Sachs Foundation, and a current $3 million matching grant, the largest gift in the College’s history.
• Growing government and foundation support for an array of programs. During Dr. Mellow’s tenure, the College received over $150 million in external grants.
• Important partnerships established with businesses and not-for-profits throughout New York City, including with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), MetLife, and Google, in order to offer students opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge and skills. “My family and I are looking forward to the next chapter,” said Dr. Mellow. “I have no fixed plans and I’m leaving the door open to new opportunities. One thing is certain: I will continue advocating for the needs of community colleges and the students they educate.”
Dr. Mellow began her career as assistant professor of psychology at Essex Community College in Baltimore. She then held leadership roles at the University of Connecticut Women’s Center in Storrs, Conn.; Quinebaug Valley Community-Technical College in Danielson, Conn.; and Rockland Community College in Suffern, N.Y. In 1996, she joined LaGuardia as senior administrator for curriculum and pedagogy, before being named president of Gloucester County College in Sewell, N.J. in 1997—a role she held for three years before returning to LaGuardia in 2000 as president.
Dr. Mellow received an A.A. from Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, N.Y., a B.A. from SUNY Albany, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from George Washington University. She has served as president at LaGuardia since September 2000.
For more on Dr. Mellow’s leadership at LaGuardia, visit laguardia.edu/gailmellow.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.
#### Research from Communications Studies Professor Sumanth Inukonda on How Immigrants Stay Connected to their HomelandsFebruary 21, 2019
The growth of digital and social media has transformed how immigrants stay connected to their homelands. Read more ›
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