Long Island City, NY—October 26, 2009—Drs. Audrey Harrigan and Janet E. Lieberman, two LaGuardia Community College professors emeriti received the College’s Faculty Founders Award for their outstanding and dedicated faculty service.

Dr. Gail O. Mellow, President of LaGuardia, received Dr. Harrigan for developing the College Opportunity to Prepare of Employment (COPE) program for students receiving public assistance as well as courses and programs in the area of office technology. Dr. Lieberman was honored for developing three major initiatives: Middle College High School, the LaGuardia Archives and the Exploring Transfer program. The two educators were honored at an intimate gathering of fellow retired professors, family and friends on October 21.

“They are two extraordinary and amazing women who were intellectual and creative forces that helped shape LaGuardia,” said President Mellow. “Dr. Harrigan took people who came to the College with nothing and transformed their lives, while Dr. Lieberman fundamentally changed the relationship of colleges and high schools throughout the country. We, at LaGuardia, stand on their shoulders.”

Dr. Harrigan joined the former Business Education Department in 1978 and taught and developed curricula until 1995 when she was named director of the COPE program, which provides the necessary academic and support services to students receiving public assistance to move them toward economic independence. Under her leadership, the COPE program was engaged in research studies that documented the advantages of welfare reform to foster education and employment training of public assistance recipients. She also served as an advocate and advisor to the Welfare Reform Network of New York City.

Dr. Lieberman, who joined LaGuardia in 1971, conceived and designed Middle College High School, the first public high school-college collaborative model to help underserved students. Her vision was to have a high school located on a college campus, where small classes, intensive counseling and committed teachers would encourage students to graduate from high school and to continue their education.

Building upon the Middle College model, Dr. Lieberman created the Early College High School model, which blends high school education and the first two years of college. The program enables Middle College eleventh and twelfth graders to take college courses and complete an associate degree in a shortened time frame.

Dr. Lieberman collaborated with educators at Vassar College to establish “Exploring Transfer at Vassar College,” a program that shows LaGuardia students the infinite transfer opportunities they have when they graduate with their associate degree.

She also was also instrumental in the establishment of the LaGuardia Archives, a repository of houses the collections of Mayors Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Robert F. Wagner, Abraham D. Beame, Edward I. Koch as well as Steinway, the New York City Housing Authority and the New York City Council.

Located in Long Island City, Queens in New York City, LaGuardia Community College, part of the City University of New York, is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges. Founded in 1971, the College is recognized as an innovator in educating students who are under prepared for college work and/or are not primary English speakers. A catalyst for development in western Queens and beyond, LaGuardia serves New Yorkers and immigrants from 163 countries through over 50 majors and certificate programs, enabling career advancement and transfer to four-year colleges at twice the national average. Visit www.laguardia.edu  to learn more.