President's Report for May 2025

Office of Workforce Development 

1. Overview 

Workforce Development, formerly within the division of the Office of CEWD, now reports to the Provost in the Office for Academic Affairs. The division leads and implements Workforce Development Industry Certificate and short-term skills-based courses for students, alumni and adult learners throughout Queens and NYC and supports their career pathways to family-sustaining Good Jobs in the NYC region. Workforce Development collaborates with Senior Administration, Faculty, Academic Departments, Continuing Ed and Administrative Depts. to secure funding from government agencies, foundations, organizations & corporations for Workforce Development Initiatives. 

1. Monthly Accomplishments 

Education Design Labs: The Education Design Labs, Community College Growth Engine Fund (EDL/CCGE) has awarded QCC’s Office of Workforce Development $50,000 to continue our partnership with them and to implement a two-year project focusing on EDL/CCGE collaboration with three CUNY community colleges, QCC, LaGuardia and KCC, to design new micro-pathways in high-demand IT sectors. These new IT pathways will target 150+ learners in the first year of implementation. Additionally, with the three CUNY Community Colleges, EDL will explore dual-enrollment programs with local high schools to increase reach and provide early pathways for high school students. 

Center for Excellence in Teaching and learning (CETL) 

Upcoming events co-sponsored by CETL include: 

April 25: Discussion of the Ethan Mollick book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI (RSVP here!), 12:00 - 1:00pm in CETL Lab, Library room 313 

April 30: “Striving for Wisdom in the Use of Data to Advance Student Success” workshop. Facilitator: Dr. Eva Fernandez (RSVP here!), 12:10 - 2:00pm in CETL Lab, Library room 313 

May 2: Spring Student Symposium, 9:00am - 3:00pm 

May 9: “Career-Connected Learning” Workshop, 9:00AM - 2:00PM in Student Union Building (RSVP here!).  

In addition to their work on the above events, the CETL co-directors have been supporting faculty efforts related to open educational resources (OER) and high impact practices (HIPs). Mercedes Franco has been gathering data from multiple campus sources (Blackboard, OAA, Akademos, The Registrar) and, with OER Coordinator Atilio Barreda’s assistance, using the data to assess aspects of the OER Initiative and fulfill grant reporting needs. To maximize the impact of available OER funding and support other professional development priorities at the college, Dr. Franco will call for contributions to an edited OER book on career-connected learning. The goal is for the edited OER book to serve as a valuable resource for faculty and staff interested in integrating career-connected learning into their courses and programs. Dr. Franco is also supporting career success efforts by bringing together key stakeholders to brainstorm ways to collaborate and ensuring that career-connected learning will be featured in the Spring Student Symposium. Christi Saindon has curated a list of HIP-trained faculty and invited them to participate in HIPs assessment. As part of this process, Dr. Saindon worked with the HIPs Coordinators to identify two general education learning outcomes that can be assessed to enable understanding of the effectiveness of HIPs on student learning and engagement. All faculty who completed HIP training in the recent eight years for Undergraduate Research, Academic Service Learning, Common Read, Global & Diversity Learning, Students Working in Interdisciplinary Groups, and Writing Intensive received an email on Monday, April 21, inviting them to participate in HIPs assessment by submitting student artifacts. The general education assessment team will review submitted artifacts in June 2025, and Ian Beckford, Director of Policy Analysis for General Education, will prepare a report that will help guide future HIPs efforts.

 Office of Educational Technology (OET) 

Brightspace Training

Over the spring 2025 semester, the Office of Educational Technology (OET) offered 10 workshops; including topics such as, Brightspace Essentials, Creating Assignments in Brightspace and Managing the Gradebook in Brightspace. Our reports show forty-two registrations.  

Brightspace Updates 

Email Tool Configuration – Change in Messaging Permissions  

• Background and Rationale
  CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs recently reviewed messaging permissions in our LMS following an incident where a student sent an unsolicited mass email to the broader university community. While the message was course-related, this ability to message users beyond course rosters raised concerns about platform misuse, data privacy, and operational consistency. Brightspace's default configuration allowed all users to contact individuals outside their enrolled courses through the email tool feature. This functionality presented risks related to spam, miscommunication, and unintended exposure of email addresses. 

• Approved Change
  CUNY leadership approved a system-wide configuration change to restrict the email tool feature for all Brightspace roles, including students, faculty, staff, and teaching assistants. Users will retain messaging functionality within their course (via the Classlist), preserving necessary academic communication channels. This change supports our institutional goals of minimizing unsolicited messaging risks, enhancing privacy and FERPA compliance, and standardizing messaging protocols across all campuses. 

• Implementation and Impact
  This change was implemented centrally without requiring additional tools or integrations. Please note that colleges that have hidden the Classlist tool should be aware that this may inadvertently disable student messaging. To reverse this, instructors can customize their NavBar to make the Classlist visible again. 

This change was implemented on Friday, April 11^th.

 Grade Passback Tool 

Grade Passback tool in CUNYfirst will be available on April 22, 2025. This new optional feature is designed to enhance the grade submission process for final grades by enabling an import feature in CUNYfirst to move final grades from Brightspace automatically. 

Overview of the Grade Passback Tool:

The Grade Passback tool will allow faculty to optionally import final grades directly from Brightspace into CUNYfirst, simplifying the final grade submission process. This integration ensures that grades entered in Brightspace are accurately reflected in CUNYfirst, reducing the need for manual entry and minimizing errors.

 Key Features: 

1. Automated Grade Import: Faculty can import final calculated grades from Brightspace into the CUNYfirst grade roster with a single button click. This process ensures that grading schemas in both systems are identical, allowing for accurate data transfer.  Note: Grade Passback cannot be used for merged courses. 

2. Error Handling: During the import process, any discrepancies or errors will be logged in the Grade Import Error Log. Faculty can review and resolve these issues to ensure all grades are correctly imported. 

3. Training and Support: A training document and video have been developed to assist faculty in using the Grade Passback tool. These resources provide step-by-step instructions on preparing grades in Brightspace and importing them into CUNYfirst. This will be available on the CUNY IT Help Knowledge Base (attached is a copy of the guide for reference) and the LMS Transition YouTube Channel soon.

 Implementation Timeline:

• April 22, 2025: Grade Passback tool is generally available.
• May 16, 2025: Grade rosters open for faculty to submit grades.

Brightspace Technical Support and Training 

Technical Support

• For technical questions, please contact LMSSupport@qcc.cuny.edu
• Toll-free support line for all Brightspace users: 1-888-895-2511

 If you are interested in training:  

• Brightspace Guided Training  
• D2L Website  

YouTube Videos:
These resources are designed to support you in making the most of Brightspace. Explore the full playlist here. 

Additional considerations: QM Rubric

Follow the QM Rubric to review and improve course quality and accessibility for Brightspace. 

                                                                                                                           Grants Awarded

                                                                                                                  March 11 – April 21, 2025

Academic Affairs

Dr. Michael Pullin

Renewal of STEP – Science & Technology Entry Program

New York State Education Department

 

Art and Design Department 

Prof. Annemarie Coffey

Cracks.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

Prof. Katherine Griefen

First Book on the History of A.I.R. Gallery, the oldest gallery dedicated to women artists.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

Prof. Nathaniel Sullivan

While The Nation Went Bankrupt.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

  

Biological Sciences & Geology Department

Dr. Rondi Davies

A study of water and mineral Geochemistry in cratonic peridotite xenoliths from the Superior and Sask Cratons: Impacts of tectonothermal events on mantle lithosphere evolution, dynamics, and preservation.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

Dr. Sarbani Ghoshal

Cytotoxic Synergy with dual inhibition of Nek2 and EGFR kinases in Glioblastoma Cells.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A 

Dr. Sarbani Ghoshal (with Dr. David Sarno of Physics)

Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education

Sloan Foundation

Dr. Susan McLaughlin

Using RNA interference to examine the molecular mechanisms controlling Hydra cnidocyte discharge and feeding behaviors.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A 

Dr. Rochelle Nelson

Unraveling Inflammatory Pathways in Sex Disparities of Crohn’s Disease

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Dr. Andrew Nguyen

Examining the functions of STAT3 in macrophages and trained innate immunity.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

Dr. Monica Trujillo

Isolation and characterization of Bacteroides phages from wastewater.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B 

 

Chemistry Department 

Dr. Sharon Lall-Ramnarine

Probing the Nanostructure of Hydroxyl-Functionalized Imidazolium Ionic Liquids.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

Dr. Sujun Wei

Synthesis of Tetracene and Pentacene Derivatives as Singlet Fission Chromophores in Organic Solar Cells.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 

Communication, Theatre, & Media Production Department

Prof. Arthur Adair

Arts Fun House

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

Prof. Heather Huggins

Expo2025 and beyond: place-based research in Japan.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Prof. Georgia McGill

"Mary, Martha and Macha", a new play.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 

 English Department

Dr. Melissa Dennihy

Invisible Emergencies: Crisis- and Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for Community College and Historically Underserved Students.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Dr. Susan Jacobowitz

The Final Chapter: USCOM and Child Rescue After World War II

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Prof. David Rothman

The Ghosts of Lelya Dorche

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B 

Dr. Elizabeth Toohey

Why Journalism: A Vision for Reinventing the Way We Teach Writing.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

  

Health, Physical Education and Dance Department

Prof. Rezan Akpinar

Building a Database for Interdisciplinary Faculty Projects/ Collaborative Teaching Projects within the Queensborough Community College.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 Prof. Aviva Geismar

Just Stand By

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 

History Department

Dr. Clarence Jefferson Hall Jr.

Jails in the Sky: Carceral Environments at High Elevation.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Prof. Timothy Keogh

Who Built Levittown? Labor and Residential Homebuilding in Twentieth Century America.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 

 Kurt R. Schmeller Library

Prof. Madeline Ruggiero

A Diversity Audit of LGBTQ+ Themes and Characters in Print Graphic Novels.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 

 Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Dr. Kwang Hyun Kim

On-Device Tutoring Model For College Algebra (MA119)

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 Dr, David Pham

Twisted Almost Hermitian Structures and Gauduchon Connections.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

Dr. Susana Pinheiro

Dynamics of multi-strain epidemics.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 Dr. Vanessa Singhroy

Enhancing Mathematics Assessment: Exploring the Efficacy and Insights of Ordinal Response Models (ORMs).

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 Dr. Fei Ye

Vanishing Theorems and Their Applications.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

 

 Physics Department

Dr. Sunil Dehipawala

Chronic Kidney Disease in Sri Lanka and role of heavy metal in food sources.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional A

 

 Social Sciences Department

Dr. Celia Sporer

Empowering Futures: Advancing Queensborough Community College Students through Attendance of National Criminal Justice Conference

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 56 Traditional B

  

Student Affairs Department

Ms. Gisela Rivera (with Ms. Francesca Berrouet)

Renewal of CSTEP – Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program

New York State Education Department

Queensborough Male Resource Center (“QMRC”)

On Friday, March 28, QCC finalized an articulation agreement to provide dual acceptance of QCC students to Winston Salem State University for two majors, Psychology and Music Production, starting with Fall 2025 semester. Kudos to Mr. Jamal Biggs, Director of the Queensborough Male Resource Center, for spearheading this amazing opportunity, as it is the very first articulation agreement QCC has with a Historically Black College & University (“HBCU”) 

QCC’s 64th Annual Commencement Ceremony

Faculty, adjuncts, and HEO-series who wish to participate in the ceremony must order regalia online by the deadline of Thursday, May 1 at 11:59 pm EST. 

Class of 2025 Graduates (defined as a student who completed their degree requirements as of the conclusion of the fall 2024 and winter 2025 semesters, as well as those expected to complete their degree requirements as of the conclusion of the spring and summer 2025 semesters) must order their cap & gown online by the deadline of Friday, May 2 at 11:59 pm EST. Orders placed between May 3 – May 13 will incur an increased shipping charge. Additional ceremony information, including yearbook portraits, ordering a class ring, Sankofa Celebration, Lavender Graduation, and more can be found on the Commencement Website.

 Student Honors/Awards

Four (4) ASAP QCC students have been selected as the Inaugural Class of Friedman Transfer Scholars. We extend our congratulations to Jada Thomas, Isabel Torres, Brandon Battle, Monique Simpson, and Angelique York for being named Friedman Transfer Scholars. The Friedman Transfer Scholars program is a highly selective program at Macaulay Honors College that "inspires and prepares students to address the challenges facing New York, our nation, and the global community." Participating students are offered financial support, individualized advising, opportunities for research internships, and studying abroad.

 Student Support Resources

• In partnership with B&Y Catering, ARC will be distributing free fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items through the Fresh Food Bag Program.  The event will take place every Tuesday at 1:30 pm starting April 1 - May 13 with the exception of April 15, 2025. The distribution will take place in the Administration Building, 1st Floor (in front of Lucille A. Bova Food Pantry). Due to a limited supply, prepacked bags will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

• A Citizenship Now! immigration attorney will on-campus to assist students next week on Friday, May 2, 2025. To schedule an appointment, students should email ARC@qcc.cuny.edu or complete the Call Back Request Form. If using the form please make sure to select “CUNY Citizenship Now! At Queensborough Community College” from the drop-down menu on “What elected official or organization referred you to our services, if any?” question on the form. 

• Faculty and staff are asked to encourage our students to avail themselves of the valuable and free resources through the Advocacy Resource Center. Services provided include public benefits screening, financial coaching, legal assistance, tax preparation services, housing assistance, food pantry referrals, and more. 

• Emergency funding is available to students who face a financial crisis that puts at risk their continued enrollment toward their QCC degree. Supported through a grant from The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, the funds provide one-time, emergency grants to students in good standing with short-term financial emergencies to enable them to remain in school, rather than being forced to leave or drop out. Students with short-term financial emergencies should be referred to Ms. Amawati Gonesh, Advocacy Resource Center Program Manager, via email at AGonesh@qcc.cuny.edu.  Additional information can be found online at QCC Scholarships. 

• FAFSA Fest! The Office of Financial Services will be hosting weekly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) completion workshops on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm in Library Building - Room 117 from February 26 – June 4, 2025. New and continuing students are welcome to attend! 

• Faculty and staff are asked to encourage students to utilize The QCC PRIDE Center as a community space and resource. With oversight provided by Mx. Lamar Greene, LGBTQIA+ Specialist, the Center serves as a hub for LGBTQIA+ students that provides laptops, iPads, menstrual products, safer sex supplies, craft materials, and more. The Center can also assist in connecting students with both on & off-campus resources for health services, personal development, and academic success. Programming from the center is forthcoming. The PRIDE Center is in the Administration Building – Room 206 and can be reached at (718) 631-6683 or thepridecenter@qcc.cuny.edu.

• The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity is not a traditional scholarship focused on rewarding academic achievement and financial need. Its specific goal is to reward and encourage innovative and creative problem-solving by honoring students who excel as creative problem-solvers and helping make their higher education goals more accessible. The scholarship award amounts range from $4,000 to $20,000 for up to four years. The deadline for applying is Thursday, May 15. Please visit the Milton Fisher Scholarship website to apply.

• The Eye Bank of New York recognizes students with the Young Ambassador Scholarship. The annual $3,000 scholarship is intended to encourage young people to pursue learning and help spread the message about the priceless gift of eye donation. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 15. Please visit their website for additional information and to apply. 

• The NYCHA-CUNY (New York City Housing Authority) Resident Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. The program is a collaboration of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) and the City University New York (“CUNY”) to help low-and moderate-income NYCHA residents attending CUNY colleges, as undergraduates, realize their full potential through higher education. Annually, the scholarship awards $1000 to eligible NYCHA residents who are enrolled at CUNY colleges. The deadline for applying is June 24, 2025.

 Upcoming Events

• Student Government Association: Special Election 2025 - A special online election is happening May 12th-14th to fill vacancies in the 2025-26 Student Government. Students will receive their election ballot via their QCC student email.  Please encourage students to check their email and to vote.  For more information contact rvolel@qcc.cuny.edu or call (718) 631-6233.

• The Office of Health Services will host the Annual Spring Blood Drive on Tuesday, May 13 from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Student Union – Upper Level. Open to all QCC students and employees, donating blood is essential to community health, and the need for blood products is constant. During this critical time of blood shortages, your donation can make a meaningful impact. 

• All QCC students are invited to attend the QCC Class of 2025 Grad Fair/End of Semester Celebration, taking place on Wednesday, May 14 at 12:10 pm. Celebrate the end of the spring ‘25 semester with free tacos provided by the El Toro Rojo Taco food truck, while supplies last. An information table will be available for eligible class of ‘25 candidates with details about the May 29 Commencement Ceremony, including on-the-spot RSVP assistance. Grad candidates will also receive information about ordering a Class of ‘25 ring, the CUNY Queens Lavender Ceremony and the Sankofa Celebration. Let’s all get together and show our #TigerPride for the Class of ’25!

• As the semester draws to a close and students prepare to take their final exam, QCC has lined up a series of food events for students to prepare them. As such, "Spring 2025 Fuel Up for Finals" is open to all currently enrolled students. Beginning Friday, May 16 through Thursday, May 22, free grab & go snacks will be available for students from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, followed by an afternoon session from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Humanities Quad.

• The Third Annual QCC Day will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 9:00 am in the Humanities Quad. All QCC employees are invited to bring their families to enjoy music, games, and food. Additionally, the Second Annual QCC Tiger 5K Run/Walk to support the QCC Department of Athletics – all QCC employees and students are invited to participate in the walk by registering online.

• QCC has been selected to host the 2025 CUNY Queens Lavender Graduation Ceremony/Celebration on Thursday, May 22 at 2:00 pm on The Great Lawn (rain location: Student Union – Upper Level). Class of 2025 LGBTQIA+ and ally graduates from Queens College, York College, Queensborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and the CUNY School of Law are invited to attend and be honored at the celebration. Registration is required of all class of 2025 graduation candidates who wish to attend. Employees who wish to attend can RSVP HERE.. Following the event, all QCC students and employees are also invited to attend the 4:00 pm Pride Flag Raising by The Flagpole near the Department of Public Safety to kick off Pride Month!

Events Report 

GRANT FUNDS RECEIVED:

Southpole Foundation has awarded $20,000 in grant funds for merit scholarships to Queensborough students. Since 2007, the Foundation has contributed $258,000 in scholarship funds, directly benefiting 250 students. 

Libra Philanthropies has awarded a $10,000 grant to Queensborough’s Male Resource Center (MRC) to fund a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for ten MRC students.

The grant covers round-trip train and bus transportation, hotel accommodations, museum admissions, and food allowance. This opportunity promises to be a powerful and inspiring experience for our MRC students, broadening their perspectives and connecting them with leaders and institutions committed to equity and progress.

Alliance Bernstein Gives has once again awarded $30,000 in grant funding to Queensborough’s Male Resource Center (MRC). Since 2021, AB Gives has contributed $150,000 to the Center. This generous and ongoing support helped equip the MRC when it first opened and, more recently, made it possible to establish The Vault, our on-campus clothing resource for students.

We are deeply grateful to Alliance Bernstein Gives for investing in the success and well-being of our students.

                                                                                          Art Gallery 

Internship Program: 

• The Gallery hosts two (2) interns from the Gallery and Museum Studies Program through the Department of Art & Design.
• One student is doing a spring internship from Bayside High School.
• The Gallery’s internship with Flushing International High School continues this spring semester hosting two (2) students.
• We are hosting a work-study student from QCC. 

Attendees (community/students) from January through today are as follows:

• 336 visitors and 165 QCC Students
• BTECH HS – 30 students – 3 adults
• CUNY Explorers- Long Island City HS 28 Students -2 Adults
• CUNY Explorers- Hillcrest HS – 19 Students- 3 adults
• CUNY Explorers – Hillcrest HS – 21 students -2 adults
• CUNY Explorers- Brooklyn Secondary School for Collab- 20 Students – 3 Adults           
• College Now – Thomas Edison HS 28 Students – 4 adults
• Art History Class- Professor Lien – 30 Students – 1 Adult  

List of Exhibits/Events – March 13, 2025 -May 30, 2025 

• Troy Perry – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

......Into The Light

At first, I saw photography as just a hobby, something I enjoyed casually. But the first time I looked at my photos, I realized it was so much more. Through my lens, I noticed details I had missed, emotions I had not fully absorbed, and a new perspective on the places I had been. My photography allowed me to relive my travels in ways I never expected—seeing the world not just through my own eyes, but through the lens I have come to cherish.

 For me, photography is more than just pictures; it reflects how I experience life. I find meaning in the unnoticed, beauty in the ordinary, and depth in every frame. I am endlessly proud to see my passion come to life, and I hope my photography allows others to see the world as I do—with wonder, intention, and heart. Troy has been working at QCC for over 20 years at B&G 

• Teke Sculptures: Power, Art, and Cosmos– 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The Teke people have inhabited the area that divides the capitals of Congo - Kinshasa and Congo –Brazzaville, and occupy both countries, with a larger population in the latter. Due to their geographic location inland from the coast of the Atlantic, the Teke were far less affected by colonial intrusion into their cultural heartland than many of their neighbors and maintained a relative level of autonomy until the colonial period.

Teke Art is best known for its figural sculptures, most often carved with faces bearing fine-incised linear patterns, as the Teke themselves wore up until the first third of the twentieth century. These figures are often heavily encased in a mass from neck to knee containing empowering materials believed to protect the owner. Some of these images were ancestral in nature while others were the abodes of nature spirits.

The masks of the northern Teke were used in initiatory contexts and are astonishingly abstracted as flat discs with raised patterns; the complex imagery relating to Teke cosmological thought and thought to depict our world and the underworld of the ancestors. 

This exhibition draws together some of the finest extant examples of Teke masks and figural sculpture from important collections, including an example formerly owned by Pablo Picasso, and illustrates the genius of Teke carvings, illustrating their power, art, and cosmology. 

• Juried Student Exhibition 2025- April 24, 2024, to May 30^th, 2025

The Juried Student Exhibition is the summation of a year of effort and brilliance by our students, the best works selected and exalted by being presented in a professional context. My colleagues in the Department of Art & Design have created an exceptional tradition that I have been trusted to carry forward. In my first year organizing the show, I am indebted to and was amply supported by my predecessors, particularly Annemarie Coffey, who has coordinated the show for the last eight years. Organizing the show has given me an opportunity to spend quality time with the work of our students across the curriculum and to reflect on the state of learning, teaching, and making art. -N. Sullivan

                                                                        Kupferberg Holocaust Center 

RECORDED EVENTS:

Communicating the Past: Exhibiting the Holocaust in Memorial Museums

Recorded on January 27, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCZXtktPVFU

Allyship and Religious Freedom: Jews, Muslims, and Others (Partner event)

Recorded on January 31, 2025: https://foundation.wwu.edu/event/allyship-and-religious-freedom

 Flight and Survival: Jewish Refugees in Mexico in the Holocaust

Recorded on February 18, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s13L9V90ybw

 Nothing About Us Without Us: Understanding the Disability Rights Movement

Recorded on March 12, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMfaPyPn3ZI

Communicating Atrocity: Memorializing Traumatic Histories

Recorded on April 2, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyKtvXst4wU

 Raising the Stakes: Assessing the Impact of Rising Antisemitism on Holocaust Education

Recorded on April 24, 2025: Linked to recorded event is available on the KHC’s website

 KHC public program recordings: https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/recordings/

KHC curated playlists: https://www.youtube.com/user/CUNYQueensborough/playlists

KHC ORIGINAL EXHIBITION:

The Concentration Camps: Inside the Nazi System of Incarceration and Genocide

On View and Online at: https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/camps/

The KHC continues to offer self-guided audio tours of its original exhibition which surveys the scope and brutality of the Nazi system of incarceration and genocide, underscoring the horrific consequences of antisemitism, racism, and authoritarianism. In addition to the exhibit’s text, images, and artifacts, personal testimonies from local Holocaust survivors offer painful insights into these excruciating landscapes of degradation and dehumanization. This exhibit is curated by Dr. Cary Lane, KHC 2020-21 Curator-in-Residence and Associate Professor of English at QCC.

                                                       Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC)

 A national search is being conducted for the next Director of QPAC. An assessment will be conducted to determine how we can expand QPAC’s involvement in the borough and further integrate the Center with the College as we enter this next chapter in QPAC history. While a national search is launched and conducted, Mark Amsterdam, who has worked for QPAC for three decades, has been appointed Interim Director.

 

QPAC has 2 confirmed events in the theatre as follows: 

1. Arts on Stage (rental) – Tuesday, May 13, 2025
2. FOMMA (rental) – Sunday, May 25, 2025

 

Operational Report
Division of Finance and Administration

Facilities Update
During the recent Spring Break period, the Buildings & Grounds (B&G) team, in coordination with campus and external partners, successfully completed and advanced multiple projects across Queensborough Community College. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to improving campus infrastructure, ensuring safety, and enhancing the overall experience for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Project Updates:

• Student Union Building – Exterior Enhancements
  Exterior maintenance and safety enhancements around the Student Union Building are currently in progress and on schedule for completion by the end of the week. These improvements are designed to elevate both the safety and appearance of the area.

• Science Building – Phase II Renovation
  Significant work was completed on the second phase of the Science Building renovation project. This phase includes the development of a new cafeteria and an enclosed seating area to serve the campus community. Construction continues to progress on schedule.

• Elevator Servicing
  Scheduled elevator maintenance was successfully completed during the break. This essential preventive work will support the improved operation and reliability of campus elevators moving forward.

Facilities Incident:

• RFK Building – Siding Panel Damage
  On Sunday, April 13, a panel of siding detached and fell from the facade behind the RFK Building. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The B&G team responded immediately and coordinated with CUNY and DASNY officials, who were on-site the following day to assess and secure the area. As a safety measure, scaffolding has been installed around the affected zone. DASNY will continue to oversee the repairs in the coming days. 

Finance Update:

• As a reminder to all P-Card holders:
  Friday, May 31st is the last day to use the P-Card before the close of the current fiscal year.
  All purchases must be finalized and submitted in accordance with year-end guidelines. P-Card usage will resume at the start of the new fiscal year.

• Effective May 31st, the spending limit on AMEX cards will be reduced to $200 and will remain at that level until the new fiscal year begins in July.
  This temporary reduction is part of our year-end closeout procedures. Please plan accordingly and consult with the Office of Finance if you have any questions or require assistance with year-end purchases.