Queensborough Proudly Announces Its Own Among CUNY Alumni Recognized for their Social, Cultural and Economic Contributions to New York
From serving as Chairperson of the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities and Vice Chair for Disability Affairs for CUNY’s University Senate, to helping form CUNY’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and now as Disability Accommodations Specialist for five years at Queensborough, Leonard Blades encapsulates the meaning of inclusivity, authenticity and belonging.
Now, in recognition of his extraordinary, positive impact on behalf of students and the CUNY community, Leonard has been selected as a CUNY 50 Under 50 Alumni.
“I am extremely touched to be recognized in this way for doing a job that I love on behalf of the wonderful students I work with every day at Queensborough,” said Leonard.
“I started at Queensborough a year before people returned to campus after Covid. Like most of the college community, being fully remote for that long was a challenge. I was so relieved to be in person again. Nothing can replace face to face connection, especially for students who look to you for guidance and personalized attention.”
Leonard described the intake process for students who have not yet registered with the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS). “We conduct an interactive process where we meet with students to get a deeper understanding of their needs and eligibility for accommodations. It’s critical that students with disabilities are aware of the services and support that are available to them as they pursue their desired degrees. The transition from high school to college culture can be daunting. The wonderful members of the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) are there to help make that transition easier to manage, and it is truly a privilege to be a part of that.”
Learn More About the Office of Accessibility Services
Also selected as a CUNY 50 Under 50 Alumni is Anet Abnous, ‘01, Founder, Designer of Anetscollection, Co-Founder of Lusanet Collective and President of Lusanet Voices, a non-profit organization.
Anet graduated from Queensborough in 2001 with an associate in science (A.S.) degree. As a student, she was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Academic Performance in Spanish.
She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Magna Cum Laude, in Fine and Studio Arts in 2004 and completed a certificate program, “Women’s Entrepreneurship” through Cornell University.
On her LinkedIn profile, Anet wrote: “This recognition by CUNY—a community known for its diversity, excellence, and commitment to upward mobility—means a great deal to me. I am truly grateful to be included in such an accomplished group of alumni shaping change across industries and communities. Thank you to The City University of New York for this honor. I look forward to continuing to grow, serve, and uplift others through my work.”
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