SUMMER–FALL 2010, VOL. XV, NO. 2

QUEENSTHE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS COLLEGE

DEEP READINGS Marine geologist Cecilia McHugh—here, standing in front of sediment samples taken from under the seabed—gets to the core of her

subject and catches the eye of the White House. QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 1 THE QUEENS COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND

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VISIT www.qc.cuny.edu/SupportQC OR CALL 718-997-3920 2 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College QUEENSTHE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS COLLEGE SUMMER–FALL 2010, VOL. XV, NO. 2 From left: Chris and Vince Misiano and Gus Makris went from creating a student !lm starring Jerry Seinfeld to working on some of TV's most celebrated shows (see p. 12). or pants to school. I clearly remember the MAILBAG nightmarish lines for registering for classes, QC ACTIVISTS the overwhelming fear of entering the cafete- 10 I read with great pleasure the piece “Activists ria with no sorority or house plan af"liation, Super Students Honored in Virginia” in the last issue of and the six-hour gap between classes during Queens Magazine. Many of these alumni my freshman and sophomore years. There 12 remain involved with the QC community, was no student union at the time. I was con- Brother Act and some of them—including Stan Shaw, sidered lucky to be admitted to the freshman Bruce Felton Mike Wenger, Phyllis Pader Sederbaum, class of 1966—high test scores and high and Debby Yaffe—have donated their school grades were required for that particu- 18 priceless materials relating to their Virginia lar class. Having stated all this, I received a Better Living Through Chemistry experiences to the college’s department good education and it was free. Donna Shoemaker of special collections and archives. These Rita Lieberman Hulstedt ’70, Bayside, WI letters, memos, posters, and photographs 20 will help researchers study the events of the CROWN OR PHOENIX? Oceans of Knowledge Civil Rights Movement and give our current I discovered an error in the very interesting Donna Shoemaker students the opportunity to experience a real story about Steve Appel, the student editor connection to this important moment in our of the Knight News (Q Magazine, Spring history. We are profoundly grateful to these 22 2009). The story said that when the college A Lifelong Puzzle donors and look forward to preserving their was founded in 1937 the student newspaper Leslie Jay materials so that their stories will continue was named Phoenix. That is incorrect. It was to be told. called the Crown. I saw the paper starting Annie Tummino, Assistant Archivist, in 1939 when my brother was a QC student. 24 Department of Special Collections Then in 1947 I enrolled as a freshman Their Own Medicine and Archives and was soon thereafter sports editor of Leslie Jay the Crown. It was still the same when I LAST ISSUE’S COVER graduated in 1951. I went on to a news SECTIONS While I enjoyed the article on Bruce Bueno business career of more than 50 years. 4 News de Mesquita in the last issue, I did not enjoy Dick Richter ’51, Issaquah, WA 8 Athletics the cover photo, which appears to give a Editor’s Note: Dick is right. The Phoenix 14 Calendar of the Arts strong nod towards Middle-East terrorist !rst appeared in 1959. 16 Bookshelf garb (sans the Israeli, American, British, and Giving Back Korean !ag segments). While I will have to 26 assume that was not the intent of the illustra- Send your letters to Queens: The Magazine of 28 Alumni Notes tor (and editor), I think it was a poor choice Queens College, Queens College, Kiely Hall 808, Flushing, NY 11367 or [email protected]. of image, and an amateurish and poorly executed illustration which did nothing to “illustrate” the nature of the story. CORRECTION Merrill Greenberg ’75, Palo Alto, CA Bernice Saperstein ’49 has pointed out that, contrary to what was stated in our ASSISTANT VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS | Maria Terrone amerman. H TIMES HAVE CHANGED last issue, Lee Nadler ’69 was not the EDITOR | John Cassidy I have received the last two issues of the "rst QC student accepted into Harvard CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Dyanne Maue college magazine and have been very Medical School, as Philip Bromberg DESIGN MANAGER | Georgine Ingber impressed with the variety of programs and ’49 attended the school earlier. Ron STAFF DESIGNER | Jefferson Caballero STAFF WRITERS | Leslie Jay, Maria Matteo, opportunities described. It is hard to believe Newman ’66 also reports that Thomas

ugh; photography by Don by photography ugh; Jacquelyn Southern, H that this is the same school I attended from Sos ’64 was at Harvard Medical School Phyllis Cohen Stevens, Bob Suter 1966–1970. My recollections from those several years before Lee. PHOTOGRAPHER | Nancy Bareis years include being denied admission to the COPYRIGHT © 2010 BY QUEENS COLLEGE.

Cover: Cecilia Mc Cover: library and certain classes if I wore jeans

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 3 QUEENS NEWS

QC’s Newest Distinguished Professor Opens Research Center on Koreans

Pyong Gap Min (Sociology) is Min’s path to the pinnacle now Queens College’s twelfth of academia was arduous. He distinguished professor, a title was born in a small village in bestowed by the City Univer- South Korea, where his father sity of New York on its !nest was a poor rice farmer. His teachers and scholars. mother died when he was Min is one of the na- eight, and none of his six tion’s leading authorities on brothers and sisters survived Korean Americans and Asian childhood, Min says, because American immigration. He is the family had no access to the author of Caught in the medical care. Middle: Korean Communities Since he showed promise in New York and Los Angeles as a student, Min was sent to (1996), and Ethnic Solidarity Seoul to attend high school. for Economic Survival: Korean Life was hard, but after enter- Green Grocers in New York City ing Seoul National Univer- (2008), both of which examine sity as a major in history, he the con"icts Korean Ameri- started tutoring students who can merchants have faced in were preparing to take the dealing with other American university entrance exam. As a ethnic communities. university education is highly Min is also the found- valued in Korea, families who ing director of the Research could afford it paid well for Center for Korean Commu- Min’s services. nity, the only academic center of its kind in America. The center After graduating, Min worked brie"y as a reporter and did was established in February with a $200,000 grant from a local more tutoring until he had saved enough to come to America. He Korean-born businessman who had originally planned to !nance enrolled at the University of Georgia, but had to transfer to Geor- a business studies program at another institution, Min says, but gia State University after one semester when his money ran out. was persuaded that the Queens center would be of more value To see himself through a master’s degree and two PhDs—in to the Korean community. Among other activities, the center plans educational philosophy and sociology—Min found jobs as a janitor to publish three or four research reports annually as well as hold and a factory worker. He struggled with adjunct teaching positions quarterly lectures and an annual international conference. This until !nding the perfect academic home in 1987: QC’s sociology year’s conference, on the theme of overseas Koreans’ transna- department. “I worried, maybe with my non-white background I tional ties to their homeland, is planned for October 8–9. would feel out of place,” he recalls. “But I never did.”

College Continues to Implement Its Strategic Plan An emphasis on building community characterizes much of Sue “Also, we are tying a lot of the curriculum in with our Education Henderson’s (VP Institutional Advancement) description of the Abroad program. For example, we invite all students to go abroad, progress made in implementing the college’s strategic plan. even freshmen. They spend three nights in The Summit and then Citing the example of QC’s !rst residence hall, The Summit, travel for two weeks and take a mini-course. It’s an introduction she says, “We’ve not only built a residence hall, but we’ve created to higher education that helps them form a connection with one a thriving residence hall life for it. We’ve hired more people in the another that carries over to the school year. student services area and we now have far more activities during “As we build our community, we also want to make sure that free hour and many more active clubs. So all of our students have it’s green,” she continues. “Thanks to Kathy Cobb’s (VP Finance & bene!ted from the opening of The Summit.” Administration) leadership, in every decision we make, we now ask Henderson also cites the revived Undergraduate Research ourselves: How can we do this in a more sustainable manner? Mentoring Education program that brings students into QC’s “Another major aspect of the strategic plan is diversifying our community of faculty researchers. “This leads to more stu- funding streams, and we have done a much better job of that in the dents who will stay with us to do graduate work, so it’s a win last three years,” Henderson notes. “Our endowment has gotten for us in many ways. large enough that we’ve hired an investment !rm, and the Founda- “Another component of community is recognition of tion board is pretty aggressive at keeping their feet to the !re to our diversity,” she says. “We have a large number of Asian make sure our portfolio keeps moving forward.” students, and this fall we will begin what we call the Year Henderson even !nds a silver lining in the troubled economy. of China.” This program, funded by the QC Founda- “The latest budget cuts have been something of a blessing because tion, will engage faculty, staff, students, and community they’ve made us stay focused on our priorities, seek ef!ciencies and members in a yearlong exploration of all things China more effective ways to bring alternative revenue into the college, as (see p. 25). well as thinking of more creative ways to deliver courses.”

An important part of the college's Strategic Plan is to encourage more students to travel abroad.

4 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College Survey Finds Students Are Happy with Queens College In spring 2009 !rst-year students and seniors at QC were they chose Queens: 80 percent of !rst-year students asked to participate in the National Survey of Student have a favorable image of the school, and 87 percent of Engagement (NSSE). The results con!rm what anyone seniors said they would choose QC again. who has spent time on campus can readily observe: QC First-year students also feel QC places substantial students are actively engaged in learning and in enrich- emphasis on academics (76%); they fre- ing activities that lead to learning—and they like Queens quently work harder than they thought College. they could to meet faculty expectations Launched in 1999 at Indiana University, the NSSE (56%); they frequently discuss readings provides colleges and universities with information that or ideas from coursework outside of can be used to improve undergraduate education. QC is class (55%); they frequently have serious among 616 schools that participated in the 2009 survey. conversations with those of a different “Our students were initially invited to participate via race (52%); and they frequently have seri- email, and a subgroup of non-respondents received ous conversations with students who are the paper surveys,” reports QC’s Institutional Research different from themselves in terms of their Director Meg McAuliffe. “In all, 351 !rst-year students religious, political, or personal and 212 seniors responded.” beliefs (55%). The survey posed 42 key questions about classroom participation, interaction with faculty, and time spent on enriching activities. Among the !ndings: Students are glad

Happy at Queens College: Sarah Leibowitz ’13, one of the !rst students to live in The Summit, the college’s !rst residence hall, says, “The great thing about The Summit is that I feel so much a part of the community. It’s what I had always hoped college would be like, with friends who slowly become family.”

he !rst arrived at QC he was given a tour by Library Director Robert Shaddy of what then passed for the college’s special collections and archives. “It was in a state of disarray. The college had had a part-time archivist, but it was a situation where a part-time staff member simply couldn’t deal with the volume of materials that the college had.” Following several conversations, they decided to create a pilot proj- ect whereby students working toward the certi!cate in archival studies would be invited to participate in the fellows program. “It gives them a very intimate exposure to working in an archive,” Alexander explains. “They’re organizing and describing materials to make them accessible; joining me in visits to prospective donors to get the experience of going out in the !eld and assessing materials.” For their efforts they receive a full-semester independent study course credit. The program’s most notable accomplishment has been the creation of the Queens College Civil Rights Archive, which was largely made possible by donations of artifacts from former QC students—beginning with Mark Levy ’64—who worked in the civil rights movement in the early 1960s. It continues to grow and gain recognition as a scholarly resource and is in the process of making many of its elements available via a related website at www.archives.gslis.net. Fellows Katie Hughes and Kevin Schlottmann with archives head Ben Alexander in the archives in Rosenthal Library. Other signi!cant collections being archived by Special Collections fellows include: the Ann Birstein Papers, which feature correspondence between the QC graduate and her husband literary critic Alfred Kazin, Archive Fellows Helping QC as well as Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, and others; the Karol Rathaus Col- lection, which holds scores, manuscripts, and correspondence from the Get Its Stuff Together noted composer and former QC professor; the K. Robert Schwarz Col- lection contains papers of the QC alumnus and classical music scholar; Like any 73-year-old, Queens College has accumulated a lot of stuff. and the QC Presidential Papers covering the presidency of Shirley In this instance, however, much of this stuff has signi!cant historic Strum Kenny (1984–94). value. With the initiation three years ago of the Rosenthal Library’s This fall the program’s focus will shift to two projects: One is the Special Collections Fellows Program, these items are being systemati- processing of a vast collection of theatre-related materials from the cally evaluated, organized, and preserved in a manner that will serve college’s performing arts collection, which includes Playbills dating back researchers and scholars for years to come. to the 1930s donated by the wife of actor Dom DeLuise. The other As Ben Alexander, assistant professor in the Graduate School of project will create an archive of the college’s collection of about 1,000 Library and Information Studies (GSLIS) and the head of special col- rare books, including some dating back to the 1450s. lections and archives for the Queens College Libraries, recalls, when

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 5 QUEENS NEWS

Larry Liebovitch Named Dean of Math and Sciences After a national search, Queens College has appointed Larry Lie- says Liebovitch, explaining that the bovitch dean of the division of mathematics and natural sciences. mathematical models he used in Formerly associate dean for graduate studies and programs at astronomy and ophthalmology have the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic applications in other !elds. “I par- University, he succeeds Thomas Strekas (Chemistry), who served ticularly enjoy discovering how what as dean from 2003 to 2009. we know in one area of science can An alumnus of the Bronx High School of Science, Liebovitch give us new insights into other areas holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from City College and a of science.” master’s and doctorate in astronomy from Harvard. He returned “The newness of science lies to the city for post-doctoral fellowships in ophthalmology, !rst at in the complexity of research,” Mount Sinai School of Medicine and then at the College of Physi- observes QC Provost James Stellar. cians and Surgeons of Columbia University, eventually joining its “Larry’s work has moved from the faculty. Living in Astoria, he commuted to Manhattan by bicycle. In study of galaxies to the study of 1993 he accepted a job at the interdisciplinary Center for Com- "uid "ow in the eye and analysis of human con"ict. He will gal- plex Systems and Brain Sciences at Florida Atlantic University, vanize the sciences at Queens and get us better integrated with where he rose through the academic ranks—becoming associ- the sciences in CUNY and in the New York area.” ate dean in 2008—and pursued research in topics ranging from With this position, Liebovitch returns to his city roots. He genetics to archaeology and psychology. spent his childhood in the Bronx and his wife, Rita, grew up in “My path in research is a single line, just bent in places,” Flushing and earned a BA in sociology from Queens College.

Celebrated Composer Bright Sheng ’84 in Residence at Copland School When Bright Sheng ’84 guished artist-in-residence on his unique experience as wanted to build on the at the Aaron Copland a Chinese-born, Western- education he received at School of Music for 2010. trained composer who the Shanghai Conserva- During his visits to cam- survived the Cultural Revo- tory of Music, he enrolled pus in the spring semester, lution. Some of the lectures in the master’s program at Sheng taught an advanced involved demonstrations on Queens College, where his performance class in which Chinese instruments. teachers included George select students tackled tra- Sheng’s residency will Perle and Hugo Weis- ditional and contemporary continue in the fall, when gall. Now the celebrated chamber repertoire. He he will conduct the Cop- composer and pianist has also presented “A Disen- land School orchestra in returned to his alma mater: tangling Musical Journey,” a his composition Nanking! He’s the visiting distin- series of four public lectures Nanking!

Gardaphé and Hahn Receive Major Honors Two of Queens College’s Chris Rock—re"ects the books of poems, including distinguished professors— nation and its people across a Earshot (Hanging Loose Press, Fred Gardaphé (English and signi!cant period of historical 1992), which was awarded Italian-American Studies) and development. “I want Ital- the Theodore Roethke Kimiko Hahn (English)—have ian students to understand Memorial Poetry Prize received major academic the changes large and small and an Association of distinctions. wrought upon the American Asian American Studies Gardaphé has been identity, and I want them to Literature Award; The awarded a Fulbright Scholar understand the role humor Unbearable Heart (Kaya, teaching fellowship for the plays in American media 1996), recipient of an 2010–11 academic year, dur- arts,” he says. American Book Award; ing which he will lecture on The John Simon Guggen- and most recently Toxic American cultural studies at heim Memorial Foundation Flora, poems inspired by the University of Salerno in recently announced that both ordinary and rari!ed Italy. He will teach courses Kimiko Hahn has been !elds of science (Norton, that explore how the humor awarded a fellowship “on 2010). She will use the expressed in major U.S. the basis of achievement fellowship to work on cultural works—by artists and exceptional promise.” a new collection of as diverse as Mark Twain and Hahn is the author of eight poetry.

6 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College HOMECOMING WEEKEND OCTOBER 2–3! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 nal production of Little Shop of Horrors (with performances) PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION for Classes of ’50, ’60 & ’65, ■ Alumni Hall re-dedicated to honor 6:30–8:30 pm Renée Kroll Zarin ’54 ■ Tributes to classes of ’50, ’60, ’65, ’70, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 ’75, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, ’00 & ’05 ■ Sporting events, campus tours, museum visits ALUMNI DAY, 10 am–5 pm. Speakers ■ Special reunions for young alumni include novelist Susan Isaacs ’65; and members of the Phoenix News, ■ Breakfast, luncheon, and closing Robert Merkin ’77 and Peter Calandra Newsbeat, Hillel, Dead End Boys, and reception ’82, who will discuss working on the origi- Alpha Lambda Alpha

Tickets are $35. Register by September 10 to save $10 and earn a chance to win an APPLE IPAD. To register, visit http://qchomecoming.eventbrite.com/?discount=EARLY; email [email protected]; or call 718-997-3930.

Recognition Comes Early for Six Young Science Faculty Most colleges would be honored to have a single National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Award recipi- ent. Queens College has six current recipients—all of them assistant professors and recent hires in the sciences. “These substantial grants both honor and support outstanding research efforts by promising young scientists early in their careers,” says Dean of Research and Graduate Studies Richard Bodnar. “The money also enables graduate and undergraduate students to do meaningful work in the labs of these faculty members.” Brief descrip- tions of the winners and their research follow. “For several reasons, a majority of deaf high school graduates in the U.S. have at best only a fourth-grade English reading level, but many of these adults have sophisticated "uency in American Sign Language (ASL),” says Matt Huenerfauth (Computer Science, hired 2006). “So, software that can present information in the form of ASL animations, or automatically translate English text to ASL would im- prove these persons’ access to websites, communication, and informa- tion.” Huenerfauth’s lab uses a range of motion-capture equipment— including gloves with sensors, special body suits, and eye-trackers—to digitize the movements of humans performing ASL sentences, which Clockwise from top left: Seogjoo Jang, Alexy Ovchinnikov, differ in structure and word order from English. “By analyzing the Hoetek Wee, Heng Ji, Jianbo Liu, and Matt Huenerfauth. patterns in how humans perform ASL signs, we can produce animated virtual human characters that produce more realistic ASL move- molecules with reactive oxygen species. Oxidation of biomolecules ments,” Huenerfauth says. is an important biological process associated with aging, disease, and Seogjoo Jang (Chemistry & Biochemistry, hired 2005) is con- photodynamic therapy for cancer. “We also hope to discover and ducting research on the development of computational methods for develop new methods and techniques in analytical chemistry and energy "ow dynamics in soft optoelectronic molecular systems. His nanotechnology,” says Liu. work promises to have “a broad impact on the development of meth- Alexey Ovchinnikov (Mathematics, hired 2009) is developing ods that could lead to new advances in optics as well as electronic ef!cient algorithms that can be used to solve differential and differ- and sensor devices,” says Jang. Recently he received the $75,000 ence equations. “These will have practical applications everywhere Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, which also supports promis- differential equations are used—in physics, biology, chemistry, and the ing young faculty. sciences in general,” says Ovchinnikov. Heng Ji’s (Computer Science, hired 2008) work has important With the Internet emerging as the main platform for computa- implications for researchers looking to automatically retrieve and tion, individuals have become increasingly reliant on cryptography to track information from unstructured, machine-readable documents. ensure privacy and security in their day-to-day activities and protect “Ideally, you would initiate a search for information on a given topic their personal information from unauthorized access. “However, the and the program would automatically extract and track relevant infor- design of many cryptosystems does not adequately account for new mation in all languages,” she says. “The program would then generate computational and cryptographic attacks made possible by advances a summary of relevant !ndings.” in quantum computing and complex protocol interactions on the The research of Jianbo Liu (Chemistry & Biochemistry, hired Internet,” says Hoeteck Wee (Computer Science, hired 2008). 2006) focuses on the use of mass spectrometry and ion/molecule The focus of his project lies in the design and analysis of new crypto- reaction techniques to study the reactions of biologically important graphic protocols that address these new attacks.

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 7 QUEENS ATHLETICS

SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP by Bob Suter Championship performances by the Women’s and Men’s Tennis Teams and the selection of two Knights as East Coast Conference Players of the Year highlighted the achievements of Queens College athletes this spring.

Allicott concluded his four years at QC as the seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,583 points. Allicott and Mocodeanu also shared honors when both received the prestigious Silver Knights Award at the 2010 Queens College Athletics Awards Dinner on May 24. QC’s Men’s Tennis Team overwhelmed ed by ECC Player of the Dowling to clinch the 2010 East Coast LYear Laura Mocodeanu Conference Men’s Tennis Championship. (left), the Knights Women’s Tennis They went on to the NCAA Championship Team posted a 21–4 record (5–0 in ECC play), winning their "rst NCAA Regional Championship since 1995 and "nishing "rst in the ECC. (They also made it to the NCAA Division II Round of 16.) Mocodeanu, a junior, earned a ranking of fourth in the entire East Region in singles—an achievement all the more remarkable in light of a shoulder injury that prevented her from serving overhand. The ECC also selected Alan Nagel Coach of the Year and Erika Goldsmith as Rookie of the Year. QC’s other ECC Player of the Year was Men’s Basketball standout Khaleef Allicott (right). He is only the second Knights player

eal Kaufer to be so honored by the ECC. He N was also selected "rst team all- ECC, all-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, and 2009–2010 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball "rst team East All-Region. hoto: Marcello Cutti, Jr. (left), (left), Jr. Cutti, Marcello hoto: P

8 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College allweg (left and center), Marcello Cutti, Jr. (right) Jr. Cutti, Marcello (left and center), allweg B rian B hotos: hotos: P

From left: Sarah Boucher, Jeffrey Gomez, and Erika Goldsmith were all bright spots on this year’s teams.

Round of 16, where they were eliminated by top-ranked Valdosta State, concluding their winning season with a 19–3 record. Craig Schwartz was chosen 2010 East Coast Conference Coach of the Year and "ve of his players were named all-conference. Junior Robby Scheuing, with an impressive 3.969 GPA as a business marketing major, was named the 2010 ECC Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. This year QC served as the host school for both the Women’s and Men’s NCAA Division II East Region #2 Tennis Region- als. While completing its "rst season of varsity play with a losing 2–12 record (1–6 in ECC), QC’s new Women’s Lacrosse Team nevertheless produced the ECC Rookie of the Year in the person of Sarah Boucher. Similarly, the Men’s Baseball Team, despite a losing 18–28 record (10–20 in ECC play), saw senior Jeffrey Gomez named 2010 second team all-East Coast Conference in a poll taken of the league’s head coaches. Gomez, who had a .300 season batting average, was selected as a designated hitter. The Women’s Fencing Team, which Speaking of Sports posted an 8–6 record, saw seven of its A special alumni roundtable March 18 brought together a group of QC players qualify for the NCAA Regionals. grads who’ve found success in sports or the business of sports. Joining QC On April 15, Softball Coach Brian freshman and Knights sportscaster Alex Garrett (center) are (l-r) Olympic DeMasters achieved a milestone, notching medalist Gail Marquis ’80, NBA Executive Counsel Harvey Benjamin ’61, his 500th win in a contest with Bridgeport. New York Mets and New York Islanders sportscaster Howie Rose ’77, and The Softball Team "nished "fth in the ECC Emmy Award-winning sports television producer Michael Weisman ’71. with a 12–16 record (16–31 overall).

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 9 SUPERSTUDENTS This year’s graduating class is full of intriguing stories

home, often under a scorching sun. When she was six, her father MAX ROLL In his years at QC, Max Roll ap- suffered a stroke that kept him bedridden for the rest of his life. peared in more than a dozen plays and operas, including Our Her mother Samdai took over as the family’s breadwinner. Town, The Playboy of the Western World, and The Marriage of Although her mother was illiterate, she insisted that Figaro. Now he’s taking his act to New Haven, Connecticut. Af- all her children go as far as they could in their education. So ter a series of auditions in which nearly 1,000 people competed when Sandra !nished high school, she headed for New York, for 16 slots, Roll won admission to the Yale School of Drama graduating in 1983 from Queensborough Community College with a full, three-year scholarship. “I owe everything to Claudia with an associate degree in business management. Feldstein,” says Roll, speaking of the QC drama, theatre, and In 1988 Sandra married Surren Sirkisoon, an immigrant dance professor—and Yale alumna—who coached him. “I from Guyana who later earned an engineering degree from City couldn’t have done it without her support and preparation. I’m College. When the !rst of their three children was born in 1992, also very grateful to Charles Repole and Susan Einhorn for Sandra traded full-time employment for playgrounds, reading their support and guidance over the years.” groups, and a stint as PTA president at her children’s school. The English-born drama major had a different performing But it wasn’t enough to satisfy her, and in 2007 Sandra enrolled career in mind when he arrived at QC in 2004. “I initially came at Queens College. here to study with a fabulous American clarinetist, Charles “I was a little afraid I wouldn’t be able to cope with being at Neidich,” says Roll, the son of two concert pianists. “I’d done a large campus with so many young people,” she says. “But I so a couple of small school shows in the United Kingdom, but up much enjoy learning, and my professors and classmates were all until a few years ago, it was clear I was going to be a musician.” very helpful and encouraging.” Sociology professor Nicholas He reconsidered that plan after Drama Chair Charles Repole Alexiou “reassured me that I will do just !ne.” urged him to explore the stage. “Max was in the hallway, talking He was right. The sociology department recognized her in his British accent,” recalls Repole. “He was tall, good-look- academic achievements at graduation with the Seiler Memorial ing, and spoke beautifully—he was a leading man. So I grabbed Award. Sandra plans to earn a master’s degree in education at him and asked if he was interested in acting. It’s been a joy to Queens College. watch him grow and to support him.” A small role as an American salesman in Pajama Game led Roll to bigger theatrical challenges and, ultimately, a new career RICHARD goal. “I derived a different kind of pleasure from acting,” he When explains. BUBBICO Richard Bubbico isn’t acting “I became more involved and found myself taking auditions. on stage or working in the lab, Even being in a tech rehearsal for 10 hours was not tedious.” you might !nd him waiting His musical background has not been wasted: Because sing- tables in the Zen-garden-like ing skills are invaluable to an actor, he took voice lessons with interior of the DuMont restau- Bruce Norris, co-director of QC’s Opera Studio, for two years. rant in Brooklyn, or collecting Roll still plays clarinet for fun and pro!t, accepting the occa- rocks on the jagged windswept sional gig. “A lot of training went into it and I don’t want to hills of Greenland. lose it,” he says. Bubbico, who graduated with a BS in geology this spring, isn’t afraid SANDRA JODHA- to throw himself SIRKISOON’S life path has taken her from a wholeheartedly village on the island of Trinidad that had no running water or into new ven- electricity to graduating from Queens College with an under- tures. He already graduate degree in sociology. had one degree As a child she had to walk to elementary school a mile from under his belt: a

Five distinguished new alumni (l-r): Max Roll, Sandra Jodha-Sirkisoon, Richard Bubbico, Sharon Tran, and Frances Tran.

10 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College BFA in drama from New York University in 1997. Undergraduate Research—for the second year in a row. They After graduating he began acting on stage and in TV produc- presented their papers at this year’s conference, in April, at the tions and commercials. But after a few years he got married and University of Montana. started a family. “I wanted something more stable, something “They’re exceptionally talented and motivated students,” that would let me return home for dinner at night,” he says. says Duncan Faherty (English), the Trans’ faculty advisor. So in 2006 Bubbico enrolled in an undergraduate program “Their intellects complement each other. They push each other at Queens in geology, a subject that could satisfy his love of the quite hard.” outdoors and traveling. The papers the sisters presented in Montana re"ect their He wasn’t disappointed. In 2009 Bubbico joined a small shared interest in how Asian-American authors deal with the geology expedition to Greenland with his professor, Hannes changing meanings of kinship, identity, and nationality in a Brueckner (Earth & Env. Sciences). They got there via a sched- rapidly globalizing world. Both wrote about how characters in a uled "ight to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, then a small plane novel struggle to de!ne who they are. (Frances chose The Love to an oil company air!eld in Constable Pynt, Greenland, and Wife by Gish Jen, a Chinese-American; Sharon picked Native !nally a helicopter "ight to the country’s east coast. There the Speaker by Chang-rae Lee, a Korean-American.) group camped in tents for three weeks. The sisters say the issues Asian communities in America face The terrain was rugged, rocky, and treeless. But the trickiest are not unique. Indeed, Asian-Americans and African-Ameri- part of being there, says Bubbico, was learning to sleep in the cans have more in common than is often assumed, says Sharon: midnight sun. He and his professor brought back a carry-on they “have a shared history of racism and discrimination.” bag full of carefully chosen rock samples that they have been The sisters’ academic focus comes at least in part from their analyzing since their return. The research may expand our un- own history. Their parents and grandparents emigrated from derstanding of the mountain-building processes, says Bubbico. Vietnam, and the sisters were raised by their grandparents in Bubbico, who had a 3.962 GPA at the end of his last term Astoria for their !rst years, until the family moved to Little at Queens and a number of awards to his name—including the Neck, Queens. They still speak Vietnamese at home. NYC Brown!eld Consortium Scholarship and the QC Young Their parents set high standards, telling the girls they “have Scientist Award—has applied for a QC graduate program in to constantly do better,” says Frances. “The pressure only came geology and would like to become a professor. “I’m having a off after we were accepted into the Macaulay Honors College.” good time studying geology,” he says. “I hope it can be a next The twins, whom people often have trouble telling apart, career for me.” are each other's biggest backers. “We always read each other’s papers and bounce ideas off one another,” says Sharon. “Some- SHARON & FRANCES T RAN times we even get a little competitive.” To say that Sharon and Frances Tran have much in common When they are not studying, the sisters like reading—and would be an understatement. The twins both majored in Eng- writing—manga, Japanese-style comics, and watching anime, as lish and minored in Chinese. Each had to weigh full-scholarship its animated form is called. They also play volleyball on the offers for English PhD programs at prestigious universities. QC Quad. Both envisage careers as English professors. (Frances chose the CUNY Graduate Center and Sharon picked UCLA.) And each recently had a paper accepted by the Nation- al Conference on

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 11 Brother Act How Chris and Vince Misiano became two of television’s most sought-after directors

By Bruce Felton became a buyer for J.C. Penney. “It was a good job, but I felt mis- Back in the mid-1970s, two brothers from Queens and a couple of placed,” Vince says. “So Chris and Gus suggested that I join them, their buddies got together and decided to make a movie. and at 29 I became a production assistant, which largely meant Childhood friends Christopher Misiano ’76 and Jerry Seinfeld fetching coffee and sodas for people. But I loved the energy and ’76 were students at QC; Christopher’s older brother Vince had creativity of a !lm set. It was like the circus.” graduated from QC in 1972 and was teaching high school English. This was the 1980s, when there was little TV production taking Constantine Makris ’72—“Gus” to everyone who knew him—had place east of Hollywood, so the Misiano brothers worked mostly also graduated and was working on a master’s in communications on commercials and the occasional rock video and made-for-TV at Brooklyn College. movie. “We also did make-believe commercials,” says Chris. “Jerry “We borrowed a 16mm camera from the school and shot a was big by then, doing stand-up appearances on the ‘Tonight Show,’ 10-minute !lm called Paree,” says Vince. “I wrote and directed, Gus but he went out with us to a park in Astoria, where we !lmed and Chris did the photography, and Jerry played a kid who grows him in fake ads for Nike, just for the practice and to build our up in the country and makes his !rst foray into the big city.” No portfolio.” one knows where the only copy is or even if it exists, but that Meanwhile, “Law and Order” had made its debut on NBC, and doesn’t seem to matter much. As both Misiano brothers are quick Gus had signed on, rising to director of photography and later to admit, Paree, though an ambitious effort, was neither polished becoming the !rst of the four friends to win a directing gig. He nor pro!cient. Even so, it had its moments, says Chris, “including a would ultimately direct more episodes of “Law and Order” than Chaplinesque title sequence by Jerry.” anyone else in history and make his mark as director and producer But Paree marked a critical juncture for the young !lmmakers. on some of TV’s best-known series. Chris joined the show as a “For the !rst time, !lmmaking became a practical goal for us,” says camera operator and in time directed his !rst episode. Vince fol- Vince. After graduating, Chris and Gus went to work as studio lowed and also earned a chance to direct. grips and later as photography assistants; Vince left teaching and In the coming years, Gus would

12 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College win three Emmys for cinematography. Jerry Seinfeld mages I became—well, Jerry Seinfeld. And Chris and Vince went etty

G on to become two of Hollywood’s most in-demand TV rant/

G directors. Their directing credits read like a program guide to the most critically acclaimed series of the past two decades: episodes of “Law and Order,” “The West Wing,” “ER,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Third Watch,” “Ally McBeal,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Prison Break,” and on and on. In 2003 Chris received an Emmy for directing hoto of Chris Misiano: Jesse Jesse hoto of Chris Misiano: P the season !nale of “The West Wing,” which was also the last episode written by series creator Aaron Sorkin. As intertwined as their careers are, each brother has an identi!able and unique view of the director’s craft. “I know a little bit about a lot of things—music, writing, literature, history,” says Vince. “Directing is a perfect profession for people like me—it caters to gen- eralists who are good at putting together the disparate pieces of a complex puzzle. There’s really little that I learned in or outside school that can’t be applied to directing.” The most challenging aspect of directing for TV, he says, “is that you’re something of a gypsy. You move over until I get it and understand what the people are doing, why from show to show, each with its own crew, cast, and culture. You they’re doing it, and how the scene should actually take place. I try bring your own vision and artistic sensibility, but the show is up to make the camera and the shot accommodate the reality—not and running, so it’s a bit like jumping onto a moving train.” the other way around.” Chris agrees. “When you direct an episode, you’re working Ideally, directing involves a happy collaboration with writers and within a template, although you certainly have the creative free- actors, but some friction is inevitable. “I have a good history with dom to shoot it your way. My approach is to read a scene over and actors, Don Johnson being the notable exception,” says Chris. “I was new, and directing an episode of ‘Nash Bridges.’ Don pushed back so hard that I went home and considered quitting.” But !rst he con!ded in Seinfeld, who was already starring in his iconic sitcom. “Jerry said, ‘You know, calm seas make for bad sailors.’ He was right, and I stayed.” These days the brothers live a continent apart—Vince in Westchester, Chris in Los Angeles. But at any given moment, they’re likely to be crossing paths in mid-air, with directing gigs on both coasts. Geography notwithstanding, they remain close, sharing an agent and bunking at each other’s homes when they’re in town. “A certain amount of sibling rivalry is inevitable,” says Vince, “but it passes quickly. We’re always on guard not to let it compromise the closeness of our relationship.” In accepting his “West Wing” Emmy in 2003, Chris made a point of saying that he was “ not the best director in my family.” Recalls Vince, “Chris could have used his time to thank all the people who could do him good professionally. Instead he mentioned me.” In recent years, Vince and Chris have gotten back to QC from time to time—to talk to students at alumni roundtables, to advise on the making of promotional videos and, once, to !lm an on-location scene for “Law and Order.” “The ground- ing I got here in the liberal arts has been invaluable to me as a director,” says Vince. For Chris, his time at QC “allowed me to wander through the halls of this career and learn what I might be The Misiano brothers have directed some of the most popular and good at. QC really helped me at a time when I needed to !gure critically acclaimed television series of the last 20 years, including “Law and Order,” “The West Wing,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” ABOVE out who I was—and what I wanted to do with my life.” RIGHT: Vince (l) and Chris will have a chance to collaborate later this year on “Law and Order LA,” which Chris will produce and Vince will direct.

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 13 YO U R G U I D E T O T H E

BESTOF THARTE S INFORMATION & TICKETS: 718-793-8080 OR KUPFERBERGCENTERARTS.ORG

SEPTEMBER OF YEAR SEPTEMBER 8–OCTOBER 26 EDEN: Ceramics by Sin-ying Ho Curated by Tara Mathison, Assistant Curator of the Queens College Art Center CHINA Expressing her own experience as an Asian- Shanghai String Quartet Chinese living in North Events with this symbol are America, ceramist part of our Year of China Sin-ying Ho has painted SEPTEMBER 13–NOVEMBER 24 OCTOBER hundreds of "owers, MARLENE celebration. See page 25 for combined with digital TSENG YU: 5TUES more information. transfer-printed images, Nature and Cosmos SHANGHAI STRING on 5- to 6-foot-tall A 40-year retrospective of brilliantly QUARTET with porcelain vessels, creating colored paintings by this interna- a garden of cultures that hints at tionally recognized Taiwanese-born guest artist Bright Sheng ONGOING collision, symbiosis, fusion. Queens artist reveals the power of Weigang Li, violin; Yi-Wen Jiang, LOUIS ARMSTRONG Reception & Artist’s Talk: the natural world and the artist’s violin; Honggang Li, viola; HOUSE MUSEUM Wednesday, Sept. 15, 5–8 pm; visionary fusion of Eastern and mod- Nicholas Tzavaras, cello Queens College Art Center, Free. ern Western art forms and content. “If there is a string quartet currently Corona, Queens Information: 718-997-3770 in circulation that produces a more Guided tours every hour on Godwin-Ternbach Museum, Free. Information: 718-997-4747 beautiful sound than the Shanghai the hour (last tour 4 pm); Tues.– Quartet, the name doesn't Fri., 10 am–5 pm; Sat. & Sun., 12 immediately come to mind.” noon–5 pm. Closed Mondays, New 12SUN The New York Times Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day. 2ND ANNUAL FESTIVAL LeFrak Concert Hall, 10 am. $8 adults/$6 seniors, students, OF WORLD MUSIC & $15; $10 seniors, QC alumni, children, and groups of eight QCID or more. Members free. For DANCE information, call 718-478-8274 Starring Calpulli Mexican Dance or visit KupferbergCenterArts. Company, Ebony Hillbillies, Mar CHINA TODAY org and click on Louis Armstrong Salá, Moon Oak Joo Arts Center, with Morris Rossabi House Museum. and more. QC History Department Dis- Enjoy a day of music, food, and fun tinguished Professor Rossabi is a outdoors at Queens College. Purchase historian of China and Central Asia. delicious food from local vendors, The author of several books and or bring your own and picnic on the numerous articles and speeches, Quad while you relax and listen to the he has contributed to several joyous sounds of a half-dozen bands volumes of the Cambridge History from our borough’s home-grown (and of China. Professor Rossabi travels growing) international music scene. extensively through central Asia Noon–6 pm, Free Admission. and Mongolia. LeFrak Concert Hall, 2 pm, Free. Queens International Folk Festival Blue Crystal, 1998

Kupferberg Center Performances is supported by the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Kupferberg Foundation, and the Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding is provided by Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall, New York City Councilman Jim Gennaro, and New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. The Selma & Max Kupferberg Center for the Visual and Performing Arts supports special projects and initiatives for the Arts@Queens College. Funding for these projects has also been provided by New York Community Bank.

14 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College NOVEMBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER 4–DECEMBER 23 DECEMBER 9–JANUARY 13 VOICES ENVISIONED: WINDOWS Memories Made in AND MIRRORS: Northern Ireland The War in Afghanistan Curated by Jill Strauss, Adjunct Organized by the American Professor, Dispute Resolution Friends Service Committee, Program, Department of Chicago Region Sociology, John Jay College Murals by artists from all over the of Criminal Justice U.S. commemorate the thousands of After decades of violent con"ict, civilian deaths and the human cost of Protestants and Catholics undertook the Afghanistan war, little of which is Camels in the Pamir Mountains, courtesy of France Pepper a storytelling and visual art project revealed to the American public. in Portadown, Northern Ireland in Godwin-Ternbach Museum, 2008. The resulting artworks include Free. Information: 718-997-4747 VESTIGES OF three textiles and two mixed-media THE SILK ROAD 22-24FRI–SUN installations. The exhibition also doc- IN CHINA BRIGADOON uments the workshop process leading Charles Repole, director, 11SAT This illustrated talk is a virtual trip to the creation of the artworks. Queens College Orchestra QC Choral Society’s 70th along the Silk Road that ran from Reception & Curator’s Talk: Maurice Peress, conductor China’s ancient capital Chang’an Thursday, November 4, 5–8 pm. Annual Winter Concert This stirring concert version of (modern Xi’an) to the oases of the Queens College Art Center, HANDEL’S MESSIAH Lerner and Loewe’s enchanting Taklamakan Desert in eastern Cen- Free. Information: 718-997-3770 James John, Music Director musical about a mysterious Scottish tral Asia. The talk will explore the Ring in the holidays with Handel’s village that appears out of the mist art, culture, history, and geography beloved Messiah, a work associated every 100 years is sure to touch of a region that once connected with the QC Choral Society since its your heart. A co-production of the China to Europe and served as the inception in 1941. Queens College Drama, Theatre & trade route for exotic goods and Colden Auditorium, 8 pm. $20; Dance Department and the Aaron the exchange of people, religions, $18 seniors, students, alumni; Copland School of Music. and ideas. France Pepper, executive $5 for students with valid QCID Performances: Oct. 22 and 23 at director of the Shen Wei Dance Arts, at box of!ce only. 8 pm; Oct. 24 at 3 pm. has been traveling and researching LeFrak Concert Hall, $15; $13 se- the Silk Road for over 20 years, and niors, students, QC alumni, QCID has curated over 300 programs on all Emma Buckley, Us and Them aspects of traditional and contempo- 26SUN rary China and Asia. THE NUTCRACKER LeFrak Concert Hall, 3 pm, RUSSIAN-AMERICAN Free. 7SUN BALLET COMPANY A FAR CRY Back by popular demand, Russian- Concert: Aaron This self-conducted chamber American Ballet’s original version Copland School of orchestra of 17 young musicians features dazzling Russian-trained “has perfected a lush, sweet sound dancers, exquisite costumes, and Music Performing Faculty that is achingly alive and emotional,” the beloved music of Tchaikovsky. and Distinguished proclaims Strings magazine. Created and priced especially for Artist-in-Residence LeFrak Concert Hall, 2 pm. family audiences. Bright Sheng $36; $34 seniors, students, Colden Auditorium, 3 pm. LeFrak Concert Hall, 7:30 pm. QC alumni, QCID $18; $12 children 12 and under! $10 suggested donation. Bright Sheng

OCTOBER 5 OCTOBER 19 NOVEMBER 16 Shanghai String Musicians for Harmony Lions Gate Trio Chamber Quartet with guest Colin Jacobsen, violin Florence Millet, piano artist Bright Sheng Eric Jacobsen, cello Katie Lansdale, violin Music Weigang Li, violin Catherine Cho, violin Marcy Rosen, cello e Yi-Wen Jiang, violin Marcy Rosen, cello Liv Honggang Li, viola Diane Walsh, piano, and more . . . NOVEMBER 23 8 Incredible Concerts Nicholas Tzavaras, cello Trio One-Oh-One in LeFrak Concert Hall. OCTOBER 26 Josef Burstaller, trumpet Young Concert Tuesdays at 10 am. OCTOBER 12 Haim Avitsur, trombone New Hudson Artists in Concert David Jolley, French horn Bella Hristova, violin, and Ieva Saxophone Quartet NOVEMBER 30 Paul Cohen, soprano Jokubaviciute, piano Subscriptions for the Avi Goldrosen, alto Brandenburg Concerti 8-concert series are $95. NOVEMBER 9 with Andrew Saderman Noah Getz, tenor Shira Lissek, soprano and For information and Tim Reudeman, baritone and the Queens College reservations, call Arbie Orenstein, piano Early Music Collective 718-997-3802. Concerts and Susan Hellauer, Wendy Powers, personnel subject to change. and Dongmyung Ahn

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 15 QUEENS BOOKSHELF

Divorced dad and former New York Post A love story wrapped around a murder “First, do no harm,” is a fundamental reporter Charlie Carillo ’77 didn’t have mystery, or maybe vice versa, Sloth (Green- rule for medical professionals. But some to look far for inspiration for his second point Press) is a postmodern mashup, can’t follow it. Richard S. Klein ’62, a novel, Raising Jake (Kensington Books), rich in tricky wordplay and allusions to practicing physician on the faculty of New a comic entry in the genre of father- everything from Greek tragedy to the York Medical College, begins Surviving Your son bonding. While his ex-wife is out of work of Dr. Seuss. The events are re- Doctors: Why the Medical System Is Dangerous town, Sam Sullivan !elds a call from the counted in the !rst person by a nameless, to Your Health and How to Get Through headmaster of the underemployed, and It Alive (Rowman & Little!eld) with the pricey Manhattan possibly unreliable declaration that every year at least 100,000 prep school that is narrator who bor- patients die in American hospitals because supposed to groom rows his best friend’s of malpractice. To keep readers from his son, Jacob, for identity to pursue an becoming statistics, college. In short actress in a tele- Klein shares his order, the elder vised exercise show. insights on routine Sullivan is !red Mark Goldblatt questions—one from his job at a ’79—not coinciden- chapter is called tabloid newspaper tally the pen name “Does Your Kid and Jake is expelled. of the protagonist’s Really Need that Liberated by their buddy, a newspaper columnist who has Shot?”—major respective disasters, the two spend an ceased writing—plays with the clichés of diseases, and surgical entire weekend together, building the epistolary romance, pulp !ction, and other procedures. He also relationship that they have craved for genres as he takes readers on a fast, funny provides checklists years. “The best kind of journey, one you ride. Author of a previous novel, Africa that will help people take an active role in don’t want to end . . . funny, moving.”— Speaks, Goldblatt is a widely published their own health care. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica essayist and a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology. To research her sixth novel for young After studying Cuba in her !rst book, adults, Rita Williams-Garcia MA ’97 Latin American specialist Sujatha In The Narrow Road to the Interior, Kimiko soaked up the atmosphere of Beach Chan- Fernandes (Sociology) headed farther Hahn (English) played with two classical nel and Benjamin N. Cardozo High Schools, south for Who Can Stop the Drums?: Urban Japanese poetry forms. Toxic Flora (Nor- among other city institutions. The result is Social Movements in Chavez’s Venezuela ton), her eighth collection, is united by Jumped (Harper Teen), a cautionary tale that (Duke University Press), an account of theme rather than style: The 60 poems unfolds in the alternating voices of three everyday life and politics in the barrios were written in response to articles teenage girls: Letitia, of Caracas. Building on Karl Marx’s published in the “Science” section of the a resentful under- observation that people make history, New York Times. Contemplating topics that performer assigned but not under circumstances of their own range from insects and extinct birds to to makeup classes making, Fernandes astronomy, Hahn draws startling con- before the school day summarizes nections. “Oh, what begins; Dominique, an decades of history we think we need to athlete barred from as experienced by survive kills others; the basketball court poor community / I have consuming for low grades; and activists. The need for my beloved, Trina, a "irtatious art majority of them he knows— / and I student determined credit leftist hope he is not sorry,” to be the center of attention. A faculty President Hugo she muses in a poem member in Vermont College’s MFA program Chavez with about a unique "ock of in writing for children and young adults, implementing bush wren destroyed Williams-Garcia has accumulated a trea- changes that improved their lives; in New Zealand at the sure trove of awards—including the PEN/ nonetheless, they seek to maintain local turn of the 20th century by someone’s pet Norma Klein Award and Coretta Scott control as they struggle for social and cat. This is fertile territory for Hahn, a King Honor Book—for her previous titles. economic justice. “Original, timely, and CUNY Distinguished Professor and much- Extending that record, Jumped was a !nalist important.”—Steve Ellner, author of honored poet who plans to use her latest in the young people’s category for the 2009 Rethinking Venezuelan Politics: Class, Con!ict, award—a Guggenheim fellowship—to National Book Awards. and the Chavez Phenomenon work on her next collection, about botany, entomology, and marine biology.

16 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College Formula for Success Research is thriving at Queens College, where terrific new faculty have joined accomplished senior professors in breaking new ground and inspiring students to pursue scientific careers. In the following pages, we present field reports on some of our most talented teachers and alumni. amerman H Don

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 17 Better Living through Chemistry By Donna Shoemaker Hospital bedding that halts the transmission of disease . . . house paint that blocks mold . . . clothing that offers protection from anthrax. In citing some of the highly practical possibilities of his antibacterial/antifungal surface treatments, organic chemist Robert Engel (Chemistry & Biochemistry) finds one close by. His wife, Jeanne, informally tests one of his specially treated hospital jackets. Month after month, it remains free of bacteria—that is, on all but one non-treated patch sewn on as a control.

18 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College Engel loves to rip apart the cellular structures of harmful bacte- Agency approval,” Engel notes. “The major investors who formed ria, fungi, and mold. For the past 15 years he and the chemistry the corporation are particularly interested in fabric treatment,” he students he mentored—some of them now professors them- adds. To market additional applications, such as pharmaceuticals, selves—have been working at treating surfaces to do just that. paint, and wood, “Jake Maslow’s of!ce at CUNY [Technology A faculty member at Queens College for 42 years, Engel just Commercialization] is continuing to look for other investors,” completed a year as acting dean of the division of mathematics Engel explains. and natural sciences. On his watch, QC unveiled the $30-million Faculty split 50/50 with CUNY any royalties from their Remsen Hall annex that added teaching and research labs. Eager intellectual property owned by CUNY, which then reinvests 25 to further student and faculty research, Engel keeps a !le on his percent of its half in the college where the inventor is employed. desk of grant announcements. His teaching talents are legendary. Royalties from university research can be extremely lucrative. En- As one student noted, “When this man lectures, it’s like celestial gel’s !rst doctoral student, Dennis Liotta, ’70, ’72, ’74, who holds music resonating throughout perfection.” an endowed chair at Emory University, is co-inventor of the In his lab, Engel has been launching not only marketable main anti-HIV drug, which has brought Emory multi-millions in products but careers. His prophylactic coatings have enormous revenue (see Q Magazine, Spring 2009). potential in health-care settings. “We know we can make them Engel is enormously proud of Liotta and other former work against the nastiest things out there—among them E. coli students, and at times continues research collaborations long and staph,” Engel explains. “We feel we have something signi!- after their graduation. JaimeLee I. Rizzo, ’98, ’00, ’01, a chem- cant for making people’s lives better.” istry professor at Pace University, “started with me as a junior In many other areas, possibilities beckon. “Out on the battle- doing synthesis in the lab,” Engel recalls, “and absolutely ran my !eld, the main danger is infection,” says Engel, who came to QC research group.” She assisted Engel in researching ionic liquids, after conducting research while in the Army. Making military which led to changing surfaces to make them antimicrobial, and uniforms antimicrobial would mean they could quickly be that eventually led to patents. enlisted as sterile bandages. In construction, coating wood could Next year Engel will have far more time to devote to his new reduce the “sick house syndrome,” Engel believes. “In the South, corporation because he will be on sabbatical. Part of the time, before a house is even !nished, it’s coated with mold. Wood he plans to conduct research in central Pennsylvania, where treated with our approach prevents that from growing.” From wife Jeanne has accepted a position as a hospitalist. It’s familiar his travels, he realizes that “A hotel is a very dangerous place, turf for this Penn State PhD graduate. Getting back to herding particularly the bedspreads, which don’t get washed very often.” polycationic strings, non-aqueous ionic liquids, and liquid ionic To avoid infections, he advises, “Take some paper towels, grab the phosphates—all part of his research—has a great deal of appeal bedspread, and stick it in a corner.” for Engel: “I haven’t run out of things to do in the lab.” “Killing bacteria isn’t new,” Engel points out. “It’s been around for eons.” But with certain chemicals, “the dif!culty is that you need a tremendously high concentration to organize LEFT: Robert Engel in his laboratory with student Sonika Raj. BELOW: Engel tests how his modi!ed fabric surfaces will stand up them to attack a bacterium to kill it. It’s like herding cats.” to detergents. Engel, who served in the U.S. Army for two years, In coaxing chemicals to go just where he wants them to go, rising to the rank of captain, !rst approached the Army for support Engel follows his curiosity into new territories of green solvents for his research on preventing tents from rotting and reducing bacterial infections caused by wounds. and environmentally friendly applications. His lab also creates pharmaceuticals that hold promise in preventing the transmission of disease. A Cornell Medical School researcher is using the lab’s organic salts to look into “regulating ionic transfer through heart muscle,” with a goal of preventing heart attacks, Engel notes. Engel’s unusual research has been attracting attention abroad as well, including earlier funding from Johnson & Johnson in Great Britain for wound dressings. In mid-May, while in Vienna to attend a symposium, Engel spoke with representatives of sev- eral chemical companies, including one of Germany’s largest. As the commercial possibilities increase, so do the com- plexities of turning lab research into marketable products. “I’m just the inventor,” says Engel. “I’m not a businessperson.” To surmount the obstacles of technology transfer, Engel gratefully turns to the entrepreneurship resources of QC and CUNY. amerman H With the idea of marketing some of his lab’s discoveries, “A corporation has been set up to handle licensing and deal with hotos: Don hotos:

P the extensive paperwork required for Environmental Protection

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 19 Oceans of Knowledge Cecilia McHugh examines the land beneath the sea by Donna Shoemaker McHugh to sites half a world apart. Last winter, she took part in an “amazing” three-month research expedition to New Zealand, As close as Sandy Hook Bay and as far away as the South and shortly after headed an urgent expedition to Haiti. Paci!c, Cecilia McHugh probes underwater secrets with a ma- Off the coast of New Zealand, on board the R/V JOIDES rine geologist’s high-tech tools. Her curiosity spans prehistoric Resolution, as a sedimentologist McHugh studied “very deep climate change to the origins of Haiti’s January 12 earthquake. holes that hold the history of global changes in sea level and By sampling ancient sediment cores, by mapping fault lines on climate,” she explains. The vessel’s drilling rig, eight stories high, seabeds, by analyzing toxic pollution in local estuaries, she seeks brought up the deepest core (1,927 meters) ever drilled by one ex- to understand geologic forces from a marine perspective. How is pedition of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program in sediments. land massively shaken and reshaped? What can sediments tell us This sediment will give glimpses into sea level change as far back about why sea levels are rising globally? Can we predict when a as 34 million years, when Antarctica separated from Australia. tsunami will devastate a densely populated coast? Analyzing other cores, “We were surprised at what we think were “I love to teach about the oceans,” says McHugh. A Queens warm conditions during geologic periods generally accepted as College professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and cold. We thought the oceans had cooled much earlier,” she notes. faculty member of CUNY’s Graduate Center, she has made 20 Returning January 16, McHugh knew what she had to do research expeditions. “It’s very impressive to see the sea "oor, in response to the devastating quake. “I began to propose an when you can walk it and touch it.” expedition to Haiti,” she relates. Unlike the South Paci!c voyage This year, two extraordinary research opportunities drew that involved 300 international scientists and at least !ve years of planning, this time the principal investigators had to condense Katherine Ryan Mishkin (l) and Cecilia McHugh unravel the months of preparation into two weeks. sedimentary history of the catastrophic January 12 earthquake On board the R/V Endeavor from February 20–March 13, in Haiti. Studying sediment cores and geophysical images from McHugh guided the research team in assessing the Haitian Haiti and other earthquake-prone countries will contribute to the understanding of the frequency at which these earthquakes occur quake’s causes and why an unexpected tsunami had followed in and if the energy they release can potentially generate tsunamis. its wake. Her team raced to document the ephemeral evidence before shallow waters dispersed it. PhD student Katie R. Mishkin was part of the expedition. It also involved several Haitian and U.S. geoscientists and opens up possibilities for bringing Haitian students to QC and CUNY. This National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid Response expedition merged seismic science with a mission of mercy: trans- porting 40 huge donated tents to be set up for schools. “It was an eerie feeling to go into the bay of Port-au-Prince,” McHugh recalls, for it was like a war zone with all the massive ships docked. “You could see smoke coming out of the city, you knew there were "attened buildings and 250,000 people dead there,” she relates. With no visas, the Endeavor’s team could not go on shore. From in"atables during surveying, “We saw a huge amount of destruction, houses demolished, where the earth had slipped into the sea,” she notes. “Deforestation has a big impact on the soil when it gets wet.” Their survey delineated a potential site for a now-much-needed new port. She hopes to continue mapping the area, in part to show how compression played a much bigger amerman H part. “When you have compression, you have the danger of a Don

20 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College thrust earthquake, and the danger of a thrust earthquake is a tsunami,” she says. McHugh was invited to a March confer- ence in Miami to mobilize efforts to develop earthquake-resistant buildings for Haiti. She is grati!ed that the United Nations is using “all of the recommendations we made,” among them devising a prototype to take to villages to show masons how to construct sturdier homes. The Obama administration was so im- pressed with McHugh’s work in Haiti that it was featured on the White House’s website. In her report on the Endeavor expedition, Kate Moran, senior policy analyst for the White House Of!ce of Science and Technology Policy, noted that the expedition was “led by a dynamic woman with a long record of mentor- ing students of all ages.” Moran’s words well capture McHugh. From a Buenos Aires family of scientists (her grandfather was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry), McHugh after high school emigrated from Argentina. The professor doesn’t mind telling her diverse students that “I didn’t speak English when I came here.”

McHugh’s life story is a lighthouse for the next generation of marine geoscientists—especially women and minorities. “There’s nothing like personal experience to excite them, to encour- age them to pursue a career in the sciences and to show them they can do it,” she believes. She relates with pride one example, a program fund- ed by an NSF grant to increase diversity in the geosciences. “We took minority students out to sea on the Long Island Sound and taught them marine aspects for a week. Not only did they declare majors, but McHugh (r.) and members of the Endeavor examine a gravity core they got their master’s and PhDs” (see www.explore-the-sound. that was just recovered. As it name implies, a gravity core pen- etrates into the sea"oor sediment by gravity (force is provided by org). Students have accompanied McHugh on international re- lead weights on top of the core). After the plastic tube inside the search expeditions as well, including to Turkey, where she began pipe is removed, it is split into half and studied. The layers of mud to develop the methods for submarine earthquake geology. provide information about their deposition; for example, a layer of sediment could have been deposited by a "ood, an earthquake, or a QC hired McHugh in 1993 after she completed her PhD at change is the position of the shoreline related to sea level. Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Her dissertation involved diving along New Jersey’s continental shelf, Next year on sabbatical, McHugh heads back to Istanbul to where she was thrilled to see its grand canyons. “When you dive study quakes. While !elding invitations from Oregon, Texas, Bra- with the sub, you see the contrast between the beautiful white zil, and Austria, she is making sure two QC minority undergrad- chalk walls and the sea,” she found. uates will be able to conduct research in Bangladesh. She kids At Lamont-Doherty, “They take only 25 students from how she is popular with students because “I give them salaries, around the world every year,” McHugh says. She almost wasn’t research classes, and a full research background as an undergrad- U M A

one of them. “They had a big discussion when it came to my uate, including presenting abstracts at conferences.” /T P D

acceptance because of my being a married woman with two Whether researching on Turkey’s Sea of Marmara, mapping IO children who lived an hour away.” Since graduation, she has been fault lines near Haiti’s shores, or diving into California’s subma- an adjunct associate researcher there. Lamont-Doherty has co- rine canyons, McHugh thrives in her element of water worldwide. sponsored several of her expeditions, including to Haiti. William Crawford, William Crawford,

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 21 A Lifelong Puzzle Biologist Zahra Zakeri explores the mystery of cell death—and nurtures the next generation of scientists

By Leslie Jay

As a child, Zahra Zakeri (Biology) always wanted to know how at whether it matters if a cell is male or female,” she explains. Her things worked. “My nickname was Questions,” recalls the professor. team is also trying to !gure out how viruses like "u or Dengue After more than 20 years of teaching at QC and investigating manipulate cell machinery for their own bene!t. programmed cell death—the loss of cells for reasons other than Zakeri’s lab is open 24 hours a day, and her students—including accident—Zakeri’s curiosity and energy are unabated. In addition eight undergraduates, three master’s students, two PhD candidates, to directing the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) pro- and one visiting research scientist—put in long hours. So does gram, leading undergraduate and graduate classes, conducting re- their mentor, who has made a mission of helping younger people search, and publishing papers, she runs the International Cell Death advance in scienti!c !elds. In the six years that she has run QC’s Society, an organization she founded in 1994. In May she "ew to MARC program—funded by a unit of the National Institutes of Stockholm as one of about 70 scientists invited to participate in a Health—its participants have accumulated a slew of distinctions. cell death conference honoring the bicentennial of the Karolinska The spring semester was especially impressive. In February, Institute, which awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. MARC student Emmanuel Datan ’11 was among 35 people chosen Zakeri is also a founding member of Scientists Without Borders, to present research on host-pathogen interactions at the American which presents workshops, conferences, and training sessions in Society of Microbiology’s meeting in Baltimore on Biodefense and nations whose scientists cannot easily travel. “Our aim is to educate Emerging Diseases. Barely a month afterward, MARC participant people in third world countries,” she says. Andrew Hillman ’10 placed !rst for his poster presentation at the An immigrant herself, Zakeri was in her mid-teens when her Student National Medical Association Conference in Chicago. family left Iran and settled in Corona, Queens. She graduated from Hillman reported on a promising therapy for children who have Newtown High School and enrolled at York College, intending to a type of cerebral palsy that affects only one side of their body. major in math. Her plans changed once she began working in the Closer to home, QC’s biology department selected MARC student lab of Leslie Lewis, a biology professor specializing in genetics. “He Guy Surpris ’10 for the Colwin Award for outstanding research was a fantastic teacher, with such dedication to the !eld,” Zakeri by a student not going to a health professional school. Surpris, recalls. “I fell in love with biology.” who earned recognition for his project on how the Dengue virus After completing her bachelor’s degree at York, she earned a manipulates cells and provokes an immune response, is studying master’s at Long Island University and a doctorate at St. John’s immunology at Tufts University. University, studying virology and tumor growth. In 1985 she Other undergraduates MARC-ed for success include Marie- entered a post-doctoral program at Columbia University, where Pierre Payen ’10, who has enrolled in Boston University’s graduate she was eventually named a research associate. There, she became program in neuroscience; Luis Vega ’10, who accepted a summer interested in cell death, a subject with huge scienti!c implications. slot in Harvard’s immunology program; Joanne Broome ’11, who Normal embryonic development involves cell death; so do many spent her vacation participating in neuroscience research at New diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. The ability to control this York University; and Erica Rodriguez ’11, who, like Datan, won process could revolutionize medicine. a summer internship at the Rockefeller University. Hillman, who “It was a quiet !eld at the time,” Zakeri says. “I was lucky to be plans to apply to medical school eventually, is weighing research there at the beginning.” By 1990, when she started teaching at QC, opportunities at the National Institutes of Health. she had already gotten her !rst grants for cell death research. Now “We are small but mighty—we are the mighty MARCs,” says she routinely receives major funding; in the last four years alone, Zakeri, unwittingly alluding to her own imposing presence, all 5 she has won $8 million in educational and research grants. Her lat- feet of it. “We are happy to carry the name of Queens College all est work concerns the role gender plays in disease. “We’re looking over the world.”

FUTURE SCIENTISTS: Students working with Zakeri are doing research on how the in"uenza virus can induce cell death or keep a cell alive, how a viral gene can be used to manipulate cancer, and other topics. Front row l-r: Narges Zali, Fiorella Tapia-Ortiz, Lauren M. amerman

Alvarez, Zakeri, and Carlos Penaloza; second row: Dinah Han, Ali Shirazian, Vanessa Verdugo, Pierre Co, and Maria Entezarizaher (visiting H scientist); third row: Daniel Sangobanwo, Alain Goldman, Samantha Boursiquot, and Jeffrey McLean. Don

22 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 23 Their Own Medicine To supply Africa with affordable drugs, chemist Rolande Hodel is establishing pharmaceutical plants in the SubSaharan region

By Leslie Jay Determined to get a doctorate, Hodel enrolled in the PhD program at City College, CUNY; she’d !nished everything but Rolande Hodel ’05 wasn’t among the presenters at a recent her dissertation research at Kansas. Then she transferred to QC American Chemical Society (ACS) gathering at St. John’s Uni- to continue her research under Harry Gafney (Chemistry), a versity in Queens. Nonetheless, colleagues greeted her like a VIP. member of her PhD committee. “There is no one better than “Rolande, you’re a big celebrity,” said one man en route to the Dr. Gafney, who was always there at the right time, but also let registration table. Hodel broke into a modest smile. us make our mistakes,” says Hodel. Gafney returns the compli- She has reasons to be pleased. In 2008, in recognition of her ment. “Rolande was working in an interdisciplinary area between efforts to set up locally owned pharmaceutical plants in Africa— organic chemistry and nanotechnology,” he notes. “She forged a continent dependent upon imported medicines—ACS chose ahead and we got it all done.” her as one of three recipients of the She was weighing her next profes- Astellas USA Foundation Award. sional step when she heard Brazilian Astellas, a drug company, estab- President Lula De Silva talk to the lished the prize in 2007 to honor United Nations about his country’s people who contribute to research production of antiretroviral drugs to that improves public health; each combat HIV and AIDS. “My inter- winner receives a $30,000 grant. ests in peace, travel, and chemistry Hodel was also a semi!nalist in last came together,” says Hodel. The year’s Buckminster Fuller Chal- result was AIDSfreeAFRICA (www. lenge. Launched by the Buckminster aidsfreeafrica.org), the organization Fuller Institute, the program solicits she set up in 2005 to equip Africans proposals for addressing humanity’s to become self-suf!cient in making worst problems. medicines. A nonpro!t, it got seed Ironically, this accomplished money from friends, family, the New chemist grew up in a household that Tudor Foundation, and the Weyman thwarted her desire for an educa- On a trip to Bamenda, Cameroon, Hodel (center) stayed Foundation. tion. “I would probably have studied at the Mezam Polyclinic—an AIDS treatment center— Today, AIDSfreeAFRICA has where she became friendly with the nursing staff. physics, but my stepmother and a license to import and sell the father didn’t let me go to school,” antifungal drug miconazole, made explains Hodel, an East German native raised in the western city by Belgium-based Tibotec. AIDSfreeAFRICA also collaborates of Kaiserslautern. At 15 she moved away from her family and with two groups in Cameroon: Genemark, a Douala-based jumped back on the academic track, earning high school and col- company that mixes medicinal syrups; and Cameroonian Baptist lege diplomas, followed by a master’s degree in psychology. Convention, a hospital in Mutangene that prepares intravenous In 1988 Hodel came to the United States on vacation. “This "uids, eye drops, and ointments. Discussions are under way with is the country where I should have been born,” she says, citing, Cinpharm, a company backed by the Indian generic manufac- among other factors, “the ease of talking to people.” After travel- turer Cipla and the German Development Bank. ing for two months, she "ew home and applied to U.S. graduate A dual citizen of the U.S. and Germany, Hodel spends about programs; the University of Kansas gave her a scholarship. two months a year in Cameroon, where she has a residential per- Upon completing a master’s in inorganic chemistry, she at- mit. She has an apartment in Ossining, NY, but doesn’t log much tended an ACS meeting in Washington, D.C. There, she learned couch time, !lling her schedule with speaking engagements, fund- about a job at a company that worked with nanocrystals. The raising events, and a job teaching chemistry at Westchester Com- company eventually folded, but not before sponsoring Hodel munity College. “I need capital for AIDSfreeAFRICA’s projects,” for a green card. Once again, she landed a position through her she says. “We issue loans and are looking for investors. We want fellow chemists. “Someone at ACS gave my resume to someone to build an infrastructure that provides jobs, is self-sustainable, in the pharmaceuticals business,” she recalls. “Two months later I and does not depend on handouts. If I had half a million dollars was in New York, pushing insulin down the throats of rats.” today, I’d be in full-blown production in 12 months.”

24 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College

Queens College

YEAR OF

CHINA

Every year, as part of our commitment to global education, Queens College will focus on a different country. We’re launching this initiative in the fall with a yearlong celebration of China. Our Year of China begins in September with fascinating art exhibits by Sin-ying Ho (QC Art Center) and Marlene Tseng Yu (Godwin-Ternbach Museum). We then will present an exciting full day of events on Tuesday, October 5, including a concert by the Shanghai String Quartet and Bright Sheng ’84 and a lecture by Morris Rossabi, QC’s Distinguished Professor of History and an authority on China and Mongolia. The celebration continues throughout the fall and spring semesters with lectures by world-renowned scholars, dance and music performances, art exhibits, a trip to China’s legendary Silk Roads led by Professor Rossabi, and much more. All events are open to alumni. Please visit the Year of China website often for updates (www.qc.cuny.edu/yearof china).

Queens: The Magazine of Queens College 25 QUEENS GIVING BACK

Foundation Board Welcomes Three New Trustees

Two exceptional alumni and a member of one of the college’s most distinguished families join the board

SAUL KUPFERBERG is not a sales and marketing. “We specialize in only diverse from the fact that they often QC alum. But as the higher-end equipment for industrial and speak a second language but from the son of Max Kupfer- research and development applications. experience they bring,” especially the berg ’42 and nephew It’s a big responsibility, but it also gives “real-world” kind. of the late Kenneth us a lot of pride. We have provided local Through her variety of internships at Kupferberg ’41, he employment for more than six decades.” QC, including ones at the U.S. Depart- remains grateful to the Outside the of!ce, Kupferberg led his ment of State and the former Salomon school—and eager to father into another pursuit: racing thor- Smith Barney, Lao gained invaluable continue his family’s oughbreds. “They’re beautiful and amaz- insights. “I knew then that I wanted to tradition of service ing animals,” he says. “It’s a thrill when a work for an investment bank,” she recalls. to it (see Q Maga- horse you own wins a race.” “These days, an internship is really a 10- zine, Spring 2006). “I week interview—it’s wouldn’t be in a position to do the things KATHY LAO “I enrolled in Queens better from the em- I do now if my father hadn’t gotten such a College expecting to register for pre-med ployer’s perspective great education at Queens College,” he says. courses and become a doctor. After tak- and for the prospec- Born and raised in Queens, Saul went ing a course in economics, I realized that tive employee.” to Bayside High School and continued his was an area I was much more passionate Sums up the new education at Trinity College in Hartford, about,” says Kathy Lao ’01, VP in Corpo- trustee, “I’m a big CT. Then he went to Dropsie College rate Finance Advisory at J.P. Morgan. fan of QC.” That’s in Philadelphia for graduate studies in With !ve daughters set on college, easy to see: She serves ancient history. In 1988 he moved back to Lao’s parents were delighted when QC on a business advi- New York and began working at Kepco, awarded her a full-tuition Presidential sory committee, stays the business his family founded in Flush- Scholarship. She still worked 30–40 hours connected to Business and Liberal Arts ing some 40 years earlier. The company a week. “That’s very consistent with other and economics faculty, participates in makes electrical equipment that converts students” at QC, she says. “They need to Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics honor AC power—supplied by utilities—to DC support themselves and sometimes their society) programs, and invites students in power. families.” Their “drive and ambition,” “to share intelligence about what to ex- “Everything needs a power supply,” Lao is convinced, contribute greatly to pect when they work on Wall Street.” She says Kupferberg, now the !rm’s VP of their appeal to employers. They are “not has another Rx in mind for their careers:

Leaving a Legacy that Secures Your Future Alumni and friends of Queens College vice president for institutional ad- which someone can fund an annuity, have a new way to support their favor- vancement. “You can set up payments beneficiaries must be at least 65 years ite school: CUNY institutions are now for yourself or someone else. The old. An annuity can provide support offering charitable gift annuities. These remainder goes back to the college. It’s for a relative or supplement your own vehicles allow people to donate cash or a win-win for everyone.” retirement income. And, of course, it stock; in return, they receive fixed life- Under the CUNY Charitable Gift An- offers the priceless satisfaction of help- time payments for themselves or loved nuity Program, the minimum donation ing Queens College and its students. ones and a federal tax deduction. is $10,000, and donors can specify how “This is a great way for someone they want their money to be used. Funds to make a gift to the college, receive are invested in accordance with New quarterly returns, and get a tax ben- York State Insurance Department rules. efit,” says Laurie Dorf, QC’s assistant While there is no minimum age at

To learn how you can make a gift to Queens College through this program, please contact the Office of Development at 718-997-3920.

26 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College “I’m hoping to create !rmer relationships so that we can foster camaraderie.” Alumni Hall to Be Renamed in Honor of Renée Kroll Zarin ’54 HOWARD SIPZNER While deftly dealing with rush-hour traf!c after At a jazz concert, a reunion meetings in Manhattan, Howard Sipzner dance, or an alumni chapter event ’83 mentally travels back on the broad on the West Coast, why was avenue that led from Queens College to his everyone smiling in their photos? career in real estate !nance. “Nobody was there unless they wanted to be there. That was the Sipzner’s family lived close to the spirit we tried to engender.” With campus. He started college a year early, those words, Renée Kroll Zarin ’54 but then stopped for a year and a half of savors her own recollections of travel and religious studies in Israel. When staying close to QC. he returned to QC, he found his way into At Homecoming on October computer science. He appreciated how 3, the college will rename Alumni “the logic and programming help you Hall in Zarin’s honor, a tribute to lay out things in an “her exceptionally distinguished orderly way.” service.” Zarin confides she “was “I owe a tremen- absolutely taken aback” when President James Muyskens made dous debt to Queens that announcement. As a further College because it tribute, the college has estab- provided me with a lished the Renée Kroll Zarin Fund !rst-class education for the QC Honors Scholarship in something I loved,” Program. Zarin is working to “The ‘sandwich generation’ Sipzner believes. That interest new donors in the fund, dilemma—being a middle-aged QC degree, coupled which will be used to attract the caregiver for both children and parents—was not much discussed with a Harvard city’s top students to QC’s chal- lenging honors programs. It is back then,” Zarin recalls. By MBA, “really got me off and running.” securing underwriting, she kept Being a “computer geek,” he adds, opened the second Zarin fund at QC; Lilo Leeds ’48 established the earlier program fees low, and by involv- doors in his !rst job. A !nancial analyst at one, which is awarded to an upper ing committees, she made others Merrill Lynch, he wrote a municipal bond junior who exemplifies what an “feel part of the process.” analysis program that “really surpassed” a alumnus/a should be. All that led then-President cumbersome system. Zarin personifies that ideal. Saul Cohen to tap Zarin to direct Beginning in 1986, Sipzner spent 12 Appointed by President Shirley Community Relations and later years with Chase Manhattan Bank and Strum Kenny as QC’s director of Corporate and Foundation Rela- its predecessors, including time as a VP at Alumni Affairs (1991-1998), she tions, where she raised millions of dollars. Her success continued Chase Securities. In 1999 he joined Equity launched reunions, Alumni Day, and the alumni magazine (found- as director of Alumni Affairs and, One, Inc., a shopping center REIT (real following her retirement in 1998, estate investment trust) in North Miami er and first editor); set up region- al, professional, and departmental as a QC Foundation trustee. Beach, FL. During his time as CFO and alumni chapters; and engaged In Great Neck, NY, Zarin has executive VP, Equity One grew tenfold. graduates in numerous other applied her civic-mindedness to Since 2006 Sipzner has been executive ways, including the inaugural 50th parks, libraries, and local politics. vice president and CFO of Brandywine reunion for the pioneering gradu- She also serves as VP of her hus- Realty Trust, a REIT based in Radnor, ates of 1941. band Michael’s company, Well- PA, that owns, develops, and manages An early childhood education fleet Investments, LLC. These of!ce properties. He derives satisfaction in major at QC, Zarin earned an MA days, the reunions she organizes gather together three grown “helping our company get through some at Teachers College of Columbia University, taught for a while, children and nine grandchildren. very tough economic times.” The grandkids, she is tickled to Sipzner appreciates the “energy, talent, then earned an MS in urban af- fairs from Hunter College. Re- say, think the idea of visiting the and vision” of the college’s leadership turning to Queens in 1980, she Renée Kroll Zarin Alumni Hall “is team. There are other reasons why QC restructured the Continuing really cool.” remains a prime property along his life’s Education paralegal program to highway. It was in college that Sipzner met gain American Bar Association To contribute to Renée’s fund, send his future wife, Rhonda “Reize” (Bor- approval, and developed a series a check payable to the QC Founda- gen), ’84. Sipzner—a summa cum laude of programs that won national tion—with RKZ Fund in the memo graduate—demurs that “she was the better awards, including Women Working line—to QC Foundation, Kiely Hall 1306, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, student at QC.” Zachary, the third of their and Help for You and Your Aging Parent, programs that were ahead NY 11367, or visit www.qc.cuny. four children, is now a sophomore at their edu/supportqc. alma mater. of their time.

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 27 QUEENS ALUMNI NOTES

1941: Julian Feldman passed received his master’s and doctoral its own lawyer, the department participated in an Alumni Round- away this past January. He was degrees at Columbia University’s allowed schemer Allen Stanford to table on April 28. After receiving his editor of the college’s !rst paper, the Teachers College. For 33 years he set up an unregulated of!ce where accounting degree from Queens, Crown . . . 1943: Barbara taught at Kingsborough Community he swindled investors out of millions Mark earned a master’s degree in Underwood Given sends College in the department of (perhaps billions) of dollars that taxation from Pace University. He is greetings from biological sciences, where he was were moved offshore. Lucy’s career the cofounder and co-managing South Setauket, chair for 16 years. He was also the as a feminist, civil rights activist, and partner of Imowitz Koenig & Co., NY. She writes, “I director of the marine technology hard-hitting investigative reporter LLP, and is trustee and of!cer of so enjoy reading program for seven years until he was pro!led in the spring 2009 issue several foundations and nonpro!ts, about the retired in 2002. He and his wife, Lois of Q . . . Marjorie Larney has including the Museum of Modern wonderful Grant Muzio, now live in the published LGBT Youth Human Rights Art and the Jewish Association for activities and beautiful coastal village of Rockport, (LAP Lambert Publishing, 2009) Services for the Aged . . . 1971: projects going on MA, but Joe remains interested in about the effects of homophobia Jane Breskin Zalben has two at QC.” After college Barbara Queens College. On March 22 he and bullying in American secondary new books for 2010: Baby Shower worked for Time, then went came back to give a talk to students schools. Marjorie, who majored in (Roaring Brook/Macmillan), a overseas with the Red Cross. She . . . 1957: Marvin Miller sociology and anthropology at children’s picture book that she earned a PhD in social work from teaches history at Suffolk County Queens and also has an MA in wrote and illustrated, and Four Tulane, and married in 1979. She Community College, where he is human rights, taught with the Peace Seasons, a middle-grade/young adult moved back to the metropolitan especially interested in the subject Corps in Thailand and now works novel (Knopf/Random House). She area after her husband died in order of “historical omissions” from with youth in Bangkok and northern has published more than 50 books, to be near her brother. Now living textbooks—“with all due respect to California. Many may remember that eight of them novels and the rest in a life-care facility, she is part of a my former QC history professors Marjorie competed in the javelin at books that she wrote and illustrated. group that meets to read poems, like Hallberg and Hall and others the 1952 and 1956 Olympics . . . She recently participated in a group plays, and novels out loud, and she who were great.” Marvin is the 1966: Sam Dorn is chair and show in Maine of students of the says about it: “The New York Times author of Wunderlich’s Salute professor of endodontics at the Uni- late Marvin Bileck, former professor stated that it was a lost art! We (Malamud-Rose, 1983), the only versity of Texas Dental Branch in of studio art at Queens . . . 1972: seniors are indulging” . . . 1953: book on the American Nazis’ Camp Houston. The UTDB is part of the Stephen Freeman was promot- Alan Saks retired from the bench Siegfried on Long Island in the Texas Medical Center, which is the ed to CEO of the last year after 28 years as a judge, 1930s, and Terminating “the Socially largest medical center in the world YAI Network, the past 14 of them on the New Inadequate” (Malamud-Rose, 1996), . . . Penny Pearlman is the which serves York State Supreme Court. He is about relationships between the author of Pretty Smart: Lessons from people with continuing part time as a judicial Nazi and American eugenics Our Miss Americas (AuthorHouse, disabilities and hearing of!cer . . . 1954: Vivian movements . . . 1963: F. 2008) . . . 1967: Gary Lawson their families in Listain-Carlin recently Gerard received the American Airlines the metropolitan organized Friends of Seniors, a Errante writes Veterans Initiatives 2009 Commu- region, Puerto volunteer group in her home in that, after 30 years nity Citizenship Award. Gary is an Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Newburgh, NY, which has the largest as a professor of attorney and partner in Strasburger Stephen earned his master’s of senior population in Orange County; music at Norfolk & Price, LLP, in Dallas, TX, and also social work at Hunter, where he was it aims to provide needed services State University in serves on the boards of nonpro!ts. inducted into the Hall of Fame in to people so that they can stay in Virginia, he has The award recognizes his service to 2008. He has been with YAI for 33 their homes. Along with a friend, retired from America’s Huey 091 Foundation, years . . . 1973: Barbara Vivian secured public and nonpro!t academia and relocated to Las Vegas, which helps military personnel who Rosenthal (MFA) continues to backing for the group, and they have but continues to record, perform, have been severely injured due to pursue art in her Greenwich Village already trained and certi!ed over 20 and tour. His newest CD, Delicate the 9/11 attacks, and Snowball studio and home, exploring volunteers. Vivian has been a Balance, contains works for clarinet Express, which helps the children of existential themes in a variety of marriage and family counselor in and electronics that were composed fallen 9/11 military heroes . . . media and writing. The Lucas private practice for 30 years, having for him . . . 1964: David Ferida Wolff (MSEd ’70) Carrieri Gallery in Berlin recently taught both college and elementary Goldbeck and his wife and continues to write and publish exhibited a selection of her prints school before that. She writes that “I coauthor, Nikki, have been voices of proli!cally. Her picture book The and hosted a reading. Also in Berlin, have very fond memories of Queens the whole foods movement for Story Blanket (Peachtree, 2008) is a the Directors Gallery screened a College.” She also has two children, some 35 years. Their popular Healthy Parents’ Choice Silver Award Book retrospective of her videos . . . six grandchildren, and eight Highways, a guide to eating well on and winner of the Storytelling World Leif Rubinstein writes that, great-grandchildren . . . 1955: the road, was released in a second Resources Award (Stories for Young after more than 30 years in private Joseph Muzio has written his edition last year (Ceres, 2009). They Listeners). Her latest book of essays practice as a bankruptcy attorney, he !rst book, Buddy Remembers: Then continue to write, making their is Missed Perceptions: Challenge Your has accepted an appointment as and Now (Trafford, 2008), a memoir home in Woodstock, NY . . . Lucy Thoughts, Change Your Thinking assistant professor and director of of Italian American life in Brooklyn Komisar won the prestigious (Pranava Books, 2009). In addition, the newly created Mortgage and Queens. Joe graduated with National Headliner Award and the Ferida reports that she has moved Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Clinic degrees in both biology and political Sigma Delta Chi Award for her onto the web, where she is a at Touro Law Center in Central Islip, science, then joined the Marine exposé of the Florida Banking columnist at www.seniorwomen. NY . . . Barbara Duffy Corps, where he was made captain Department’s role in facilitating a com and also writes her own nature Spencer (MS ’75) maintains a full before leaving the service. He Ponzi scheme. Against the advice of blog . . . 1969: Mark Imowitz calendar as a social psychologist. She

28 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College Not Quite into the Sunset for QC’s Events Maestro Joe Brostek Not only does Joe Brostek ’55 control the heavens, it seems he three percent of students who were responsible for most campus also holds dominion over the Earth. activities,” he said. The string of rainless As much as Brostek has helped de!ne QC in that time, he commencements he has, in turn, been de!ned by the college. “I met my wife, Carol Heiser supervised as executive (’54), here,” he said, “and my best friend at the college was best man director of events from at my wedding. Many classmates remain our friends to this day.” 1988 to 2008 is Queens While a student, Brostek was wing commander of the college’s College legend, but many Air Force ROTC unit, graduating as a lieutenant and doing a may be less familiar with tour of duty with the Strategic Air Command in Kansas. He then the story of Lake Misiurski. embarked on a career in marketing with several blue chip !rms, Re"ecting on his 60- running events in the U.S. and abroad. Representing GE’s satellite year association with QC manufacturing division, he witnessed space launches at Cape as a student, alumni board Canaveral. member, and employee, Those experiences would later serve him well in his role Brostek, who retired in marshalling the disparate elements essential to QC’s annual launch January, recalled his role in event, commencement. “In 1986 President Shirley Kenny asked dealing with the large body me to come to the college as a consultant; two years later she of water that for 20 years offered me the job of director of special events and I assumed had plagued pedestrians responsibility for commencement.” and drivers on Reeves Brostek also served as director of alumni affairs from 2001 Avenue. In 1994 when he to 2006. At commencement 2005, he joined fellow members asked QC’s Buildings & of the class of 1955 in celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Carol and Joe Brostek Grounds Dept. about the graduation. That day borough president Helen Marshall ’73 issued enormous puddle, they a proclamation from the podium declaring it “Joe Brostek Day” in laughingly said, “That’s our the borough of Queens in recognition of his service to the college lakefront property,” explaining they’d named it for former B&G and the community—which she did again on the occasion of his head Julian Misiurski. of!cial retirement party, March 9. Money to address the inadequate drainage was regularly His alma mater also recognized Brostek’s service with the proposed in the city’s annual budget but never made the !nal creation of the Joe and Carol Brostek Prize, a fund that will cut. So Brostek and Jeff Gottlieb ’64, who worked in City provide !nancial assistance to exceptional students who are active Councilmember Morton Povman’s of!ce, initiated a lobbying in leadership roles on campus. effort with local of!cials. On October 24, 1995, a groundbreaking Even in retirement, Brostek continues to serve QC. A living ceremony was held for a new drainage system. Lake Misiurski repository of six decades of campus history, he is helping vanished from the face of the Earth. Rosenthal Library create an archive of a vast collection of That doggedness characterized Brostek’s time at the college, materials he has donated, including programs, posters, hundreds of going back to 1950, his freshman year. Even then he was a campus photos, DVDs, CDs, banners, etc. He has also donated his popular booster, whether serving as student body president or helping Flags of the World collection (some 300), which the library has to lead a fundraising effort for the March of Dimes. “I was part exhibited on two previous occasions, and consults with the library of what was affectionately called ‘the lunatic fringe,’ the two or on events and exhibits.

To make a contribution, send a check payable to the QC Foundation—with Brostek Prize in the memo line—to QC Foundation, Kiely Hall 1306, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367 or visit www.qc.cuny.edu/supportqc speaks, trains, consults, and coaches Award 2009 Silver Recipient (Special nationally and internationally, rewarding career individuals and groups on overcom- and Exceptional Needs). Annie, a teaching, and working in museum in conservation. ing inner obstacles to success . . . freelance writer for newspapers and management. He is now far from the He received his MS 1975: Annie Lubliner magazines, lives in Michigan with her urban canyons of New York: the from Florida State Lehmann published her !rst husband and two younger children. Ellen Noël Art Museum was created University and his book, The Accidental Teacher: Life She is donating all proceeds from through grass-roots efforts to serve PhD from the Lessons from My Silent Son (Univer- the book to autism research . . . a region of over 100,000 square University of sity of Michigan Press, 2009). It Les Reker (MFA) has been Texas miles . . . 1976: Loren Maryland; he worked with the describes life with her severely appointed executive director of the Coen is living in Fort Myers, FL, Smithsonian in Belize; he held autistic son Jonah, who is now Ellen Noël Art Museum of the and working as director of the graduate appointments in Alabama, grown and living in a supervised Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation South Carolina, and Florida; and he home. The book has received rave TX. Les has had an active career in Foundation Marine Laboratory. has directed a diverse array of reviews and was a Mom’s Choice the arts: exhibiting his own work Loren writes that he has had a research programs and undergradu-

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 29 Connected by Queens College and Marriage

Accomplishments and awards have marked December—serve on the journal American Studies, where he has the careers of a pair of brothers-in-law with been the top editor since 1989. strong links to Queens College. Meanwhile, Katzman’s brother-in-law, James Meyer, has In March, on the occasion of his been enjoying his time in the limelight. A partner with Greco retirement from the College of Liberal Planning Inc., a Long Island !rm that advises clients on estate Arts and Sciences at the University of and retirement issues, Meyer received the Gilbert Tilles Award Kansas, David Katzman ’63 was hailed for from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Long Island his 41 years of service as a professor of Chapter in 2009; the honor, issued annually, recognizes a volunteer American studies, including a decade of who leads fundraising projects for one or more not-for-pro!t James Meyer chairing the highly ranked department. A organizations. He will pick up another distinction this fall, when recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Ford SUNY Brockport will name him an alumnus of the year. Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, he As a faculty member at QC, Meyer coached soccer and hockey was repeatedly honored by UK for outstanding research, teaching, and advised physical education majors. Sidelined by injury in the and mentorship skills. 1970s, he got involved in alumni recreation and became director “My career was interdisciplinary from the start,” says Katzman. of alumni relations and development before leaving QC in 1983. “If “I worked in black history and women’s studies—I was interested I hadn’t broken my leg, I wouldn’t be in this !eld,” he says. “One of in the idea that there were multiple narratives. I was very much the things I am most grateful for is that the alumni program gave shaped by the QC curriculum, which integrated foreign language me a chance.” Another thing he is grateful for: his introduction and other civilizations.” In his retirement he will continue to on campus to the woman who would become his wife, Roberta advise several PhD students, sit on committees, and—through Brooks ’68. Her sister Sharyn ’76 is married to Katzman. ate and graduate students. His lab is its 50th anniversary in 2007, and was the author of A Bitter Cup of Coffee: is teaching science at Takoma Park located on Sanibel Island, reached by president of the Queens Council on How MLB and the Players Association (MD) Middle School. One of her what he describes as “an amazing the Arts. She lives in Kew Garden Threw 874 Retirees a Curve (Word favorite projects is a MESA/Sea Perch and beautiful drive to work” across Hills with her husband . . . 1978: Association Publishers, 2010), which camp, where she teaches middle a causeway of about 10 miles that Susan Forgasch Lopatkin is about former major leaguers who schoolers to build an underwater passes over “seagrass-laden estuarine was reelected to are not receiving their pensions. robot from a kit supplied by the bottoms of turquoise water” . . . her second term Doug lives with his wife and their Of!ce of Naval Research; her group 1977: Dan Demeter spoke at as mayor of the two-year-old daughter in the Capitol won !rst place in the 2008–2009 an Alumni Roundtable on March 10. Village of Region of New York . . . Howard Sea Perch competition. This project Dan is chief information of!cer and Kensington, Levitt returned to campus to give helps mentor young people and senior vice president of Korn/Ferry located in Great the keynote address to the Queens encourage them to develop International, the world’s largest Neck, NY, where College Business Forum on March concepts and skills in math, science, executive recruiting !rm. He is a she won a 18, where he discussed his and engineering. Harriet, a member specialist in information systems, contested election with a landslide experiences as former CEO of of the Kappa Gamma chapter of and in 2005 was named a Premier victory of almost 80 percent of the Tourneau. Howard, who has a BA in Kappa Delta Pi, has been recognized 100 IT Leader by Computerworld. vote. Susan, who has a BA in accounting and economics, went on as an outstanding teacher by her After getting his BA in economics accounting, heads her own !nancial to revive Tourneau, the New peers and, in 2007, by US Black from Queens, he earned a master’s planning and consulting !rm, York–based luxury watchmaker and Engineer & Information Technology . . . in business administration in Comprehensive Financial Strategies, retailer, transforming it from a nearly 1990: Nancy Jacobs (MA) management and international established in 1991 . . . Robert bankrupt !rm into a global leader. received her doctor of audiology business from New York University MacGuf!e found himself at the He was named New York’s degree in March from the Arizona and served as an of!cer in the Israeli center of the national health care Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & School of Health Sciences at A. T. Defense Force . . . Rima debate. A memo he posted on the Young in 2006 . . . Yvonne Vega Still University in Mesa, AZ. She Sokoloff was honored with a 40 website of his political action is living in Florida, where she is a plans to continue as an audiologist Year Service Award by Molloy committee, Right Principles, volunteer librarian for the Deer!eld with the New York City Department College in Rockville Centre, NY, encouraged citizens to debate Beach Library and active in the of Education. Nancy and her where she has been teaching varied legislators at town hall forums Deer!eld Democratic Club. She is husband live in Spring Valley, NY . . . subjects in dance and, for many across the country. Robert is a an avid swimmer and retains the Jennifer Yormak Jones (MSE) years, directing the Molloy Modern Libertarian who is proud never to foreign-language interests she is co-owner and executive director Dance Theatre Collection. Rima have voted for a Republican or developed at Queens, where she of the StarStruck Performing Arts writes, “It was a great celebration. To Democrat in a national election . . . studied German, French, and Italian Center in Hobe Sound, FL . . . my delight, I am still teaching some 1979: Darryl Holmes has . . . 1987: Linore Rose Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa has of those subjects and enjoy working been made vice president of Burkard has published her third retired from her librarianship and with enthusiastic students.” Rima commercial lines underwriting for Regency novel, The Country House teaching position with the New York also was president of the American the Selective Insurance Group . . . Courtship (Harvest House, 2010) . . . City Department of Education, and Dance Guild, which honored her at 1981: Douglas Gladstone is 1989: Harriet Hamlin (MSEd) is concentrating on her writing. Her

30 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College

!rst novel, Daughters of the Stone (St. 2003: Sharon Martin’s Press, 2009), was published Johnson has to glowing reviews; it explores published a Afro-Puerto Rican women’s collection of
      experience on the island and in the poetry titled contemporary United States. Emotions (Xlibris).        Dahlma, who has received numerous After getting her          awards, is living in the Bronx . . . BA in English at Queens, she earned 1995: Edward Gollin (MA) is a master’s in business administration teaching music at Williams College and human resource management   in Williamstown, MA, and writing a from the University of Phoenix, and   ! " book on Béla Bartók . . . 1996: is currently a doctoral candidate "   Ari Hoffnung has moved from there. Sharon writes that she lives in Bear Stearns to the public sector, Pembroke Pines, FL, with her “three accepting a position on City beautiful children Derrick, Gabriel, Comptroller John Liu’s staff as and Adonai” . . . Melanie executive director of the budget and Tomaszewski has thrown accounting areas. Ari reports herself into fund-raising for Haitian directly to Deputy Comptroller earthquake relief. A resident of Simcha Felder . . . 1997: Alan Madison, NJ, she helped to recruit van Capelle joined City some 55 local sponsors for Hearts #   $   Comptroller John Liu’s staff in for Haiti, raising $4,000 to print #   $   March. As the longest-serving 5,000 sets of 20 notecards designed # %   
executive director of the Empire by local professional artists. Melanie,
State Pride Agenda, Alan had been a graphic artist, owns the Tivoli # &  an outspoken gay advocate for Creative Design Studio along with same-sex marriage in New York her husband. They have a toddler # '   State. He is Liu’s deputy comptroller named Maya . . . 2005: # ()  for external affairs, serving as chief Nicholas Linnehan continues # ()  advisor on intergovernmental his active theatre career as a relations, politics, and communica- director, actor, and writer. He has tions . . . 1998: Rekha been working as a director of Malhotra, also known as DJ children’s shows and has taught Rekha, was inducted into the drama classes for children for the People’s Hall of Fame by City Lore. past 13 years while continuing to act She was recognized for her many and write. His !rst play, The Real cultural contributions as a producer, Story, was produced in 2001 by the curator, educator, and activist in Post Theatre Company, and his New York City—the “ambassador of second, award-winning play, Identity,  Bhangra,” according to the New York was produced twice by Queens
  Times, and one of the country’s College. His latest play, Erosion: Life  most in"uential South Asians on Life’s Terms, premiered in January  according to Newsweek. Rekha was at Nicu’s Spoon Theater.   pro!led in the Fall 2006 issue of Q . . . 2000: Yoseph Goldstein send us 
   was named Brooklyn Supreme your news We want to hear from you.

Court Employee of the Year in 2010.
 He has worked in the Foreclosure Tell us where you are, what you are doing, what you  *+! ,-.  Department since 2003 . . . 2001: 
 !   remember most about your   Zack Danziger (MA) is teaching college years, and enclose a and performing in Massachusetts, photo. where he plays guitar and some- Email: [email protected] times bass with local bands. He is Mail: Alumni News, Of!ce also recording an album of original of Alumni Affairs, Queens music, tentatively titled Sun Is All We College, 65-30 Kissena Need . . . Lorena Lockey has Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367. been appointed director of human Phone: 718-997-3930 resources at Henry Schein, Inc. She $     % & '  ( )##) '#*  +%*) '%  MISSING ALUMNI ( %  % (&    + !#,-%% %)# will be based in Melville, NY, but also # #     *  )%%* ! (( - ( '(( '  (  Not on our mailing list?  )%  %*   ./ ,  ( * %* (  )  '   will assume responsibility for the Add or update your address %*# '' '  #  0     %  (( company’s facility in Puerto Rico. at www.qc.cuny.edu/QCF.
         !"# Lorena lives in Bayside, NY . . .

. !1234456785 3

QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens College 31 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FLUSHING, NY PERMIT NO. 48

65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367-1597

Congratulations, Class of 2010! The college's 86th Commencement on May 27 was a great day for graduates and their families. The beautiful wrought-iron gate on Kissena Boulevard, through which all incoming students initially enter the campus, for the first time saw members of a graduating class—all 2,200 of them— pass through on their way to the ceremony on the Quad. The principal Commencement speaker was Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian physi- cian and Nobel Peace Prize nominee who is committed to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. The college bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Amitav Ghosh, the world-renowned Indian novelist and former QC distinguished professor of comparative literature.

32 QUEENS: The Magazine of Queens32 College QUEENS: The Maga- zine of Queens College