Graduating Student Profiles 3 ... Early Career Awards for Six Scientists 6 ...Project Excel Success 9 ...Using Birdsongs to Study Memory 7

Puppet Theater click here Queens College Faculty | Stafff Newys MAYi 2010

McHugh Leads College Celebrates Research Trip to 86th Commencement on May 27 Haiti Commencement 2010 finds new hands This year two extraordinary research guiding the more than 2,200 graduating opportunities drew Cecilia McHugh (Earth students through the celebration of their & Env. Sci.) to sites half a world apart. achievement—and it all will begin with Last winter she took part in a three-month a gesture intended to become a new research expedition to New Zealand, and tradition. shortly after that she headed an urgent Just as incoming freshmen have expedition to Haiti. begun each of the past two years with a Off the coast of New Zealand, on board Welcome Day ceremony in which they the R/V JOIDES Resolution, McHugh enter campus through one of the Kissena studied “very deep holes that hold the Avenue gates, this year’s graduating class history of global changes in sea level and will enter Commencement in the same the climate,” she explains. manner—this time, using both gates and The vessel’s drilling rig, eight stories having a final opportunity before they high, brought up the deepest core (1,927 are conferred to reflect on the Queens meters) ever drilled by one expedition of Cecilia McHugh (holding lifering) and fellow researchers onboard the Research College motto that appears in the iron the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Vessel Endeavor. work: "We learn so that we may serve." in sediments. This sediment will give to Haiti,” she relates. Unlike the South student Katie R. Mishkin was part of the “Ceremonies are very important glimpses into sea level change as far back Pacific voyage that involved 300 expedition. It also involved several Haitian to people—especially to students,” as 34 million years, when Antarctica international scientists and at least five and U.S. geoscientists and opens up observes Student Life Office Director separated from Australia. years of planning, this time the principal possibilities for bringing Haitian students John Andrejack, who is directing QC’s Commencement for the first time along Analyzing other cores, “We were investigators had to condense months of to QC and CUNY. with Events Office Director Wendy Lee surprised at what we think were warm preparation into two weeks. This National Science Foundation (see story page 11). He notes that the conditions during geologic periods On board the R/V Endeavor from (NSF) Rapid Response expedition merged class of 2011 will be the first to fulfill generally accepted as cold. We thought the February 20 to March 13, McHugh guided seismic science with a mission of mercy: President James Muyskens’ vision of oceans had cooled much earlier,” she notes. the research team in assessing the Haitian transporting 40 huge donated tents to be set students beginning and completing their Returning January 16, McHugh knew quake’s causes and why an unexpected up for schools. QC experience by ceremonially walking what she had to do in response to the tsunami had followed in its wake. Her team “It was an eerie feeling to go into the through the gates. devastating quake. “I began raced to document the ephemeral evidence bay of Port-au-Prince,” McHugh recalls, “All of the research shows that cer- to propose an expedition before shallow waters dispersed it. PhD for it was like a war zone with all the emonies and college rituals contribute to Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Haiti - from page 1 earthquake-resistant buildings for Haiti. Commencement - from page 1 massive ships docked. “You could see She is gratified that the United Nations Shadow Lines won the Sahitya Akademi Award, India’s most prestigious literary smoke coming out of the city, you knew is using “all of the recommendations we better rates of retention and higher levels prize. His most recent book is Sea of there were flattened buildings and 250,000 made,” among them devising a prototype of student satisfaction,” he says. “So I’m Poppies (2008). people dead there,” she relates. to take to villages to show masons how to glad that the college is continuing in this direction.” The principal Commencement speaker With no visas, the Endeavor’s team construct sturdier homes. Of course, QC’s Eighty-Sixth will be Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian could not go on shore. But from inflatables In her report on the Endeavor expedition, Kate Moran, senior policy analyst for Commencement will be notable for the physician who has worked in Israeli hos- during surveying, “We saw a huge amount pitals and is committed to reconcilia- the White House Office of Science and absence of Joe Brostek, who directed the of destruction, houses demolished, where tion between Israelis and Palestinians. In Technology Policy, was impressed with event for the past 21 years. But before the earth had slipped into the sea,” she January 2009, during an Israeli military how it was “led by a dynamic woman retiring in February, he passed along notes. to new directors Lee and Andrejack operation in Gaza, three of his daughters with a long record of mentoring students Their survey delineated a potential site what they call “The Joe were killed when an Israeli of all ages.” Moran’s words well capture for a now-much-needed new port. McHugh Brostek Bible.” tank fired upon the fam- McHugh. hopes to continue mapping “Our job,” says Lee, ily’s home. Despite his the area, in part to show how “is to provide as much great personal tragedy, compression played a much information as possible Abuelaish remains com- bigger part. “When you have and to give attendees mitted to the peace effort. compression, you have the as broad a sense of the To honor his daughters, danger of a thrust earthquake, event as we can before he has created Daughters and the danger of a thrust they even arrive. What’s for Life, a foundation dedi- earthquake is a tsunami,” she different about this year cated to providing educa- says. is that John and I have tion and health access to McHugh was invited to a decided to put everything women and girls in Gaza March conference in Miami related to preparation for and the Middle East. to mobilize efforts to develop The Research Vessel Endeavor Commencement on the Web.” A nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, With an anticipated crowd of Abuelaish will be honored the evening 10,000—including students’ family mem- before Commencement at the capstone bers and guests, some coming from event for QC’s new Center for Ethnic, foreign countries—Lee and Andrejack Racial and Religious Understanding along have also been busy urging students with with Lewis Bernstein, a QC alum and foreign guests to complete the process of Orthodox Jew who founded the Sesame securing letters from the college affirm- Street Children’s Creative Workshop. ing their graduation so they can work Bernstein has successfully pioneered with their respective embassies to secure “Sesame Street’s” global educational proper visas and other entrance docu- efforts, including in the Middle East, ments in time for Commencement. where his programs have reached Israel, This year’s honorary degree recipient the West Bank, and deep into the Arab will be author Amitav Ghosh, who was and Muslim world. The center will also formerly (1997–2002) a distinguished announce that evening the name of a professor of comparative literature at QC student it is recognizing for fostering QC. One of India’s best-known writers, understanding between people on or off Ghosh studied in Dehra Dun, New Delhi, campus. Alexandria, and Oxford; his first job was QC’s Baccalaureate Ceremony hon- at the Indian Express newspaper in New oring academic excellence will be held Caucasian Chalk Circle, Bertolt Brecht’s classic version of the traditional Delhi. He earned a doctorate at Oxford on Tuesday, May 25, at 7 pm in Colden Chinese myth, was performed by the QC Drama, Theatre & Dance Dept. before he wrote his first novel, The Circle Auditorium. Some of our excellent stu- at the Performance Space at Rathaus on April 17. of Reason (1986). His 1990 novel The dents are profiled below.

2 Graduates To Begin New Lives – Once Again

Sandra “But I so much enjoy learning, and my he arrived at QC in 2004. “I initially came English PhD programs at prestigious Jodha-Sirkisoon professors and classmates were all very here to study with a fabulous American universities. (Frances chose the CUNY Sandra Jodha- helpful and encouraging.” Sociology pro- clarinetist, Charles Neidich,” says Roll, Graduate Center and Sharon Picked Sirkisoon’s life fessor Nicholas Alexiou “reassured me the son of two concert pianists. “I’d done UCLA.) And each recently had a paper path has taken that I will do just fine.” a couple of small school shows in the accepted by the National Conference her from a He was right. The Sociology United Kingdom, but up until a few years on Undergraduate village on Department recognized her academic ago, it was clear I was going to be a musi- Research—for the island of achievements at graduation with the cian.” the second Trinidad that Seiler Memorial Award. He reconsidered that plan after Drama year in a row. had no running Sandra plans to earn a master’s degree Chair Charles Repole urged him to They presented water or elec- in education at Queens College. explore the stage. “Max was in the hall- their papers tricity to graduat- way, talking in his British accent,” recalls at this year’s ing from Queens Max Roll Repole. “He was tall, good-looking, and conference, in College with an In his years at QC, Max spoke beautifully—he was a leading man. April, at the undergraduate degree in sociology. Roll has appeared in So I grabbed him and asked if he was University of As a child she had to walk to elemen- more than a dozen interested in acting. It’s been a joy to Montana. tary school a mile from home, often plays and operas, watch him grow and to support him.” “They’re under a scorching sun. When she was six, including Our Town, The A small role as an American salesman exceptionally her father suffered a stroke that kept Playboy of the Western in Pajama Game led Roll to bigger theatri- talented and him bedridden for the rest of his life. Her World, and The Marriage cal challenges and, ultimately, a new motivated mother Samdai took over as the family’s of Figaro. Now he’s career goal. “I derived a different students,” Frances (left) and Sharon Tran breadwinner. taking his act kind of pleasure from acting,” he says Duncan Faherty (English), the Trans’ Although her mother was illiterate, she to New Haven, explains. faculty advisor. “Their intellects comple- insisted that all her children go as far as Connecticut. “I became more involved and ment each other. They push each other they could in their education. So when After a series found myself taking auditions. quite hard.” Sandra finished high school, she headed of auditions in Even being in a tech rehearsal The papers the sisters presented in for New York, graduating in 1983 from which nearly 1000 for 10 hours was not tedious.” Montana reflect their shared interest in Queensborough Community College with people competed His musical background has not how Asian-American authors deal with an associate degree in business manage- for 16 slots, he been wasted: Because singing the changing meanings of kinship, identity, ment. won admission skills are invaluable to an actor, and nationality in a rapidly globalizing In 1988 Sandra married Surren to the Yale School he took voice lessons with Bruce world. Both wrote about how characters Sirkisoon, an immigrant from Guyana of Drama with a full, Norris, co-director of QC's Opera in a novel struggle to define who they who later earned an engineering degree three-year scholarship. “I owe everything Studio, for two years. Roll still plays clari- are. (Frances chose The Love Wife by from City College. When the first of their to Claudia Feldstein,” says Roll, speaking net for fun and profit, accepting the occa- Gish Jen, a Chinese-American; Sharon three children was born in 1992, Sandra of the Drama, Theatre, and Dance profes- sional gig. “A lot of training went into it picked Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee, traded full-time employment for play- sor—and Yale alumna—who coached him. and I don’t want to lose it,” he says. a Korean-American). grounds, reading groups, and a stint as “I couldn’t have done it without her sup- The sisters say the issues Asian com- PTA president at her children’s school. port and preparation. I'm also very grate- Sharon and Frances Tran munities in America face are not unique. But it wasn’t enough to satisfy her, and in ful to Charles Repole and Susan Einhorn To say that Sharon and Frances Tran have Indeed, Asian-Americans and African- 2007 Sandra enrolled at Queens College. for their support and guidance over the much in common would be an under- Americans have more in common than is “I was a little afraid I wouldn’t be able years.” statement. The twins both majored in often assumed, says Sharon. They “have a to cope with being at a large campus The English-born drama major had a English and minored in Chinese. Each shared history of racism and discrimina- with so many young people,” she says. different performing career in mind when had to weigh full-scholarship offers for tion.”

3 The sisters’ academic focus comes at As a teen, Akhmedova won a seat in stage and in televi- in Constable Pynt, Greenland, and finally least in part from their own history. Their a Queens College summer program sion productions and a helicopter flight to the country’s east parents and grandparents emigrated from for immigrants. At age 18 she became commercials. But coast. There the group camped in tents Vietnam, and the sisters were raised by a secretary, then worked her way up to after a few years he for three weeks. their grandparents in Astoria for their CFO of two small companies. A decade got married and start- The terrain was rugged, rocky and first years, until the family moved to Little later, she was finally able to go to col- ed a family. “I wanted treeless. But the trickiest part of being Neck, Queens. They still speak Vietnamese lege. Still working long days and tapping something more there, says Bubbico, was learning to sleep at home. her savings, Akhmedova intensely pur- stable, some- in the midnight sun. He and his professor Their parents set high standards, tell- sued classes at QC—nights, weekends, thing that brought back a carry-on bag full of care- ing the girls they “have to constantly do summers—through the Adult Collegiate would let fully chosen rock samples that they have better,” says Frances. “The pressure only Education (ACE) Program, and later Richard Bubbico me return been analyzing since their return. The came off after we were accepted into the through the economics department, home for research may expand our understanding Macaulay Honors College.” where she was accepted into its selective dinner at night,” he says. of the mountain-building processes, says The twins, whom people often have BBA program and majored in corporate So in 2006 Bubbico enrolled in an Bubbico. trouble telling apart, are each others’ finance (an accounting major). “I’m undergraduate program at Queens in Bubbico, who had a 3.962 GPA at the biggest backers. “We always read each someone who is very curious and wanted geology, a subject that could satisfy his end of his last term at Queens and a other’s papers and bounce ideas off one to learn,” says the speaker of four lan- love of the outdoors and traveling. number of awards to his name—includ- another,” says Sharon. “Sometimes we guages. He wasn’t disappointed. Last July ing the NYC Brownfield Consortium even get a little competitive.” She graduates summa cum laude this Bubbico joined a small geology expe- Scholarship and the QC Young Scientist When they are not studying, the sis- May. The ACE Program has invited her to dition to Greenland with his profes- Award—has applied for a QC graduate ters like reading—and writing—manga, be its valedictorian. sor, Hannes Brueckner (Earth & Env. program in geology and would like to Japanese-style comics, and watching This year, as president of QC’s chapter Sciences). They got there via a scheduled become a professor. “I’m having a good anime, as its animated form is called. They of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the interna- flight to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, then time studying geology,” he says. “I hope it also play volleyball on the QC Quad. Both tional economics honor society, she has a small plane to an oil company airfield can be a next career for me.” envisage careers as English professors. more than doubled membership to 125 and has organized programs like field Gyulnara trips to financial institutions on Wall Akhmedova Street, where she works. She sees an One month MBA or a master’s degree in her future, before the Soviet plus another dream: “I’d love to run the Union fragmented New York Marathon.” in 1992, Gyulnara “Julia” Akhmedova Richard Bubbico and her fam- When Richard Bubbico isn’t acting on ily became stage or working in the lab, you might political refu- find him waiting tables in the Zen- gees, fleeing garden-like interior of the DuMont the ethnic restaurant in Brooklyn, or collecting cleansing in rocks on the jagged windswept hills of Azerbaijan. Greenland. Her family could take only $100. Then Bubbico, who is graduating with a BS in FASHION + FILM, the 1960s Revisited, an exhibition curated by Eugenia 14 years old, she had to leave behind her geology this spring, isn’t afraid to throw Paulicelli (European Languages & Literatures), was on view through piano and classical music, and forego himself wholeheartedly into new ventures. May 1 at the James Gallery of the CUNY Graduate Center. It featured her rigorous training as a gymnast. In He already had one degree under his mannequins dressed in European fashions of the 1960s combined with America, the family landed in a Flatbush belt: a BFA in drama from New York legendary foreign films to evoke this classic fashion era. It also took apartment with two other families, 15 University in 1997. advantage of the Center’s grand storefront windows, a remnant of prior people in all. After graduating he began acting on history as the Fifth Avenue location of the B. Altman department store.

4 This year’s conference, on the theme of communities. New Research overseas Koreans’ transnational ties to their The center, which employs Center Focuses on homeland, is planned for October 9–10. an associate director, two Min notes that the information published research associates, and two Korean Americans by the center will be useful in planning CUNY doctoral student research The Research Center for Korean Community social services (Korean immigration to assistants (all part-time), was officially opened February 19 in a ceremony the NYC metropolitan area declined over established with a $200,000 attended by dozens of leaders of the local the last decade, but the Korean American grant from a local Korean-born Korean American community. The center, population is aging) and educational and businessman. The businessman whose mission is to carry out academic cultural programs, as well as dealing with had originally planned to finance research on overseas Koreans, is the first of housing, immigration, and economic issues. a business studies program at its kind in the United States. It is headed by “You have to have the data to see where we another institution, Min says, but Pyong Gap Min (Sociology). are moving,” Min says. was persuaded that the Queens The center plans to publish three or four Min is one of the nation’s leading center would be of more value to research reports annually documenting authorities on Korean Americans and Asian the Korean community. demographic, socioeconomic, and American immigration. He is the author of To carry out its work, Min says, residential trends in the Korean American Caught in the Middle: Korean Communities the center will rely on donations community—it has already published in New York and Los Angeles (1996), and from Korean-American businesses two since last fall—as well as working Ethnic Solidarity for Economic Survival: (a nonprofit foundation is being (l. to r.) Pres. James Muyskens; Pyong Gap Min; E.K. papers and books. It also intends to open a Korean Green Grocers in New York City established to facilitate such Park, Dean of Research and Grad. Studies, College of research library and hold quarterly lectures (2008), both of which examine the conflicts gifts), and research grants from Staten Island, CUNY; Nak Young Joo, Deputy Consul and an annual international conference. Korean American merchants have faced both U.S. and Korean government General; Assemblywoman Grace Meng; Yong Hwa Ha, in dealing with other American ethnic and public agencies. Pres. Korean American Association of Greater N.Y. Zahra Zakeri: Profile of a Scientist Without Borders cell death—the loss of cells for reasons she says. and Alzheimer’s. The ability to control this other than accident—her curiosity An immigrant herself, Zakeri was in her process could revolutionize medicine. and energy are unabated. In addition mid-teens when her family left Iran and “It was a quiet field at the time,” to directing the Minority Access to settled in Corona, Queens. She graduated Zakeri says. “I was lucky to be there at Research Careers (MARC) program (see from Newtown High School and enrolled the beginning.” By 1990, when she started page 15), leading undergraduate and at York College, intending to major in teaching at QC, she had already gotten graduate classes, conducting her own math. Her plans changed once she began her first grants for cell death research. research, and publishing papers, she runs working in the lab of Leslie Lewis, a Now she routinely receives major funding; the International Cell Death Society, an biology professor specializing in genetics. in the last three or four years alone, she organization she founded in 1994. “He was a fantastic teacher, with such has won $8 million in educational and Later this month, she will fly to dedication to the field,” Zakeri recalls. “I research grants. Her latest work concerns Stockholm, Sweden, as one of about fell in love with biology.” After completing the role gender plays in disease. “We’re 70 scientists invited to participate in her bachelor’s degree at York, she earned looking at whether it matters if a cell is a cell death conference honoring the a master’s at Long Island University and a male or female,” Zakeri explains. bicentennial of the Karolinska Institute, doctorate at St. John’s University, studying Her lab is open 24 hours a day, and which awards the Nobel Prize in virology and tumor growth. her students—including eight under- As a child, Zahra Zakeri (Biology) always Physiology or Medicine. Zakeri is also a In 1984 she entered a post-doc program graduates, three master's students, two wanted to know how things worked. “My founding member of Scientists Without at Columbia University, where she became PhD candidates, and one visiting research nickname was Questions,” recalls the Borders, which holds workshops and interested in cell death, a subject with scientist—put in long hours. So does their professor. conferences, in nations whose scientists huge scientific implications. Normal mentor. “This research is quite exciting,” After more than 20 years of teaching cannot easily travel. “Our aim is to embryonic development involves cell she declares. “It keeps me up all night.” at QC and investigating programmed educate people in third world countries,” death; so do many diseases, such as cancer

5 Recognition Comes Early for Six Science Faculty Most colleges would be honored to have members.” English. “By a single National Science Foundation Adds Zhigang Xiang (Computer analyzing the (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Science), whose department is home patterns in how Award recipient. Queens College has six to three of the awardees, “I feel very humans perform current recipients—all of them assistant fortunate. As a department head, there is ASL signs, we professors and recent professional nothing more you can expect than to get can produce hires in the departments of Computer such talented people to join your staff.” animated Science, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and “For several reasons, a majority of virtual human Mathematics. deaf high school graduates in the U.S. characters that Says QC President James Muyskens: have at best only a fourth-grade English produce more “Since I arrived on campus in 2002, reading level, but many of these adults realistic ASL there has been a dramatic change in the have sophisticated fluency in American movements,” makeup of our faculty, as half have been Sign Language (ASL),” says Matt Huenerfauth hired since then. And what a faculty we’ve Huenerfauth (Computer Science, hired says. Seogjoo Jang hired! This latest example represents an 2006). “So, software that can present Top: (l. to r.) Jianbo Liu, Hoetek Wee, and Alex Ovchinnikov unprecedented achievement for these information in the form of ASL animations, (Chemistry & Bottom: (l. to r.) Seogjoo Jang, Heng Ji, and Matt Huenerfauth outstanding scientists, as well as for the or automatically translate English text Biochemistry, college.” to ASL would improve these persons’ hired 2005) is conducting research on automatically extract and track relevant “These substantial grants both honor access to websites, communication, and the development of computational information in all languages,” she says. and support outstanding research efforts information.” methods for energy flow dynamics in soft “The program would then generate a by promising young scientists early in their Huenerfauth’s lab uses a range of optoelectronic molecular systems. His summary of relevant findings.” careers,” says Acting Dean of Research motion-capture equipment—including work promises to have “a broad impact on Alexey Ovchinnikov (Mathematics, and Graduate Studies Richard Bodnar. gloves with sensors, special body suits, and the development of methods that could hired 2009) is developing efficient “The money also enables graduate and eye-trackers—to digitize the movements of lead to new advances in optics as well as algorithms that can be used to solve undergraduate students to do meaningful humans performing ASL sentences, which electronic and sensor devices,” says Jang. differential and difference equations. work in the labs of these faculty differ in structure and word order from Recently he received the $75,000 Camille “These will have practical applications Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, which also everywhere differential equations are supports promising young faculty. used—in physics, biology, chemistry, and The research of Jianbo Liu (Chemistry the sciences in general,” says Ovchinnikov. & Biochemistry, hired 2006) focuses on With the Internet emerging as the main the use of mass spectrometry and ion/ platform for computation, individuals molecule reaction techniques to study have become increasingly reliant on the reactions of biologically important cryptography to ensure privacy and molecules with reactive oxygen security in their day-to-day activities and species. Oxidation of biomolecules is an protect their personal information from important biological process associated unauthorized access. with aging, disease, and photodynamic “However, the design of many therapy for cancer. “We also hope to cryptosystems does not adequately discover and develop new methods and account for new computational and techniques in analytical chemistry and cryptographic attacks made possible by nanotechnology,” says Liu. Heng Ji’s advances in quantum computing and (Computer Science, hired 2008) work has complex protocol interactions on the important implications for researchers Internet,” says Hoeteck Wee (Computer Rocking Earth Day Rally looking to automatically retrieve and Science, hired 2008). The focus of his Salman Ahmad (Music) brought his popular group Junoon to Times Square track information from unstructured, project lies in the design and analysis of to entertain at the huge April 22 Earth Day rally. Shown here (l. to r.) are machine-readable documents. “Ideally, you new cryptographic protocols that address Junoon drummer Sunny Jain, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Ahmad, would initiate a search for information these new attacks. and musician Yale Strom. on a given topic and the program would

6 Using Birdsong to Study Memory Watson Fellow Peter Xu is QC’s A simple birdsong may have much to undergoes a moderate latest recipient of a teach us about how we think—or, more amount of neuronal Jeannette K. Watson specifically, about how we remember turnover,” she Fellowship, a program things. This is the crux of a research project continues. “Among that provides on-the- that has secured a prestigious SOMAS birds, Zebra Finches job learning oppor- (Support of Mentors and their Students in have a stable rate of tunities for promis- ing New York City the Neurosciences) Award for Carolyn Pytte neurogenesis. Also, undergraduates. The (Psychology) and sophomore Shoshana they don’t change their physics major's interests extend from Koman. songs; they have a very playing the clarinet to breakdancing. Xu The two are studying the role of adult small song repertoire.” has volunteered at a local hospital and neurogenesis in long-term memory. New For Koman, this a nursing home. He’s also worked with neurons (the cells that transmit information experience may help the New York Public Interest Research in the body via electrical and chemical cement her career Group to organize campus events to promote green initiatives and with 350. signals) become incorporated into existing objectives. A Macaulay org to urge policy makers to create brain circuits throughout adulthood in Honors College stronger climate change initiatives. For all animals, including humans. While student, she says, “I’m his first Watson summer, Xu is interning a great deal of research has focused on interested in becoming at Global Kids, an independent non-prof- Koman (left) and Pytte in the lab with one of their study understanding how these new neurons a doctor and going it organization whose mission is to edu- affect new learning, nothing is known about to medical school.” subjects cate and inspire urban youth to become (Undergraduate Research and Mentoring successful students, global citizens, how they affect memory. Koman became intrigued with neuroscience Education) program. Continuing over the summer and after attending a presentation by Susan and community leaders. through the fall, Pytte and Koman will Croll (Psychology). “Neuroscience is a be investigating the potential relationship combination of psychology and biology, between the amount of new neurons added both of which I have an interest in,” says to a brain region that stores long-term Koman. “I was thinking about a double auditory memory and the accuracy of major and neuroscience is essentially a memories over time. Koman will present double major.” their findings in November at the annual Koman learned of Pytte’s research work International Meeting of the Society for through another student working in her lab, Neuroscience in San Diego. “The event,” Sara Wildstein, and began volunteering says Pytte, “is the largest of its kind in the there. world, typically drawing more than 30,000 “She’s very good, and very motivated, participants.” and very dedicated,” says Pytte of her The vehicle for their research is a research assistant. “I asked her if she common pet shop bird, the Zebra Finch. would be willing to work very, very, very “Birds,” explains Pytte, “are the only hard, because it’s intense and that’s what's terrestrial animals other than humans that required. She said she’d love to.” learn their vocalizations. So, they’re the Pytte is the second QC faculty member to only model system for vocal learning. Baby win the SOMAS award. Joshua Brumberg Trees Company birds have to be taught by their tutor, their (Psychology) was a recipient in 2006, The greening of Queens College continued on Earth Day 2010 with the father; whereas with apes and and other making QC one of only three institutions in planting of several trees to create a small grove in the space behind the primates, it’s all genetically encoded. the history of the award with two winners. Cooperman Plaza fountain near Rosenthal Library. Vice President Kathy “Birds store the memory of this learned Pytte and Brumberg also recently received Cobb (left), who’s been leading QC’s conservation efforts, was joined for the vocalization in a region of the brain that awards under QC’s revived UR/ME dig by a shovel-wielding Pres. James Muyskens, Joe Bertolino (VP, Student Affairs), and several student volunteers.

7 Gardaphe and Hahn Sidney Grimes: Taking Care of the Campus Receive Major Honors Queens College has a new chief Born in Panama, Grimes came to Grimes’s career Two of Queens College’s distinguished administrative superintendent of this country as a toddler. He grew up has been one professors—Fred Gardaphe (English and buildings and grounds: Sidney Grimes in Brooklyn and now lives in Rockaway in which he has Italian-American Studies) and Kimiko joined the college community on Beach, where he enjoys “spending time steadily increased Hahn (English)—recently received major March 31, and describes his duties as walking on the beach to think.” Effective his responsibilities academic distinctions. “maximizing the operational needs of the communication is a quality he values in in facilities Gardaphe has been campus on every level.” He replaces Basil both his personal and professional life, management. At awarded a Fulbright Bascetta, who recently retired. and he points out the pleasure of really Savoy Assisted Scholar teaching Grimes is a notary public who has listening to what others are saying. As a Living, for two fellowship for the certification as a fire safety director as manager, Grimes believes that “one of years he was 2010–11 academic well as in various sprinkler standpipe the most important parts of my job is environmental year, during which functions. He comes to Queens from John going to be communicating with the line services director. He then worked at the he will lecture in Jay College, where, after receiving two staff. Respect is the key to productivity.” Doe Fund, where he served as facilities American Cultural promotions in five years, he was a Level In his private life, he is an Elder at the manager for nearly three years before Studies at the Four Administrative Superintendent Kingsboro Seventh Day Adventist Church, moving on to John Jay. University of Salerno Gardaphe responsible for custodial and laborer and he seeks to “build connections in his Even in his brief time at Queens, in Italy. Fulbright recipients are selected issues, as well as painting and flooring. community through communicating.” Grimes has been able to appreciate the on the basis of academic or professional At Queens he is “looking forward to This year Grimes expects to complete “beautiful” campus, the success the achievement, as well as demonstrated building on the success of an already his bachelor of science degree in public college enjoys in graduating students leadership potential in their fields. impressive institution.” He welcomes affairs at Baruch College; then he hopes “with an education that adds value to the Gardaphe will teach one undergraduate the opportunity “to serve in a leadership to begin a master’s degree program economy,” and an environment in which and one graduate course that will explore position” and to “oversee the day-to-day in public administration. He already faculty can flourish. He also is optimistic how the humor expressed in major U.S. operations of buildings and grounds–– holds an associate’s degree in business that he will be able to “do my job with cultural works—by artists as diverse as everything from engineering to campus administration from the Borough of the support of such a strong executive Mark Twain and Chris Rock—reflects the beautification.” Manhattan Community College. staff.” nation and its people across a significant period of historical development. “I want graduate workshops in the Master of Fine Arts Italian students to understand the changes Thanks to the receipt of in Creative Writing and large and small wrought upon the American an American Heritage Translation program. identity, and I want them to understand the Preservation award role humor plays in American media arts,” Hahn is the author of for 2010, the Godwin- he says. eight books of poems, Ternbach Museum is including Earshot Hahn to Pen 9th Book moving forward with (Hanging Loose Press, The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial treatment and repair of 1992), which was Foundation recently announced that Kimiko Washington Irving’s House, awarded the Theodore Hahn has been awarded a fellowship. Hahn an oil painting on canvas Roethke Memorial A total of 180 artists, scientists, and by Humbert Arcamonte. Poetry Prize and an Association of Asian This project was one of 54 scholars received these “on the basis of American Studies Literature Award; The among 177 applications achievement and exceptional promise,” Unbearable Heart (Kaya, 1996), recipient to receive funding. The chosen from a group of 3,000 applicants. of an American Book Award; and Toxic treatment by conservator Hahn will be working on her ninth book Flora, poems inspired by both ordinary and Alexander Katlan should of poetry, inspired by her fascination with rarified fields of science (Norton, 2010). be completed by the end science. She teaches undergraduate courses She will use the fellowship to work on a of summer. in the English Department as well as new collection of poetry.

8 other minorities. Mentors Key to “The reality is that we lose a lot of Project Excel Success students of color in their first two years—not When he was a freshman, William Leverett just at QC but nationwide,” says Macario. relied on a few key people to help him “Often students from underrepresented acclimate to college life. Two, as it turns groups come here with ambitious career out, were connected with Project Excel, goals but haven’t thought them through and a QC initiative aimed at promoting the don’t really understand what’s involved in inclusion and retention of underrepresented pursuing them or even how to begin. Many groups—particularly African-American men have full-time jobs or family responsibilities like himself—and guiding them toward the and may feel unable to connect with campus services, support, and encouragement they life.” need to succeed. A close mentoring relationship with an “Having been given that upperclassman “can go a long way toward opportunity, it was only helping them feel comfortable natural that I’d want to help in what may be an unfamiliar other students in the same environment,” says mentor Andrew Hillman, a pre-med way,” says Leverett, now a Members of QC’s chapter of the student-led genocide junior majoring in political senior majoring in nutrition and exercise science. intervention group STAND are seen with food items science and urban studies. contributed by local vendors to the group’s Green “So I signed up as a Project Project Excel mentors must maintain a 3.0 GPA, but most Basket Project. Each Saturday since March 6, STAND Excel mentor.” has set up a food pantry in the QC dining hall to go far beyond that threshold. Housed within QC’s provide food assistance to local community members Leverett, for example, is a Academic Advisement and students in need. Center (AAC), Project J.K. Watson Fellow and a Excel is a multifaceted participant in CUNY’s Ernesto program comprising career Malave Leadership Academy; development, academic Hillman is a recipient of advisement, life coaching, the Dr. Wilbert C. Jordan Award for Best Research workshops, and other Andrew Hillman resources. But first and Presentation. Natasha Berry, foremost, Project Excel is about mentoring. one of several female mentors, The program is supported by a cohort of 16 also participates in the 100 Black Women mentors, all high-performing juniors and Mentoring Program. Indeed, Macario is quick seniors who build one-on-one relationships to note that the program is also open to both with motivated students. men and women, as well as individuals with In the process, says Irving Macario, disabilities, and students from other ethnic coordinator of AAC’s Specialty Advising groups. Services, “the mentees learn how to become “As a rule, we’ll match mentors and successful students themselves and how to mentees on the basis of their interests, take advantage of the services and supports political views, campus involvements, available to them on campus.” Adds and other factors—but not according to Assistant Provost June Bobb, “The emphasis their ethnic group,” says assistant project is on excellence and achievement—for both coordinator Ronald Sanchez. mentors and mentees.” “What really matters most is the ability to Like the CUNY-wide Black Male Initiative listen,” says Hillman. “As the relationship QC’s Drama, Theatre & Dance Department joined with the QC Orchestra of which it is part, Project Excel seeks to evolves, mentees will discuss their issues and in March to present two performances of Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute address the historically high drop-out rates problems with you, but what they need isn’t at Goldstein Theatre. David Ronis directed the fully-staged production, with among African-American male students and necessarily answers, just a receptive ear.” Maurice Peress conducting the orchestra. 9 Cutting the Human Programs (CEP) joined with MADD to host at the college the first of its monthly court- Hendrey and Bertolino Named Costs of Drunk Driving mandated VIPs for these offenders and their families. This is the first program of its kind ACE Fellows The statistics are sobering. According to in Queens. Dean of Social Sciences Elizabeth the New Jersey and Pennsylvania state Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), “Our organization feels that it’s critical to Hendrey and Vice President for Student higher education systems and the State someone in the U.S. is killed by a drunk change the generally accepted attitude that Affairs Joseph Bertolino have been University of New York. Bertolino is driver about every 45 minutes. In 2008, the these incidents are accidents, rather than named American Council on Education also an author, lecturer, toll was estimated at 11,773 victims. preventable crimes,” says Thomas McCoy, (ACE) Fellows for academic year 2010– and teacher, having In an effort to decrease the number of MADD’s Long Island affiliate executive 11. presented hundreds of alcohol/drug-related driving crashes and director. “Most offenders who complete Established in 1965, the ACE programs to thousands of raise awareness of the devastating conse- evaluations after attending a VIP indicate Fellows Program identifies and students at colleges and quences of this problem, MADD initiated that their experiences were positive and prepares promising senior faculty and conferences nationwide. the Victim Impact Panel (VIP) in 1982. educational and contributed to a change in administrators for responsible positions He has received several VIPs provide a structured, positive forum their attitudes and perceptions about their in college and university administration. professional awards for for victims of drunk-driving crashes to con- alcohol-impaired driving behavior.” Forty-six fellows, nominated by the his work, including being front convicted offenders about the physi- The panels typically involve two to four presidents or named Campus Activities cal, emotional, and financial impact of these victims, each of whom spends about 15 chancellors of their magazine’s “Best Bertolino crimes on their lives. Beginning on Sunday, minutes relating his/her story in a nonjudg- institutions, were Diversity Artist” in 2007. May 16, QC’s Continuing Education mental, nonaccusatory manner. The pur- selected this year Each ACE Fellow focuses on an issue following a rigorous of concern to the nominating institution application process. while spending the next academic year As dean of working with a college or university social sciences, president and other senior officers at Hendrey oversees a host institution. The ACE Fellows 10 departments at Hendrey Program combines retreats, interactive Queens College, learning opportunities, campus visits, including all its business programs. She and placement at another higher was also instrumental in the adoption education institution to condense years of a new master’s degree program in of on-the-job experience and skills risk management with concentrations development into a single semester in accounting, finance, and financial or year. Hendrey and Bertolino will analysis. be included in the highest level of Bertolino has directed the college’s decision making while participating in office of student affairs since 2004. administrative activities and learning Before he joined QC he served as about an issue to benefit Queens dean for community development at College. Barnard College. He has also worked in

pose of the panels is for the victims to talk Cindy Feldstein, CEP’s assistant director Speaking of Sports about their experiences, not for victims and for the college’s Drinking Driving Program. A special alumni roundtable March 18 brought together a group of QC grads offenders to engage in a dialogue. Victims “For the victims, these panels provide an who’ve found success in sports or the business of sports. Joining QC freshman do not appear before the drivers who hit opportunity to speak from the heart and and Knights sportscaster Alex Garrett (center) are (l to r) Olympic medalist them. perhaps find some healing by sharing their Gail Marquis ‘80, NBA Executive Counsel Howard Benjamin ’61, New York “These programs are very powerful . . . pain and suffering in the hope it will pre- Mets sportscaster Howie Rose ’77, and sports television producer Michael they seem to hit home with the offenders, vent an offender from driving drunk again.” Weisman ’71. putting them in the victims’ shoes,” says

10 Strategic Plan Update Wendy Lee, Meeting Maven An emphasis on a more interconnected “Also, we are tying a lot of the community characterizes much of Sue curriculum in with our Education Abroad Maven, originally a Yiddish word, has faculty, and Henderson’s (VP Inst. Advancement) program. For example, we invite all students entered the New York cultural mix student body. description of the progress made to date in to go abroad, even freshmen. They spend to define a person who is an expert She mar- implementing the college’s strategic plan. three nights in The Summit and then travel and an authority. Wendy Lee, who vels at how “A very important part of the plan,” for two weeks and take a mini-course. It’s an joined the Queens College commu- welcoming she observes, “is building a sense of introduction to higher education that helps nity on March 1 as director of events, Queens has community.” Citing the example of QC’s them form a connection with one another is a meeting maven, a woman skilled been for her, first residence hall, she says, “We’ve not that carries over to the school year. at “pulling together all the different how “every- only built a residence hall, but we’ve created “As we build our community, we also details of an event to make it success- one has been a thriving residence hall life for it. We’ve want to make sure that it’s green,” she ful.” She likens the experience of man- warm, patient, hired more people in the student services continues. “Thanks to Kathy Cobb’s (VP, aging an event to a conductor leading receptive, and area and we now have far more activities Finance & Admin.) leadership, in every a musical ensemble through a complex easy to work during free hour and many more active decision we make, we now ask ourselves: piece of music. with.” She’s Lee, who is replacing the recently also charmed clubs. So all of our students have benefited How can we do this in a more sustainable retired Joe Brostek, says her mission by the cam- from the opening of The Summit.” manner? is to assist academic departments in pus, and Henderson also cites the revived “Another major aspect of the strategic organizing the great variety of lectures, declares, “If I Undergraduate Research Mentoring plan is diversifying our funding streams, conferences, symposia, and perfor- didn’t know Education (UR/ME) program that brings and we have done a much better job of that mances that are such an important better, I’d feel students into QC’s community of faculty in the last three years,” Henderson notes. component of college life. Her largest like I was in researchers. “This leads to more students “Our endowment has gotten large enough professional task will be managing the the middle of who will stay with us to do graduate work, that we’ve hired an investment firm, and college’s commencement ceremonies. Princeton! This is a very beautiful cam- so it’s a win for us in many ways. the Foundation board is pretty aggressive at She also hopes to expand the use of pus with its views of Manhattan.” “Another component of community is keeping their feet to the fire to make sure Queens College’s “fabulous facilities” A business administration graduate recognition of our diversity,” she says. “We our portfolio keeps moving forward.” by convincing community organizations of Baruch College, Lee has spent her have a large number of Asian students, and Henderson even finds a silver lining in and individuals to hold their events at entire career in marketing––and in next year we will have what we call the the troubled economy. “The latest budget Queens, whether it’s a business meet- hosting gatherings. At TIAA-CREF, the Year of China.” This program, funded by cuts have been something of a blessing for ing or a wedding. nonprofit financial services provider, the QC Foundation, will engage faculty, us because they’ve made us stay focused on Lee says she chose to work at she worked for a decade as a regional staff, students, and community members in our priorities, seek efficiencies and more Queens because she was attracted by marketing manager and organized a yearlong exploration of all things China, effective ways to bring alternative revenue the college’s outstanding reputation, seminars and conferences to introduce culminating with a trip there in summer into the college as well as thinking of more as well as the diversity of its programs, her company’s services to potential cli- 2011. creative ways to deliver courses.” ents. When a colleague informed her of an opening at a New Jersey college, she Outstanding Delegation 30 to April 3 at the Marriott jumped to academia and spent three Marquis Hotel in New York City. years as director of development and Nikki Ramroop holds one of the They won five awards including alumni relations at Rider University, award certificates that Queens four Outstanding Delegation before moving on to a three-year ten- College received from the 2010 Awards for representing Human ure at Kean University as that school’s National Model UN Conference. Rights Watch, Burkina Faso, and director of events and alumni relations. She and other students from the Sao Tome and Principe. The class Lee enjoys playing tennis and appre- Political Science 297: Model UN class is taught by Professor Francois represented QC at the National ciates the college’s many courts. She Pierre-Louis. Model UN Conference from March also loves films, books, and travel.

11 College Cited for Its Success in Helping Students Graduate Fifteen public colleges and universities these institutions are using to boost academic advising and support services across the nation are outperforming most student success and that can be used by we offer are at the heart of our mission. similar institutions in helping students other colleges and universities. We view them as valuable tools that stay on track and graduate, a major new “One of the keys to the retention and enhance students’ overall undergraduate report from the nonprofit Southern graduation success of our students is the experience and ultimately help provide a Regional Education Board (SREB) shows. strong sense of community here at QC,” liberal arts education of lasting value.” And among those institutions is Queens says Joseph Bertolino, vice president for Despite rising college enrollment, College. (The only other New York college student affairs. “In many ways, the college improvement in students’ timely cited is the College of Staten Island.) is a home away from home, offering a completion of bachelor’s degrees in the SREB’s findings were recently wide range of educational, social, and U.S. has stalled, according to the SREB "IllusionAllusion" at Art Center released in the report Promoting a cultural programs and activities that report. Fewer than one-third of degree- An installation of reinterpreted life- Culture of Student Success: How Colleges foster an interactive learning environment seeking, full-time freshmen in public four- size wood cutouts of Old Masters and Universities Can Improve Degree that engages our students. They also feel year institutions graduate in four years. by QC alum Susan Sills will be on Completion. All of the institutions in the valued by a caring, supportive staff who Most students who enter college as first- display at the Queens College Art report outperform similar colleges and provide guidance and counsel on a daily time, full-time freshmen take at least six Center through June 30. Shown here: universities by having higher graduation basis.” years to earn a bachelor’s degree—and After Seurat, A Sunday Afternoon rates. The report also outlines the Adds Laura Silverman, director of only 55 percent graduate in that time on the Grand Jatte; After Millet, The common approaches and strategies that the Academic Advising Center: “The span. Gleaners.

Author, Author . . . Rap Impresario, Rabbis Meet Nothing, if not prolific, several members of the Sociology Department got together recently The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and Hillel of Queens College to celebrate publication of their latest books. convened a panel discussion March 15 at Goldstein Theatre to examine Left to right, are Joseph Cohen, Pyong Gap relations between the African-American and Jewish communities. Shown Min, Samuel Heilman, Sujatha Fernandes, above are (l to r) President James Muyskens, Rabbi Marc Schneier, hip-hop and Hester Eisenstein. Not at the party but pioneer Russell Simmons, and Rabbi Moshe Shur (QC Hillel.) published, nonetheless, was Nicholas Alexiou.

12 Memory Button Mellon Mays Fellows Prepare Created to honor the memory of for College Teaching Careers a graduate of Queens College’s studio art program, the first Dale Before she entered Queens College, Moya delighted that the Ann Horn Prize in Studio Art was Bedward had never seriously considered recent renewal of going on to graduate school and a career awarded to Darlene Diaz for her our MMUF grant as a college teacher. will enable the project Memory Button that in her “I’ve always wanted to be a political college to continue words “brings together the life story activist and assumed that teaching the program for of one garment worker, my mother, and activism were mutually exclusive,” the next four and my personal feelings against the she says. “But my professors here have years.” factory where she worked for over educated me about the social and political Fellows work François Pierre-Louis twenty years.” issues impacting world affairs.” Bedward on independent will apply to graduate school this year research projects under the guidance of and is looking forward to pursuing a PhD a faculty mentor and attend a six-week and a career in academia. A compelling summer graduate school “boot camp” factor in her future plans has been her at Wesleyan College. At last summer’s experience as one of eight Mellon Mays program, says Bobb, QC’s Mellon fellows Undergraduate Fellows (MMUF) currently had the opportunity to interact with their enrolled at QC. counterparts from the University of Cape François Pierre-Louis (Political Science) Town. is the coordinator of QC’s MMUF, which Throughout the fall and spring he describes as “a nationwide program semesters there are bi-weekly seminars designed to increase diversity among on campus “which provide a wonderful college faculties. It encourages promising and safe space for lively and candid minority students—and anyone with a scholarly debates,” says QC Mellon Mays demonstrated commitment to eradicating fellow Sharon Tran (see her profile, p. 3). racial disparities—to pursue doctorates in “I’ve gained enormous theoretical and the core fields in the arts and sciences.” life knowledge from these sessions.” Tran, Since MMUF’s inception in 1988 more than whose area of interest is Asian-American 100 fellows have earned PhDs, including literature, will begin working toward a PhD 18 from QC, which is among a handful in English at UCLA in the fall. of public institutions participating in the Pierre-Louis is himself a former Mellon program. Mays fellow. After graduating from QC in Students become Mellon Mays fellows 1994, he earned a doctorate at the CUNY only through a rigorous selection process Graduate Center and has been a full-time and must maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout QC faculty member since 2001. Puppets Present Hand-y Guide to Subway Life their junior and senior years. They must “I drew great strength and Riding the subway at all hours the past 13 years has inspired Meghan Healey also commit to pursuing graduate studies encouragement from both my mentor (Drama, Theatre & Dance) to try to capture the essence of New York’s color- and teaching at the college level. “This is and other fellows,” he recalls. “Through ful subterranean culture in a unique format: puppet theater. Utilizing funds not a program for students on a pre-med summer programs and other activities, received from the recently-revived Undergraduate Research and Mentoring or pre-law track,” says Assistant Provost we were able to share our thoughts and June Bobb. Tuition for fellows is funded by concerns and learn from each other.” With Education initiative, she has recruited five students to ride the subway— the Queens College Foundation through a QC student body that leans heavily to interviewing fellow riders and asking them what’s the craziest thing that ever the Office of Honors and Scholarships. In minorities and immigrants, he says, “it’s happened to them there. Healey and her crew are seen here creating the addition, the Andrew Mellon Foundation meaningful to have a program like MMUF puppet characters who will articulate their notes from the underground in a provides each fellow with a yearly stipend on campus. It opens up possibilities many 90-minute production in three parts, Subterraneo: A Cruel Puppet’s Guide to of $4,000 and up to $3,000 for summer students didn’t think existed.” Underground Living inspired by Dante’s Inferno. research. According to Bobb, “we’re

13 Four Salk Scholarship Winners for QC Four outstanding Queens College pre- Washington, D.C., where he is studying medical students–recognized for their reward-related learning in rats. Lubelski research on such had originally dreamed of a career in law, subjects as the role of but was drawn to medicine as a more genetics in cancer and meaningful path aging, antimicrobial toward bettering properties of organic the lives of others salts, connections and making a between new neuron contribution. growth and behavior, Zahava Rubel, and reward-related a double major learning–have been in biology and awarded Jonas E. anthropology and Salk Scholarships an accomplished Herschman to study medicine pianist who after graduation this month. The Salk has studied at Rubel scholarships are considered to be the most the college’s prestigious awards bestowed by the City Aaron Copland School of Music, has Seen with his granddaughter, Sasha Cohen, David Cohen marked his University of New York (CUNY) each been accepted to the New York College remarkable 101st birthday at Rosenthal Library April 7 at an event year. of Osteopathic Medicine. According to attended by the Queens Borough President. The library also mounted an Miriam Herschman, a summa cum laude Rubel’s mentor Alicia Melendez (Biology), exhibition: “In Celebration of a Library Legend-David Cohen: A Pioneer in graduate who will be attending SUNY Rubel’s research could eventually lead to Multicultural Education and Intellectual Freedom.” Downstate Medical Center, has researched new genetic and pharmacologic approaches the development of new antimicrobial in the treatment of certain cancers and in A Record Housekeeping Project surfaces and the prevention of aging. agents that Sara Wildstein, a Macaulay Honors Queens College has made impressive progress in implementing the new CUNY may potentially College student, has set her sights on Stony Records Retention and Disposition Schedule. combat highly Brook University School of Medicine. Completed by the Office of the General Counsel and approved by the New York dangerous, Wildstein’s State Archives, the schedule specifies how long college records must be kept to satis- resistant bacteria work examined fy legal, fiscal, administrative, and academic requirements. The records management in hospitals and the relationship program was implemented to develop a structured and organized system of record other settings. between the keeping and to facilitate the disposal of unnecessary documents. She is a history growth of new In March QC reported over 26 tons of records had been shredded by more than major and neurons in 100 departments and offices. (Some 79 tons of records have been destroyed at five chemistry minor. the brain and CUNY colleges.) To facilitate the massive housecleaning, Buildings and Grounds has Daniel Lubelski behavior. While at contracted with an outside vendor, while additional shredding is being done in the Lubelski, QC she received mailroom. a member of the Macaulay Honors an undergraduate All this record disposal freed up about 1500 square feet College and a neuroscience biology research in Kiely Hall, turning one space into a conference room and major and psychology major at QC, fellowship at the another into a workroom for Public Safety. For a description of will attend Cleveland Clinic Lerner Systems Biology Wildstein the program, administrative schedules and forms, a statement College of Medicine at Case Western Center of the Mount Sinai School of of CUNY’s Record Retention Policy, and a list of frequently Reserve University. Lubelski is currently Medicine. asked questions, click here. at the National Institutes of Health in

14 MARC Students Are Making Their Mark QC students in the Minority Access to therapy for children who have a type of accepted a slot in Harvard’s Research Careers (MARC) program cerebral palsy that affects only one side of immunology program; Joanne continue to accumulate remarkable their body. Broome ’11, who will spend distinctions since the fall (see December Closer to home, QC’s biology department her summer participating 2009 FYI). In late February, MARC selected MARC student Guy Surpris ’10 in neuroscience research participant Emmanuel Datan ’11 was as the winner of the Laura and Arthur at New York University; among 35 people chosen, out of more Colwin Award for outstanding research by and Erica Rodriguez ’11, than 310 applicants, to present research on a student not going to a health professional who, like Datan, has been host-pathogen interactions at the American school. Surpris, who earned recognition offered a summer research Society of Microbiology’s meeting in for his projects on how the Dengue virus internship at the Rockefeller Baltimore on Biodefense and Emerging manipulates cells and provokes an immune University. Hillman, who Diseases. response, was accepted by eight graduate plans to take the Medical Barely a month afterward, MARC programs; he’ll be going to Tufts University College Admissions Test and participant Andrew Hillman ’10 placed this fall to study immunology. eventually apply to medical first—outscoring MD/PhD candidates as Other undergraduates MARC- school, is weighing research well as his fellow undergraduates—for his ed for success include Marie-Pierre opportunities at the National Andrew Hillman works on a therapy for cerebral palsy. poster presentation at the Student National Payen ’10, who has been admitted to Institutes of Health and Emory Medical Association Conference in Boston University’s graduate program University. Zahra Zakeri says, “We are happy to carry the name of Chicago. Hillman reported on a promising in neuroscience; Luis Vega ’10, who (Biology), who runs MARC at Queens, Queens College all over the world.”

Pen Pals Getting The Lowdown From Lily Ledbetter Gathered at the recent Associated Writing Program Conference in Denver Knight News reporter Salimah Khoja interviews pay equity pioneer Lily are (l. to r.) Kimiko Hahn, Nicole Cooley (English), Cooley’s father, poet Ledbetter, keynote speaker at Queens College’s annual Virginia Frese Palmer Peter Cooley (Tulane University), Harold Schecter (English), former Poet Women's Conference held in March during Women's History Month. Laureate Rita Dove (U. of Virginia), and poet and novelist Jill Bialosky.

15 QC People Brittany Bascetta, a first-year Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation. Robert Busa Prize will be awarded in Christian Science in New York City, 1885– clinical track Neuropsychology student This award is given to young faculty in July to JOE RABEN (English, emeritus) 1910” in the Journal of Religion & Society working in Jeffrey Halperin’s lab, the chemical sciences who show promise at a conference of the Alliance of Digital 12, 2nd installment (2010) . . . John was awarded a diversity supplement of continuing outstanding contributions Humanities Organisations to be held at Tytell (English) was part of a panel, from NIH. Brittany is the daughter to both research and teaching. The King’s College London. The Busa Prize Beyond Beat – The Turning Point, which of former Buildings & Grounds head program provides a research grant of is named in honor of Father Roberto examined the fascination the Beat writers Basil Bascetta . . . Magnus O. $75,000 . . . Carmella Busa SJ, universally acknowledged to be had with Mexico. It was sponsored by Bassey (SEYS) recently published an Marrone (Women the first pioneer in the application of The Kerouac Project of Orlando, April 10 article entitled “Educating for the Real & Work) participated computational methods to humanistic and 11 in Orlando, Florida . . . The Nobel World: An Illustration of John Dewey’s in a panel discussion research. The award is given to recognize Assembly at Karolinska Institute and the Principles of Continuity and Interaction” on March 23 on Writing outstanding lifetime achievement in this Nobel Foundation have invited ZAHRA in Educational Studies, Vol. 36, No. 1 . . . Women Back into History, area of scholarly activity . . . Christa ZAKERI (Biology) to be a discussant at The presentation of a study in March which was presented by Spreizer (ELL) reports that Timothy The Cell Cycle and Apoptosis in Disease, at the annual American Association Marrone the Office of Diversity Moore was selected as one of 75 one of three Nobel symposia being held of Geriatric Psychiatry meeting by and Civil Rights of U.S. to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Michelle Culang, a PhD student Customs and Border Protection . . . the Institute. It takes place in Stockholm, in neuropsychology mentored by Joel rICHARD MCCOY (English) has been May 23–26 . . Members of the Queens Sneed (Psychology), was highlighted given a short-term fellowship by the College Office of Communications learned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, in February they won two Educational DC and a Francis Bacon Foundation Advertising Awards in a competition Fellowship at the Huntington Library sponsored by Higher Ed Marketing—the in San Marino California. He will spend former for a 30-second radio spot part of his sabbatical year (2010–11) at promoting QC’s Fall Open house; the each institution doing research for his latter for the college’s new logo/letterhead book on faith in . . . QC's Web Services team learned in Shakespeare . . . April that the QC’s new website has Karl MitchelL been listed on TopSharePoint.com, a Timothy Moore, QBCC German Prof (Business) is one compilation of the highest-rated websites Joel Sneed and Michelle Culang Lorena Ellis, Dr. Christa Spreizer of 35 international created using the SharePoint program. March 7 on the website Doctor’s Guide. invitees to Two participants in the 2010–11 Congress- The study, “Depressive Subtype May Decades of Academic Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Influence Antidepressant Impact on Discourse, an Oxford Professionals from among the most Save the Date! roundtable to Mitchell competitive pool of applicants in the Cognition in Older Adults,” describes Queens College’s Homecoming will how some geriatric patients suffering be held in July at St. Anne’s College of history of the program. The exchange be held this year on Saturday and depression may respond more favorably to the University of Oxford in England . . . begins in July and includes two months Sunday, October 2-3. Part of the tricylclic antidepressants than to the more President James MuyskenS and Vice of intensive German-language training, festivities will be the renaming of frequently prescribed selective-serotonin President Sue Henderson coauthored four months of classroom instruction at Alumni Hall as Renée Kroll Zarin reuptake inhibitors . . . The New York State an op-ed that appeared in the April 12 a German university or college of applied Alumni Hall in honor of the former Speech-Language-Hearing Association Atlanta Journal Constitution. The piece sciences, and a five- head of alumni honored SIMA GERBER (Linguistics noted that in the rush to embrace new month internship in affairs. Make plans & Communications Disorders) with its digital technologies as teaching aids, we the participant’s career to be there. Distinguished Achievement Award in should not lose sight of the value of the field Rolf Swensen April at its annual convention . . . SUGGY traditional classroom experience. It can (Library) published “A JANG (Chemistry) has received a Camille be read at www.ajc.com/opinion/future- Metaphysical Rocket Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award from the classrooms-will-be-457583.html . . . The in Gotham: The Rise of

16 Swensen People in the Media Salman Ahmad was the subject of was included among Cited as the author of Gap Min (Sociology) as an April 29 New York Times “City Room” a group of profiles a book on urban social distinguished professor blog . . . A Feb. 18 story in the Queens of prominent Irish movements, Sujatha was cited in the “People Courier about booming educators appear- Fernandes Making a Buzz” column enrollments at CUNY ing in the Oct. 2009 (Sociology) was quoted in the March 4 Queens quoted Vincent edition of Irish Voice in an April 11 New York Courier . . . Gregory Angrisani . . . Matthew Times article about Kant O’Mullan (SEES) (Admissions) . . . Carroll Casanova political graffiti in Venezuela . . . Metro appeared in an Earth Day O'Mullan The threat posed (Financial Aid) was profiled Ashima Kant (FNES) March (April 22) special on PBS to the CUNY quoted in a spring Aspire.com feature 1 in its “21st-Century Pioneers” fea- about New York’s aquatic resources Angrisani LEADS program about the college financial aid pro- ture . . . Rae Kelpadio, a QC junior called “Fragile Waterways” . . . Steve (Linking Employment cess . . . A CDC-funded study by Anil who founded her own Pekar’s (SEES) participation in an Academics and Disability) by proposed Chacko (Psychology) and co-investi- company, Generator expedition to Antarctica was the sub- cuts in the state budget prompted a gator Gregory A. Fabiano (University at One, was the subject ject of a Feb. 9 story in the Daily News. Feb. 18 story in the Queens Chronicle Buffalo) intended to prevent maltreat- of stories April 8 in the A video conference between a class featuring a quote from QC LEADS coun- ment of children by their fathers was Queens Courier and in of fifth-grade students and a group of selor Kristina the subject of an article in the April edi- the Summer edition scientists in Antarctica that included Aranbayeva tion of the American of Aspire magazine Pekar was the subject of a Feb. 25 article . . . Tesfaye Psychological Khandelwal . . . Madhulika in the Times Record News of Wichita Asfaw (Career Association’s Monitor Khandelwal Falls, TX . . . Bright Development) was on Psychology . . . (Asian/American Ctr.) was quoted in Sheng’s (Music) time interviewed for a As part of its Black a Feb. 10 story at LittleIndia.com about at QC as visiting distin- feature at the Aspire. History Month cover- India’s largest matrimonial website . . guished artist-in-residence com website advis- age, the Queens Courier . A Feb. 16 Daily News story concern- was the subject of a Feb. Asfaw ing students how featured a profile of Cogswell ing Queens waterfront residents who 25 story in the Queens to land internships . Michael CogswelL have had their homeowner’s insurance Tribune, which also quoted . . The Queens Ledger reported April 8 (LAHM) on Feb. 18 . . . Alyson Cole policies canceled quoted NicK Koch Ed Smaldone (Music) Smaldone that JOE BERTOLINO (Student Affairs) (Political Science) was interviewed March (SEES) . . . Michael Krasner . . . Sidney Trubowitz and ELIZABETH HENDREY (Social 17 for the BBC’s “Women’s Hour.” The (Political Science) was quoted in a March (Education, Emeritus) authored a piece Sciences) have been accepted into the topic was victimhood and feminism. 30 Queens Courier story concerning about teacher accountability for the 2010–11 American Council on Education Cole spoke about her book The Cult State Sen. Frank Padavan. He was also March 10 edition of Education Week . . Fellows Program (see story p. 10) . . . of True Victimhood . . . YourNabe.com quoted in an April 6 AM New York story . John Walker (Accounting) was Andrew Beveridge (Sociology) offered a story March 25 about Mirian on prospective GOP candidates for gov- quoted in a March 19 story in the Queens was quoted in a March 21 New York Times Detres-Hickey (Special Services) ernor . . . Changes in attitudes toward Tribune about a daylong role-playing exer- story concerning growing numbers of and her autobiography, pot smoking was the subject of a March cise conducted by the Internal Revenue young adults who have been forced by When It Rains It F---n 11 AM New York story Service at QC in which students act as the bad economy to move back with Pours . . . Deslyn that quoted Harry IRS agents investigating a financial crime their parents. He was also quoted in a Dyer (LAHM) was Levine (Sociology) . . . NY1 aired a story March 15 concern- March 23 Times story concerning the quoted in a Feb. 11 . . . Metro profiled ing Lily Ledbetter’s appearance at the bad economy contributing to declining Queens Chronicle story Corinne Michels QC Women’s History Month conference population in Manhattan, and an April about special Saturday (Biology) April 12 on gender in the workplace. A March 23 4 CrainsNewYorkBusiness.com story on presentations during Dyer in its “21st-Century story in the Daily News included remarks entrepreneurial immigrants in New York Black History Month Pioneers” feature . . . from the event’s organizer, Joyce . . . Clare Carroll (Irish Studies) at the Armstrong House Museum . . . The naming of Pyong Min Warren (English).

17 Events in the Media QC Authors NY 1 carried a story Feb. 13 about Black featuring notable The impact of music is obvious to anyone Richard Vetere History Month events at Louis Armstrong alumni in profes- who has been moved by a particular song. (Media Studies) House Museum. . .The Black History sional sports— So it’s no accident that music therapy, wrote the scripts Month presentation at QC of the musi- including sports- which involves music interventions by for Vigilante, a cal Ghetto Chronicles was reported Feb. caster Howie Rose trained professionals, can allow clients revenge film set 18 in the Queens Tribune . . . The Godwin- and Olympic med- to access and understand their feelings. in a crime-ridden Ternbach exhibition Scholars, Explorers, alist Gail Marquis, Emotional Processes in Music Therapy New York, and Priest: How the Renaissance Gave Us the as well as QC’s Garrett by John Pellitteri (Educational and The Third Miracle, Community Programs) presents the an adaptation of Modern World was the subject of a story wunderkind Knights scientific and artistic dimensions of his novel about Feb. 18 in the Queens Tribune . . . The sports announcer, freshman Alex emotions and a contemporary Queens Tribune carried a story Feb. 22 Garrett—was widely covered. Stories explores ways that priest’s research into a woman about the appearance of dancer Marge appeared April 1 in the Queens Courier, music therapists nominated for sainthood. But Vetere’s Champion at a screening at LeFrak Hall Queens Tribune, and YourNabe.com, in the can become more interests encompass Rome of the of Keep Dancing, a film documenting her April edition of Aspire magazine, and on emotion-focused in Renaissance and later; his plays include long career . . . The opening ceremony NY1 TV on March 25 . . . The appearance their work. Machiavelli and Caravaggio. In his Feb. 19 for QC’s Research Center for of former Tourneau CEO HOWARD A licensed extensively researched historic novel LEVITT at March’s QC Business Forum Korean Community was covered by creative art Baroque (Bordighera Press, an imprint NY1which aired a story on Feb 20. was reported therapist and housed at the John D. Calandra Italian Stories also appeared Feb. 23 in the Daily April 1 in the psychologist, American Institute), he envisions the News; Feb. 25 in the Queens Examiner, Queens Courier. Pellitteri shares Eternal City as it might have been Times Ledger, and Queens Chronicle, and . . Congressman insights developed experienced by turn-of-the-17th-century March 18 in the Queens Courier and in Anthony Wiener’s through his quarter-century in the painter Mario Minniti. The plot involves a the Korean print and broadcast media . . . April 12 Town Hall field. The four sections of his book cast of true-life figures, from the powerful The March 2 announcement by Borough Meeting in the cover the integration of emotions, cardinals who commissioned much of President Helen Marshall and President Student Union music, and the therapeutic process; the the era’s art, to the stunning courtesans James Muyskens of the search to discuss health psychophysiological foundations of music who posed for it. These characters, and for the next Queens Poet Laureate care was cov- and emotions; strategies for integrating Minniti himself, all served as models Levitt appeared March 1 in the Queens Courier, ered April 15 at an emotion focus in clinical music for Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, March 3 in the Daily News, March 4 in YourNabe.com . . . The Godwin-Ternbach therapy; and the professional identity of whose outsize gifts and personality the TimesLedger, the Gleaner, and the Museum exhibition Dalí Dance and the music therapist. influenced everyone in his circle. Queens Chronicle, March 5 in the Queens Beyond received coverage April 8 in the Tribune, and March 8 at YourNabe.com . Queens Courier, April 15 in the Queens . . The March 3 Queens Gazette offered a Chronicle, and April 16 in the Queens In Memoriam: Marilyn Gittell story about Black History Month at the Tribune and artnet . . . NY1 broadcast a Marilyn Gittell, who was a major force Well known as a proponent of school Armstrong House Museum and its exhib- GLOBE (SEES) field trip to Alley Pond in the creation of the urban studies decentralization in New York City, Gittell it concerning when Armstrong broke his Park May 7 for 45 public school students department at Queens College, died in held a bachelor’s degree in political silence on the struggle for civil rights. . . studying pond organisms . . . The March 1 February at the age of 78. At the time of science from Brooklyn College and her death, she was a professor of political an MPA and a PhD in political science A March 15 panel discussion about rela- ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the science at the CUNY Graduate Center from New York University. She taught at tions between the African American and opening of the new wing of Remsen Hall and director of the center’s Howard Queens College in the 1960s and early Jewish communities featuring hip-hop was reported Feb. 28 in the Daily News, Samuels Center. Previously, she had been 1970s. During part of her tenure at QC mogul Russell Simmons, Rabbi Marc March 4 in the Queens Examiner, March an assistant vice president and associate she was the director of the college’s Schneier, and Rabbi Moshe Shur (QC 5 in the Queens Tribune and TimesLedger, provost at Brooklyn College. Institute for Community Studies. Hillel) received coverage in the March 17 March 9 in a Daily News photo, March 10 Queens Gazette and March 18 TimesLedger in the Queens Courier, and March 11 in Clarification: On page 7 of the February 2010 issue of FYI, Ben Alexander was referred to . . . The March 24 Alumni Roundtable the Queens Chronicle. as the head of the special collections archives. He is also an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. 18