L EHMANsummer 2007 L I G H T N I N G summer 2007 Celebrating the Hard Work and Success of the Class of 2007 inside… rt major Arleen Rios (right) finds a unique way to sum up her feelings on ▼ ACommencement Day. From jubilant cheers to thunderous applause, fellow members of the Class of 2007 found still other ways to THE CO L OR IS ‘GREEN ’ A T PL ANNED NEW express their own sense of accomplishment. SC IEN C E FAC I L I T Y ..................................2 Gathered under sunny skies on the College’s THREE WIN WA T SON FE ll OWSHI P S — South Field, they applauded Congressman Charles Rangel, the first African American to A NEW RE C ORD ..................................3 head the powerful Ways and Means Commit- DR. MARY PA P AZIAN NAMED AS NEW tee, as he told them that education is “the key to PROVOS T ................................................3 what this world is all about” and urged them to “share that key with everyone who will listen to GROWIN G MUSI C DE P AR T MEN T ADDS Photo by Jason Green you.” More Commencement photos on page 9. TWO NEW ENSEMB L ES ..........................5 TWO LEHMAN TEAMS SAVOR T HE JOY O F VI ct ORY ............................................7 children has inspired her to seek a career as a pediatrician; and Kissinger plans to pursue an COMMEN C EMEN T ’07 ..................... 9-11 M.B.A. after graduation, with his sights set on AL UMNA PRIN C I PA L WINS PRES T I G IOUS becoming a hospital administrator. Photo by Phyllis Yip Born to Nigerian parents, the trio’s love PUB L I C SERVI C E AWARD ......................12 of learning and their commitment to help- HONOR RO ll O F DONORS ............. 13-17 ing others started at home. Their mother is a nurse, and their father a professor at New York Institute of Technology. The siblings Westchester Parks Commissioner agree that their parents’ dedication to their Strives to Make a Difference upbringing has fueled their drive to succeed. Indeed, with names like Reagan and Nursing majors Justina, new grad Reagan, and Kissinger—and a younger brother named Kissinger Anusionwu. Churchill—the siblings are conscious of their roles as leaders. “Our father believed that if he named his What’s in a Name? children after great leaders they would aspire to do great things,” explains Reagan. “I cer- For the Anusionwu tainly believe that his philosophy has proven Family, It Means true so far.” In addition to their studies, the Anusion- A Calling to Service wus have sought to be examples to their peers. Justina has worked as an orientation workshop Alumnus Joseph Stout (’85, M.S.Ed.) leader for the Office of Student Affairs and as manages 50 parks, totaling nearly iblings Justina, Reagan, and Kissing- a tutor in math, science, reading, and writing. 18,000 acres of public land—the most er Anusionwu share more than just Kissinger has been president of the African anywhere in Westchester. See page 18. Sblood ties—they also share a passion for serving others. All three are nursing Student Association and the S.E.E.K. club. majors with distinct interests in the field: He is also a member of Golden Key Honor LEHMAN COLLEGE Reagan, who graduated in January ’07, Society, as well as a S.E.E.K. honor student, The City University of New York works as a registered nurse at the Albert and was on the Dean’s List. Both Kissinger 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West Bronx, New York 10468 Einstein College of Medicine and plans to and Reagan were president of their respective www.lehman.edu be an anesthesiologist; Justina’s love for nursing classes. ◆ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • C• •AMPUS • • • • N• •EWS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Color Is ‘Green’ at Planned New Science Facility New Education Library hase One of Lehman’s new Offers Room to Grow science facility, set to break Pground next spring, will be “green” in more ways than one. Perkins+Will Architects Not only will it focus mainly on the plant sciences—it is also being designed as a “living machine.” Photo by Phyllis Yip Storm-water runoff, as an exam- ple, will be captured for microbial treatment and reuse in flushing toilets. Lavatory wastewater, in turn, will collect in an under- ground holding tank and again be cleaned microbially before being View from the northeast: The corner atrium connects discharged into the City’s sewer teaching and research wings while providing system or reused in irrigating the important opportunities for students and faculty to building’s landscaping. meet and interact. This complex natural system Sophomore Tanisia Morris enjoys would reduce reliance on the mu- some quiet reading time in the newly nicipal water supply and limit the renovated Education Library, now amount of wastewater produced, moved to the third floor of the Lief while serving as a valuable tool for Library on campus. teaching both Lehman students and the many schoolchildren who The new section has more space, visit the campus. The building more computers, and more room to is registered with the U.S. Green grow. There’s plenty of natural light Building Council and will pursue and easier access to the collection, Leadership in Energy Environmen- which is more open as well. The tal Design certification. seating is varied in composition and arrangement, and the area also of- fers wireless access. View from the southeast. A pedestrian bridge and Other strategies are being designed underground tunnel will connect the new building to to reduce overall energy use. Al- The renovation was funded through Gillet Hall, allowing both to work in concert as a single though most of the inside air will science center. the Office of Bronx Borough Presi- be exhausted directly outside, as dent Adolfo Carrión. required for a laboratory building, variable air volume systems will be used to more accurately control that air supply. Return fans, which recirculate the building’s air, and fume hoods, which expel fumes from laboratories, will be designed to conserve energy and operate at maximum efficiency. Motion sensors would also control room lighting, and automatic dimmers Lehman College of The City University of New would capitalize on the daylight York is located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Dr. Anne Johnson, that will naturally enter into the Vice President for Institutional Advancement; open laboratory layouts. Barbara Smith, Director of Alumni Relations. Lehman Lightning is produced by the Office of Media Relations and Publications. Editor: Marge Courtyard view: The heart of the project will be a Two other phases of the project Rice. Staff: Keisha-Gaye Anderson, Dylan Brooks, courtyard designed to showcase the important plant will begin in subsequent years. Barbara Cardillo, Lisandra Merentis, Yeara Milton, science research being carried out on campus and Ultimately, the complex will com- William Sedutto, Anita serve as a teaching tool in the College’s undergraduate bine the natural and social science Spearman, David Stevens, and Phyllis Yip. courses. departments into one facility. ◆ 2 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •C • AMPUS• • • • •N • EWS• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Three Win Watson Fellowships—A New Record Dr. Mary Papazian his spring, three Lehman students—a and artistic works. Her interest in art history was record number—were awarded the pres- sparked by her grandmother, whom she describes Named as New Provost tigious Jeannette K. as a virtual encyclopedia in T Author and distinguished scholar Dr. Watson Fellowship. Mikaela this area. Chase, Ansamma James, Mary A. Papazian, Dean of Montclair and Valerio Russo will take AN SAMMA JAMES (Class of State University’s College of Hu- part in paid internships for 2010) is a member of the manities and Social Sciences, has been three consecutive summers, Lehman Scholars Program. In named as Lehman’s new Provost and lasting up to ten weeks each, just her first year at Lehman, Senior Vice President for Academic and receive mentoring as she started her own club, Affairs. well as enriched educational called the College Students opportunities. Coalition, which focuses Since 1988, Dr. Papazian has taught The fellowship, awarded on uniting students to plan English literature and continued to to promising New York City and execute community pursue her research and scholarship undergraduates, aims to service projects. Ambitious while serving as increase their life choices and in her academic plans, she an administra- develop their capacity to make looks forward to earning her tor. Previously, M.B.A. as well as a master’s she was Associ- a difference in their own and The three latest Watson Fellows: ate Dean of the Photo by Phyllis Yip others’ lives. Funding comes from left, Ansamma James, in social psychology. James College of Arts from the Thomas J. Watson Mikaela Chase, and Valerio Russo. credits her mother, who died Foundation, honoring the in 2002, with influencing her and Sciences founder of IBM. to work hard and persevere. at Oakland University in MIKAELA CHASE (Class of 2009) is enrolled in VALERIO RUSSO (Class of 2009) is also a member Michigan. Dr. Papazian the Macaulay Honors College at Lehman and of the Macaulay Honors College at Lehman, as is double majoring in anthropology and art well as the Lehman Scholars Program, and is Dr. Papazian holds a B.A., M.A., and history. She hopes to intern in different settings tackling a double major in political science and Ph.D. in English Literature from the to find a working atmosphere that is “both history. Born in Italy, he lived for four years in University of California, Los Angeles. compassionate and realistic, oriented toward Kenya before moving to New York City in 1992. She has numerous publications in her cultural understanding and helping people.” A Undecided so far about his career path, he looks field of Early Modern British Literature student of the creative process, Chase is interested forward to the opportunity to form ideas about and continues to serve as an outside re- in examining symbols and rituals and plans to his long-term professional goals through the viewer for a number of university press- study the natural materials used to create spiritual Watson program.