APRIL 2007

2 Jim O’Hara Retires 3 Wettan Named Asst. VP for Athletics 5 Students Air Issues on WBAI 6 QC Mentored-Students Are Science Winners

Queens College Faculty & Staff News André Watts (see calendar) FYIFYI Ambitious Strategic Plan Will Help Shape the Future of Queens College Progress continues apace on the college’s Strengthening the Quality of the College throughout the fall, focusing on what the new Strategic Plan. Experience for All Students; Strengthening college should be in 2026, and providing a Initiated last fall, the strategic planning the Quality of Life for the College set of strategic objectives for the five-year process was guided by a Strategic Planning Community; Ensuring a Strong Financial period of 2007–2012. Their final reports, Council, which was supported in its work Foundation; Enhancing Physical Facilities; submitted in January, included detailed rec- by eight committees. Composed of faculty, Increasing the Visibility and Recognition of ommendations in their various areas, many students, administrators, and alumni, these the College in New York City and Beyond; of which will be incorporated in the final committees studied a broad range of issues, and Setting Performance Measures and Strategic Plan. including: Enhancing Academic Quality; Ensuring Accountability. Upon receiving the committees’ reports, The Balance of Teaching and Research; The council and committees met (continued on page 4) Guerrilla Girl Questions Images of Women Asking an Uncomfortable Question: Is It 1938 Again? Representing Frida Kahlo, a member Nearly two decades after the west, the shadows of World War II loom tor Leonard Fein, founder of Moment mag- of the Guerrilla Girls—guerrilla theatre losing a war that devas- large. In response, the college’s Center for azine. Panelists will discuss Iran’s quest artists devoted to exposing sexism tated its population and Jewish Studies will present Is It 1938 for nuclear development, the rise of anti- and racism in art, politics, and cul- its economy, crushing its Again? A Major Conference on the State of Semitism in European countries with ture—offers a multimedia presentation bid for regional domi- World Jewry. growing Muslim populations, and the rela- at last month’s Virginia Frese Palmer nance, a troubled land Opening on Sunday, April 22, the two- tionship between Israel and the American Conference on Female Image Makers. begins to revive. Defying day event will feature experts whose per- Jewish community, among other topics. Group members take the names of international agreements, spectives range all over the political map. Seating is limited, so advance registra- dead female artists. Joyce Warren (Women’s Studies) moderated a panel Dershowitz it rearms itself under the The lineup of scholars, intellectuals, and tion is recommended. Tickets for the entire of prominent women writers and film- leadership of a man who faults Jews for its activists includes Norman Podhoretz, event cost $35; seats for a single day cost makers who examined how images disasters—and encourages sympathetic lis- editor-at-large of Commentary; Alan $20 ($30 and $15 for QC faculty and of women have evolved with respect teners to take violent action. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of staff). CUNY students may attend free of to historic and current cultural and The country is Iran. The politician is Law at Harvard Law School; Michael charge, but must present a valid college ID political influences. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And the Walzer from Princeton’s Center for at the door. A kosher box lunch, included year is 2007. But in an era when Islamic Advanced Study, editor of Dissent, and with the admission price, will be served on terrorists have declared a jihad on Israel and author of Just and Unjust Wars; and educa- both days. Jim O’Hara Looks Back at Thirty-Seven Years at Queens College It would require the patience of a saint to of both Powdermaker and Frese Halls, dur- English in mer session. “I held about nine different posi- put up with the inconvenience created by ing his tenure as executive director of facili- 1974. (He tions here, working with nine different presi- the renovation of Powdermaker Hall. Fortu- ties and campus services, as two accom- completed all dents, seven different provosts, and close to nately, as an ordained deacon in the Roman plishments of which he is proudest. credits toward three dozen student government presidents.” Catholic Church, Jim O’Hara has a talent “Powdermaker was quite an accomplish- a PhD at St. Jim also served as assistant vice president and for counseling people in times of crisis. ment because we all pulled together,” he John’s.) Prior vice president for student services. “Oh yeah,” he laughs, when it’s suggest- says, “and it really took an extraordinary to Queens, he His immediate plans include some ed that this, along with having minored in amount of understanding and sensitivity on spent five traveling with his wife, Fran. “I’ll proba- philosophy at St. Francis College (he the part of the people involved who had to years in the bly be expanding my ministry in the majored in English), may have made him be moved twice: out of Powdermaker into New York church,” he says, while also making note uniquely suited to the task. “Powdermaker swing space and back.” Army National of his long involvement with the campus Hall was a $70 million gut-renovation that Of Frese Hall, he notes, while it was not Guard, achiev- ministry services. involved relocating ten academic depart- officially a landmark building, the college ing the rank of first lieutenant. May, he says, will mark nine years since ments, two deans’ offices, and the graduate approached its renovation as if it were, and so “I came to Queens College with the idea he was ordained as a deacon at Holy Name admissions office for approximately five was able to preserve its unique architectural of pursuing a career in teaching,” he of Mary in Valley Stream, where he is on years,” he recalls. Given the fact that the attributes. “We had the same firm that did the recounts. “I taught in the English Department the Bishop’s Advisory Committee for the building represented 40 percent of the cam- renovation of Grand Central Terminal,” he for about two years when I was approached Diaconate. “The church,” he says, “has been pus’s classroom space, the inconvenience remarks. “Some of the glass work, particular- by President (subsequently Chancellor) a significant part of my history outside the could not be overstated. ly in the lobby, is just phenomenal.” Joseph Murphy to assume some administra- college and inside the college.” Jim, who served as interim vice presi- Jim first came to the college as a grad tive responsibilities.” He became assistant to In the months ahead, Jim’s career at the dent for finance and administration through student. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow the director of the Adult Collegiate Education college may come full circle: “I’ve been January, left the college on March 30 after and a New York State Regents College program, which led to stints as executive asked to do some teaching here.” 37 years of service. He cites the renovations Teaching Fellow and received his MA in assistant to the president and director of sum-

STAFF PROFILE Cynthia Rountree: College’s New Affirmative Action Officer Cynthia Rountree had an important assignment to complete equal employment opportunity (EEO) compliance officer for Chase Manhattan Bank; administra- before becoming QC’s director of affirmative action, compliance, tive law judge for the NYC Commission on Human Rights; and regional personnel relations and diversity: teaching geography to a class of middle school attorney for J.C. Penney. students in a remote village in the Kumasi region of Ghana. Before any of this, however, Rountree taught high school in Washington, D.C., developing “I travel to Africa on a regular basis, working with people skills that she believes translated well to her work in affirmative action: “I developed EEO and who do service projects there,” she explains. “We call ourselves training programs to assist staff and departments in understanding the role of affirmative action the Africa Group, and we’re composed of nurses, teachers, social and the mandate of equal employment opportunity. I like the training and consulting aspects of workers, health educators, and others. We donate clothes, take my job because I see affirmative action as a resource for the departments and the college.” along school supplies, etc. The kids are desperate for learning. Rountree, who grew up in Harlem and went to public and Catholic schools, holds a BA from They never ask for candy or cookies; they ask for pencils and Howard University and a JD from Howard’s School of Law. A member of the American Bar paper. Many don’t go to school because they don’t have supplies. Association, she is admitted to practice in New York State and the Southern District Federal Court. “We go into villages and teach in schools or work in clinics. She is replacing Marianne Cooper (GSLIS), who accepted the additional role when the college I’ve been doing this for about 15 years and have been to about needed an AA officer. In her first weeks, Rountree notes, she’s been working closely with 16 countries. Africa is one of my great loves.” Cooper and Reinalda Medina, the new director of human resources. “We’re collaborating on For the past 15 years Rountree has been in private law practice in New York City, where she seeing ‘Where do we go from here?’” she says. specialized in conflict resolution, social services law litigation, and labor, discrimination, and She’s also discovering the campus she’d never visited in her 17 years as a resident of wage-hour law. Her previous positions included VP and manager of multicultural programs and Springfield Gardens: “It’s beautiful. I can’t wait for spring and summer.”

2 Wettan Named Assistant VP for Athletics QC COMMUNITY In 1961, on arship. But when the city went bankrupt, we his first day lost the entire program.” Getting Down to Earth at Queens To maintain Queens’s appeal for sports- College, minded students, the college applied for Multiple forms Lectures are scheduled for the rest of of nonpolluting the event, which is sponsored by the Richard Wettan Division II status from the NCAA, energy—wind, Queens College Environmental Club and ’65 was under- becoming the only branch of CUNY to solar, and the Queens College Climate Change standably a win that distinction. Subsequently, Wettan human—will be Alliance. On Wednesday, April 18, little over- encouraged the school to create incentives demonstrated Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele whelmed. So for athletes. “Some people think athletes this month Sowore will describe what oil explo- he made a should be pure amateurs. But if they don’t when campus ration has done to his country and its beeline for the get financial aid and have to work 20 hours organizations citizens. The Climate Change Initiative place where a week, how can they be students?” he asks. present the concludes the following day with talks he’d feel comfortable: FitzGerald Gym. “I “Financial aid takes the pressure off.” Queens College by Lorna Salzman, a Long Island-based walked into that building and said to myself, By offering packages to students, Queens Climate Change Initiative: People, environmental advocate, and Father ‘Okay, this is home,’” he recalls. Today, as has been able to elevate its sports profile. Prosperity, and the Planet. Paul Mayer, a religious leader with a A preamble to Earth Day, the four-day lifelong commitment to social and eco- assistant vice president for athletics, he has Men’s and women’s track and men’s soccer event begins on Monday, April 16, with an logical issues. oversight of all the sports facilities on campus. are the latest squads to be added; others eco-friendly fair including interactive Weather permitting, the fair will be A Queens native raised in Little Neck, he may be introduced in the future. The college exhibits, hybrid cars, and environmentally held on the Quad; the other activities will was the only athlete in the Wettan household. currently fields 20 teams, nine for men and inspired work by Queens art students. The take place in the Student Union. For more “My interests were unusual in my family,” 11 for women. Academics are not ignored, next day features a noontime screening of information about this and future events, he says. “My brother is an oral surgeon.” and athletes get as much tutoring as they the acclaimed 2006 documentary Who contact the Queens College Environmental Nonetheless, at Martin Van Buren High need. Indeed, Wettan likes to cite statistics Killed the Electric Car?, followed by a Club at [email protected] . School, Wettan experimented with several showing that the graduation rate of the panel discussion and lunch. sports before settling on soccer and track. Knights and Lady Knights is higher than Because he’d skipped a grade, Wettan was that for the general student population. 16 when he enrolled at the college. Despite Wettan’s next challenge is to upgrade ERP Coming to CUNY his youth, he had already chosen his major: school facilities. “We’ve sought grants from Recently the City University announced Systems: Organizational management, physical education. “I knew where I belonged the city, the state, and the university,” he that it will be undertaking a multi-year recruiting, human resources and the right off,” Wettan explains. “The people in the says. “This spring, with money from the process to replace its aging software sys- employee life-cycle, benefits adminis- department were extremely supportive.” City Council, we’re renovating the outdoor tems with a modern Enterprise Resource tration, time and attendance, and pay- After completing his BA, he went to fields. Previously, we did the indoor tennis Planning (ERP) system. This will be the roll processing. Brooklyn College for his master’s, while center.” FitzGerald, his undergraduate home most significant enhancement of CUNY’s ■ Student Administration Systems: serving as a lecturer and track coach at his away from home, is also due for a rehab. administrative systems since the dawn of Academic structure, recruiting and admis- alma mater. For his doctorate, Wettan spent “It’s huge—45,000 square feet. That space the digital age. sions processes, student registration and two years at Ohio State. By 1969 he was would be very difficult to duplicate today.” Hundreds of members of the CUNY records management, continuing educa- back at Queens, teaching phys ed and coach- The big item on Wettan’s long-term community have been working on this tion, student billing and account manage- ing soccer. He has been here ever since. agenda is dormitory construction. “We do project with one goal: to make all transac- ment, and financial aid processing. tions on campus more rational, depend- ERP will be introduced incrementally Over the decades, Wettan has seen the house some students in apartments off-cam- able, and easier for students, staff, faculty, beginning in summer 2008, and is school grow and modernize. “There’s been a pus,” he observes. “However, dorms would and administrators. ERP will affect: expected to be fully operational across tremendous amount of construction,” Wettan allow us to recruit on a much wider scale. ■ Financial Systems: General accounting CUNY in 2011. For more information, reports. “The facilities have improved great- Teams that are successful bring in students and reporting, budgeting, the procure-to- visit http://erp.cuny.edu . Emails detail- ly.” But other changes proved more traumat- from across the country and the world.” pay cycle, and the management of miscel- ing the progress of this project will also ic. “Until 1975, there was no tuition here,” “My philosophy is, the more kids you laneous receivables and cash. be sent weekly to all members of the he says. “In effect, every athlete had a schol- help, the better your life is,” he concludes. ■ Human Resources Management CUNY community.

3 IN THE NEWS Double editorial play: Both the February featured in the show. The exhibition and the News item on March 10 . . . Homeowners, tries at the QC Art Center, was described by issue of Queensborough magazine and the cross-cultural program of lectures and con- cheer up: In a story that ran on Feb. 23, the TimesLedger on Feb. 22 . . . A March 20 Feb. 15 edition of Queens Courier covered certs accompanying it won plaudits on Feb. investors.com, the online version of article on Washingtonpost.com, citing a the keynote address Mets executive vice 26 from Arab News, an English-language Investor’s Business Daily, said that according study published by the American Journal of president David Howard gave to the QC daily published in Saudi Arabia, and on to NICHOLAS COCH (EES), high insurance Preventive Medicine, quoted lead researcher Business Forum . . . Also on Feb. 15, the March 1 from the Queens Courier. Pakistani premiums are slightly justified, because of ASHIMA KANT (FNES). She concludes that Queens Chronicle, Queens Courier, Queens rock-and-roller SALMAN the breadth of natural disasters that hit our diets of blacks and whites appear similar, Tribune, and TimesLedger all reported on AHMAD (Music), who is nation . . . Crain’s New York Business’ Feb. but dietary risk factors for blacks have not QC’s efforts to build a residence hall on cam- performing in some of 26 story about CUNY’s efforts to educate improved . . . KATE MENKEN (LCD) was quot- pus . . . In celebration of Black History those concerts and teach- returning veterans mentioned a program ed on the use of standardized exams under Month, El Diario/La Prensa mentioned the ing a course this semester being developed by Continuing Education the No Child Left Behind Act in the Feb. 25 exhibit Breaking Barriers: Louis Armstrong & about South Asian Islamic . . . On March 8, the day before FRANK issue of El Diario/La Prensa . . . GREGORY Civil Rights on Feb. 18; the Daily News music, was profiled by FRANKLIN (SEEK) was honored by the United RABASSA (Hispanic Langs) is among seven included the Armstrong House and Museum the Daily News on March Negro College Fund for years of service to professors featured in the CUNY’s new ad in its Feb. 25 story about musicians who 13 . . . A study conduct- disadvantaged students, he was the subject campaign, “Look Who’s Teaching at CUNY”; lived in Queens. On Feb. ed by prominent Ahmad of articles in the Queens Chronicle, the Queens meanwhile, CORINNE 27 WFUV-FM aired a seg- researchers, including Tribune, and the Times- MICHELS (Biology) is one ment featuring remarks CLIVE BELFIELD (Economics), was summarized Ledger . . . Reporting on of 13 professors pictured about Armstrong by on Feb. 7 in Newswise.com’s account of the the pending retirement of in a similar promotional DESLYN DYER (LAHA), who potential economic benefits of reducing high the borough’s current effort, “Look Who’s discussed Satchmo’s con- school dropout rates . . . The Journal News poet laureate, the Daily Teaching Science at tributions to black pride reported on Feb. 17 that demographic News noted on Feb. 20 CUNY.” The ads have . . . Journalists here and expert ANDREW BEVERIDGE (Sociology) testi- that the honorary three- appeared in the New York abroad gave ink to The fied in U.S. District Court on behalf of the year post was estab- Observer, Staten Island Grandeur of Islamic Art in federal government, which is challenging lished in 1997 to play up Advance, and other Waldman Dyer Image and Object, now at Port Chester’s election system . . . MARY Franklin what WILLIAM GREEN papers . . . JOHN WALDMAN (Biology) the Godwin-Ternbach Museum. On Feb. 20 CHELTON (GSLIS) decried Sports Illustrated’s (English) termed Queens’ talked to WFUV’s George Bodarky about the Daily News wrote about the show and censorship decision to withhold its annual “rich literary tradition” . . . Between: Woven New York Harbor for a show that aired on QC alum Nasser Khalili, whose collection is swimsuit issue from libraries in a Daily Images, a show of fiber and digital tapes- March 24.

STRATEGIC PLAN (continued from page 1) road map that will bring us there in the next ment for faculty, students, staff, and alumni; indicates resource requirements; pinpoints President James Muyskens appointed a twenty years.” and contribute significantly to the well- accountability and responsibility; and pro- working group to assist in the drafting of being of the borough, New York City, the vides benchmarks for measuring progress. the Strategic Plan. The group will meet THE STRATEGIC PLAN RESTS UPON A region, and the country. The Implementation Plan will be drafted throughout the spring term and will submit NUMBER OF KEY ASSUMPTIONS: ■ The college will build a strong financial during this summer and fall and will be a final draft of the plan to the council for its ■ Queens College will achieve international foundation with multiple funding streams available for review by the college commu- review and adoption this May. prominence as a public liberal arts college, and a robust endowment, and will adopt an nity upon completion. “I am very pleased with the results of our dedicated to the City University’s twin goals entrepreneurial approach to its initiatives The reports already filed by the eight planning process,” says Muyskens. “Our of excellence and opportunity. and activities. committees will soon be available on the original charge to the planning council and ■ The college will work to advance global While the Strategic Plan proposes a college’s Web site and at the reserve desk in all the members of the committees was to understanding, which is of particular impor- number of goals for the next five years, it the library. The council, the committees, and think big and not be deterred by concerns tance in an increasingly culturally varied does not lay out the numerous management the working group were assisted in their about costs or logistics, but to concentrate and interconnected world. decisions that will be necessary to achieve deliberations by Anthony Knerr & on what Queens College needs to do to be ■ The college will create a strong sense of these goals. These decisions are more prop- Associates, strategic advisors to leading col- internationally recognized as a great institu- community on campus and within the bor- erly the domain of an Implementation Plan leges, universities, and other nonprofit insti- tion. And I believe we have come up with a ough; provide a vibrant learning environ- that clearly presents specific action steps; tutions in the United States and Europe.

4 Manifesto Destiny: Students Speak Their Minds on the Radio The burden of financing a college education. inequality has on minority communities. “My sister said listeners were excited; Inadequate support for victims of domestic Nicole Hunchik wrote about her relatives’ they called in and sent in emails,” the profes- violence. Lack of health care for undocu- battles with drug addiction. And Alexandra sor reports. “The students thought the expe- mented immigrants. These are among the Zubizarreta pushed for changes in the legal rience was great, too.” issues that Queens College students raised in system to provide better protection for Fernandes has repeated the manifesto five shows aired earlier this year on local abused spouses. assignment with undergraduates in the radio station WBAI. The thought-provoking These papers were so compelling that social theory class she’s teaching now; she series grew out of an assignment for a social Fernandes shared them with her sister, host hopes to contact students after this semester theory course taught in the fall by Sujatha of WBAI’s early morn- ends for possible tapings. Then she’ll have Fernandes (Sociology). ing program, Wakeup to take a break from arranging radio book- “We began the class by reading texts like Call. Convinced that the ings. Fernandes is one of only two CUNY Marx’s Communist Manifesto,” says student manifestoes faculty members to receive a Mellon Fernandes. “But sometimes, reading classical deserved a wider audi- Fellowship for next year; she will be based social theory is hard for today’s students. So ence, Deepa Fernandes at the Graduate Center leading a seminar on A Princely Production I asked them to write their own manifestoes.” and colleagues Mitch “Writing Lives.” The multifaceted academic, Cinderella (Siri Howard) embraces her Encouraged to pick topics they cared Jeseritch and Abdulai who recently published Cuba Represent! Prince Charming (Maximilian Roll) in about, the students made no effort to avoid Bah arranged for the Cuban Arts, State Power and the Making of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical controversy. Natalie Ochoa protested Zubizarreta youthful authors to be New Revolutionary Cultures (see December Cinderella. The cast of 41 QC actors increases in college tuition, while Nabila taped reading their work aloud at WBAI’s 2006 FYI), is working on a book about and three local children was directed Chowdury cited the obstacles faced by peo- studios in Manhattan. The recordings were global hip-hop, a genre she knows from the by Charles Repole (Drama). Presented ple who lack legal residential status. Natalie integrated into Wakeup Call shows broadcast inside out—she was a performer in her in the Goldstein Theatre, Cinderella Eugene described the impact educational in late February and early March. native Australia. ran for two weekends in March.

STUDENT PROFILE Carlos Penaloza: Inspiration + Passion = Biomedical Research One would be hard-pressed to find a better example of the “I had satisfied all the prerequisites for a medical career, including volunteering,” he value of programs such as the Louis Stokes Alliance for says, referring to internships at Elmhurst Hospital and a private cardiology clinic. “But these Minority Participation (AMP), Minority Access to Research research experiences changed my mind entirely.” Careers (MARC), and Research Initiative for Minority Students So much so that Penaloza, by his own admission, spends virtually all of his time in the (RIMS) than Carlos Penaloza. lab. “My schedule is usually I’m here between 9 and 10 am until . . . lately it’s been until Predestined to pursue a career in medicine, Penaloza, a almost midnight,” he says. “My life outside of school is all school-related; anything I do out- 2005 QC graduate in biology who transferred from Queens- side of school is with school people.” borough College, credits these programs and the inspiration of Now part of Minority Access Training/Graduate Networking in the Sciences, Technology his mentor, Zahra Zakeri (Biology), with helping him find his Engineering, and Mathematics and Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, passion: biomedical research. Penaloza is passing along his passion for research to four undergraduates he is currently “My dad’s a dentist and my whole family in Venezuela are mentoring. Some are in the same programs that inspired him to undertake research science. in medical fields, so medicine was sort of pressured into me “I carried over some of the research that I did as an undergrad in Dr. Zakeri’s lab. I’m a long while ago,” explains Penaloza, who immigrated to working on sex differences at the cellular level. I’m doing cell molecular and developmental the United States with his mother in December 1999, settling in Richmond Hill. A semester biology. All of the students I have been working with I’m training through my project.” shy of graduation, he completed his high school education at John Adams High School in “My goal is research/academia, with a big accent on the academia,” he says. “I like to Ozone Park. teach, but I also enjoy doing my little experiments and having fun. My goal is to be like Dr. “It was a matter of a lot of mentoring from Dr. Zakeri, followed by a lot of clinical expe- Zakeri, having both the research and the teaching.” riences in programs like the Bridges Program, MARC, AMP. All of these allowed me to expe- Penaloza says he would prefer to stay in the public school system, where he believes rience research in different areas, as well as go to different places like the NIH [National researchers have more freedom than at large private schools. When asked if he would be Institutes of Health] and visit some labs and some really cool people,” says Penaloza. happy to find a position at QC, he unhesitatingly responds: “Absolutely.”

5 Five Townsend Harris Science Winners Mentored at QC Hamlisch and Townsend Harris students fared exceptionally students represent the best and brightest our alums returned home with honors. Slackman to Receive well in a recent science competition spon- schools have to offer in the areas of science, Townsend Harris’ entries this year span sored by the New York City Department of engineering, and technology.” several categories. Aronowicz, Cheng, and Q Award Education. Of the 23 winners chosen in At a ceremony taking place this month, Zeqja collaborated on a physics experiment On Thursday evening, June the annual New York City Science and Polytechnic will award a $40,000 scholar- using far infrared light to evaluate the struc- 21, Queens College will Engineering Fair, five came from Townsend: ship to each of the ture of DNA molecules. In the animal sci- host its annual Q Award Ben Aronowicz, Warren Cheng, and Erin top-ranked city ences division, Wazed analyzed what resist- Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Zeqja, who were mentored by Vinod Menon contestants. In ance to the insecticide Imidacloprid does to Each year the Queens (Physics), Makrete Krikorian, who worked mid-May, they the immune system of Leptinotarsa decem- College Foundation bestows with former QC professor Bonnie Gersten will head to lineata, otherwise known as the Colorado the Q Award on accom- (Biochemistry), and Bushra Wazed, who Albuquerque, potato beetle. And Krikorian tackled a plished men and women conducted research under Mitchell Baker New Mexico, to chemistry project involving microscopic Hamlisch who reflect the qualities of (Biology). attend the Intel particles of cadmium sulfide. intellect and spirit the college hopes to nur- More than a thousand teens submitted International “Their success is great for Townsend ture in its students. This year the Q Award projects to this year’s event, held March 6 and Science and Harris and for Queens College,” says will be presented to multiple Oscar and Tony 7 in the Manhattan headquarters of the New Engineering Fair, Menon, who began working with Award-winner Marvin Hamlisch and the Menon York Academy of Sciences, which presented where they will be Aronowicz, Cheng, and Zeqja, as well as founding president of Commerce Bank, the fair in partnership with Brooklyn’s part of a global pool of some 1500 con- their high school teacher, through the David Slackman. The evening will also include a special salute to all QC graduates Polytechnic University. “Every student who tenders vying for additional prizes. New Howard Hughes Summer Research in the entertainment business. For tickets participated in the NYCSEF is a winner,” said Yorkers have an admirable track record at Program. “I’m going to have more kids and more information, contact the Office of academy president Ellis Rubinstein. “These the Intel contest; in 2006, ten NYCSEF come to my lab in the future.” Development at 73920.

STAFF PROFILE Richard Adams: New Director of the ACE Program

Prior to becoming Queens College’s new director College, as his mother graduated magna cum laude from QC in 1977 with a BA in of the Adult Collegiate Education (ACE) program, Richard health education. He also held a part-time job at the college while still in high school. Adams spent 12 years working in Adelphi University’s “I was a therapy assistant for the National Society for Autistic Children, which used Adult Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE). to rent space in temporary buildings alongside FitzGerald Gymnasium,” he says. In addition to teaching courses in marketing and con- “During my last two summers in high school, I was working one-on-one with an sumer psychology at Adelphi, he also advised about autistic child.” Adams also spent a good deal of time inside the gym as he’s been 200 students. The experience instilled in him a profound playing and following basketball since the 1970s. respect for the accomplishments of adult students. Originally contemplating a career working with autistic children, Adams decided while “When I was in college as an 18-year-old,” Adams at Rutgers that business was his passion. He earned his BA in business administration/ says, “I had pretty much nothing to worry about except economics there, and followed that with an MBA from the University of Michigan. a part-time job. But adult students are working 40 or After a few years in corporate America, first with Marsh and McLennan, followed 50 hours a week; they’re often responsible for child- by Dow Chemical and Amoco Corporation, Adams returned to academia in 1994 with care, eldercare, their spouses; they’re involved in their a position at Adelphi. community, churches, and synagogues. It’s amazing to see how they’re successful in “I’m very familiar with QC being the jewel of the CUNY system, and a place that’s those areas and in academia also, where some are on the dean’s list and graduating open to diversity and giving opportunities to all,” Adams says. “That’s something with honors. It’s a great pleasure for me to assist them in whatever capacity I can.” that I’m all about, and I enjoy being part of that here at QC.” Adams was raised in Cambria Heights and grew up well aware of Queens Adams lives in Baldwin, Long Island, with his wife, Erica.

6 QC PEOPLE

NICHOLAS ALEXIOU (Sociology) organized a school students who speak both Bengali December 2006 issue award dinner on March 22 at Terrace on the panel on “Ethnicity, Immigration, and the and English to create literacy instruction for of the Admissions Park . . . YIN MEI City” for the annual meeting of the Eastern multilingual children. JACQUELINE DARVIN wRAP-Up Newsletter (Dance) staged her Sociological Society. The department’s gradu- (SEYS) will design and implement programs . . . SAMUEL HEILMAN work Nomad: The River ate students joined him on the panel and to assist teachers working in diverse class- (Sociology) gave three at Wake Forest presented their papers at the event, which rooms. JENNIFER EDDY (SEYS) will study lectures on March 24 University in Winston- took place March 18 in world language teachers to learn how to about recent trends in Salem, NC, on February Philadelphia . . . JOE implement a program with best practices. modern Orthodox 22–23 and at the Yerba BERTOLINO (VP Student MARY FOOTE (EECE) will explore equity and Judaism as scholar-in- Buena Arts Center in Affairs) and partner Bil diversity issues in elementary school math Heilman residence at the San Francisco on March Leipold received the classes. NATHALIS GUY WAMBA (ECP) will Teaneck Jewish Center in New Jersey . . . Yin Mei 23–24 . . . CAROLINE Reader’s Choice Award evaluate the effectiveness of paraprofes- SUE HENDERSON RUPPRECHT (Comp Lit) presented a paper, for Best Diversity/ sionals-turned-teachers . . . JOSHUA BRUM- (VP Institutional “(In)fertile Grounds: Mourning and Minority Artists by BERG (Psychology) will be the keynote Advancement) was Procreation in Uwe Johnson and Jean-Luc Campus Activities speaker for Williams College’s Neuroscience among the Top Ten Godard,” on Feb. 23 at the Louisville magazine . . . Five Bertolino Alumni Symposium on April 14 . . . MARIO Women in Business Conference on Literature and Culture since faculty members have won research associ- CARUSO (Graduate Admissions) contributed honored by the Queens 1900 . . . On February 16 AMY WINTER ate positions at QC’s Equity Studies an article about evaluating educational, pro- Courier and Queens (Godwin-Ternbach) participated in a panel Research Center this semester. ALPANA fessional, and nursing credentials from the Business Today at the discussion about the local art scene at BHATTACHARYA (SEYS) will analyze spelling Philippines, India, Korea, and Ireland—and papers’ fifth annual Flushing’s Amerasia Bank Gallery. and syllable identification skills in middle- determining their U.S. equivalency—to the networking event and Henderson

IN MEMORIAM 1940, when Arthur was offered a position papers, received major funding from NIH, person who emphasized the joys of schol- Laura Hunter Colwin at Queens. and co-chaired an international confer- arship and discovery. Dozens or more of 1911–2006 The Queens job offer did not initially ence—that the regulations were repealed her students were inspired to become sci- Laura Hunter Colwin, pro- extend to Laura—regulations on hiring of and Laura received a one-step promotion entists because of their contacts with her. fessor emerita of biology, family members made a joint appointment from Instructor to Full Professor. The Colwins’ professional lives died December 6, 2006 in impossible, so Laura worked at Vassar The Colwins used the newly invented revolved around the twin poles of Queens Miami. She was 95 years College. At the same time, she and Arthur electron microscope to study the process of College and the MBL. While living mod- old and survived by three set up a joint research lab at Queens (with fertilization in Hydroides, Saccoglossus, estly, they made generous gifts to both years her husband, Arthur. summers spent at the MBL), where they and other marine organisms. Their discov- institutions following their QC retirement Laura graduated from embarked on the focused research of their eries led to a fundamental change in the in 1973. At Queens they endowed the Bryn Mawr College in 1932. Her early lives: the process of fertilization in animals. understanding of the fertilization process. Colwin Prize, an annual award given to an interest was in protozoology and she did In this pre-NIH age, Arthur and Laura They disproved the then-prevailing dogma exceptional graduating biology major. part of her graduate research at the Marine dipped into their salaries to purchase that the sperm penetrates the egg during Queens College honored the couple in May Biological Laboratories (MBL) in Woods research chemicals and photo supplies. fertilization, and demonstrated instead that 1993 by naming the former E Building Hole, MA. During this time Laura met Arthur spent the war years in the Air the membranes of sperm and egg undergo a Laura and Arthur Colwin Hall. Arthur Lentz Colwin, a postdoctoral fellow Force. In 1948, following his return, the hir- complex fusion process. Membrane fusion Following her wishes, Laura is buried from Yale University. There was immediate ing regulations were relaxed to allow Laura has been shown to occur in almost every in the cemetery of the Church of the chemistry between the two, but the couple to be hired, but only as an Instructor. It animal studied to date. Messiah, in Woods Hole, next to her hus- decided to put off a wedding until Arthur wasn’t until 1967—by which time Laura Colleagues and students remember band and lifelong partner. found a permanent job. This happened in and Arthur had co-authored 46 scientific Laura as an exceptionally kind and caring Uldis Roze (Biology)

7 19 thu 25wed 7mon April CONCERT: Francesca Han, piano. BIOLOGY COLLOQUIUM: “Neurons, SEMINAR “LEDGF and Resistance to Choral Rehearsal Hall, 3 pm. Astrocytes, and Microglia: Death by a Stress-Induced Cell Death in Prostate 11wed Thousand Cuts, Phosphorylations, Tumors,” Carlos Casiano (Loma Linda BIOLOGY COLLOQUIUM: “Cell Polarity Translocations, and Associations,” Kelly Univ School of Medicine). Science Bldg, and Fate Determination during Vertebrate 20 fri Jordan-Sciutto (UPenn). Science Bldg, Room D139, 11:15 pm. Room B137, 11:15 am. Development,” Sergei Sokal (Mt Sinai). CONCERT: Brandon Silaco, percussion. CHEMISTRY SEMINAR: “A UV Resonance Science Bldg, Room B137, 11:15 am. LeFrak Hall, 12:30 pm. Raman and FTIR Study of Protein Phases Yields Structural Specifics,” 26-29thu-sun Laura Juszczak (Brooklyn College). CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE. 15sun Remsen Hall, Room 105, 12:15 pm. Thu, 7 pm; Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 2 & 8 pm; CONCERT: Sunday, 3 pm. Performance Space, CONCERT: Hyuna Kim, voice. LeFrak André Watts, piano Rathaus M-11. Tickets $6. Hall, 2 pm. LeFrak Hall, 2 pm. $32. André Watts 29sun 16mon KIDSCLASSICS: The Beat Goes On. CHEMISTRY SEMINAR: “Single Molecule LeFrak Hall, 2 pm. $12. Spectroscopy of Nanomaterials,” Zhonghua Yu (City College). Remsen Hall, Room 105, 12:15 pm. Nancy Wilson 30mon CHEMISTRY SEMINAR: “Coding Region 17tue 21sat Determinants of Membrane Protein Over- EXHIBIT OPENING: Margery Edwards: CONCERT: Nancy Wilson Colden Audito- Expression,” Vivek Khatri (Hunter College). Light to Dark: Paintings and Works on rium, 8 pm. $36 QCID, seniors, alumni. Remsen Hall, Room 105, 12:15 pm. Paper. 9 am–8 pm. Gallery talk by the exhibition curator, Jeanne Wilkinson, Thursday, April 19, 5–6 pm; reception, 23mon 6–8 pm. SEMINAR: “Assisted Reproductive May Technology: A.R.T. and the Environment: CONCERT: J.S. Bach & His World: Can it Change Who You Are?” Carmen Edwards’s NY 739 1978, mixed Dietrich Buxtehude’s 300th Anniver- 1tue Sapienza (Temple School of Medicine). CONCERT: Simone Dinnerstein, piano. media on paper sary, Jan-Piet Knijff, fortepiano, organ Science Bldg, Room D139, 11:15 am. LeFrak Hall, 10 am. & harpsichord. LeFrak Hall, 10 am. CHEMISTRY SEMINAR: “The Other Half CONCERT: Emma Hospelhorn, flute. EXHIBITS of the Protein-Folding Problem,” Dan LeFrak Hall, 6:30 pm. Margery Edwards: Light to Dark: Raleigh (Stony Brook). Remsen Hall, 2wed BIOLOGY COLLOQUIUM: “From Birth Paintings and Works on Paper. Room 105, 12:15 pm. to Death: How Three Transcriptional Art Center, 6th floor, Library. Through 18wed Pathways Regulate Age-Related July 30. BIOLOGY COLLOQUIUM: “Biological Decline,” Coleen Murphy (Lewis-Sigler Invasions in the Sea: Science, History, 24tue Institute, Princeton). Science Bldg, The Grandeur of Islamic Art In Image CONCERT: The Best of the Baroque and Policy,” James Carlton (Roger Room B137, 11:15 am. and Object. Godwin-Ternbach Museum. with Andrew Saderman, music director. Williams Univ). Science Bldg, Room www.qc.cuny.edu/godwin_ternbach . LeFrak Hall, 10 am. B137, 11:15 am. Through May 31. EVENING READING: Jamaica Kincaid NEUROPSYCHOLOGY COLLOQUIUM: 6sun will read from her work and be inter- CONCERT: Elmar Oliveira, Breaking Barriers: Louis Armstrong “Spatial Updating in Human Cortex,” viewed by Leonard Lopate. LeFrak Hall, violin. LeFrak Hall, 2 pm. and Civil Rights. Eli Merriman (NYU). Science Bldg, 7 pm. $15, free with CUNY student ID. $32. Louis Armstrong House Museum, Room E308, 12:15 pm. Corona, Queens. www.satchmo.net . CONCERT: Magdalena Garbalinska, Through October 8. violin. LeFrak Hall, 3 pm. Rafael Oliveira

8 Items should be submitted to Maria Matteo ([email protected]), Kiely 1310, x 75590. Deadline: May 2. FYI will next appear on May 16.