Governor Visits QC 2 . Seamen's Archives Now at QC 4 . A Leap for Global Ed 6 . TIME 2000 Reunion 9 Music Faculty Score Oscar Nominee CLICK HERE QUEENS COLLEGE FacUltY | Stafff NEWyS FEBRiUARY 2012 Mapping a New Approach to Immigration Studies “So many Queens College students were include political, economic, linguistic, and conduct research on key areas, including born abroad,” notes Dean of Social Sci- cultural topics on immigrant communi- immigration and public policy, globaliza- ences Elizabeth Hendrey, “and that contrib- ties including Chinese, Indian, Korean, tion and transnationalism, public health utes to the college’s rich diversity of cultures Haitian, Greek, and Italian Americans, and the environment, among several and backgrounds.” Immigration studies, she among others. “We’re looking to create a other fields. “Our plan is also to develop says, “is at the heart of QC’s mission.” QC-based Center for Immigration Stud- research projects and training programs The field of immigration studies has ies—an umbrella center that embraces the aimed at educating both specialized and traditionally focused on the experiences commonality among all the groups that public audiences on the diverse needs of specific communities and nation- have contributed so much to the fabric of of immigrant groups as well as on their alities—Asian, Latino, Caribbean, or life in New York City,” says the working outstanding contributions,” says Viladrich, African, for example. But QC’s Immigra- group’s director, Anahí Viladrich (Soc & who joined QC last fall from Hunter Col- tion Studies Working Group is taking a Anthro). Now in the formative stage, the lege, where she headed the Immigration different approach. center will sponsor programs in education, Health Initiative. Using conferences, re- The first meeting of the working group, research, outreach, and advocacy. search seminars, and public forums among held Feb. 15, attracted faculty from all The center will build on the expertise of CONTINUED ON Page 2 four divisions whose research interests faculty, students, and staff who already Viladrich Big Honor for Dennehy’s research is focused on how similarly evolves in humans doesn’t precipi- how they evolve in bacteria,” he says. “So, in viruses infect new host types and spread pan- tate a public health crisis on the scale of HIV our lab, we’re using bacteria as a much more Small Wonders demically. “Over the past 30 years, a number and AIDS. Past outbreaks of SARS and Avian practical stand-in for humans.” of viruses have influenza, Dennehy notes, “have never risen Vuong’s research focuses on how polar- Luat Vuong (Physics, hired 2010) and John emerged in one to the level of our fears.” ized light produces electrical currents when Dennehy (Biology, hired 2007) operate in species and infect- At the center of his it strikes sub-microscopic, nanoscaled nano- different fields, but both are in microscopic ed another,” says research is the ques- structures. “Nanostructures are small—small- worlds below the threshold of human vision. Dennehy. “The tion: Are there ways er than the wavelengths of visible light,” she And both recently received National Science classic example is to predict which virus- says. But her field of interest “is more than Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early CAREER HIV, which evolved es are more likely than just physics,” she adds. “The phenomena and Development Awards. The awards, which from chimpanzees others to pose a global dynamics we probe also have potential impli- carry substantial cash grants as well as cover to humans with health threat? “My cations for biology and chemistry.” In time, overhead costs for the college, recognize and catastrophic con- theory is that the way applications of Vuong’s research could lead to support outstanding research efforts by prom- sequences.” But these viruses evolve ising young scientists early in their careers. every virus that in humans is similar to CONTINUED ON Page 4 Vuong, Dennehy immigratiON STUDIES - from page 1 Governor Cuomo other venues, the center will reach out Visits the Campus to scholars and students, public officials, immigrant coalitions, the nonprofit sector, It was a homecoming of sorts when and industry representatives. Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Queens To accomplish its ambitious agenda, College on January 16 to present his bud- Viladrich says, the center hopes to collabo- get proposal for 2012. rate with faculty, students, and academic Introduced by Queens Borough President departments. “The idea is to leverage the Helen Marshall as “the King of Queens,” the incredible resources we have at QC and governor proclaimed himself, to the delight create a partnership that is truly transdisci- of a packed LeFrak Concert Hall, “a Queens plinary and holistic.” boy, through and through. Students will figure in the center’s activi- “Grew up in Hollis, had an apartment, my ties, both as researchers and research sub- first apartment, in Sunnyside, I had a house jects. A case in point: Viladrich’s proposed in Douglaston,” he continued. “And Queens study of traditional healing practices and has it all: It’s everything in one borough.” their relationship to mainstream biomedi- Then, recalling his years traveling the cine. “Students will be trained in ethno- graphic research methods and go into country as secretary of Housing and Urban the community with video recorders to Development in the Clinton administration, interview people in their homes—including he noted that whenever people remarked Governor Andrew Cuomo is shown at their own families,” Viladrich says. on his “real New York accent,” he corrected left with President James Muyskens on the occasion of his January 16 address She also wants the center to collabo- them: “No, that’s a Queens accent.” at LeFrak Concert Hall, at which he rate with other colleges and private- and And, as if he hadn’t already won over the promoted his legislative and financial public-sector partners. Toward that end, crowd, he added, “It’s great to be at Queens agenda for the coming year. the working group is organizing and co- College which is doing great work. All the sponsoring a series of events as part of accolades you’re getting you deserve.” nomic activity that will create tens of thou- Also controversial is his proposal to Immigrant Heritage Week, April 17–24. Turning to the address he’s been giv- sands of job across the state, literally building vastly expand the state’s DNA database to Created by the Mayor’s Office of Immi- ing statewide, he followed a recitation of a new New York for the next generation.” include everyone convicted of a crime. “It is grant Affairs, this initiative brings together accomplishments since taking office with He also noted the need for “an energy the single most important tool we have for a broad array of institutions and commu- the proposal that has generated the most highway” to create the means of bringing getting to the truth,” he said. nity groups that will celebrate the legacies interest locally: building the country’s largest cheap hydroelectric power from upstate to Noting that many families eligible to and contributions of the city’s diverse convention center at Aqueduct Racetrack in areas of greater demand downstate. receive food stamps elect not to because of immigrant cultures. Co-sponsors in this Ozone Park as a replacement for the signifi- Saving his more controversial propos- the requirement that they be fingerprinted, effort, besides the Immigration Studies cantly smaller Javits Center in Manhattan. als for last, he began, “Job one for every he said, “There are many ways to detect Working Group, include the Center for “New York will go from number 12 to public official, for every citizen, is the public fraud; you don’t need fingerprinting. If finger- Ethnic, Racial and Religious Understand- number one,” he said. “And that’s where education system, and we have so much printing is stopping people from applying for ing, the Division of Social Sciences, Immi- New York should be.” more to do in that arena.” He then noted food stamps so children are going to bed gration Advocacy Matters, the Kupferberg Noting the potential for enormous rev- the state’s inability to utilize $700 million in hungry, let’s do away with fingerprinting.” Center for the Performing Arts, the Latin enue if the center includes casino gambling, federal Race to the Top education funding Closing with an appeal to everyone in the American and Latino Studies Program, the à la Atlantic City, he also proposed amending because of its failure to implement a teach- room to lobby their officials on behalf of Provost’s Office, and the Office of Institu- the state constitution to permit casino gam- er evaluation system—which is opposed by his proposals, he exhorted, “We can reform tional Development. “This will be our first bling, now only permitted on tribal lands. teachers unions. “The evaluation system is education, we can bring back jobs, we can major collaboration with other QC centers, Cuomo next described a plan to rebuild the right thing to do,” he said. “No evalua- make this community stronger than ever programs, and community organizations,” New York’s deteriorating roads, bridges, tion, no money.” before. And let’s start with Queens, because says Viladrich. “And I hope it will be the first of many.” dams, and state parks: “It’s $25 billion in eco- it all started in Queens.” FYI FEBRUary 2012 | 2 Arias of Excellence The National Opera Association (NOA), of Ohio, which also have highly regarded an organization that supports university opera programs. opera programs and promotes opera ap- “Winning a first place award in the preciation and education, is singing the 2009 National Opera Association Opera praises of the Aaron Copland School of Production Competition put the ACSM Music: its production of Postcard from opera program on the map,” says QC Morocco received third-place honors in its Opera Studio Co-director David Ronis, division of NOA’s annual opera produc- who directed Postcard.