QUEENS THE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS COLLEGE President Frank H. Wu Meeting and Greeting President Frank H. Wu FALL 2020, VOL. XXIII, NO. 1 13 From QC to a Career From the President An internship opened doors for Toni Cimino ’03. Like you, I have had to make significant adjustments in response to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, I’m writing you not from my office in Kiely Hall, which I have 15 Meet Frank H. Wu yet to occupy, but from my home. This was not the situation A conversation with the college’s I envisioned when I had the honor of being appointed eleventh president. president of Queens College, my dream job. Working remotely, as I have for several months, has only More QC Legacies deepened my admiration for this storied institution, which 18 has been transforming students’ lives for 83 years. In the Three generations of Katzes have pages of this magazine, you will learn about the remarkable ways in which faculty, attended the college; Zita Dresner followed her mother here. staff, and students rapidly switched to a remote education model and thrived. Our summer session was tremendously successful, offering 640 courses in four sessions and reaching the highest registration in a decade—a better than 30 percent increase 20 Critical Needs Fund over the figures for 2019. You’ll also read about our Critical Needs Fund, which Establishing a path forward in will help the college and its students cope with the significant financial challenges challenging times. that await us. I’m deeply grateful to all the alumni who have contributed to this important initiative. On a more personal note, I hope that you will gain insight into my reasons for Our financial support 22 Professionals on Campus MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH is needed more than coming to Queens College from the interview on page 15. Accomplished alumni and friends talk Because of the continuing threat of COVID-19, 99 percent of QC’s operations ever. Our students need shop with students. scholarships to reduce remain remote for the fall semester. I have started a strategic planning process or eliminate debt hanging involving students, faculty, staff, and alumni in helping to identify priority and goals over their heads and our faculty need Achieving Virtual for the future. Under the circumstances, I can’t encourage you to visit for all the resources to continue to provide a 24 Peer to Peer Success events, from sports and performances to Homecoming, that are customary at this time superior level of education. of year. But I hope you’ll participate in online Alumni activities, listed at Faculty, staff, and students adapt to —Mark Rose ’85 https://qccommunity.qc.cuny.edu/pages/alumni-pages/alumni-upcoming-events. remote operations. While you’re at it, keep in touch. Queens College wants to hear from you. I Fundraising Giving back, whether it is encourage you to share news of what you’re doing in these challenging times. Please financial contribution or 27 Getting on Board with write us at [email protected]. my time, supports the next Be careful and stay safe! generation of students Their Alma Mater and alumni. Gifts received Four alumni join the QC Foundation. As alumni and friends of Queens College, you can help our address the most pressing needs of Sincerely, Queens College and my belief is that we community by becoming a fundraiser through our simple online will put those dollars where they are 30 The Band of Brotherhood most needed. Members of Phi Epsilon Pi endow a platform. Your participation will truly help Queens College fund to support scholarships. —Paulette Mullings Bradnock ’84 President Frank H. Wu address key challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic The academic, social, and and beyond. athletic experiences were truly formational for me. State funding and tuition SECTIONS alone are not enough 4 News Visit https://give.classy.org/QCCriticalNeeds, email to support the college experience I had. I give back to help insure that 28 Giving Back generations to come can have these Cover: Showcasing the linguistic diversity of Queens College, students welcome [email protected] or call the Office of Institutional 31 Alumni Notes President Frank H. Wu in nine languages. same experiences and benefits. Advancement at 718-997-3920 to learn more! —Lee Fensterstock ’68 Editor Staff Writers Staff Designer LESLIE JAY JOHN SCARINCI JEFFERSON CABALLERO Art Director JACQUELYN SOUTHERN Staff Photographer GEORGINE INGBER BOB SUTER ANDY POON QUEENS THE MAGAZINE OF QUEENS COLLEGE FALL 2020, VOL. XXIII, NO. 1 We welcome your letters: [email protected] QUEENS NEWS he died on May 17, 2020, his family established the Martin Cohen IN MEMORIAM Memorial Scholarship Fund at Queens College. Harvey Alter ’52 Michael Cogswell Environmental chemist Harvey Alter died Michael Cogswell, who passed away on April on June 27, 2020 at the age of 87. His career 20, 2020, will be forever remembered for encompassed positions at the Bakelite converting a jazz legend’s unoccupied home Company, Gillette Company, National into the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Center for Resource Recovery, and the U.S. An alto saxophonist, Cogswell spent nearly Chamber of Commerce, where he managed two decades performing with bands before environmental and natural resource public completing a bachelor’s degree in music and policy issues. ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for a master’s in musicology. Hired to organize the Louis Armstrong Testing and Materials) gave Alter its Award of Merit for his efforts Archives at Queens College, he earned a Master of Library Science to set standards for recycling. Serving over the years as an adjunct at at QC and assumed responsibility for making Satchmo’s house American University, the University of Maryland Global Campus, into an international cultural landmark. “When Louis came into and Frederick Community College, he remained grateful to QC, Michael’s life, he came into my life, and all of a sudden there where he met his wife. She predeceased him; he established the were three people in this marriage,” observed Dale Van Dyke, Corey E. Alter Scholarship in Music Education in her memory. Cogswell’s widow. “That was fine with me.” Carol Lang Brock ’44 Warren DeBoer A champion for women in the culinary arts, In four decades of teaching anthropology at Carol Brock began her career as an assistant Queens College, Warren DeBoer mentored Saluting the Class of 2020 food editor at Good Housekeeping and later students and faculty alike. He was known for In a fitting conclusion to a semester when classes moved online, Graduates were acknowledged and had a chance to express gratitude wrote for Parents and The New York Daily his ethnoarchaeological and ethnohistorical Queens College used virtual methods to mark Commencement on for their time at QC. News. To combat gender discrimination in work in South America, studying modern Thursday, May 28, when it was originally scheduled. The English Department set up a wix.com website, which the food industry, she launched Les Dames behaviors of indigenous peoples; he also “Celebration 2020,” a digital Commencement booklet, was included messages from members of the English faculty as well d’Escoffier New York, an offshoot of the conducted archaeological research on the posted to the college’s website that morning, when diplomas were as a video student commencement address from Emily Shih. Also mostly male Les Amis d’Escoffier Society. By the time Brock died ancient populations in North America. DeBoer, who died on May awarded to 9,904 students. Designed to be a keepsake, the photo- included was a complete list of graduates and award winners. on July 27, 2020, at 96, the organization she founded, renamed 24, 2020, is survived by his wife, fellow anthropologist Sara filled booklet listed the year’s graduates and featured congratulatory The History Department combined many of the aforementioned Les Dames d’Escoffier International, had 45 chapters in the Stinson, whom he met in the department. The Warren DeBoer messages from Interim President William A. Tramontano, CUNY features with its virtual graduation. Faculty wrote or posted video United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and France. Its Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in his honor, offers an Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, United States Senator for messages of congratulations and invited students who graduated with membership, by invitation only, works toward advancing women in annual award to promising undergraduate students who may one New York Charles Schumer, U.S. Congressmember Adriano various prizes and honors to do the same. the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. day follow his footsteps. Espaillat, and New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. The Aaron Copland School of Music held an elaborate virtual The same day, the alumni office held its annual Senior Toast on its ceremony for its graduates and award winners, with musical Joseph Brostek ’55 Lisa Gabow ’64 Instagram account and encouraged graduates to share their favorite performances from many of its students. Queens College lost a devoted alumnus on Lisa Gabow took classes while raising a QC memories. Finally, Biology and the School of Earth and Environmental March 25, 2020, when coronavirus claimed family and helping her husband, Jack, build Some departments arranged their own events. Sciences posted prerecorded videos as well, with congratulatory the life of Joseph Brostek ’55. After a career in his typography company. In a remarkable The Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) messages from several of its faculty and staff. sales, marketing, and more, Brostek returned coincidence, she graduated from Queens Department hosted a Facebook Live Celebration on June 4 for all Because local high schools could not hold their customary to campus in 1986 as a consultant, eventually College on the same day that her sons 194 graduates of the program.