High-achieving seniors in the CUNY Honors College at CCNY and City College Honors Programs have seats waiting for them after graduation at some of the nation’s most prestigious graduate and professional schools. “CUNY Superstar” and Truman Fellow Claudio Simpkins was accepted to five top law schools: Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan and University of Virginia. At press time, he was undecided. English major Debbie Wolf, a Stuyvesant Scholar, Kaye Scholar and Goldsmith Scholar, has accepted a fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. in American and African-American literature at Yale University. Computer science major James Faghmous has received a fellowship from the National Institutes of Health to study computational neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, which has the number one program in that field.
Work Begins This Summer on Two New Science Buildings
Construction will commence this summer on two new science research buildings on South Campus, beginning with demolition of Eisner Hall and the old boiler plant. Architects presented conceptual plans for these facilities and for the master plan for South Campus at a March 30 open meeting. The two structures, one for CCNY and the other for the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, will flank a new campus green that will be the focal point of the complex. The CCNY building, budgeted at $136.1 million, to be erected on the west side of the green, will have 200,000 gross square footage on five floors (one underground); the CUNY structure, to cost $124.5 million and go up on the east side, will have 190,000 gross square footage on seven floors (one underground). The buildings will be connected at the underground level with shared facilities. In addition to labs and offices, the buildings will have meeting rooms, a 100-seat lecture hall and be served by a café. Completion is scheduled for September 2008. A second CUNY building, to be erected after the completion of these two facilities, will complete the current science complex master plan. The planning process also will consider additional building projects on South Campus.
Japanese Ambassador to Attend Cherry Blossom Festival 4/27
The Honorable Motoatsu Sakurai, the newly appointed Japanese Ambassdor to the United Nations, will lead a delegation of Japanese dignitaries participating in the 12th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival at CCNY, 12 noon Thursday, April 27, on the Gothic Quad, North Campus. Ambassador Sakurai will join with President Williams in planting a cherry blossom tree on the Quad. The Festival commemorates the role of Townsend Harris, the founder of City College, in establishing diplomatic ties with Japan and opening its trade with the United States and celebrates the long-standing friendship between that country and CCNY.
BME Day Brings Biomed Technology Industry Leaders to Campus
Executives from leading biomedical technology corporations will be featured presenters at Biomedical Engineering Day 2006, 8:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Friday, April 28, at The Grove School of Engineering’s Steinman Lecture Hall and Lobby. The event is presented by The Grove School’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the New York Center for Biomedical Engineering. Industry presenters are: Robert Miller, Senior Director, Genzyme Corp.; George Bourne, Vice President, Boston Scientific; Howard Rosen, Vice President, Gilead Sciences, and Esther Takeuchi, Executive Director, Wilson Greatbatch Technologies. In addition, Paul Citron, a former vice president of Medtronic Inc., will moderate roundtable discussions on “Biomedical Engineering and the Future Workforce: Diversity Challenges” and “Scientific Challenges in Biomedical Engineering.” The event also features student poster presentations and company exhibits.
Biology Professor Anderson Discovers New Rodent Species
Assistant Professor of Biology Robert Anderson has introduced the science world to a new species of rodent known only to exist on a few mountains in Costa Rica. His description of the new montane species of spiny pocket mice appears in the March issue of American Museum Novitates, a journal published by the American Museum of Natural History, where Professor Anderson has conducted postdoctoral research. The new discovery belongs to the Heteromyinae group, one of three subfamilies of the rodent family Heteromyidae. Professor Anderson conducts biogeographic studies at the interface between ecology and evolution. His current research program focuses on developing GIS-based methods of modeling species’ geographic ranges using occurrence records and environmental data. While such techniques have general application to bio-geography and conservation, Neotropical mammals are Professor Anderson’s taxonomic and geographic specialties. Professor Anderson’s website.
Robert J. Coleman, CCNY Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports, has resigned to accept the position of Director of Athletics at Whittier College in Whittier, Calif. He will formally begin his new post in July. During his eight-year tenure, Coleman has helped reorganize CCNY’s entire sports program, spearheaded fundraising efforts and renovations of key athletic facilities and strengthened intramural sports and recreational sports programs. His varsity teams earned eight CUNY conference championships across five sports, with nine teams advancing to the NCAA Division III national championships. In addition, they have produced five All-Americans in track and field.
Cohen Library Hosts Exhibition From Dominican Art Contest
Cohen Library Archives, Room NAC 5/301, is hosting an exhibit of works from the Eduardo León Jimenes Art Contest, the oldest privately sponsored art competition in Latin America. The show, which opens Monday, April 24, and runs through June 23, features 14 award-winning works from previous years as well as all of the participating entries from the most recent competition, held in 2004. Viewing hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Mondays – Fridays. Centro León, The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute and CCNY Libraries organized the exhibit, which is sponsored by U.S. Trust, Grupo León Jimenes, and American Airlines. The show aims to encourage participation in the 2006 contest from Dominican artists living in the United States. More about this story.
2007-08 Fulbright Program Accepting Student Applications
Applications are now being accepted for the 2007-2008 Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which awards grants for international study, research and teaching assistantships. Interested students should contact Leslie Galman, the campus Fulbright Program adviser, Room A-218, for more information. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who hold or will hold a BA degree or the equivalent by the beginning of the grant period. In the creative and performing arts, this requirement can be met through four years of professional training and/or experience. Applications must be submitted both electronically at www.fulbrightonline.org and in hard copy to Ms. Galman by October 1. The Student Program awards approximately 1,200 grants annually and currently operates in over 140 countries. Fulbright grants provide funding for tuition, travel, living expenses and health and accident coverage for one year of study or research in another country.
Professor Raj Receives Community Service Awards
Rishi Raj, CCNY Professor of Mechanical Engineering, received Congressional and municipal community service awards last month. Rep. E. Scott Garrett, who represents New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District, presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to Professor Raj March 28 “in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community” for his work as a Distinguished Fellow with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Professor Raj is credited with discovery of Gibbs Time and Gibbs Number, techniques for measuring underwater implosions and explosions. The Borough of Emerson (New Jersey) Mayor and Council honored him the same day for “outstanding achievements and community service.” Professor Raj, who has lived in Emerson for 28 years, has served on that community’s planning board and library board. He also helped organize its youth soccer program and established the Emerson Science Fund, which helps high school students develop creative, scientific minds.
Dr. Erich P. Ippen, Elihu Thomson Professor of Electrical Engineering and Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will deliver the next lecture in the CUNY CAT Advances in Photonics Distinguished Lecturer Series, 2 p.m. Monday, May 8, in the Main Lecture Room of Steinman Hall. Professor Ippen, a principal investigator in MIT’s Research Laboratory of Electronics, will talk on “Femtosecond Optics: More Than Just Really Fast!” His presentation will focus on recent advances in ultrafast optics that are creating dramatic new capabilities for a variety of applications including optical clocks, medical imaging, micro-machining and communications. It will also provide a brief description of the femtosecond laser state-of-the-art that makes all of these things possible. More about this story.
Sophomore Selected for $10,000 Scholarship
The sweepstakes enticed entrants to “Win a Semester on US.” However, thanks to CCNY’s affordable tuition, the winner, Daphney Jean-Baptiste, a CCNY sophomore majoring in advertising/public relations, won enough money to pay for five. Ms. Jean-Baptiste, a Brooklyn resident, received $10,000 in scholarship money in a contest sponsored by Softsheen-Carson, a manufacturer of ethnic hair care products, to promote its Dark & Lovely brand. “The Lord is good all the time,” said Ms. Jean-Baptiste, who grew up in a Haitian Catholic family. She will use the money to pay her tuition. The contest, which was open to registered university and college students in the contiguous United States and District of Columbia, drew nearly 250,000 entries.
Finley “Spring Fest” Set for May 11
The Finley Student Center’s traditional spring fare of food, music and performances by student clubs is scheduled for Thursday, May 11, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the NAC Plaza. “Spring Fest” also features giveaways such as t-shirts, key rings and other items, as well as exhibits by some of the College’s 140 student clubs. The CCNY community is invited to participate in this annual festival. Call ext. 5002 for more information.
Art, Education/Nursing Alumni Host Award Receptions
Dr. Stefan Stux, ’69, President of the Stefan Stux Gallery in Chelsea, will receive the CCNY Art Alumni Career Achievement Award Wednesday, April 26, at the group’s awards reception at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South. Professor Jacob Rothenberg, ’42, founder of the Art Alumni Group, will be honored posthumously. The reception starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25. The Education and Nursing Alumni honor two alumni and two Harlem community leaders at their Annual Awards Luncheon, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6, at the National Arts Club: Daniel Jaye ’72, ’77MA, Assistant Principal, Mathematics, Stuyvesant High School, Educator of the Year; Alnisa Shabazz ’90N, Nursing Administrator of the Year; Sheena Wright, President and CEO, Abyssinian Development Corp., Business Educator of the Year, and Lucille McEwen, President and CEO, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc., Community Educator of the Year. Tickets are $75. For information regarding alumni group events, contact Mary Roth, liaison@mail.alumniassociationccny.org.
CCNY Baseball Team Clinches 3rd place in Conference
Baseball:The Beavers are now 10-19 overall, 8-5 in the conference. They clinched third place by defeating Lehman, 18-10, April 15. Their next home game is 4 p.m. Monday, against Baruch. Outdoor Track & Field:At the College of New Jersey Invitational, April 15, the women’s team earned seven NCAA qualifications. Mechelle Barnwell finished first in the long jump with a distance of 5.63 meters and won the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.73 seconds. Alecia Watson won the triple jump with a distance of 11.71 meters and qualified for the NCAA 100 meter dash with a time of 12.03 seconds and the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.94 seconds. Jodyann Raymond came in first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.97 seconds. The 4x100 relay team (Barnwell, Watson, Stewart, Raymond) took first with a time of 46.73 seconds. Rinaldy Alvarez was the sole men’s team ECAC qualifier at this event. He jumped 6.60 meters to finish in second in the long jump. Men’s Tennis:With a 5-4 victory over The College of Staten Island, the team has won two of their last four matches. The Beavers, now 4-6 overall and 4-2 in the CUNYAC, face Brooklyn in their next home match, Tuesday, April 25. Complete Sports:
From the President
Welcome back! I hope that everyone who had a chance to go away over the break had a wonderful time. As we all know, events will come at us fast and furiously from now until the end of the academic year, capped by the Honors Convocation on May 25 and Commencement on June 1.
I hope to see all of you today as I am joined by the Deans and Vice Presidents of The College to confer an Honorary Doctorate on our ninth Nobel Laureate, Robert J. Aumann, Class of 1950, and co-winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Economics. The ceremony and Dr. Aumann's lecture on "Game Engineering" will take place at noon in The Great Hall.
On a somewhat less upbeat note, we have had to cancel the Rudin Lecture by Henry Louis Gates that was scheduled for Thursday, April 27. After surgery, Dr. Gates is unable to come to New York City at this time.
I look forward to seeing all of you at your divisional and departmental award ceremonies.
Gregory Williams
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