LaGuardia Community College

“Panama: Hidden Gems,” A Photography Exhibit On Campus

Long Island City, NY (July 14, 2016)—On the heels of the recently opened expanded Panama Canal, and in advance of upcoming National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), an exhibit of photos taken in Panama by a 73-year-old photography student, Charles Carl Barnett of Rego Park, is available for viewing at LaGuardia Community College through the end of September. Carl, as he prefers to be called, is an avid world traveler – having visited more than 40 countries. He took these photos on in 1984 during a vacation from his job as a bank examiner at the Federal Reserve.

He took the photos on a film called Kodachrome, which was known to be among the best films ever made for archival purposes, but Kodak stopped manufacturing it in 2009. As a result, the colors in the photos are extremely vivid – especially the oranges and reds. Kodachrome is no longer in use.

The exhibit also features several molas – intricately hand-stitched needlepoint made in Panama by Kuna Indians, which Carl purchased on his travels in Panama.

Located in the first floor gallery of LaGuardia’s “B” Bldg. – 30-20 Thomson Ave. – the exhibit is free and open to the public. And during these warm summer months, visiting the exhibit (in this air-conditioned gallery) is a great way for folks to beat the heat while looking at gorgeous artwork and learning about the history of Panama.

What: "Panama: Hidden Gems" by Charles Carl Barnett, LaGuardia commercial photography student

Curator: Javier Larenas, senior college lab technician and adjunct lecturer, Commercial Photography program, LaGuardia Community College

When: July 13 through the end of September 2016

Where: LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts B-building, 1st Floor Gallery 30-20 Thomson Avenue, L.I.C., N.Y

Artist Statement: “As a history major at Queens College, l was fascinated with the way seemingly random events inter-acted with each other. I was particularly interested in the colonial period and how the history of the Americas evolved so differently under the English, French, Dutch and Spanish models, and how the other two players, Scotland and Sweden, through poor choices and neglect, never really made it out of the gate. These images were captured on Kodachrome* film, during a cruise to Panama in 1984 aboard a small ship, that transited the canal and also visited a number of places on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. After the cruise ended, I drove a rental car up into the Chiriqui highlands near Costa Rica, accompanied by my stepfather, who also appears in several of these photographs. Although he has been gone for 28 years now, he gets to live again through these images. Assembling this exhibit has allowed me to relive the experience, as well. In doing the research for the narrative, I was again made aware of just how much had changed since I was there, and how much I had missed, or didn’t even know about. I really have to go back and re-shoot.” - Charles Carl Barnett

*Kodachrome: is color reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1935. It was one of the first successful color materials and was used for both cinematography and still photography. For many years it was used for professional color photography, especially for images intended for publication in print media. Because of the growth and popularity of alternative photographic materials, its complex processing requirements, and the widespread transition to digital photography, Kodachrome lost its market share, its manufacturing was discontinued in 2009 and its processing ended in December 2010.

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About LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.

Long Island City, NY (July 27, 2016)—Zakaria “Zak” Ahmed, a graduate of our esteemed commercial photography program, who is now an employee here at LaGuardia Community College, is showcasing photos he took on a trip back to the country where he was born, Bangladesh.

Featured in a gallery on the third floor of LaGuardia’s “B” Bldg.—30-20 Thomson Ave.—the exhibit is free and open to the public. Access is available 9am-9pm Monday through Thursday until August, and then open Friday as well through the end of September. Bangladesh - The Other Side Of Me

What: "Bangladesh: The Other Side of Me” by Zakaria “Zak” Ahmed, an alum of the esteemed Commercial Photography program here at LaGuardia, and a current LaGuardia Community College employee – he works in the Environmental Health & Safety Office and in The Photo Lab.

Curator: Javier Larenas, senior college lab technician and adjunct lecturer, Commercial Photography program, LaGuardia Community College When: July 20 through the end of September 2016 Where: LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts B-building, 3rd Floor Gallery (near the Photo Lab, B-334/336) 30-20 Thomson Avenue, L.I.C., N.Y

Artist Statement: “This photographic series is my portrayal of Bangladesh, a country that is defined by its lands, rivers, poverty and class. The country sits atop the world’s largest river delta, close to sea level, at the juncture of several active tectonic plates, which cause frequent earthquakes, with a secondary risk of tsunamis and severe flooding in a quake’s aftermath, which inherently has subtropical monsoon weather patterns that causes wide seasonal variations in rainfall, due to high humidity and temperatures. In addition, because of the country’s booming population and mass migration, this has contributed to both poverty and a water crisis.

Since I came to United States in 2004, I have strongly felt that this is a story that needs to be told. Finally, after 11 years, I had the opportunity to go back and document people’s lives. While photographing this project, it took on an unexpected level of significance to me, coming to the realization of just how many have lost their homes and all of their belongings due to floods. As I was alongside of them, it drew me closer to them, by both actually facing and listening to their life’s struggles for survival. It grounded me to my roots, my days as a child, moments of self-reflection, and it inspired me even more to visually capture “The Other Side of Me”. These photographs closely portray a community on the fringes—environmentally, geographically and economically—yet whose 'fringed' presence became more evident, when their vulnerability became more than notional—whose children will one day inherit this world.—Zakaria “Zak” Ahmed

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LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.

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Long Island City, NY (August 26, 2016)—Attending a college or university is a critical step in life and increasingly important for landing high-paying jobs. And as the competition for good jobs continues to increase, internships help young people entering the workforce stand out from the competition, while enhancing their classroom learning. While some LaGuardia students took classes this summer, others worked at internships all around the world—boosting their résumés and enabling them to make connections that may help them land their ideal job upon graduation. “More than ever, internships open doors to careers and new opportunities,” said LaGuardia Community College President Dr. Gail O. Mellow. "Graduating students with internships on their résumé have a much better chance at landing a full-time position upon graduation.” One of the LaGuardia students who had an internship this summer is Yurie Amma, age 21, an early childhood education major whose goal is to work with special needs children. She spent the summer in Japan at Takinogawa Gakuen Social Welfare Corporation. "This internship was an amazing opportunity to apply the knowledge that I obtained at LaGuardia Community College to a Japanese school,” said Amma, who emigrated from Japan to the US in 2013. “This experience allowed me to improve my teaching skills while working in my native Japan—something I hope to do full-time in the future.” Hafsa Tahir, age 22, recently graduated from LaGuardia with an Associate in Arts in International Studies. Tahir, who grew up speaking Arabic with her family, participated in a scholarship program at LaGuardia designed to help heritage language speakers prepare to use their first language professionally. She spent the summer working in Amman, Jordan at Princess Taghrid Institute, a non-profit organization that helps orphaned and underprivileged youth enter the workforce, where she taught English and social media skills. “My internship confirmed that I want to pursue a career that will merge my interests in policy making, world cultures and global issues,” said Tahir.

Hafsa Tahir

An international student from South Korea, Juyeon Park, age 36, graduated from LaGuardia this year with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management. With help from a professor and from LaGuardia’s President’s Society, she secured an internship at a hotel near New York City’s Times Square. “My internship at The Chatwal New York hotel helped me realize that I had chosen the right career, and enabled me to establish valuable contacts that hopefully will lead to a full-time job in the future.”

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Clear need for well-trained candidates for medical billing positions around the city The LaGuardia Medical Billing Certificate Program is designed to graduate adults who understand healthcare finance and who are prepared to work in leading healthcare facilities LaGuardia’s Innovative Medical Billing Program Holds Graduation

Graduates of the second LaGuardia Medical Billing cohort. The program is a result of ongoing partnership and collaboration among the Harvard Business School Club of New York, Weill Cornell Medicine, the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare, the NYC Department of Small Business Services, and LaGuardia Community College. With participation from NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health & Columbia University Medical Center

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 13, 2016)—A novel education-to-employment program at LaGuardia Community College, which was developed in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine in order to prepare well-qualified candidates for medical billing positions, has graduated 22 students from its second cohort in a celebration held at the college last night.

Designed for adults who are unemployed, underemployed, or employed but seeking a career with stable hours, benefits, and advancement opportunities, the LaGuardia Medical Billing Certificate Program began in 2015 through work led by the Harvard Business School Club of New York to address critical gaps that exist when employers cannot fill well paying positions due to a shortage of adequately trained candidates. Entry level salaries in medical billing range from $35,000 to $45,000.

Among the 22 students graduating from the second cohort, seven were unemployed, and those working full-time were earning as little as $10/hr. (approx. $20,000/year).

The medical billing program is supported and offered tuition-free for students through funding from the NYC Department of Small Business Services, and benefits from input provided by the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare.

“The Medical Billing Certificate Program provides a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to find stable, well-paying jobs,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “Students who complete the program have learned specific skills that will make them highly employable. The successful program’s results reflect the benefits of collaboration and bringing together with our college great partners including the Harvard Business School Club of New York, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare and the NYC Department of Small Business Services.”

“It was very rewarding for the program’s students to receive coaching from the experienced medical billing managers from a variety of healthcare organizations including Weill Cornell Medical, NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, and Columbia University Medical Center,” said Kimberly Kendall, Executive Director, Division of Adult and Continuing Education, LaGuardia Community College. “It’s great to have these healthcare providers eager to hire our grads from this program.”

The program to prepare professionals for healthcare finance was developed to bridge the gap between workers’ skills and employers’ needs, as an education-to-employment approach. The results show it is a resounding success.

Nearly 90 percent (20 out of 23) of students in the first cohort have been hired as medical billers—most at Weill Cornell Medicine and several others at other area medical centers—where their average starting salary is $22/hr. with full benefits. The remaining three graduates are volunteering and building up their resume. Among the first cohort, 16 were unemployed before the program.

The rigorous program involves 267-hours of training, four nights a week (to accommodate those who are working) for nearly six months. Training covers technical skills (medical billing, data analysis, etc.), explanations of healthcare finance, health insurance and the Affordable Care Act, and work readiness skills (resume preparation, communication skills, etc.). There is no cost to participants.

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About New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (“NYACH”), a public-private partnership between SBS and the NYC Workforce Funders, is an industry partnership, bringing together multiple stakeholders of the healthcare workforce development system in order to address the industry’s rapidly changing workforce needs. NYACH’s mission is to build an effective healthcare workforce development system in NYC by identifying employers’ needs, helping education and training organizations adapt to those needs, and ensuring low income and unemployed New Yorkers have access to viable career opportunities in healthcare. For more information, visitwww.nyachnyc.org.

About NYC Department of Small Business Services The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a fairer economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. SBS works with industry partnerships like NYACH to scale and sustain industry informed training models that support New Yorkers in advancing in career pathways. For more information, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/.

About The Harvard Business School Club of New York The Harvard Business School Club of New York is a powerful platform connecting the leadership and management expertise of Harvard Business School and its alumni with the vital, creative, and dynamic Greater New York City community. HBSCNY Skills Gap Project address the gap between the skills needed for currently available mid-skill jobs and the qualifications of workers available to fill those jobs. The research led us to begin our work in the health care and technology sectors. We brought together LaGuardia Community College and Weill Cornell Medical Center to develop a certificate program to appropriately prepare people to fill specialized entry level jobs in health care with real career opportunities, visit http://www.hbscny.org/s/1738/cc/index2.aspx?sid=1738&gid=4&pgid=3348

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Celebration Recognizes Ongoing Collaboration between LaGuardia & Astoria Bank: • Astoria Bank sponsors LaGuardia’s 4th Annual Small Business & Government Matchmaker event • Astoria Bank to showcase work of LaGuardia photography students at its LIC branch • Astoria Bank providing financial literacy workshops to LaGuardia students

Gift from Astoria Bank - Group with Check Mayra DiRico, Sr. VP/Director of Retail Banking, Astoria Bank, and President of Queens Chamber of Commerce (in pink) presents a gift of $8,500 to LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow

Long Island City, NY (November 8, 2016)—LaGuardia Community College has received a gift from Astoria Bank for the college’s esteemedCommercial Photography program. The $8,500 gift will go to scholarships for tuition, books, and other expenses for students seeking associate degrees in this field, and was presented at an event held earlier today at the college. “Astoria Bank’s generous support will enable us to ensure that more students have the opportunity to pursue a career in photography. This gift reflects the excellence of our visual and performing arts programs,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “Astoria Bank is a great friend to our college and to our students.” “Since opening our newest branch in Long Island City, Astoria Bank has become even more involved in this vibrant business community. It’s especially important for us to support a neighboring institution like LaGuardia Community College. By combining resources, we’re able to launch exciting programs that will not only help make a difference in the lives of deserving students but also strengthen local businesses,” said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards. The scholarships will be administered through the LaGuardia Community College Foundation, the college’s philanthropic arm. Although tuition at LaGuardia is low compared to other colleges, making ends meet while attending college is a struggle for the majority of LaGuardia students—more than 70 percent have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. The Foundation raises money to help off-set these struggles. Since 2003, the LaGuardia Community College Foundation has raised more than $18 million, which has gone to approximately 10,000 students in the form of scholarships, emergency funds (for books, MetroCards, housing support, meal vouchers, etc.), leadership development programs, and other initiatives aimed at enhancing student success. In recognition of this generous gift, an exhibit featuring the work of LaGuardia’s commercial photography students will be showcased at the bank’s Long Island City branch at 26-26 Jackson Ave. The exhibit, entitled “LIC Past, Present & Future” is a visual documentary of Long Island City’s past as a hub of industrial design and manufacturing, its present day as a rapidly-developing neighborhood with a vibrant up-and-coming cultural scene, and predictions of what its future may look like. The exhibit, curated by Photography Program Director Scott Sternbach and his team, is expected to open in December and will be up through early next year.

Gift from Astoria Bank - Students LaGuardia Community College students share the impact of scholarships on their lives with Astoria Bank executives.

“In addition to this generous gift, we’re grateful for Astoria Bank’s sponsorship of our Business Services’ annual event that helps local small businesses explore contracting opportunities with government agencies, and for the valuable financial literacy education its experts are providing at no cost to some of our students who need it the most,” said President Mellow. Astoria Bank was a co-sponsor of LaGuardia Community College’s Business Services’ 4th Annual Government & Business Matchmaker event, where local entrepreneurs meet government agencies and prime contractors one-on-one in order to discuss immediate contracting and subcontracting opportunities. Small business owners also attended workshops on how to expand their companies, and more. Astoria Bank has a long history of supporting the communities it serves by providing financial support to non-profit organizations throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. Recently, Astoria Bank’s banking professionals have begun providing financial literacy workshops on-campus for LaGuardia students. These workshops not only provide supplemental information for students enrolled in continuing education and business-related programs, but also enrich their learning experiences and equip them with real-life skills needed to excel in their careers. “Financial literacy education helps to ensure that LaGuardia students have the tools to make sound financial decisions for themselves and their families for years to come,” said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards.

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About the Commercial Photography program at LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia is the only two-year institution in the City University of New York (CUNY) to offer an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Photography. Students in the Commercial Photography program, administered by the Humanities Department, use professional photographic equipment and facilities, such as a state of the art black & white and color darkroom, shooting studios and digital imaging facility. Photography courses are taught by faculty members who are currently working in the field and are exhibiting artists, enabling students to gain experience from all over the photographic and arts spectrum in this quickly changing industry.

About LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, was founded in 1971 as a bold experiment in opening the doors of higher education to all, and we proudly carry forward that legacy today. LaGuardia educates students through over 50 degree, certificate and continuing education programs, providing an inspiring place for students to achieve their dreams. Upon graduation, LaGuardia students’ lives are transformed as family income increases 17%, and students transfer to four-year colleges at three times the national average. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges for boundary-breaking success educating underserved students. At LaGuardia we imagine new ideas, create new curriculum and pioneer programs to make our community and our country stronger. Visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

About Astoria Financial Corporation

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $14.8 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank. Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $8.9 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 88 convenient banking branch locations, a business banking office in Manhattan, and multiple delivery channels, including its flexible mobile banking app. Astoria Bank commands a significant deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states. Astoria Bank originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area and originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and correspondent relationships covering 13 states and the District of Columbia.

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Astoria Bank Unveils LaGuardia Student Photography Exhibit Astoria Bank joined LaGuardia Community College commercial photography students, faculty, and administration at the opening of “LIC Past, Present & Future” exhibit

Long Island City, NY (Dec. 7, 2016)—Astoria Bank and LaGuardia Community College have unveiled a new student photography exhibit at Astoria Bank’s new Long Island City Branch at 26-26 Jackson Avenue (at Purves St.). Members of the public are welcome to visit the branch to view the exhibit, titled “LIC Past, Present & Future,” exploring the evolution of the vibrant neighborhood of Long Island City (“LIC”).

At an opening reception last evening at the branch, more than a dozen student photographers from LaGuardia Community College were joined by friends, family, professors and administrators, as well as members of the local business community who admired the students’ work. The exhibit, which runs through April 2017, celebrates LIC’s history as a hub of industrial design and manufacturing, its present day as a rapidly-developing neighborhood, and predictions of what its future may look like. LaGuardia’s commercial photography students were asked to canvas the neighborhood to capture its energy, community, and markers of cultural significance. It was curated by LaGuardia Community College Photography Program Director Scott Sternbach and his team. The exhibit’s theme is especially meaningful for Astoria Bank, a full-service community bank which was established in Long Island City well over a century ago, in 1888, as well as for LaGuardia Community College, which has been a prominent institution in LIC since 1971. “Giving our students an opportunity to showcase their work in a well-trafficked local business is enormously meaningful for our photography students,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “This gives them a taste of life as a working photographer, and provides valuable learning about all it takes to curate and execute a photography exhibit from start to finish. We’re enormously grateful to Astoria Bank for supporting our students in this way.” In recent months, Astoria Bank has partnered with LaGuardia Community College to fund a scholarship program for students pursuing associate’s degrees in commercial photography, and is also providing financial literacy workshops to help LaGuardia students better manage their personal finances now and into the future. “We are dedicated to making a difference in the Long Island City community and are proud of the wonderful partnership we have with LaGuardia Community College. Their students are passionate about developing their skills and careers, and we’re excited to showcase their work in our branch for the community to enjoy,” said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards. The public is welcome to visit the exhibit during the bank’s convenient operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Please click on the links below to access media coverage about the LIC Exhibit at Astoria Bank’s new Long Island City branch:

Please click here to view event's gallery

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About Astoria Financial Corporation Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $14.8 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank. Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $8.9 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 88 convenient banking branch locations, a business banking office in Manhattan, and multiple delivery channels, including its flexible mobile banking app. Astoria Bank commands a significant deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states. Astoria Bank originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area and originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and correspondent relationships covering 13 states and the District of Columbia.

About LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, was founded in 1971 as a bold experiment in opening the doors of higher education to all, and we proudly carry forward that legacy today. LaGuardia educates students through over 50 degree, certificate and continuing education programs, providing an inspiring place for students to achieve their dreams. Upon graduation, LaGuardia students’ lives are transformed as family income increases 17%, and students transfer to four-year colleges at three times the national average. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is a nationally recognized leader among community colleges for boundary-breaking success educating underserved students. At LaGuardia we imagine new ideas, create new curriculum and pioneer programs to make our community and our country stronger. Visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

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Funded by this gift, a new group of LaGuardia students, each year for the next three years, will develop research projects illuminating the history of the NYC metro area, working with faculty and staff at the LaGuardia & Wagner Archives, devoted to NYC’s social & political history —First cohort of scholars will study the history of LGBTQ activism in Queens—

Research at LaGuardia Archives A group of LaGuardia Community College students studying at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.

Long Island City, NY (December 20, 2016)—The LaGuardia Community College Foundation has received $225,000 from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to fund the Robert Gardiner—Joseph Shenker Scholars Program, named in honor of the late Robert David Lion Gardiner, a former Wall Street executive and heir to Long Island’s Gardiner’s Island and the late Joseph Shenker, the first president of LaGuardia Community College. Each year over the next three years, a new group of Gardiner-Shenker student scholars will develop research projects that illuminate the history of the NYC metropolitan area—focusing on a theme, such as infrastructure, immigration, or housing. Faculty and staff at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives will guide the students through their work. The Archives, a repository for NYC’s social and political history, is regularly accessed by scholars, journalists, and policy makers; it is housed on the LaGuardia Community College campus. “We’re proud to have the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives on our campus,” said LaGuardia President Gail O. Mellow. “Its presence reflects our faculty’s dedication to scholarly work—work that is normally assumed only to occur at four-year colleges and graduate centers. Giving a select group of students the opportunity to work with our Archives faculty, and to conduct original research for a public audience, will be incredibly valuable for these students as they begin their careers.” “We’re grateful to our dear friend Susan Shenker, the widow of our visionary first president, Joseph Shenker, for introducing the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to our college. This gift is enormously generous and we’re thrilled to receive this avowal of support from an important New York foundation,” said President Mellow. “The mission of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation dovetails with the objectives of the Gardiner-Shenker Program,” said Kathryn Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, based on Long Island. “We share a commitment to increasing public awareness about the heritage of the Long Island and the New York metropolitan area, and are pleased to support this important program at LaGuardia Community College.” Gardiner Foundation Board Chairman Joseph Attonito added, “The multi-disciplinary LaGuardia students participating in this project and their involved professors and support staff make the Gardiner-Shenker Program an innovation in the study of regional history.”

“Both Joe and Robert David Lion Gardiner were passionate about history, so it’s fitting that this initiative is named in their honor. In fact, Joe founded the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives as a tribute to the college’s namesake, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia,” said Mrs. Shenker. “And as a pioneer of experiential learning—where students engage in studies that impact real organizations or receive on-the-job training through internships and other programs, Joe would be pleased that mentorship is a cornerstone of this initiative.”

Fiorello LaGuardia

Former Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia makes a mayoral address over the WNYC-FM airwaves (NYC’s National Public Radio station); image provided by the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.

“The mentoring the student scholars will receive from our Archives’ sociologists, archivists, and historians will allow them to observe first-hand the process of encapsulating information for educational and archival purposes. They’ll get to work closely with academics—learning valuable story-telling, critical thinking and analytical skills that will aid them in their future careers,” said Richard K. Lieberman, PhD, professor of history and director of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives. First Cohort of Gardiner-Shenker Scholars Will Study LGBTQ Activism in Queens “Despite the sizable LGBTQ population here, Queens has been largely neglected by scholars,” said Dr. Lieberman. “To address this oversight, the 2017 Gardiner-Shenker scholars will study LGBTQ activism in Queens—effectively expanding the focus of LGBTQ studies beyond Manhattan to the outer boroughs. We’re in the business of telling the real history of New York.” “The history of LGBTQ activism in Queens that our student scholars will document honors this community’s struggles and triumphs, and will be an important resource for years to come,” said President Mellow. A group of English and Commercial Photography majors will be selected as scholars. English faculty members Neil Meyer, PhD and James Wilson, PhD, will work with the students to produce essays, poetry and/or short theatrical works to be disseminated through blogs, Facebook, and published for libraries, historical societies, museums and online for researchers worldwide. As well, photography faculty members Javier Larenas and Thierry Gourjon will develop a public photography exhibit, for display in summer 2017.

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About the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, primarily supports the study of New York State history, with an emphasis on Suffolk County, in honor of its namesake’s passion for New York history. Previous recipients include the Long Island Maritime Museum, the Suffolk County Historical Society, and Columbia University. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, which at 3,350 acres is reportedly one of the largest privately owned islands in the world. The Island is part of the town of East Hampton on Long Island. The Gardiner family and their descendants took ownership of the Island in 1639, following a grant from King Charles I of England to Lion Gardiner (1599-1663), a New York State settler from England. Robert David Lion Gardiner was the last heir to bear the name Gardiner. Visit www.RDLGfoundation.org to learn more. About the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, established in 1982, serves as a repository for NYC’s social and political history, which includes the largest collection of New York City mayoral papers. Archive records include the personal papers and official documents of Mayors Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Robert F. Wagner, Abraham D. Beame and Edward I. Koch, the records of the New York City Housing Authority, the piano maker Steinway & Sons, The Council of the City of New York and a Queens Local History Collection. Assets from these collections are regularly referenced in news stories, and studied by journalists, policy makers, and other researchers. The Archives regularly produces public programs exploring its collections, including an annual calendar produced in partnership with The New York Times and the City University of New York. Each year, the calendar is devoted to a theme of importance to the Greater New York Metropolitan area. The 2017 calendar, which will be distributed in January, is devoted to housing in NYC; the 2016 calendar focused on labor. Visit www.LaGuardiaWagnerArchive.lagcc.cuny.edu to learn more. About LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.

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New Citizenship & Legal Services Program Launches at LaGuardia Community College

FREE Program to Help NYC Immigrants Become Citizens—Educational Services by LaGuardia’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training and Legal Services by Catholic Migration Services

LaGuardia Community College Launches New Citizenship & Legal Services Program

Long Island City, NY (January 27, 2017)—LaGuardia Community College’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training has partnered withCatholic Migration Services, a non-profit legal services organization, to provide New Yorkers with access to free U.S. citizenship classes and legal services. The new program is supported by a two-year $250,000 Citizenship and Integration grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “This new program is exactly what our nation needs right now: provide education and legal assistance to help immigrant New Yorkers of good standing to make the United States their home with all the rights and privileges that come with being a U.S. citizen—being able to vote, to serve as a sponsor for family members to move to the U.S. from other countries, and more,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. The first class began earlier this month and more classes will be offered over the next two years. New Yorkers from all five boroughs are eligible to apply for the program. The program aims to assist low-income, low and intermediate level adult English language learners improve their English skills. For many immigrants, speaking English enables them to have better communication with their children’s teachers and with healthcare professionals, and supports advancements in their careers. For example, according to American Community Survey three-year estimates, nearly 48 percent of residents in community districts adjacent to LaGuardia’s report speaking English “less than very well.” LaGuardia’s program is expected to prepare approximately 200 New Yorkers for the U.S. citizenship examination. Twenty-five will be enrolled every three months for an 11-week program. Participants must be legal permanent residents with a valid Green Card in order to participate. For a complete list of eligibility requirements and to submit a request to attend an upcoming information session about the course, click here. Through LaGuardia’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training, participants will review material for the English language skills and civics portions of the U.S. citizenship test—including coursework to improve English reading/writing/speaking skills for those who need it. Classes will be held on weekday evenings (6:30 p.m.—9 p.m.) to better accommodate those with full-time jobs. “Our English as a second language programs have become national models for the use of contextualized instruction—in which industry-specific materials are used to teach basic academic and technical skills,” said John Hunt, LaGuardia’s Executive Director for Adult Community Learning. “In this English and Citizenship program, U.S. history and civics information will be integrated into English language skills coursework. Students will, for example, improve their English skills by reading about the U.S. Constitution, and will practice speaking English by talking about our branches of government. “Studies have shown that adult learners are much more engaged in coursework if they believe the material is directly relevant to them,” said Hunt. Over 9,000 adults have been served by LaGuardia’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training since it opened in 2001. It has been ranked highly proficient in New York State Education Department’s adult education report card rating each fiscal year. And in 2011, the Center received a National Council for Continuing Education and Training Exemplary Program Award. Partnering with LaGuardia on this program is Catholic Migration Services. For 46 years, Catholic Migration Services has been providing legal services to low-income immigrants, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or race. Every year, Catholic Migration Services helps hundreds of immigrants become U.S. citizens. “We are very excited about our new partnership with LaGuardia. Our program will provide the integrated educational and legal services that immigrants need to become citizens,” said David Colodny, Esq., Director of Legal Services, Catholic Migration Services. This grant supports CMS in providing naturalization legal services to 250 lawful permanent residents over two years. New Yorkers interested in this program should visit the Center for Immigrant Education and Training at LaGuardia Community College in person, located at 29-10 Thomson Avenue, Room C-239, Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101. Or call the Center for Immigrant Education and Training at (718)-482-5460. For information on accessing free naturalization legal services from Catholic Migration Services, click here. To watch a NY1 story about the program, click here.

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About LaGuardia Community College LaGuardia Community College, located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare To Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more. About CIET LaGuardia Community College’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training provides high-quality education to enable ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners to become life-long learners and independent, contributing citizens of New York. The Center offers free ESOL classes, which use innovative strategies where coursework draws from specific careers and job training programs, along with career counseling and case management services to low-income immigrant adults. Visit http://www.laguardia.edu/ciet/ to learn more. About Catholic Migration Services Catholic Migration Services (CMS) is a nonprofit legal services provider, whose mission is to serve and empower low-income immigrants in Brooklyn and Queens, regardless of religion, national origin, or ethnicity. Since 1971, CMS has helped tens of thousands of immigrants adjust their immigration status, obtain asylum, become US citizens, and receive other forms of immigration relief. In addition to immigration legal services, CMS provides housing and workers’ rights legal services, as well as community outreach to thousands of immigrants annually.

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LaGuardia English Language Coordinator, and Volunteers, Recognized as NY1’s Queens People of the Week

Long Island City, NY (January 31, 2017)—The English Language Center (TELC) at LaGuardia Community College is the largest English language program in New York City. Since 1971, TELC has helped more than 275,000 students from over 80 countries improve their English reading, writing, and speaking skills.

NY1 recently honored Margaret Culhane, TELC’s Language Clinic Coordinator, and the volunteers who work with English language learners through the program, as Queens People of the Week.

Each year, Culhane seeks outapprox. 100-150 volunteers to work with between 1500 and 1800 English language learners in small group conversation and one-on-one writing tutoring sessions at the Center’s ESL Practice Program (formerly called the Language Clinic).

Said Elizabeth Iannotti, director of TELC, “Ms. Culhane runs our very demanding tutoring center, interviewing volunteer tutors, training them, matching them with students in pairs (for writing support) or groups (for speaking support. She has an incredible knack for determining each student’s needs and each tutor’s strengths, and making a pair or group that collaborates well for our eight week tutoring cycle… It is noteworthy that our day student population is a combination of international and immigrant students aged 18 to 60 from over 80 countries. She handles this diversity handily, making it all come together to create tremendous extracurricular learning opportunities for our students. In spite of the stress of her position, she makes every student and volunteer tutor feel welcome and valued. The atmosphere she creates at the tutoring sessions is one of caring and support, even while having high expectations on all of those who participate.”

See the NY1 story here: Queens People of the Week Help Immigrants Achieve American Dream

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Long Island City, NY (February 3, 2017)—LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow recently spoke with Evolllution, an online news publication focused on higher education, about Governor Cuomo’s Excelsior Scholarship proposal.

Dr. Mellow defined the enormous impact the Excelsior Scholarship would have on New Yorkers—helping financially struggling students to pay tuition, encouraging those who had presumed that a college degree was unobtainable for them, and more. Read full article: Making Tuition-Free College a Reality in New York

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First Graduates from Novel High School Equivalency Program for Deaf Students LaGuardia Community College President Dr. Gail O. Mellow with the First Graduates from the National External Diploma Program.

Long Island City, NY (February 6, 2017)—LaGuardia Community College’s Program for Deaf Adults recently celebrated the first deaf students to earn their high school equivalency diplomas through a pilot of an alternative program that better accommodates deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. The program, the National External Diploma Program (NEDP)®, was recently approved by the New York State Board of Regents as an alternative pathway to a high school equivalency diploma. This is the first-ever implementation of NEDP through the use of American Sign Language (ASL), which is the preferred language for many deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, and the first time it has been used at a CUNY college. “Once again, our Program for Deaf Adults is pioneering pathways to help narrow education and earnings gaps between deaf and hard-of-hearing persons as compared with their hearing counterparts,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “These graduates are now ready to pursue their college degrees, so I hope that the next time I shake their hands will be when they earn their associate’s degrees from LaGuardia.” The graduating students are Channel Arthur and Pamela Manzueta, both of NYC. They both finished high school with Individualized Education Program (IEP) diplomas, which meant that in order to attend college or qualify for many jobs, they needed to earn their high school equivalency diplomas. However, they had both failed the high school equivalency test—despite coming very close to receiving a passing score. “For many members of the deaf community, ASL is their first and primary language. As a result, coursework or tests that rely on complex written prose, such as the high school equivalency exam, can be challenging,” said Lakshmi “Sasha” Ponappa, Director of LaGuardia's Program for Deaf Adults. “The fact that we are able to integrate ASL in a meaningful way through NEDP offers many built-in advantages for our students.” The pilot program at LaGuardia was provided tuition-free, through a grant from CUNY’s Workforce Development Initiative, with supplemental funding from LaGuardia’s Thomas Samuels Scholarship Fund. Additional support was provided by Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems, the organization that owns and administers NEDP, and the New York State Education Department. LaGuardia’s Program for Deaf Adults is currently actively seeking new funding in order to continue and expand the NEDP program to other deaf and hard-of-hearing students who want to earn their high school equivalency diploma. “We’re also investigating whether the program could be administered remotely using videoconferencing technologies, enabling deaf and hard-of-students in any area of the country to earn their high school equivalency diploma,” said Pacts Cartagna, Project Coordinator for LaGuardia’s NEDP, and Coordinator of Continuing Education Programs for LaGuardia's Program for Deaf Adults. Education and Earnings Disparities among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Population Data shows that deaf and hard-of-hearing adults have lower rates of high school and college graduation, and relatedly, higher rates of unemployment and lower family incomes, as compared to the general U.S. population. Click here for data on hearing loss among the U.S. population. “Channel and Pamela, like many of our deaf and hard-of-hearing students who have taken the high school equivalency exam but not passed it, were extremely hard working and held high school skills, but had difficulty expressing those skills in the format of the test,” said Sue Livingston, PhD, a professor in the Program for Deaf Adults, and in the Department of Education and Language Acquisition. “Unfortunately, these challenges are a cause of educational and earnings disparities among the deaf and hard-of-hearing population.” Drive to Find New Route to High School Equivalency for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Students After seeing too many deaf and hard-of-hearing students come close to passing the high school equivalency exam but failing, Dr. Livingston began searching for an alternative method that would better accommodate deaf students. A LaGuardia colleague, Amy Dalsimer, Executive Director of the College and Career Pathways Institute and Director of Pre-College Academic Programming, suggested NEDP to Dr. Livingston, who was immediately intrigued. NEDP is self-led and directed; rather than classes, much of the learning is done by each participant on their own time—enabling students who work full-time or have family responsibilities to participate without having to rearrange their personal schedules. Each student works independently and with advisors and assessors to fulfill 70 competencies in eight areas that include civic literacy, consumer awareness, geography, history and science. Within these areas, which are based on skills outlined in common core College and Career-Ready standards, participants demonstrate high school level abilities by applying them to real-life situations. “Unlike the high school equivalency exam, NEDP gives students multiple opportunities to accrue and demonstrate competencies through mini-tests, known as in-office checks. There isn’t just one test that students must pass,” said Dr. Livingston, who initiated the pilot program. “We made some creative accommodations to NEDP for our deaf and hard-of-hearing students. For example, each program assessor provided ASL access that was needed to submit verbal responses to examiners, and each student worked with an ASL-fluent tutor who provided assistance on an as-needed basis,” said Cartagna. Next Steps after Successful Pilot of NEDP for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students at LaGuardia Community College “Given the success of this pilot, we’re ready to enroll a greater number of deaf and hard-of-hearing students in our NEDP program. The practical life skills it teaches will better prepare young adults like Channel and Pamela, to lead independent lives as productive members of the workforce,” said Dr. Livingston. “We’re so proud of Channel and Pamela, and look forward to watching them take their next steps towards achieving their professional goals.” Both Arthur and Manzueta plan to enroll at LaGuardia to pursue their associate's degrees, in the near future. “Earning my high school equivalency diploma means everything to me. I decided to participate in LaGuardia's NEDP program in order to better my life,” said Arthur, who plans to open her own business in the future. “LaGuardia’s Program for Deaf Adults staff gave me help and support that kept me going when I was juggling full-time work and school.” “Now I'm on my way to earning my college degree and becoming a teacher,” said Manzueta, age 27 of Richmond Hill, Queens. “Pacts and the rest of the Program for Deaf Adults faculty and staff truly had my back since the first day I enrolled. They knew how much I wanted to earn my high school equivalency diploma because I want to be successful, and they supported me every step of the way.”

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About LaGuardia’s Program for Deaf Adults The Program for Deaf Adults at LaGuardia Community College is the largest, most comprehensive post-secondary program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the greater New York metropolitan region. The program recently marked 40 years of helping deaf and hard-of-hearing students pursue their higher education goals—including more than 10,200 LaGuardia students in the past ten years alone.

The program supports students pursuing associate’s degrees—with special sections of Basic Skills Reading, Writing, and Math taught in ASL. As well, it offers courses taught in ASL, such as high school equivalency, adult basic education, and driver’s education. Through its ASL-English Interpretation Program, ASL-fluent individuals are trained to become ASL-English interpreters. Additional services include classroom interpreters, tutors, note takers, testing accommodation support, as well as academic, personal and job development advisors and other support services.

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LaGuardia Goes Back-To-Back; Knocks Off BMCC for 2nd Straight Title

Long Island City, NY (February 17, 2017)—LaGuardia and BMCC put on a show Friday night at Borough of Manhattan Community College in a rematch of last year’s CUNYAC/Army ROTC Community College Men’s Basketball Championship. These two evenly matched teams gave us another classic as the LaGuardia Red Hawks took down the BMCC Panthers by the score of 82-69. The Red Hawks overcame an early deficit on the road to knock off the Panthers for a second consecutive year and repeat as CUNYAC champions thanks in large part to the play of their outstanding sophomore Mahlik Sherlock who scored 17 second half points in the comeback win. Please click here to read full story.

Dr. Gail O. Mellow, President Of LaGuardia Community College, Wins 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award Presented at American Council on Education’s 99th Annual Meeting

Gail Mellow, President Of LaGuardia Community College, Wins 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award

LaGuardia Community College President Dr. Gail O. Mellow with Lynn Gangone, Vice President, American Council on Education; Molly Corbett Broad, President, American Council on Education; Doug Chittenden, President, TIAA Institute WASHINGTON (March 13, 2017)—The TIAA Institute today announced Gail O. Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College, as the winner of the 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence, one of the most prestigious awards in academia. Named in honor of Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. (1917-2015), former president of the University of Notre Dame and a world-renowned educator and humanitarian, the award recognizes outstanding leadership on the part of a college or university president or chancellor.“Gail Mellow is a true believer in the power of community colleges to change our world for the better. She has built a strong, unified college that places teaching and learning at its core, preparing one of our nation’s most diverse student bodies to successfully navigate a fast-changing society and an uncertain future,” said Stephanie Bell-Rose, TIAA Senior Managing Director and Head of the TIAA Institute. The American Council on Education (ACE), which administers the award on the Institute’s behalf, convened an independent panel of judges that selected the winner. The TIAA Institute bestowed this honor today at ACE2017 in Washington, DC, ACE’s 99th Annual Meeting, which is attended by nearly 2,000 higher education leaders, from deans to presidents, representing all types of post-secondary institutions nationwide. During President Mellow’s 16-year tenure at LaGuardia Community College, she has tripled the school’s enrollment and doubled full-time faculty. Today LaGuardia serves more than 50,000 degree-seeking and continuing education New Yorkers each year, and has one of the nation’s highest graduation rates among urban community colleges that serve low-income students. “I’m honored to receive this award in front of fellow educators at the American Council on Education’s annual meeting,” said President Mellow. “I greatly admire Reverend Hesburgh’s legacy as a champion of social justice, and I’m grateful to the TIAA Institute for bestowing on me this award named in his honor. And in recognition of the associations he forged with leaders from a variety of industries to benefit the university he led and their students, I will continue our work developing pathways for our students to rewarding careers through education-to-employment partnerships with community groups and local businesses.” President Mellow, a community college graduate herself, has focused on helping people get out of poverty and into a life of economic stability for them and their families through education. She led a restructuring of LaGuardia’s programs and services, increasing graduation rates and offering holistic academic, career, and transfer advising, as well as extensive support services to help students address financial issues that arise before they lead them to dropping out. Innovative programs at LaGuardia have helped students bridge the gap between completing high school and succeeding in college. “ACE is proud to join the TIAA Institute in honoring leaders like Gail Mellow who have confronted head on some of the most challenging issues facing American higher education today,” said ACE President Molly Corbett Broad. “President Mellow’s tireless efforts to expand access to postsecondary education and ensure that her students have the tools they need to succeed have immeasurably strengthened both her institution and the entire higher education community.” The TIAA Institute provides a $20,000 grant to Hesburgh awardees, which President Mellow has decided to contribute in full to the LaGuardia Community College Foundation, which gives out nearly $1.8M annually in scholarships and emergency financial support to the College’s primarily low-income and new-immigrant students. More than 70 percent of LaGuardia students have family incomes that are less than $25,000 a year.

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Documentary about Gentrification/Housing Segregation

Long Island City, NY (March 16, 2017)—“Raisin/Rosedale,” a unique documentary film produced by LaGuardia Community College exploring the history of racial issues throughout the U.S., has been selected for the 2017 Queens World Film Festival, where it will be shown this Friday, March 17^th at 6:30 p.m. The film elegantly weaves together a historical account of housing segregation in Rosedale, Queens, with a fictional portrayal of a black family trying to integrate into a predominantly white Chicago suburb in scenes from A Raisin in the Sun, and interviews with LaGuardia theater students about their first-hand experiences with gentrification. LaGuardia Community College serves an incredibly diverse and overwhelmingly low-income, disadvantaged student population (more than 70% have family incomes of less than $25,000/yr.). The 21-minute film brings together some of LaGuardia’s distinctive offerings— the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, a repository of collections that illuminate the social and political history of New York City, with LaGuardia’s award-winning theater program (whose students regularly best those from prestigious four-year colleges in national theater festivals), and the incredible diversity of the college's student population--making it one of the most diverse institutions of higher learning in the US. The film is designed to spark dialogue about the history and current state of race relations throughout the U.S., and the effect of gentrification on our cities and neighbors—topics that are particularly timely considering today’s political climate. WHAT: Screening of “Raisin/Rosedale” film, produced by LaGuardia Community College, at the 2017 Queens World Film Festival Interviews available, either before or after the festival, with:

Richard K. Lieberman, PhD, Professor of History and Director of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives
Stefanie Sertich, Theatre Program Director, LaGuardia Community College
Sandy Chase, director of Raisin/Rosedale
LaGuardia Theater Students featured in the Raisin/Rosedale documentary: Cheyenne Winley, Helena Koudou, John Cosentino, and Jehan Have

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 17^th WHERE: Kaufman Astoria Studios, Zukor Room, 34-12 36^th St., Astoria, NY 11106 TICKETS: $15/each. Click here to purchase. FREE ADMISSION available for media with valid press credentials. For press registration, click here. More info: https://www.queensworldfilmfestival.com/films/detail.asp?fid=850

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About the LaGuardia Theater Program Under the direction of Stefanie Sertich since 2011, LaGuardia theater students have received numerous regional and national recognition through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, which is regarded as the premiere theater program for the more than 600 two- and four-year colleges and universities nationwide with theater programs. LaGuardia students compete in Region I, one of eight regional competitions of the Festival. Regional winners then go to the national festival, held each spring at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Recent LaGuardia awards and honors from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival include:

In 2017, LaGuardia’s production of Passing Strange received five awards at nationals:
- Distinguished Production of a Musical
- Distinguished Director of a Musical
- Distinguished Ensemble of a Musical
- Distinguished Performance by an Actress in a Musical—Aliayh Murchison
- Distinguished Performance by an Actor in a Musical—Jehan Havé

In both 2017 and 2016, LaGuardia students were selected as Region I winners of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s award in Arts Administration. In 2017, it went to Jose Reyes; in 2016, it went to Viguens Louis.

Also in 2016, a LaGuardia theatre graduate studying at Lehman College, Fe Torres, won two prestigious scholarships at nationals: the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre Scholarship, and an Artist-As-Citizen Conference Scholarship.

In 2015, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, directed by Stefanie Sertich, was one of four productions showcased at Region I. LaGuardia student Ahsan Ali was honored at nationals as a distinguished actor in a supporting role, for his performance in this production.

Also in 2015, LaGuardia studentJulio Trinidad took home three awards at nationals that came with sizable scholarships: 2nd place overall, the Mark Twain Comedy Award, and the Margolis Method Acting Training Scholarship.

“While our students have taken home many regional and national theater awards, the true measure of a theater program is its ability to build empathetic citizens in an ever changing world. This reflects our college’s mission as well,” says Sertich. Some LaGuardia theater graduates are now working actors and others are continuing to hone their craft in well-regarded theater programs at four-year schools. One such graduate who is now a working actor is Ashley August, the 2013 NYC Youth Poet Laureate. For more: http://www.ashleyaugust.com/base/. About the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, established in 1982, serves as a repository for NYC’s social and political history, which includes the largest collection of New York City mayoral papers. Archive records include the personal papers and official documents of Mayors Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Robert F. Wagner, Abraham D. Beame and Edward I. Koch, the records of the New York City Housing Authority, the piano maker Steinway & Sons, The Council of the City of New York and a Queens Local History Collection. Assets from these collections are regularly referenced in news stories, and studied by journalists, policy makers, and other researchers examining the history of Greater New York. The Archives regularly produces public programs exploring its collections, including an annual calendar produced in partnership with The New York Times and the City University of New York.

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Muslim Women Education Panel Reviewed FREE Resources & Information to Help Navigate Life in NYC

Long Island City, NY (April 3, 2017)— LaGuardia Community College located in Queens, one of the world’s most ethnically diverse areas, recently held a Muslim Women Education Panel in order to equip community members with valuable information about LaGuardia and its programs. Panelists, who included Nadira El Khang, Mersida Ibric, Seema Ahmed, and Asma Shuaib shared their success stories and discussed how to apply for classes at LaGuardia, such as LaGuardia’s English language programs, certificate programs, as well as how to seek employment opportunities with the City University of New York, and more. They spoke to an audience of several dozen Muslim women, as well as family members of the panelists, LaGuardia faculty and staff, and others.

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Long Island City, NY (April 3, 2017)—LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow has been selected as a winner of the 2017 Public Image of the Two-Year College Award (the “Fame” award), from the Two-Year College English Association (TYCA) of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Dr. Mellow shares this award with DeRionne Pollard, president of Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. They were selected for an essay they co-authored and published in the February 20, 2017 issue of the Baltimore Sun, “Community Colleges Can Heal a Divided America.” In the award notification, TYCA noted that their article “exemplifies the type of work honored by the Public Image of Two-Year Colleges Committee,” and recognized their continued advocacy of the two-year college. Dr. Mellow and Dr. Pollard’s essay was a response to the polarization throughout our communities following the 2016 presidential election. They write that because of the inclusiveness, affordability, and high-quality academics available at community colleges, that they are potential places of “dialogue and healing.” As they write, “Almost without notice community colleges have become the one place where diverse groups meet in search of a common end: opportunity. There are 1,100 community colleges in the U.S., serving almost half the undergraduates in the nation. Sixty-two percent of community college students work while going to college, despite financial aid from federal and state governments. These are students who are living the realities of low-wage service jobs in urban sectors, shuttered production plants in the Midwest and collapsing family farms in the south. In the classrooms of our colleges, discussions of inequality, racism and immigration don't need the "trigger warnings" so hotly debated in some universities; our students live them every day. Now is the time to ask community colleges to advance the American ideal of e pluribus unum—from many, one. We must lead the movement to understand the "other" in all of our communities, to renounce efforts to vilify one another for narrow political advantage. As college presidents, we call on our national leaders to work to preserve the opportunity for Americans to learn and train without exorbitant debt, to build careers and work productively with dignity.” The TYCA Fame Award was established to publicly acknowledge the best positive mention of the two-year college appearing in any media during the previous year. The award gives credit to reporters, writers, filmmakers and others who seek out and publicize exemplary students, faculty, programs, campuses, and/or recognize the two-year college system. An announcement of the award to Dr. Mellow and Dr. Pollard was made during the TYCA Breakfast at the 2017 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Convention in Portland, Oregon, and it is also posted on the National TYCA website. For more about TCYA’s Fame Award, click here. To read the Baltimore Sun essay coauthored by Dr. Mellow and Dr. Pollard, click here.

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LaGuardia Marks 3rd Graduation Of Medical Billing Program With Weill Cornell Medicine

Long Island City, NY (April 28, 2017)—The highly successful initiative to train motivated New Yorkers for medical billing positions, conducted in partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine and the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (NYACH),has graduated its third class of 21 students at LaGuardia Community College. Through a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), the five-month Medical Billing Training Program is offered tuition-free, and graduates superbly trained candidates for entry-level positions starting at $35,000-$45,000. The program has quickly built a successful pool of early-career professionals, with nearly 80 percent of students from the first two cohorts hired within three months of graduation—30 by Weill Cornell Medicine, seven by Mount Sinai, and several others by individual physician practices and other area hospitals. “With its proven track record, our Medical Billing Training Program is providing students the opportunity to acquire in-demand skills sought by healthcare providers, without accruing student loan debt for tuition,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “This training allows our students to secure jobs that enable them to build better lives for themselves, their families and New Yorkers.” “By working together with our industry partners, we’re curating training programs that put New Yorkers on track to lucrative careers,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services. “The graduating participants will join the ranks of fellow graduates that have accepted positions at some of the city’s top tier medical institutions. I look forward to the continued success of this cohort.” The program started in 2015 as a result of the Harvard Business School Club of New York’s “Skills Gap Initiative” to address a need for skilled, motivated workers for this growing niche in the healthcare industry. To read more about the Skills Gap Project and its work on the Medical Billing Training Program, click here. “Our partnership tackled the challenge to train people so well that they do not need prior work experience to perform at the highest level, advance their careers, and completely satisfy their employers,” said Barry Puritz, co-chair of the team of Harvard B-School alumni that initiated the partnership between LaGuardia and Weill Cornell Medicine. “With careful attention to building a multi-faceted, results-oriented course offering, we have redefined the paradigm for successful entry level employment in non-clinical healthcare.” Medical billing positions, along with many other mid-skills jobs, often go unfilled because applicants lack essential training. The curriculum involves 267-hours of training, and students graduate with technical skills, an understanding of healthcare finance, workplace professionalism and job readiness training. “The collaboration between Weill Cornell Medicine and LaGuardia Community College has been very fruitful,” said Susan Shevlin, director of talent acquisition and onboarding at Weill Cornell Medicine. “We’ve appreciated having an expanded pool of well-trained applicants for our medical billing positions, which is essential to our operation. And because of the program’s vigorous training, those we have hired have been able to enter their positions nearly seamlessly.” Reflecting the high-demand for well-trained medical billing candidates, the program has drawn interest from other area hospital systems as well. Northwell Health and Columbia University Medical Center also have participated in coaching events and instruction. Based on word of mouth and media coverage of the first two graduations, more than 1,000 people applied for the 21 openings in the third cohort, which boasted a 100 percent retention rate; each of the 21 students who started the program in November 2016 have completed the program and graduated. The average age of students in the third cohort is 33 (range: 21-49). Twelve of the 21 students were born outside of the United States, from Antigua, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Jamaica, Philippines, Poland, and Romania. The concept has the potential to be replicated for larger impact. To read about the first cohort of the Medical Billing Training Program, click here; to read about the second cohort, click here. For more information about this program or hiring its graduates, contact Barry Puritz at the Harvard Business School Club of New York atbpuritz@gmail.com or (917) 453-0311.

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60 Percent Increase of Previous Space; Includes Modern Upgrades for LaGuardia’s 50,000 Students, 3,000 Faculty & Staff, and LIC Community

LaGuardia Community College Celebrates Opening Of Expanded Library

Long Island City, NY (May 12, 2017)—LaGuardia Community College yesterday celebrated the completion of a major expansion of the college’s library to nearly 60,000 sq. ft.—a 60 percent increase of the previous space. Highlights include open areas where students can study and collaborate, new state-of-the-art computing capabilities, and large windows to draw in natural light and welcome the Queens community to the college—in a modern, comfortable space designed with input from LaGuardia students, faculty, and staff.

With an annual attendance of more than 650,000 people, the library is the most heavily utilized space on campus. It serves the college’s 20,000 degree-seeking and 30,000 non-credit students, and 3,000 faculty and staff. As well, visitors from Queens and beyond regularly access the library. CUNY Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management Judith Bergtraum, CUNY Director of Design, Construction & Management Robert Lemieux, LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, and City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, attended a ribbon-cutting to mark the opening of the newly expanded library. Staff representing Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan attended on her behalf. Click here for photos of the event, which also included LaGuardia faculty, staff, alumni, and students. Chancellor James B. Milliken said the upgraded LaGuardia library was a critical investment reflecting the University’s goals of increasing access, improving preparation, retention and graduation rates, and expanding online programs. “In the 21st century,” he said, “modern libraries—with welcoming study spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and well-stocked with books and e-books—are essential for study and research, and transformative for students.” “This library expansion is long-overdue for our exceptionally hard-working students, who are striving to make better lives for them and their families,” said LaGuardia President Gail O. Mellow. “Our student population is largely low-income, new immigrant, or otherwise disadvantaged—many face numerous challenges on their way to a college degree, from financial burdens, juggling work (often more than one job), raising children, and other responsibilities—and they deserve and need a convenient, comfortable, modern space where they can grab time to study and reflect.” “As well, with new floor-to-ceiling windows facing the intersection of Thomson Ave., Queens Boulevard, and Van Dam Street, the design of the library expansion symbolizes the openness of our college as a place where people of any background can pursue their higher education goals. We welcome all of Queens to the college, and want them to know that the LaGuardia Library is here for them as well,” said Dr. Mellow. Western Queens Elected Officials Celebrate the Library Expansion “The transformation of LaGuardia Community College’s library will enhance its reputation for high-quality and affordable college education that produces job-ready graduates with respected academic credentials,” said Queens Borough President Katz. “This modern and expanded library will serve as a top-notch education resource for LaGuardia students for decades to come.” “I was thrilled to join President Gail O. Mellow, LaGuardia students, faculty, and staff to cut the ribbon on the beautifully renovated and expanded library at LaGuardia Community College,” said City Council Majority Leader Van Bramer. “This library will bring new group study rooms, more seating, improved natural lighting, and resources that over 650,000 students will take advantage of each year. I’m proud to have allocated funding to transform this library into a modern space for research and collaboration that will prepare the next generation of leaders.” “Expanding LaGuardia Community College library helps our students commit to excellence and contributes to their success,” said Senator Gianaris. “It is more important than ever to invest in education and bring additional resources and opportunities to our colleges. I am proud to celebrate this library expansion with LaGuardia Community College.” “The library is the focal point for the entire college, with over 650,000 annual visits by students, making it the most heavily used part of the LaGuardia Community College campus,” said Congresswoman Maloney. “By expanding and modernizing the library, LaGuardia is offering students the hi-tech library they need. Under the far-sighted leadership of LaGuardia President Gail Mellow, this new and improved library will help LaGuardia’s diverse student body get a great start in building successful futures.” “The expansion of the library at LaGuardia Community College will be a great asset and investment to the many students, teachers and faculty who work and attend this wonderful institution” said Assemblywoman Nolan. “I would like to thank President Gail O. Mellow and everyone at LaGuardia for making this project possible.” More about the Library Expansion “At last, our world-class students have a world-class library,” said Scott White, LaGuardia Chief Librarian. “We’re thrilled that we’re now able to provide patrons with more efficient access to research materials, and improved collaborative study spaces.” Additional features include a 75 percent increase in library seating (from 420 to 732 seats) with new high-tech group study rooms, modern reading rooms, individual study spaces, and public computers—all with IT and audio-visual capabilities. It provides a new home for the college’s Media Services, where students may borrow laptop computers and access other services, and adds much-needed office space for library faculty and staff. The expansion is centered on a reorganization and enlargement of the library’s second floor—with upgraded furniture, painting, and new flooring, and a new staircase and expanded elevator service connecting it to the library’s first floor. The second phase of the library renovation will upgrade the first floor to match improvements made to the second floor. Planning for this phase is underway, and is expected to take two years. Click here for more information about the library renovation. Community visitors with a valid ID may enter the library during college hours and access reference materials on-site. Faculty, staff, and students with a valid LaGuardia ID may borrow materials from the library. Click here for more information about the LaGuardia Community College Library.

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LaGuardia Community College located in Long Island City, Queens, educates more than 50,000 New Yorkers annually through degree, certificate, and continuing education programs. Our guiding principle Dare to Do More reflects our belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for our community and our country—creating pathways for achievement and safeguarding the middle class. LaGuardia is a national voice on behalf of community colleges, where half of all US college students study. Part of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his championing the underserved. Since our doors opened in 1971, our programs regularly become national models for pushing boundaries to give people of all backgrounds access to a high quality, affordable college education. We invite you to join us in imagining what our students, our community, and our country can become. Visit www.LaGuardia.edu to learn more.

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The Lavender Line: Coming Out in Queens

Queens Museum Friday, June 9, 2017 6—8 p.m.

Exhibition Opening At Queens Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Queens Pride Parade Queens Pride Parade, 1993 Photo Credit: Courtesy Daniel Dromm Collection, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY

VIP GUESTS EXPECTED: NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, & featuring City Council Member Daniel Dromm

What: Opening reception for The Lavender Line: Coming Out in Queens featuring performances by SALGA, a well-known troupe of South East Asian Transgender Dancers. The Lavender Line: Coming Out in Queens is a multimedia exhibition at the Queens Museum that marks the 25th anniversary of the Queens Pride Parade, the first LGBTQ-rights parade in one of NYC’s outer boroughs. The exhibition showcases historical and contemporary work, which chronicles the largely unknown history of LGBTQ activism in Queens from the 1990s to the present, in particular the impact of the hate crime murder of Julio Rivera, and the rejection of the Children of the Rainbow Curriculum. Coming Out in Queens draws from the collection of Queens City Council Member Daniel Dromm, recently acquired by the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College. City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and producer-director Richard Shpuntoff contributed materials from their personal archives. Refreshments will be served Why: While Manhattan is recognized as the birthplace of NYC’s LGBTQ movement, the stories of LGBTQ activism in Queens are largely absent from the historical narrative. It's an incredible story of activism in the face of tremendous opposition, and helped motivate Council Member Dromm's career shift from teaching to public office. When: Friday, June 9th, 2017, 6—8 p.m. Who: Hundreds of guests are expected to attend including:

NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray
Comptroller Scott Stringer
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz
City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer
City Council Member Daniel Dromm
Alan Sack, Julio Rivera’s former partner and longtime friend
Peg Fiore, Julio Rivera’s sister-in-law
Dr. Gail O. Mellow, President of LaGuardia Community College
Curators of the exhibition, LaGuardia faculty Thierry Gourjon and Javier Larenas

Two of LaGuardia’s Gardiner-Shenker Student Scholars who worked on the exhibit: Ryan Tiscareno, Photography Scholar Student and Jham Valenzuela, English Scholar Student [The additional LaGuardia Community College students who worked on the exhibit were: Allison Minto, Stanley Olivera, Gianni Sanchez, and Paul Yanchyshyn.]

Laura Raicovich, Director of the Queens Museum

Where: Queens Museum Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Corona, NY 11368 *Free Parking On-Site

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#BLACKLIVESMATTER Co-Founder Alicia Garza Gave Keynote at College’s 45^th Commencement!

#LAGCCGrad2017

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (June 8, 2017)—Earlier today, the largest graduating class in the history of LaGuardia Community College—1,735—celebrated earning their associate’s degrees at the college’s 2017 Commencement. The ceremony, which marked the 45^th graduation for the college, a member of the City University of New York (CUNY), had an audience of over 10,000 family members and friends of the graduates, college faculty and staff, CUNY Trustees, elected officials, and invited guests. The event was held at Barclays Center. “LaGuardia graduates are what our city and nation need to thrive! Because our students overwhelmingly come from low-income, recent immigrant, or other disadvantaged backgrounds, earning their associate’s is an incredible accomplishment,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “And the grit that many have shown—learning English, juggling work, raising young children, and dealing with other obstacles along the way, often with optimism, humor, and perseverance—is sure to serve them well in a senior college or in the job market. These 2017 graduates represent our greatest achievement.” Co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter and special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Alicia Garza, gave the keynote address. Lorelei Salas, JD, commissioner of NYC’s Department of Consumer Affairs, gave the alumni speech. Commissioner Salas is a 1993 graduate of LaGuardia. “LaGuardia Community College graduates represent just about every possible background—every color and culture, every faith and walk of life. I was pleased and honored to have delivered the 2017 Commencement keynote today,” said Garza, who will receive the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s international peace prize, later this year. “The world needs the best and the brightest thinkers, strategists, and tech gurus, to build the world that we want to see. A world where all lives matter.” “My presence at today’s graduation is proof that LaGuardia creates opportunities for those with perseverance and intellect,” said Commissioner Salas. The 2017 Class Speech was given by Remy Patrick Lavilla, age 19, who moved to the United States in 2015 after Typhoon Haiyan devastated his hometown in The Philippines. He received his associate's in accounting; this fall he’ll begin pursuing his bachelor’s in economics at Columbia University. During his time at LaGuardia, he was awarded numerous awards and honors, including ThinkGeek’s National Collegiate Honors Council ThinkGeek Innovation for Tomorrow Award. At LaGuardia, Lavilla was a President’s Society Ambassador, a member of both the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa. He managed his many on-campus activities while consistently making the Dean’s List; maintaining a 3.9 GPA. “I thank the professors at LaGuardia for making learning our passion, for instilling in us the hunger for knowledge, and the passion to learn,” said Lavilla. “Today, we became LaGuardia alums and I encourage my fellow Class 2017 graduates to continue to fight against stereotypes about community college students. We are the ultimate measure of the success of community colleges!” Among the oldest graduates is Verdia Hart, 72-years-old, a retired African-American woman who’s traveled to NYC from her home in Columbia, South Carolina, to pick up her associate’s degree. After raising her six children, all of whom will be in the audience, and helping with her 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Mrs. Hart is fulfilling her life-long goal of earning her college degree. Next step, a bachelor’s! According to data about the 2017 graduates from LaGuardia’s registrar office, 48 percent are 25 years old or older, and 60 percent are female. Nearly 50 percent self-identify as Hispanic/Latino. The next largest student demographic is Asian, 23 percent; followed by 16 percent Black/African-American. Fifty-nine percent of graduates live in Queens, while 18 percent live in Brooklyn. The top three majors of the class of 2017 were: Business Administration, Liberal Arts: Social Science & Humanities, and Criminal Justice. To download a print-ready infographic about LaGuardia’s Class of 2017, click here. Jonathan Morales, one of three LaGuardia honors program students selected for the prestigious and generous Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 a year towards their bachelor’s, will graduate. He dropped out of high school and worked as a carpenter for several years before finding his way to LaGuardia. This fall he’ll start pursuing his bachelor’s at Stanford University. Mahmudur Rahman, a Bengali-American from Jamaica, Queens, transferred to LaGuardia after two years at a SUNY college. He earned his associate’s in business administration, and plans to pursue his bachelor’s at Brooklyn College. “LaGuardia created a space where I could take chances exploring what most interests me, and because of LaGuardia’s open access admissions, I’ve met people from all walks of life,” said Rahman, who was a member of the first-ever cohort of President’s Society: Tech, an enrichment program for high-achieving students interested in the tech industry. The LaGuardia Student Choir performed the Star Spangled Banner, arranged and conducted by LaGuardia Associate Professor of Music and Theater, Lisa DeSpain. Click here for more information about LaGuardia’s 45th Annual Commencement. To download a print-ready infographic about LaGuardia’s Class of 2017, click here. To view/download commencement photos, click here.

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“Panama: Hidden Gems,” A Photography Exhibit by Student Charles Carl Barnett – now through September

“Bangladesh – The Other Side Of Me,” A Photography Exhibit on Campus

Where did LaGuardia students go this summer? All around the world!

LaGuardia’s Innovative Medical Billing Program Holds Graduation

LaGuardia Community College Celebrates Gift from Astoria Bank to Support Commercial Photography Students

Astoria Bank Unveils LaGuardia Student Photography Exhibit, “LIC Past, Present & Future” at New Long Island City Branch

LaGuardia Foundation Receives $225,000 from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation

LaGuardia Community College Launches New Citizenship & Legal Services Program

LaGuardia English Language Coordinator, and Volunteers, Recognized as NY1’s Queens People of the Week

President Mellow Reflects on Gov. Cuomo’s Tuition-Free College Proposal in interview with Evolllution

First Graduates from Novel High School Equivalency Program for Deaf Students at LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Goes Back-To-Back; Knocks Off BMCC for 2nd Straight Title

Dr. Gail O. Mellow, President Of LaGuardia Community College, Wins 2017 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award

Documentary about Gentrification/Housing Segregation, Featuring LaGuardia Theater Students, to be showcased at 2017 Queens World Film Festival on Friday, March 17, 2017

Muslim Women Education Panel Reviewed FREE Resources & Information to Help Navigate Life in NYC

President Mellow Honored for Advancing the Public Image of U.S. Community Colleges, for Essay in Baltimore Sun

LaGuardia Marks 3rd Graduation Of Medical Billing Program With Weill Cornell Medicine

LaGuardia Community College Celebrates Opening Of Expanded Library

Exhibition Opening At Queens Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Queens Pride Parade

LaGuardia Community College Marks Largest-Ever Graduating Class of 1,700+!