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Alumni eUpdates
September 2024
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President Milagros Peña
Announces Plans to Retire
| President Peña announced during convocation last Wednesday, Sept 11, that she will retire from her role as President of Purchase College following the 2024-2025 academic year. | |
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Dr. Peña was named as the sixth president of Purchase College in 2020. A first-generation college student from New York City, she became the first Latina woman to lead a SUNY school.
"It has been an honor to serve as President of Purchase College over the past four years. After considerable reflection and discussion about what is best for me and my family, I informed SUNY Chancellor John B. King over the summer that this 2024-2025 academic year will be my last year as President. I have mixed emotions about my decision to retire as president after the spring semester, because, though we still face challenges as a community, we have accomplished a great deal together and our shared mission of providing access to a high quality, transformative public education is as important as ever."
Chancellor King said in a statement to the college, “Milly has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the liberal arts and arts that are at the heart of the campus’s mission, and to furthering the excellence and diversity of the student body.”
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PCAA Elects New Board Members | |
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During its Annual meeting on Saturday, Sept 14, eighteen (18) members were elected to the Purchase College Alumni Association Board of Directors. The Nominations Committee was faced with the challenging role of identifying from a very impressive pool of candidates a slate that would best fit the Board’s current strategic priorities while also considering the College’s geographic focus for enhancing its alumni and undergraduate recruitment presence. A slate of 18 candidates was approved for the three-year term 2024-2027.
Eight new members were elected for their first term: Scott Altman ’90 (Music), Hernan Checchi ’19 (Economics), Tiffany Dubon-Yard ’10 (Journalism / Sociology), Maya Jingles ’19 (Sociology), Kenneth McGinis ’95 (Economics), Margaret Mendelson ’89 (Literature), Rosabeya Rotondi ’12 (Biology), and Todd Wilson ’86 (Graphic Design).
The ten members re-elected for another term include: PCAA President Stephanie Blum ’13 (Arts Management), PCAA Vice President Rebecca Bruckenstein ’12 (Drama Studies / Journalism), President Emerita Paula Cancro ’79 (Urban Studies), PCAA Secretary Eustache Clerveaux ‘09 (Legal Studies), President Emeritus Kevin Collymore ’10 (Political Science), Scott Mason ‘05, 07 (Music), PCAA Treasurer Anjanette Merric ‘11, ’18 (Economics), President Emeritus Jeffrey Putman ’96 (Political Science), Pietro Rotondo ’88 (Literature), and Denny Santos ’04 (Sociology).
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#ProofofPurchase Alumni News | |
Kim Do, '76 (Visual Art) is a New York-based artist and educator focused on an observational, painterly connection to the earth, water, and sky. He will be exhibiting paintings and working in residence at NYC’s Blue Mountain Gallery from October 29 through November 23. More | |
Dr. Joyce Butler ’77 (Psychology) is an educational consultant specializing in systematic analysis and change. In October, she will present portions of her new book, Comparative Psychology and Educational Outcomes: Lessons from Project Nim, at the International Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) conference. | |
Jennifer Madelin Burns ’87 (Visual Arts) is an award-winning, commissioned artist who will be exhibiting her oil paintings in Pivotal Moments in Caring for the Earth, an exhibition at The Donald Gallery at South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The show is open through October. More | |
Sean Kenealy ’07 (Dramatic Writing) is a writer and director whose most recent short horror film, Two Knocks on a Door, is on a 12-stop festival run, including next month’s Oregon Screams Horror Film Festival Fall 2024 and the Nightmares Film Festival where it is the winner of the Best Writing award. More | |
Jessie Biele Luxenberg '08 (Journalism) is a flutist who was recently elected President of the Board of Directors for Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO), the DC area's premiere community ensemble exclusively devoted to performing video game music. She recently performed with the ensemble at the Kennedy Center. | |
Brett Alan Garfinkel ’12 (Dance) started The Louisiana Dance Alliance to build a stronger, bigger, and more connected dance community in the state of Louisiana. For the past five years he has served as department head and chair of theatre and dance at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. More | |
Emily Gilson ’12 (Drama Studies and History) made her Kennedy Center debut this March in the acting ensemble of Washington National Opera's Songbird. She is an actor, vocalist, teaching artist, and member of SAG-AFTRA. More | |
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Jennifer Mogbock ’13 (Acting) stars as Dora Carter on Apple TV’s Lady in the Lake opposite Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Directed by Alma Har’el, the series premiered in July and is now streaming on Apple TV+.
More
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Ruby Rose Makkena ’22 (Film) was selected by The National Board of Review (NRB) as one of seventeen student grant program winners for her senior thesis film, On The Ridge, for which she was director, editor, cinematographer, and producer. More | |
Ceara Rose Creegan ’23 (Sociology) is pursuing her passion for organic farming. She is currently traveling and farming across the Northeast, working as a farm educator, livestock caregiver, horse hand, and now livestock assistant. | |
Oliver Pezzano ’23 (Film) was selected by The National Board of Review (NRB) as one of seventeen student grant program winners for his senior thesis film Penny, which he wrote, directed, and edited. The film was also an Official Selection and Semifinalist in the 2023 New York Indie Shorts Awards. More | |
Jasai Chase-Owens '17 (Acting) and Daniel Bravo Hernández '24 (Acting) join the Broadway cast of Romeo + Juliet directed by Tony Award-winner Sam Gold. It’s both of their debuts on Broadway and for Hernández, it comes just a few months after graduating in May. Previews begin at the Circle in the Square on September 26. More | | |
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Purchase represents at the Brooklyn Museum!
Five alumni on staff at the Museum met up this summer for a photo op! (l to r) Curator Ernestine White Mifetu ’99 (Visual Arts); intern Julianna Vargas ’23 (Communications / Arts Management); intern Briana Thompson ’23 (Arts Management / Museum Studies); Fine Arts Packer, Paul Speh ’96 (Viaual Arts); and Framer Takayuki Umezawa ’16 (New Media).
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The project is a collaboration between 100+ Purchase alumni and students.
Curated by artists and faculty members Joshua Lutz and Katie Murray, the festival explores the multifaceted nature of photography through exhibitions, workshops, talks, installations, and interactive activities across the Purchase campus. Prominent alumni whose work will be featured include: Justin O’Neill, Visual Director of Esquire; Camille Seaman ’92, a TED Senior Fellow; and Kris Graves ’04, whose work has been featured on the cover of National Geographic. More
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Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Lecture Series
Purchase is proud to introduce students, alumni, and members of the local community to accomplished authors who visit campus each year as part of the Roy and Shirley Durst Distinguished Lectures. In 2024, two of the lectures will be led by Purchase College alumni:
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October 8 at 6:00pm
Adam Nagourney ’77 (Journalism) has been a journalist for over 45 years working at USA Today, the New York Daily News, and the New York Times. After being hired by the Times in 1996, he served as the paper’s metropolitan political correspondent, chief national political correspondent, Los Angeles bureau chief, and West Coast culture reporter, returning to cover national politics in 2023. Nagourney will be in conversation with Professor Ross Daly. More
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October 22 at 6:00pm
Jiaming Tang ’18 (Journalism) is a queer immigrant writer who published his first novel, Cinema Love, earlier this year. After Purchase, Tang received his MFA at the University of Alabama. His writing has appeared in AGNI, Lit Hub, The Masters Review, Salt Hill, and Joyland Magazine, among other places. Tang will be in conversation with Professors Mehdi Okasi and Anthony Domestico. More
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Alumni Artisan Fair at The PAC
November 9 | 2:00pm—7:30pm
Join us for an afternoon of holiday shopping featuring the talents of Purchase alumni artists, authors, and makers! Savor sweet fall treats as you browse the art and craft vendors. Hear alumni authors read their works. Enjoy entertainment by Conservatory-trained musicians. Support the creative Purchase College community.
Free admission for visitors. For vendors and authors: Booth / Table Pricing | Interest Form | Questions
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Samara Joy In Concert at The PAC
November 9 | 8:00pm
Purchase alumna and 3x GRAMMY® winner Samara Joy ’21 (Jazz Studies) is bringing back old-school jazz, making it her own with her stirring soulfulness and undeniable sparkling talent. Join us for a nostalgic night of classic jazz with a youthful spin as we welcome Samara back to her alma mater!
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Bookmark the Purchase Calendar
Attend an opening or browse the exhibitions at the NEU; admission is free for alumni. Take in a performance at The PAC; alumni tickets are discounted. Or come back to campus for a free lecture, event, opening or performance! Check out the calendar of events for all that's happening this fall.
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Become a role model and boost the confidence of a current student or fellow alumni. Share your experiences with someone who is looking for advice about making the right choices in school, getting ahead in their careers, and developing professional skills. The Purchase Mentor Network is an online platform that connects mentors and mentees for one-on-one conversations about careers, academic, internships, work, entrepreneurship, life experiences, and more. Mentors often say they learn as much as they teach. Make a difference in the lives of young professionals. More | |
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According to the Career Development Center team, more mentors are needed in these areas:
• Communications/Publishing/Journalism
• Writing (Creative/Dramatic)
• Visual Arts/Design
• Theatre/Music
• Arts Management
• IT/Computer Science/Data Science
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What if you could help Purchase students achieve their dreams of a college education? What if you could support a member of the faculty as they create educational experiences for a new generation of changemakers to dream, discover, and dare to transform the world? What if you could create opportunities for members of our community to experience some of the world’s greatest visual and performing arts? You can … right here, right now! | | | | |
