No Images Displaying? View as Webpage.

NEWS AND UPDATES 

December 6th, 2024

Prof. Sally Wen Mao Pens One of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2024

Sally Wen Mao has long been known for her visceral and lyric poetry, much of it ranked among America’s best of the past few years. Her latest work, which is quickly garnering equal acclaim, ventures into uncharted territory and takes up new forms. The newly appointed Assistant Professor at Baruch College’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences has just earned a spot on The Washington Post’s "11 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2024" as well as Electric Literature's "Best Short Story Collections of 2024" with her debut fiction collection, Ninetails (Penguin Books). Blending that special variety of textual precision congenital to poetry with mythic storytelling, Mao’s new work explores themes of identity, transformation, and cultural heritage through the lens of the nine-tailed fox, a multivalent archetype culled from East Asian folklore.

 

Mao, whose three published poetry collections include Oculus (Graywolf Press, 2019) and The Kingdom of Surfaces (Graywolf Press, 2023), began writing Ninetails during her fellowship at the Cullman Center of the New York Public Library. “I gave myself a goal: to draft one short story a month for the nine months that the fellowship ran,” Mao explained. “By the end of it, I realized I was weaving an interconnected collection that was deeply rooted in mythology while also exploring contemporary human experiences. Also, the pun on ‘Nine Tales’ was just too good to pass up.”

 

The collection has captured the attention of readers, including fans of anime and video games where the nine-tailed fox is a recurring motif. “I’ve always been a poet and entering the speculative fiction space felt both thrilling and surreal,” Mao said. “It challenged me to adapt my style to narrative fiction while also thinking about world-building in new ways. Books like this require so much world building; that all happens off the page.”

 

In the English Department, Professor Mao’s teaching also reflects her engagement with such fabulist themes. In her “Great Works II” class, for instance, she commonly incorporates forms such as Gothic horror and magical realism. “Teaching these genres allows students to connect with the many meanings inherent in fantastical narratives,” she said. “I think my experience as both a poet and now a fiction writer helps me guide them through exploring the complex intersection between mythology, personal experience, and creativity. It’s been really exciting for me.”

 

In addition to Ninetails, Mao has recently curated a reading list for The New York Times and collaborated with filmmakers on a short animated film adaptation of her poem "The Diary of Afong Moy," which was recently released by PBS Independent Lens. With this uniquely broad creative range, Mao nicely encapsulates Weissman’s commitment to interdisciplinary education and fostering creative exploration and application. Her ability to move seamlessly between poetry and fiction—from myth to contemporary social commentary—models an education where students are encouraged to see connections across disciplines, occupations, and art forms, inviting them to engage with literature not only as a kaleidoscopic reflection of the world, but as a tool to imagine and build new ones.

Baruch's Masters of Financial Engineering Program is No. 2 in the US

The Weissman School continues its streak as housing one of the best Master of Financial Engineering Programs in the nation, securing the #2 position in QuantNet’s latest ranking.


During the past 10 years, Baruch’s MFE Program —housed in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences— has earned the top two positions in this prestigious national ranking: #1 for seven years and #2 for three years.


In the 2025 QuantNet ranking, which included 25 programs, Baruch tied for the highest peer score from competing institutions.  


"Consistently ranking among the top in the industry's most respected and comprehensive classification of financial engineering programs over the past decade is a powerful testament to the exceptional achievements of our students and alumni," said Dan Stefanica, Co-Director of the MFE Program. “Our rigorous and forward-thinking curriculum equips students with the critical knowledge and skills they need to excel in the competitive job market, ensuring their continued success long after graduation."


Over the last eight years, the MFE program saw a 100 percent employment success rate for its students within three months of graduation. Students received and accepted offers from some of the world’s and nation’s top firms.

Among the most recent job hires are AQR, AXQ Capital, Bank of America, Barclays, BlackRock, BMO, Citadel, Goldman Sachs, GTS, IMC Trading, Millennium, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets, Societe Generale, Tradewell Technologies, and Verition, among others.


Upon graduation, students join more than 550 alumni in the Baruch MFE network, where more than 85 percent work in the financial industry.


Learn more about the program.

Scenes from November

Baruch student Ciara Ailani Velez (Myrtle Wilson) and company brought the spectral glamour of the Jazz Age to life in These Gilded Souls, a haunted reimagined sequel to The Great Gatsby. Written by Aly Kantor and directed by Christopher Scott, this long-awaited Fall FPA production dazzled audiences.

Jamel Coy Hudson, Ph.D., captivated the audience with a powerful performance of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” during this Fall's Baruch in Concert.

While Weissman faculty and staff may recognize Warren Arthur for his technical expertise—managing servers, training staff, and maintaining hardware and software—he surprised the audience with an incredible original piano composition during Baruch in Concert.

Participants and organizers of the immersive exhibit Deported U.S. Veterans gathered to share their powerful stories. The event featured photography and narratives made in collaboration by Baruch students and Professor Lizbeth De La Cruz Santana. Attendees engaged in screenings of the film Bring Them Home followed by a Q&A session with Margaret Cargioli, Alex Murillo, Jean Dorsainvil, James Smith, and Rob Young, shedding light on the experiences of deported U.S. veterans and advocating for justice and reunification.

Professor Emerita Roslyn Bernstein returned to Baruch with a reading and discussion of her acclaimed novel The Girl Who Counted Numbers as part of the Wasserman Jewish Studies Center’s Holocaust Literature Series. A finalist for the National Jewish Book Council Awards and named one of Kirkus’s 100 Best Independent Books of 2023, Bernstein’s novel explores themes of Jewish memory, identity, and resilience in the aftermath of the Holocaust. 

Baruch College hosted Guo-Quan Seng, Assistant Professor of History at the National University of Singapore, discussing his book Strangers in the Family: Gender, Patriliny, and the Chinese in Colonial Indonesia. The event included a conversation with Baruch’s Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Rianne Subijanto and explored the nature of gender, family, and identity in a colonial context.

FPA Harman Fellow Anna K. Jacobs, an award-winning composer, lyricist, and book writer, joined Susan Tenneriello’s "Introduction to Theatre" class to share her process. Her impressive career includes the acclaimed off-Broadway musical Teeth and an upcoming stage adaptation of Moana for Disney Cruise Line. Her visit offered students a glimpse into her creative journey and the world of musical theatre.


Below: Scenes from the WSAS Dean's Holiday Breakfast

Assistant Professor Tsugumi (Mimi) Okabe and Department Chair Ali Nematollahy, Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature.

Blair Dayton, Assistant Director of Graduate Academic Advising, and Nicole Monte, Associate Director of Graduate Studies Career and Academic Advising.

Katheryn Lypides, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences and breakfast organizer, alongside Lisa Blankenship, Associate Professor in the Department of English.

Getting into the holiday spirit with Agnese Gangadeen, Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies.

FACULTY NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

Adrian Dumitru and Jamal Jalilian-Marian Win Department of Energy Grant Extension


Professors of Natural Science Adrian Dumitru and Jamal Jalilian-Marian have received a grant extention of $200,000 to continue their work for the Department of Energy's SURGE (Saturated Glue) Collaboration at Brookhaven Laboratory.


The aim of the topical collaboration is to obtain a better theoretical understanding of the structure of matter (the proton, and nuclei) in terms of the fundamental degrees of freedom of Quantum Chromodynamics: quarks and gluons.


Read more here.

Professor Vincent DiGirolamo Explores the Dark Side of the Belle Époque in new Publication


Vincent DiGirolamo, a professor at Baruch College, has contributed an essay titled "Slaves in the Salon: The Underside of Julius Leblanc Stewart's Belle Époque" to the newly released book The Sweet Life: Julius Leblanc Stewart and Painting in the Belle Époque. In his essay, DiGirolamo examines the precipitating circumstances of the opulence of Gilded Age luxury as depicted by the Philadelphia-born artist, uncovering its disturbing roots in the wealth generated by Cuban sugar slavery spanning four generations.


The essay sprung from a six-minute version given as a Peche Kucha talk last semester at Baruch.

Geanne Belton’s Research Cited in City Council Legislation and NY Times


Baruch College Journalism professor Geanne Belton’s 2022 study on student journalism in NYC public schools was cited extensively in City Council legislation and featured in The New York Times.


Her research revealed that only 27% of NYC high schools had a school newspaper, with access deeply divided along racial and socioeconomic lines—just 6% of schools with the highest poverty rates and 8% of those with the highest Black student enrollment reported having a newspaper.


The findings supported legislation introduced by Council Member Rita Joseph, which aimed to increase transparency and equity in student journalism programs.


Check it out here.

Harman Writer-in-Residence Event Featured in NOMAD Magazine


NOMAD Magazine’s latest digital issue highlights the October 24 Harman Writer-in-Residence Reading & Conversation event organized by Professor and Harman Director Esther Allen and featuring Israeli born journalist Eyal Press.


Looking ahead, NOMAD Magazine plans to feature a long-form article on the history of Baruch College in its March 2025 issue, including interviews with President Wu and coverage of Professor Gisele Regatão’s “Fiction Podcasting” class, where a reporter recently met with students.


Read the current mention of the Harman event here.

Dr. Sabrina Kizzie on WalletHub


Dr. Sabrina Kizzie, Doctoral Lecturer of Communication Studies at Baruch College, was recently featured in WalletHub’s article on Cheap Car Insurance in New York.


The article is part of WalletHub’s expert-driven series, offering readers practical advice and industry insights on financial and consumer topics.


Read the full article and Dr. Kizzie’s contribution here.


Howard Sherman Featured in NPR and San Francisco Chronicle Interviews


Howard Sherman, Managing Director of Baruch Performing Arts Center, was recently sought out by national and regional media outlets for his insights on the theatre.


In a lighthearted conversation with NPR’s Elizabeth Blair, Sherman discussed the announcement of sing-along screenings for the movie Wicked.


Separately, Sherman spoke with Lily Janiak of the San Francisco Chronicle about school theatre censorship, particularly recent controversies involving productions of Dog Sees God and The Laramie Project.


Read the San Francisco Chronicle article here.



Professor David Gruber Featured in The Harvard Crimson


Biology professor David Gruber was featured in The Harvard Crimson for his work with Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), a groundbreaking effort to decode sperm whale communication using AI. The article examines the ambitious goal of translating whale vocalizations to better understand their complex social structures and interactions.


Read the full article here.


Upcoming Events

PSC CUNY RESEARCH AWARD CYCLE


Deadline: Monday, December 16th, 2024, by 11:59PM


PLEASE NOTE: THE SYSTEM CLOSES AT 11:59PM, BUT SPAR WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS UNTIL 5PM

 

The Grants Proposal System is open and accepting applications for Cycle 55 of the PSC-CUNY Research Award Program. 

 

The Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) Research Award Program was established as a major vehicle for the University’s encouragement and support of faculty research and lever-age external funding. It seeks to enhance the University’s role as a research institution, further the professional growth and development of its faculty, and provide support for both the established and the younger scholar. Awards are distributed by the University Committee on Research Awards, a faculty committee, and administered by the Research Foundation of CUNY. All applications are submitted through the Grants Proposal System.

 

The PSC-CUNY Research Award Program supports academically relevant research across all disciplines. Proposals must include original research or creative activities by the principal investigator (PI). The following activities will not be funded: 1) those that support fulfillment of degree requirements of the Principal Investigator-unless, in the opinion of the Review Panel, fulfillment of degree requirements involves significant original scholarly or creative work; 2) the writing of textbooks-unless, in the opinion of the Review Panel, the textbook constitutes a significant scholarly contribution; and 3) the development of a curriculum for specific courses or programs (although research on curriculum, pedagogy and related subjects will be eligible for funding).

 

Three award types are available:

  • Traditional A: up to $3,500
  • Traditional B: $3,600 to $6,000
  • Enhanced: $6,500 to $12,000

 

PREPARING AN APPLICATION

Applying for the PSC-CUNY Award Program requires the applicant to complete the online application and attach a project description. The information under My Profile must be fully completed. My Profile includes important information on the applicant’s institution, educational background, tenure status, recent publications, and research awards.

 

Project Description

The project description should place the project in the perspective of the discipline and provide a detailed description of the project’s method and importance. Project description (including tables, literature reviews, and references) is limited to three (3) pages for Traditional A proposals and five (5) pages for Traditional B and Enhanced proposals. A PDF file of the project description may be single or double spaced, but formatting must include one-inch margins and a font of 10-12 points. If the project description exceeds the page length, the application will be rejected.

 

Budget Preparation & Categories NEW!

Budget requests must be justified on the basis of a project’s objectives and anticipated results. Applications for Traditional A and Traditional B awards require a short rationale for each budget item to be included in the space provided on the 'Budget' tab of the online application. Applications for Enhanced awards must attach a separate, one-page budget justification providing a breakdown of expenses and a more detailed explanation of project costs. If you are requesting re-assigned time in your budget, prior approval will be required before submitting the application. Please complete the attached internal approval form with the Dean’s signature and return to the SPAR office.

 

Eligibility

Full-time members of the instructional staff, including Higher Education Officers (HEOs) and College Laboratory Technicians (CLTs) are eligible to apply for the PSC-CUNY Award Program. Co-PIs must meet all eligibility criteria. Only one application per person, per cycle (year), as either PI or Co-PI is allowable.

Please Note: When considering eligibility, the guidelines state that, “Tenured faculty may not receive more than two awards during a three year period of the Program, only one of this may be an Enhanced Award.” The limit of two awards (only one of which may be an enhanced award) within a three year period for tenured faculty still applies to the Program and awards from cycle 54 and cycle 55 should be considered to determine if tenured faculty are eligible to apply for cycle 56. If you are not sure if you are eligible please contact the SPAR office.

 

The application submission deadline is Monday, December 16th, 2024 by 11:59PM (Please note that although the system closes at 11:59PM, SPAR will only be available to answer questions until 5PM)If you would like the SPAR office to review your application please submit your proposal at least one week in advance.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance please contact Melisa Mendez (melisa.mendez@baruch.cuny.edu) or Ana Alas Iglesias (ana.alasiglesias@baruch.cuny.edu)

MISHKIN GALLERY


Anna Ostoya: J M Z


On view now at the Sidney Mishkin Gallery is the exhibition Anna Ostoya: J M ZThe show’s 15 kaleidoscopic paintings derive from sketches the artist made nearly two decades ago of her fellow passengers on the New York City Subway’s J, M, and Z lines while commuting between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Be inspired: download the exhibition booklet or pick up your copy at the gallery.


Anna Ostoya: J M Z is co-curated by Mishkin Gallery’s Alaina Claire Feldman and Alexandra Tell. The exhibition is made possible by Friends of the Mishkin Gallery and the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College (CUNY).

The exhibition runs through Friday, Dec. 13.

Corrections

Please send all corrections and requests to baruchwsas@baruch.cuny.edu

Facebook  Instagram  Twitter
Visit our Website