"Campus Update" is a weekly e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs to provide news and information to the college community. | | The Division of Communications and External Affairs offers various additional resources to help you share news with the campus, including an event calendar, photography, graphic design, and more. | | Students Get Portfolio Feedback and Transfer Tips at 10th Annual Art and Design Transfer Fair | | LaGuardia students had an opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from fine art and design programs around the country yesterday at the 10th annual Art and Design Transfer Fair. The event, geared primarily toward students in LaGuardia’s Fine Arts, Industrial Design, Photography, and New Media Technology programs, allowed students to learn more about different transfer options they have after completing their associate degree at LaGuardia. Students were also encouraged to bring their portfolio to get feedback from admissions representatives at a wide range of CUNY, SUNY, and private art colleges, including the Fashion Institute of Technology, Queens College, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the School of Visual Arts. | | Recognizing LaGuardia’s International Students | | International Students Day is celebrated worldwide on November 17. The date marks historic student demonstrations against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in Prague during World War II. Today, it’s a celebration of student unity, diversity, resilience, and the right to education. At LaGuardia, with nearly one-third of students born outside of the U.S. and coming from more than 130 countries, international students are an integral part of our community and bring unique perspectives that help shape classroom learning and campus life. Yu Wut Hmone Htoo, 26, (LaGuardia ’25, Accounting, now at Baruch) is one of those students. Leaving her home country of Myanmar wasn’t something that Htoo planned, but political unrest in 2022 changed her path. Adjusting to life in New York came with challenges—learning English, feeling homesick—but Htoo found an unexpected outlet through social media. She began recording campus life to stay connected with her mother, sharing moments from her day, and soon discovered a passion for storytelling. Htoo began talking about her international student experience, and found resonance with thousands back home, especially young people curious about life in NYC as a college student. Her follower count grew to more than 87,000. During Htoo’s final semester at LaGuardia, she was hired as a content creator with LaGuardia’s communications team, an experience that brought her great joy, as she saw more people enjoying her videos and stories. Now she’s thinking about weaving marketing and media into a future career in international accounting. “Education can be an endless adventure,” Htoo says. “If you embrace the side quests along the way, you may receive more opportunities than you ever imagined.” | | | | The LaGuardia Community College Theater Program, Humanities Department, and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) present Bryna Turner’s At the Wedding, with five performances—including a free dress rehearsal—running from November 19 through November 23. Staged in LPAC’s Little Theater, the production features students from LaGuardia’s Theater program under the direction of Theater Professor James Ryan (JR) Caldwell. At the Wedding is a hilarious 75-minute dramedy about loneliness, estrangement, and a slow-burn romance about what it means to be in love—and to be alive. Through main character Carlo's painful yet humorous journey, Turner explores the raw ache of heartbreak and the complexities of queer identity in spaces not designed for her. Performances are: Wednesday, November 19: Open Dress Rehearsal at 5 p.m. (Free; reserve here); Thursday, November 20: 7 p.m.; Friday, November 21: 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 22: 7 p.m.; Sunday, November 23: 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person for general admission and $8 per person for students. Each ticket includes a $2 convenience fee. Purchase tickets here. | | Faculty and Staff Invited to "New Front Door" Planning Forum, November 21 | | On November 21, from 9 to 11 a.m., LaGuardia faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in "New Front Door: Expanding and Improving Students' First-Year Experience," a planning forum that will focus on ways to help new LaGuardia students get their college career off on a strong start. New Front Door is an initiative that builds on the First Year Experience (FYE) by adding new milestones to a student's first year, re-working/ strengthening original FYE milestones, and developing ways to ensure that a greater percentage of students complete them in a timely manner. The planning forum will take place in Room E-242; participants will also receive breakfast, light refreshments, and LaGuardia swag. To attend, please RSVP to Jessica Mendoza at jmendoza@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | Students Encouraged to Enter T-Shirt Design Contest | | |
LaGuardia students are encouraged to enter a T-shirt design contest centered around the catchphrase "LaGuardia: Built for Love." Designs should reflect the pride, diversity, and spirit of the LaGuardia community. Submissions will be accepted through November 21; students, faculty, and staff will be invited to vote on their favorite designs. The top three winners will receive the following prizes:
- First Place: $50 gift card, LaGuardia goodie bag, and design placed on a T-shirt
- Second Place: $25 gift card and LaGuardia goodie bag
- Third Place: $15 gift card and LaGuardia goodie bag
For more information and to submit a design, students can visit this webpage.
| | Save the Date: Closing Sessions is December 10 | | | | Join President Kenneth Adams for a look back at LaGuardia’s accomplishments in 2025 at Closing Sessions. The presentation will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10 in the Little Theater; ASL interpretation will be provided. Livestreaming will also be available. Closing Sessions will be followed by a reception and the Faculty Council auction—additional details coming soon. | | LaGuardia CARES to Distribute Thanksgiving Turkeys and Winter Clothing on November 20 | | If you know a student in need of food, LaGuardia CARES can help. LaGuardia CARES and the Athletics Department have teamed up to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys, trimmings, and winter clothing to students in need on Thursday, November 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the C-Building Lobby, on a first come, first served basis. Additionally, LaGuardia CARES' on-campus food pantry is open Monday through Friday in Room C-235, where students can receive free groceries. If students have other unmet needs, please encourage them to visit LaGuardia CARES' webpage to apply for emergency assistance. CARES is here to help ensure students have the resources they need. Donations are also accepted. For more information, call (718) 483-5135 or email LaGuardiaCARES@lagcc.cuny.edu. CUNY students may also receive assistance from any CUNY campus food pantry. Click here for a list of locations. | | | | | Earlier this month, LaGuardia’s Alumni Association published the first edition of its monthly newsletter; if you know a LaGuardia alumnus who’d like to begin receiving it, encourage them to join the Alumni Association. The association was relaunched this summer to empower all LaGuardia graduates through a strong network of support, resources, and opportunities. Membership in the LaGuardia Alumni Association is free and offers guidance and tools to help alumni navigate the professional world and fosters a spirit of community by encouraging alumni to give back through volunteer efforts that support current students and college initiatives. LaGuardia alumni members will receive their Alumni ID card which offers alumni access to campus services. To get their verification, please email alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. LaGuardia alumni are encouraged to share their story at alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. To volunteer and get involved, call the Communications and External Affairs Division at (718) 482-5583. Visit the Alumni Association page to learn more about your benefits and how to get involved. | | The CUNY LGBTQI+ Council and the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium will hold CUNY’s fourth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) Vigil at the CUNY Graduate Center’s Segal Theatre on November 21. This is a day to both uplift our community and remember and honor those whose lives were lost as a result of anti-transgender bigotry and violence, especially for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming folks of color. Dr. Allie Brashears, Director of the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium and LGBTQ+ programming for the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. To attend, reserve your spot for free here. | | | Sign Up to Add a Professional Headshot to Your Faculty Profile | | | | LaGuardia’s Communications and External Affairs Division is hosting a series of “Photo Days” for faculty and staff who need to update their professional headshots! Your headshot can be used for a variety of purposes and adds a personal touch to your Faculty Profile on the LaGuardia website. The last day to get your headshot taken this semester will be December 9. Book your timeslot here. For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471. | | LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | | LaGuardia and Wagner Archives and the Voice of the Past Project | | The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives is proud to take part in a new grant-funded project at the College, Voices from the Past: The Veterans of Cypress Hills National Cemetery. Led by Dr. John F. Shean of the Social Science Department, this project will explore U.S. history through the stories of veterans interred at Cypress Hill National Cemetery. Founded for Civil War soldiers in 1870, veterans of the American Revolution, Spanish-American War, Korean and Vietnam War are also interred there. At the project’s seminars, scholars will explore America’s wartime experiences, and Archives staff will demonstrate research strategies for creating biographies of Cypress Hills veterans, with the goal of sharing the biographies developed on the Veterans Legacy Memorial website. The LaGuardia and Wagner Archive website will provide digital access to seminar materials, allowing Voices of the Past to reach a wider audience. We are excited to further our mission of documenting and sharing New York City’s social and political history! | | | | As part of the global “Giving Tuesday” fundraising movement, LaGuardia and other CUNY campuses are participating in CUNY Tuesday on December 2. CUNY Tuesday is an opportunity for faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the CUNY system to support our students through donations that go toward scholarships, career programs, and critical resources that directly impact students’ lives. One hundred percent of your support will directly help LaGuardia students. Stay tuned in the weeks leading up to CUNY Tuesday as we share stories of LaGuardia students who have been impacted by the Foundation’s work. | | LaGuardia Students Meet with Eric Slovin and Amy Ryan | LaGuardia students in the President’s Society and the Theater and Film and Television programs recently gave a warm welcome to two leaders in the entertainment industry: renowned SAG Award-winning actress Amy Ryan and Eric Slovin, a member of the LaGuardia Community College Foundation board of directors and comedy writer and producer for shows like Saturday Night Live and Broad City. Eric has been a member of the board for nearly around 10 years now, and has often visited campus to share thoughtful advice with students as they plan for their future. Amy, a Queens native, noted that she always enjoys visiting LaGuardia students, as they give her a great deal of hope and inspiration. The couple shared their journeys in the entertainment industry with the students, offering them helpful advice and words of encouragement. | |
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND EFFECTIVENESS
| | Thank you to the AES Council Liaisons | | |
LaGuardia assesses its organizational operations to identify areas for growth and highlight successes through the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) assessment process, among other methods. The AES process demonstrates progress toward and achievement of Strategic Plan goals. This work is supported by the AES Assessment Council and its liaisons from each of the College’s divisions. These individuals are essential in ensuring that the College meets its obligations and has a focus on continuous improvement. As we begin a new assessment year, the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) would like to thank the members of the AES Assessment Council. The Council has a mission to guide the college’s Administrative and Educational Support units through ongoing systematic assessment and continuous improvement of their programs, services, and related student learning to support the College’s progress toward its mission and institutional goals.
The 2025-26 AES Council members are:
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- Marina Abramova, Continuing Education
- Gail Baksh-Jarrett, Enrollment Management
- Aimeelyn Calandria, Development
- Charles Elias, Administration
- Kevin Martin, OIRE
- Rejitha Nair, Academic Affairs
- Emad Nassar, OIRE
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- Cristina Natale, Administration
- Randi Nieves, Grants and Sponsored Programs
- Fawad Rahmani, Student Affairs
- Gina Taraskewich, Communications and External Affairs
- Jessica Zeichner-Saca, Grants and Sponsored Programs
| | Sustainable Urban Agriculture Students Attend Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Community Gardens Task Force Meeting | | Lecturer Chelsea Encababian and her students in the Sustainable Urban Agriculture program attended the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Community Gardens Task Force meeting, where they had the opportunity to engage directly with Commissioner Richard Ball and leaders from across the agricultural, industrial, and nonprofit sectors some including Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYRP, NYC Parks Departments and more. During the event, students shared insights about their work in LaGuardia’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture program and the Finca La Florecita initiative, highlighting their hands-on learning experiences, community engagement, and contributions to advancing urban farming and food access in New York City. | | Professors Discuss Amazigh Film at CUNY Graduate Center | | On November 6, Professors Lucy McNair (English) and Habiba Boumlik (Education and Language Acquisition) gave a talk at the CUNY Graduate Center about Amazigh film expression based on the first edited collection in English on Indigenous North African cinema, Amazigh Cinema: An Introduction to North African Indigenous Film edited by Professor McNair. The two LaGuardia professors were joined by anthropologist Kevin Dwyer, who wrote the book’s preface. Professor McNair elaborated on the book-making process while Kevin Dwyer provided context from 50 years of research in Morocco and explained how New York Forum of Amazigh Film (NYFAF) has helped him raise awareness about the invisibility of Amazigh identity in official media and academia. Professor Boumlik discussed the chapter she wrote for the book, which featured interviews with seven filmmakers and summarized their thoughts on issues related to language, identity, funding, distribution, and representation. Boumlik and McNair are the curators of NYFAF. Look out for NYFAF's 11th edition on April 23, 2026 in the Little Theater and May 22, 2026 for the virtual edition. | | National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea Interviews Professor Nichole Shippen | | On November 5, Dr. Nichole Shippen, a professor in the Social Sciences department, met with members of the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea to discuss the New York City mayoral election. The commission members who met with Dr. Shippen are studying various systems in the United States, with a particular emphasis on strategies to secure transparency in political funds for fair and trusted elections. In their interview with Dr. Shippen, the team wanted to gain insight into how the system of political finance regulation affects actual voter perception and political participation. They discussed political finance transparency and voter perception, as well as political participation, grassroots democracy, and the future of the system. The interview was arranged by Dr. Young-min Seo, an adjunct faculty member of the Social Science department. | | Brightspace Training Available | | |
A full schedule of ongoing Brightspace training can be found here. For technical questions, reach out to Brightspace Support:
- Office: B-127 (first floor of the B-Building)
- Phone: (718) 482-6121
- Email: LMS-support@lagcc.cuny.edu
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information and general questions, visit LaGuardia's Brightspace webpage or continue to reach out to the transition team at BrightspaceTeam@lagcc.cuny.edu.
| | | Retrieve Your Blackboard Materials by December 15 | | |
Blackboard access will permanently end on December 18th across CUNY. We encourage faculty to retrieve any materials they would like to keep for their own teaching files (e.g., a personal export of your course package, specific files, or Collaborate recordings to keep outside institutional archives) by December 15.
The resources below were created by John Jay College to help faculty retrieve their materials before the deadline:
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To learn how to export course materials, read this guide. (Note: Once you export your course content in a Zip folder, you can opt in to store in OneDrive or Dropbox, both offered by CUNY). To see a walk-through, watch this video starting at minute 10:17.
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To learn how to download Collaborate recordings from your Blackboard courses, read this guide. To see a walk-through, watch this video starting at minute 22:15. (Note: Collaborate recordings are not included in course archives and should be saved to CUNY approved storage (e.g., Microsoft Office 365 and Dropbox) consistent with data/privacy requirements).
If you have any questions or if you need support, see the ‘On Campus Support’ section on the Brightspace website page. For more information regarding this, read CUNY’s full memo.
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Students looking for enrollment services support can now access virtual office hours every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Virtual One Stop takes place on Zoom and allows students to drop in and meet with staff from the following offices:
- Admissions
- International Student Services
- Registrar
- Student Financial Services
- Student Information Center
- Transfer Credit Evaluation
- Testing
| | The Black Male Empowerment Cooperative is hosting a series of events where students can get their hair cut, enjoy free food, and engage in conversation with LaGuardia and CUNY faculty and staff, on Thursday afternoons from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. The next meeting in the series will take place on November 20 in MB-06, featuring a talk from CUNY Special Projects Coordinator Ron West. Ron will discuss the importance of financial literacy; during the event, Jorge Perez of the CUNY Fatherhood Academy, will be giving haircuts to attendees. Students interested in attending any upcoming sessions or want to learn more, can RSVP here. | | Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Hub to Host “LGBTQ+ & Questioning: K-12 Grade Stories” Panel, November 20 | | The LaGuardia community is invited to attend an upcoming panel with LGBTQ+ LaGuardia students and alumni who also attended public schools in New York City. The panel will take place November 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. in E-500. Panelists will share their stories about growing up as members of the LGBTQ+ community in the K-12 public school system. Primarily geared toward students in Education programs, the panel is open to all members of the LaGuardia community. | | | Continuing Education Hosts Fair to Share Resources and Information | | Students Deliver Meals on Wheels | | The Center for Career and Professional Development recently took a group of students out into the city for a service-learning activity organized by Meals on Wheels at the Carter Burden Older Adult Center. In this activity, they helped deliver nutritious meals to homebound seniors. This experience helped students understand food insecurity and social isolation among older adults while supporting a vital community program that promotes dignity, independence, and well-being for New York City’s aging population. The students who participated in the visit were Iyonce Jackson, Nusrat Jahan Lisa, Emily Laguerre, Joselyn Lopez, Darwin Jimenez and Elizabeth Walter. The outing was sponsored by the SOAR Experiential Learning Program and the CCPD. | | |
The mighty Red Hawks invite students, faculty and staff to cheer them on at the following upcoming games and events. Show your school spirit and support the Red Hawks—and if you can't make it out to see a game in person, home games will be streamed live on YouTube. Check the Athletics website for full schedules.
Women's Basketball
- 11/18, 6 p.m. at Hostos Community College
- 11/22, 12 p.m. at Orange County Community College
Men's Basketball
- 11/13, 7 p.m. vs. Middlesex County College
- 11/16, 2 p.m. at SUNY Sullivan
| | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | | | |
- Join us on Monday, November 17, at 3:25 p.m. in the Library as we welcome author Clay McLeod Chapman. Chapman will be discussing his new book, and answering questions about, Shiny Happy People, “A gripping, genre-bending novel about a mysterious new drug plaguing a small town and one girl who must uncover the terrifying truth behind the haunting side effects—or she will be next.”
- Can’t make it to the Writing Center in the B Building? Well, you’re in luck, because the Writing Center will be at the Library on Mondays for the rest of the semester! Check the schedule here.
- Did you know the Library offers credit courses? Take our 1-credit LRC103- Internet Research Strategies or our 3-credit LBN105-InfoCity: Informed Citizens in the Information Age. Find out more information about these exciting research classes!
- Check out the Library’s Book of the Week!
| | Health Insurance Open Enrollment | |
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Civil Service Jobs and Exam Postings
The following civil service positions are open. Those interested in being considered for the roles, must apply for the position and take the accompanying exam:
Media Services Technician
- Exam no: 6077
- Exam date: N/A
- Fee: $68.00, non-refundable, unless a waiver is granted.
- Posting type: Open Competitive
- Filing date: November 5 to 25
- Apply here
Stock Worker
- Exam no: 6106
- Exam date: February 16, 2026
- Fee: $54.00, non-refundable, unless a waiver is granted.
- Posting type: Open Competitive
- Filing date: November 5 to 25
- Apply here
| | LaGuardia Seeks to Fill Open Faculty and Staff Positions | | |
Current faculty and staff are welcome to share the openings below with individuals who they believe may be a good fit for the role or apply for the positions themselves. For all LaGuardia openings, visit Employment Opportunities.
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Director of Office of Immigrant Student Success, closes November 13
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Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, closes November 15
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Director of Fatherhood Academy and BMI, closes November 16
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Director of LaGuardia CARES (Student Life Director), closes November 16
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Student Athletics Program Specialist, closes November 16
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Work-Based Learning Specialist (Student Career Program Specialist), closes November 16
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Academic ASAP Program Director, closes November 22
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English Writing Center Manager (Academic Resource Center Manager), closes November 22
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Career Specialist - Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, closes November 30
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Adjunct Lecturer - Theatre closes November 30
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IT Assistant (Part-Time) - Website/ Mobile Developer, open until filled
| | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | Cybersecurity Awareness Training Now Live on Brightspace | | The 2025–26 LaGuardia Community College Cybersecurity Awareness Training course is now available on Brightspace. All faculty and staff must complete this mandatory, annual 40-minute training by April 1, 2026 to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses, and safeguard your own and university data. If you have any questions, contact Maritza Acero at macero@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Bonus: Understanding Phishing and Social Engineering | | |
Phishing and social engineering are two prevalent tactics used by attackers to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive information or engaging with malicious links.
What Is Phishing?
A cyberattack where attackers impersonate trusted entities such as university officials, IT support, or colleagues to trick you into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.
Common Signs of Phishing Emails:
- Urgent or threatening language
- Unexpected attachments or links
- Requests for login credentials or financial information
- Heavy use of AI
What Is Social Engineering?
Manipulating people into giving up confidential information by phone calls, texts, or in-person tactics.
- A caller pretending to be from DoIT asking for your password
- Someone posing as a visiting scholar requesting access
- A message claiming to be from a recognizable company asking for payment
How You Can Stay Safe:
- Verify URLs
- Don’t open attachments
- Verify Requests
- Stay Informed: Take CUNY Cybersecurity Training
If you receive a suspicious email, please forward it to LAG SPAM.
Our emails and supporting information are available from the National Cyber Security Awareness Month page on the CUNY web site. For more information, refer to your IT Update email dated October 30. If you have any questions, please contact LaGuardia’s Information Security Manager Maritza Acero at informationsecurity@lagcc.cuny.edu.
| | LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES | | "Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can email CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday to be considered for publication on Thursday. |
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