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"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. | | Tamoy Bloomfield, a Paralegal Studies major, and Jessicah Erondu, a Creative Writing major, have both been accepted to Columbia University’s School of General Studies for Spring 2026. Bloomfield and Erondu, pictured above from left to right, are 2025–26 members of President’s Society. The news broke during the dinner portion of a recent President’s Society evening workshop. Bloomfield shared her Columbia acceptance. Moments later, Erondu announced she had been admitted as well. “The room erupted in cheers; it was an incredible moment,” said Stefania Dinu, Foundation Engagement Specialist for President’s Society. Read more about Bloomfield and Erondu here. | | Myanmar Students Club Celebrates Thadingyut Festival | | On Tuesday afternoon, LaGuardia’s Myanmar Students Club hosted the Thadingyut Festival in the Poolside Café. Also known as the Festival of Lights, the Thadingyut Festival is the club’s largest event of the year. The festival is traditionally celebrated at the end of Vassa, a three-month period of religious retreat for Buddhist monks and nuns. President Kenneth Adams delivered remarks at the celebration, noting that by bringing the celebration to LaGuardia, members of the Myanmar Students Club keep tradition close to their hearts while away from family, and also teach peers about the culture of Myanmar. Attendees also enjoyed complimentary Burmese cuisine and participated in DIY lantern making, as well as painting and games. | | Nutrition and Culinary Students Support Thanksgiving Event at The Boys Club of New York | | |
A group of Nutrition and Culinary Management students recently supported the Luncheon and Turkey Giveaway Event at The Boys Club of New York’s (BCNY) Tiger Clubhouse in The Bronx, a community organization serving youth and families. The students involved (pictured above, left to right) were Ka'ehukai Keli'ikuli, Rhode Darina Noel, Chef Eileen Barett (Nutrition and Culinary Management program faculty), and Marcia Orellana. Not pictured: Emmanuel Arévalo, Mimi Erlina, and Volodymyr Ilchuk.
With their help, BCNY distributed more than 700 grocery gift cards and over 700 turkeys, pork shoulders, and hams to families across three boroughs. The students showcased their culinary skills by preparing Thanksgiving sides for more than 75 guests. The menu included roasted butternut purée, sautéed green beans in a lemony mustard sauce, herbed stuffing, and turkey gravy. They also assisted with cooking demonstrations. Kitchen supervisor Jo-Ann Barett, CEO and Lead Designer for Aromas Boutique Bakery and Chef Eileen Barett’s sister and business partner, praised the students’ efforts: “Their professionalism, attention to detail, and overall demeanor created an exceptionally productive and positive environment. Families were pleased and genuinely honored by the experience. [BCNY’s] CEO, the Chair of the Board, and the Clubhouse Director were equally impressed and spoke so highly of the LaGuardia students.”
| | Students Attend Book Talk with Brooklyn-based Author Clay McLeod Chapman | | On November 17, the Library hosted a book talk with acclaimed horror author Clay McLeod Chapman, who discussed his recent book Shiny Happy People. The discussion was led by associate professor Anne O'Reilly. Brooklyn-based McLeod Chapman is a writing professor at Pace University and has written several books, including Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, Kill Your Darling, and Stay on the Line, to name a few. On Monday afternoon, he spoke to students about his latest book, which has been described as “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.” Learn more about McLeod Chapman’s most recent work here. | | Campus Life Celebrates Thanksgiving with Gratitude Fest in Poolside Cafe | | Students enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal in the Poolside Café on Wednesday afternoon, thanks to Campus Life’s Gratitude Fest. The Gratitude Fest featured a lineup of traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn bread, all free for students. It served as a special opportunity for the campus community to come together and kick off the holiday season. To learn more about upcoming programming hosted by Campus Life, contact campuslife@lagcc.cuny.edu or visit their event calendar. | | Former LaGuardia Student Amir Khafagy named to CUNY’s 2025 “50 Under 50” List | | | | Amir Khafagy, who began his academic journey at LaGuardia in Spring 2019 as a Film and Television major before transferring to Queens College for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban affairs, has been named to CUNY’s 2025 50 Under 50. This honor celebrates CUNY graduates making significant social, cultural, and economic contributions to New York and beyond. Khafagy is an award-winning journalist and is currently a senior labor reporter at Documented NY. Raised in Jackson Heights, Queens by a working-class, Muslim, immigrant family, his reporting explores the intersections of labor, race, class, immigration and urban policy. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Vice, The New Republic, New York Magazine, The City, Bloomberg, and other major outlets. Previously, Khafagy worked as a researcher on the critically acclaimed podcast Serial. | | | | |
College Closed November 27- 30
Please note that LaGuardia is closed November 27- 30 and no classes are scheduled in observance of Thanksgiving. There will be no Campus Update next week. Campus Update will return on Thursday, December 4.
| | Faculty and Staff Invited to "New Front Door" Planning Forum, November 21 | | On Friday, 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.
For prize details and more information, or 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 and Plant Sale. Those interested in purchasing a plant at the President’s Holiday Reception after Closing Sessions can order a poinsettia, wreath, or flowering cactus here. Please note that orders are cash-only; proceeds from the plant sale will go toward student scholarships. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, November 25. | | | 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 today, 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. | | Students Invited to Networking Talk with President Adams on November 21 | | Please encourage your students to RSVP for “Networking with President Adams,” on Friday, November 21 at 2 p.m. in the Poolside Café. President Adams will lead a networking workshop for students interested in learning about how to build essential skills for expanding their professional network and advancing their career goals. Students interested in attending can RSVP on Handshake here. | | | |
| Earlier this month, LaGuardia’s Alumni Association published the first edition of its 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 to empower 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 an Alumni ID card which offers alumni access to campus services. To request an Alumni ID or to share an alumni story, please email alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. To volunteer and get involved, call the Communications and External Affairs Division at (718) 482-5583. | | |
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.
| | Reserve Your Fall II Parking Permit on Dec. 1 | | |
Reservations for Fall 2025 Session II Parking Permits will be available starting on Monday, December 1. Follow these three steps to obtain a Fall II Permit:
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Reserve your parking space online via TicketLeap on Monday, December 1 at 10 a.m.
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Pay In Person at the Bursar Window (C-110) between Tuesday, December 1 and Friday, December 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your completed Application, along with payment.
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Claim your Permit the week of December 8 by accepting the email invitation sent from no-reply@billing.metropolis.io.
Please note: All parking passes are sold on a first come, first served basis. Once the limit is reached, registrants could reserve a spot on the “wait list” via the same Ticket Leap event link. Only come to Bursar’s Office to complete step #2 “in-person payment” after you have received a Ticket Leap RSVP confirmation number via email. Your RSVP will be VOID and the pass will go to the next person on the waiting list if you do not complete the in-person payment process by 4 p.m. Friday December 5, 2025.
Review additional information on the Parking Operations webpage.
| | 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. | | GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS | | LaGuardia Representative attends Quarterly Meeting of Long Island City Business Improvement District | | |
On Tuesday, November 18, the Long Island City Business Improvement District had its quarterly meeting. Luda Spajic, who represents LaGuardia as a board member in the Long Island City Partnership BID, attended the meeting. At the meeting, the members approved the minutes from the June 24, 2025 meeting. After receiving the financial report, the board discussed updates on neighborhood projects throughout the Long Island City area and other matters affecting the residents and businesses in Long Island City.
Pictured at right: Luda Spajic with George Heslin, Executive Director of New York Irish Center.
| | | LaGuardia Representative attends State of the District | | | | |
On Monday, November 17, Claudia Chan, LaGuardia's Deputy Director of Government Affairs, attended Senator Kristen Gonzalez's first State of the District event, held at CUNY Law School.
Senator Gonzalez represents District 59, which includes neighborhoods in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn as well as part of LaGuardia Community College. During the event, she highlighted key priorities she is advocating for in Albany––from renewable energy to ensuring local groups and programs have the resources and funding necessary to support the community.
| | Meet Miguel and Tamoy—during their time here at LaGuardia, these two students (and many others!) have benefited from the support of the LaGuardia Community College Foundation. Miguel, who graduated with the LaGuardia Class of 2025, was able to leverage the guidance he received from the Foundation President’s Society and faculty to earn the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for community college students. Meanwhile, Paralegal Studies student Tamoy says assistance from the LaGuardia Foundation has gotten her “closer to her dream of becoming a lawyer.” As we approach CUNY Tuesday on December 2, join us in empowering LaGuardia students by making a donation to the LaGuardia Foundation. 100% of your donation will help students like Miguel and Tamoy access scholarships, career programs, and other critical resources. | | LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | | Looking Back on Resolution 1017-2019 | | | | |
Did you know that in 2019, a resolution was introduced in the New York City Council to make subways and buses fare-free on major holidays, including Thanksgiving?
The resolution, titled Res. 1017-2019, was active from 2019 until 2021, when it was filed, taking it out of the group of legislation being considered and putting it into their archives. But being filed doesn’t mean the idea will die! Justin L. Brannan, the author of this resolution, still serves as Councilmember for the 47th district – maybe it will come up again!
| | LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | | | | The Theater Program, Humanities Department, and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) present Bryna Turner’s At the Wedding, with performances running through November 23. Staged in LPAC’s Little Theater, the production features students from LaGuardia’s Theater program under the direction of 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: 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. | | Celebrate the season at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center with a festive double feature! On Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m., enjoy a one-hour family-friendly performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet School’s Children’s and Youth Ballet program, followed by a visit to Santa’s Toyland, a beloved LPAC tradition for over 20 years. Meet the dancers, snap photos with Santa, and let the kids leave with a special gift. Tickets: $30 General | $25 Faculty/Staff | $15 Students. Purchase tickets here or visit the LPAC website. | | |
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND EFFECTIVENESS
| | The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) has launched a new Data Dictionary. This resource provides the latest definitions/explanations of the key terms used by OIRE and beyond at LaGuardia Community College. The purpose of this dictionary is to have a common and consistent understanding and shared usage of terminology used in reports, dashboards, or presentations that reference institutional data. It is maintained by the OIRE, which regularly reviews and updates the content to reflect the changes in needs and/or operations of the college or CUNY. Therefore, it is important to note that the terms in the dictionary represent current definitions and may be different than prior versions. Where feasible, notes will be made if a term is substantively different than in prior iterations of the data dictionary. The data dictionary will serve as a reference with consistent definitions that everyone at LaGuardia can rely on and use in their reporting. It will also provide an opportunity for discussing and clarifying terms to ensure a common understanding across the college. While this data dictionary aims to be comprehensive, it may not include every possible term. If you’re looking for a term that is not included in the dictionary and/or have questions/concerns about a term, please reach out to our office at ie@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | OIRE Adopts New Email Address | | Professor Hernández Moderates Panel on Ballet in Cuba | | Dr. Ana María Hernández, Education and Language Acquisition professor, moderated a panel discussion on "Ballet in Cuba/Cuba in Ballet" at Symphony Space on November 16. The event, sponsored by the Cuban Cultural Center of New York, honored legendary ballet figures such as Alicia Alonso (formerly from American Ballet Theater and founder of Ballet Nacional de Cuba) as well as choreographers and teachers who shaped new techniques based on Martha Graham, José Limon, Alvin Ailey, Lester Horton, Arthur Mitchell and Ramiro Guerra. Panel participants included distinguished dancers José Manuel Carreño, formerly of the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theater; Ana Lobé, formerly of English National, Cleveland and Mississippi Ballets and founder of Ana Lobé Ballet Academy, and Caridad Martínez, formerly of National Ballet of Cuba, who has served as director, teacher, coach, and adviser to Brooklyn Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem, Ballet Beyond Borders, American Ballet Theater and the Maria Antonieta Berlusconi Dance Foundation in Milan. | | | Students Participate in Bone Health Event | | | | The Women’s Center & LGBTQ + Hub, Sandra Ribeiro, DPT, MSEd from the Physical Therapist Assistant program, and Cynthia Vazquez, MPH, RDN, CDM, CFPP from the Nutrition and Culinary Management Program hosted an event on the physical and nutritional components of bone health on October 30. Students participated in interactive exercises, learned practical strategies for building strong bones, and explored foods essential for bone development—crucial for young adults and preventing osteoporosis. | | 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.
| | | Help Us Improve Brightspace Support | | Faculty are encouraged to fill out this survey regarding their use of Brightspace. The insights and responses from this survey will inform the Brightspace Transition team’s plans for ongoing support. | | 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
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LaGuardia’s Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Hub invites members of the LaGuardia community to attend the following upcoming events:
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Sex Jeopardy, December 2, 1–2 p.m. in E-111: In this Jeopardy-inspired game show, students can showcase their knowledge about human sexuality, answering trivia questions about consent, boundaries, and safe sex.
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Cookies, Cocoa, & Crafts, December 3, 2–5 p.m. in MB-06: Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate and crafts with the folks at the Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Hub in this fun event. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food to donate to LaGuardia CARES at this event.
For more information about programming hosted by the Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Hub, visit their webpage here.
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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
- 11/22, 12 p.m. at Orange County Community College
- 12/2, 7 p.m. vs. Dutchess Community College
Men's Basketball
- 11/22, 2 p.m. at Orange County Community College
- 12/4, 8 p.m. vs. Queensborough Community College
| | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | | | |
- 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 | |
Meet with a TIAA Financial Consultant about Retirement | |
Register for a one-on-one session with a TIAA Financial Consultant to discuss your retirement planning on the following dates:
- Monday, November 24, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – E Building, E-407
- Monday, December 8, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – E Building, E-407
Register 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.
| | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | Adobe Express Available for All Students Beginning Fri., Nov. 21 | | |
CUNY/CIS has announced that they’re provisioning Adobe Express for all students under the new Adobe licensing agreement. After a student receives a “Get Started with Adobe Express” email notification from Adobe (notification@adobe.com), they will be able to use their CUNY Login credentials to access Adobe Express at https://www.adobe.com/express/. LaGuardia students will be able to access Adobe Express starting Friday, November 21.
We will be sending an email to students this week to inform them:
- how they can access Adobe Express once they receive the notification.
- where to find information on its use.
For students whose coursework requires the full Adobe Creative Suite, we will continue the established process in which you submit the student information, and CIS enables the individual student licenses.
To learn more about Adobe Express, please visit:
Note: CUNY is provisioning Adobe Express only for students.
If you have questions, please contact our HelpDesk by submitting an IT HelpDesk ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal https://fsp.laguardia.edu, or by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call 718-482-6134.
| | 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. | | "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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