November 2025

Looks to me as though my calendar gets busier as the days get shorter. Recent weeks illustrate the point.

I was fascinated by Judge Laura Ward’s account of bringing the late mobster John Gotti to justice for murder, racketeering, and other offenses. There was a great turnout of students, faculty, and staff. If you couldn’t attend her October 22 presentation, I highly recommend the video posted above.



Two days later, I had the privilege of presenting a talk—“How I Got to Where I Am and How You Can, Too”—at the Mills Institute at Northeastern University. (The Mills Institute builds on the legacy of Mills College, the pioneering women’s college that merged with Northeastern several years ago.)

Christie Chung, executive director of the Mills Institute, and yours truly in conversation

On the morning of Tuesday, October 28, I cast my election ballot on campus, taking advantage of the fact that QC serves as an early polling place. Today—Tuesday, November 4—is Election Day. If you haven’t already voted, I urge you to do so; polls are open until 9 pm. Not sure where to go? Enter your street address here.

Outstanding students were honored at QC’s annual Academic Excellence Award Ceremony on the evening of October 28. More than 2,400 students earned distinctions as Dean’s List Scholars, Provost Scholars, and Presidential Scholars during the last academic year. Queens College Foundation Member Harris M. Horowitz ’78, formerly managing director-global head of tax and tax policy and innovation leader at BlackRock Inc.—the world’s largest asset manager—gave a memorable keynote. “I still believe that college, and even further education, is critically important and more than worthwhile,” he assured the audience.

During the ceremony, I had the pleasure of presenting the President’s Medal to Harris M. Horowitz ’78.

Special thanks to Taruna D. Sadhoo (Honors and Scholarships/Macaulay Honors College) and colleagues, who worked closely with my office to provide an evening of celebration and recognition for deserving high academic achievers. We are most grateful to the faculty and staff who help guide and mentor students throughout the academic year.

The next day, the latest installment of the Mathematical Discoveries Series—an annual program launched in 2022—featured Lauren K. Williams, a researcher from Harvard University and the Radcliffe Institute and one of this year’s recipients of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship, aka “the genius grant.” I’m delighted that Queens College students have opportunities to hear presentations by world-class scholars.

From left: Scott Wilson (Mathematics), Daniel Weinstein (School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), Lauren K. Williams, Christopher Hanusa (Mathematics)

Generosity is contagious. That’s the story behind the dedication of the Freda and Mehran Soroudi Commons in Rosenthal Library on Wednesday, October 29.

Earlier this year, alumnus Mehran Soroudi saw a story on NY1 about the efforts of Phi Epsilon Pi—a fraternity chapter no longer active on campus—to fund student scholarships. With the participation of his frat brothers, Phi Ep Pi’s Robert Jacobs ’70 set up an endowment. Inspired by this example, Soroudi reached out to Sara Kahan of the Office of Institutional Advancement to make a donation in the names of himself and his late wife, whom he met at Queens College. The gift will help support initiatives for student services and success and career readiness. We’re beyond grateful when QC alumni pay it forward to help deserving students.

Mehran Soroudi held ceremonial scissors, accompanied by family members, Laurie Dorf and Sara Kahan of Institutional Advancement (first and second on left), and me.

Students Ziv Nachshon and Scarlet Adams with Mehran Soroudi and me

On Thursday, October 30, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, New York State Dormitory Authority President Robert D. Rodriguez, New York City Council Member James Gennaro, and CUNY Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Planning and Management Mohamed Attalla joined faculty, student and alumni speakers in cutting the ribbon for the reopening of the wonderfully renovated Gertz Hall, which houses the college’s Speech Language Hearing Center. For many decades, the center has filled two critical needs: It prepares graduate students to become speech language pathologists and provides clinical services to community members with communication disorders. Among other improvements, the renovations created additional space and treatment rooms, enabling the center to remain a nationally recognized, competitive and highly sought-after facility.

From left: Sima Gerber (Linguistics and Communication Disorders); Michael Newman (Linguistics and Communication Disorders); CUNY Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning, Construction and Management Mohamed Attalla; me; Patricia McCaul (Linguistics and Communication Disorders); Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert Rodriguez; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; New York City Council Member James Gennaro

Dressed in their Halloween best, faculty and staff participated in a costume contest presented by Public Safety on October 31 in the Muyskens Conference Room. Congratulations to the winners Ginna Neira (Athletics), Providenza Anteri (Buildings and Grounds), and Nikki Siapno (ITS).

Public Safety’s Hemwatie Seusarran (in black dress) got in the picture with (from left) Ginna Neira, Providenza Anteri, and Nikki Siapno.

Good luck to both our men’s and women’s soccer team in this week’s East Coast Conference (ECC) playoffs. The men’s soccer team finished first in the ECC standings with a record of 12-3-3 (6-0-2 ECC) and will have a bye into the semifinals, which will take place on Saturday, November 8 at 7 pm. QC will host the winner of the University of the District of Columbia and Mercy University match. I hope to see you on the pitch Saturday night supporting our Knights!

Our women’s team finished as the #5 seed in the ECC standings and will travel to Daemen University in Amherst, NY for its first-round match, which will take place on Thursday, November 6 at 4:30 pm. Should they win, the Knights will play in the semifinals on Sunday, November 9 at 1 pm at Mercy University.

You can follow all our athletics teams at queensknights.com/.

Looking ahead to next week, I want to mention and encourage attendance at the fireside chat with New York Law School President and Dean Anthony Crowell on Monday, November 10, 12:30-1:45 pm in the Q-Side Lounge. All students are welcome, regardless of major; a pre-law information session will follow the chat. It promises to be a great presentation and discussion.  

This month’s programming at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) includes Drama, Theatre & Dance’s production of The Bakkhai, billed as “Euripedes’ most subversive play,” November 6-9. Jazz combos Tuba Skinny and Endea Owens & the Cookout will perform at LeFrak Concert Hall on November 8 and 15, respectively. On November 16, the 360 All-Stars, “a supercharged urban circus” featuring acrobatics, basketball, drumming, and more, will make its KCA debut in Colden Auditorium.

Thanksgiving is around the corner. I hope everyone will enjoy the break and spend the holiday with people they care about.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I ask members of the QC community to support the Knights Table in addressing food insecurity among CUNY students. This is especially important in light of the ongoing struggle over food assistance subsidies at the federal level, placing over 40 million Americans entitled to benefits both at risk and in serious jeopardy. Please bring nonperishable food items to the Knights Giving Room in the Student Union Underground on Wednesday, November 19, between 11 am and 3 pm. Donations can also be brought to the Office of Student Development and Leadership (Student Union LL23) from Monday, November 17, through Friday, November 21.

Do continue to have a successful semester. Stay safe and well!