In 2023, CUNY broke records, lifted our city in creative new ways and launched ambitious plans to reimagine our University. Here’s a look back at all we’ve accomplished together in the past 12 months.

This student’s film about the Champion Pizza chain, and the Turkish immigrant who created it, was screened at the DOC NYC Film Festival.

She rose from poverty in Cuba to renown as a decorated composer, and her impact was amplified by her commitment to public higher education. This distinguished CUNY professor emerita recounted memories of her journey at a recent celebration of her work.

This CUNY’s new Byllye Avery Sexual and Reproductive Justice Professorship — the nation’s first endowed professorship of its kind — is named for the pioneering women’s health advocate. Avery was joined by other noted activists Loretta Ross and Gloria Steinem at the launch event, which included a discussion moderated by Chelsea Clinton.

It was a memorable day for this CUNY’s newly minted grads, who received their diplomas along with some solid reassurance from one of our better-known TV news hosts and commentators.

WATCH: The State Ballet of Ukraine came to this CUNY to perform Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday season suite.

LISTEN: This dynamic dean discusses AI’s potential to change lives and explains what snow plows have to do with succeeding at work.

This two-time CUNY alum has been nominated to serve as the first Muslim-American president of the New York City Bar Association.

Applications are open for the Belle Zeller Scholarship, which rewards undergrads and grad students for their commitment to community service and academic achievement. Deadline to apply is Feb. 24.

Have an interesting story or perspective to share? Submit a guest post for consideration to CUNYverse, our online student platform!

International Radio & Television Society Foundation: Summer Fellow (Jan. 15)

Ogilvy: Summer Internship (Jan. 23)

Ford Foundation: Summer Internship (Jan. 26)

TheDream.US: Scholarship (Feb 29; for undocumented students)

Council on Foreign Relations: Education and Marketing Internship

MoMA PS1: Digital Marketing and Media Fellow

United Nations: Communications Internship

Tiffany & Co.: Global Public Relations Summer Internship

LVMH: 2024 Summer Internship Cohort

Red Bull: Part-Time Student Marketeer - Brooklyn College

First-years flaunt their hard work! 📋

Ezio Watts, who has an associate degree from BMCC and is currently studying international relations at Baruch, credits CUNY with preparing him to succeed in the workplace as well as the classroom. At BMCC, he was involved in the Goldman Sachs Local College Collaborative, a program designed to help students build leadership, career and critical thinking skills. Through that program, Ezio made connections that helped him land a position at Microsoft, where he used AI and other technology tools to solve workplace problems related to education, security and finance. He currently manages a showroom at Fermob USA, the North American branch of the French furniture company.

What do you love about CUNY?

“CUNY is a place that makes everyone feel welcome. Being a non-native English speaker, the knowledge I acquired helped me overcome all my fears related to the English language, communication skills and the professional environment. My experience at CUNY helped me with amazing internship opportunities.”

What can current students do to grow professionally?

“Patience and organization are the keys to success. Also, learning to deal with challenges and failures allows us the opportunity to grow stronger.”

Connect with Ezio on LinkedIn!

She’s NYC’s first-ever Albanian judge! 🇦🇱