Discimus ut serviamus: We learn so that we may serve.

QView #217 | November 25

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), which can draw, write, and create other kinds of content, introduces both challenges and opportunities for higher education. The Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership (CETLL) explored ways faculty can approach generative AI in a showcase on November 14. A faculty roundtable was followed by breakout sessions; attendees were encouraged to bring course materials for workshopping and discussion.

From left: Professional Practice & Community Partnerships Director Anne Ebe, Education Dean Bobbie Kabuto, Internationals Network for Public Schools Executive Director Lara Evangelista, Superintendent for Consortium, International, and Outward Bound High Schools Alan Cheng, President Frank H. Wu, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management Vivek Upadhyay, Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson, Assistant Vice President for External and Governmental Relations Jeffrey Rosenstock

Alan Cheng, superintendent for Consortium, International, and Outward Bound high schools, swung by campus on Monday, November 17, with a citywide district colleague. Discussions with senior administrators included mutual interests and potential collaborations in order to effectively educate immigrant students and children of immigrants.  

Laura Abrams, President Frank H. Wu

Friends and colleagues gathered at the Q-Side Lounge on Tuesday, November 18, for a sendoff for Laura Abrams, senior director of Alumni Relations, who is retiring. “Laura worked tirelessly in collaboration with many of the college departments to bring alumni and students together,” says Laurie Dorf, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the Queens College Foundation. “She established the ASK program (Alumni Sharing Knowledge), where alumni provided mentorship to our students. In addition, Laura started the At Home with Queens College program bringing faculty speakers to meet with alumni via Zoom over the years. We will all miss Laura, but we know her programs will remain staples at the college.”

The Q-Side Lounge has undergone a makeover and was reopened on Wednesday, November 19, as the Piano Lounge, aka the Faculty and Staff Dining Room. Open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 am to 2 pm, the facility has a lunch menu with gluten-free, halal, kosher, and vegan selections. Diners will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis—no reservations needed.

From left: Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson, Psychology Chair Jeff Beeler, Mathematics and Natural Sciences Dean Daniel Weinstein, Assistant Vice President for Budget and Finance Joseph Loughren, Procurement Director Allena Aikens, QC Eats Manager Maria Vasquez, President Frank H. Wu, Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs Maria DeLongoria, Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Information Officer Troy J. Hahn, Interim Assistant Vice President for Facilities Denese McFarlane

President Frank H. Wu getting vaccinated by Terri Calhoun

Annual flu vaccinations are recommended for almost everyone aged six months and older—particularly for people at higher risk of developing complications. President Frank H. Wu visited the campus Health Services Center on November 19, when nurse Terri Calhoun gave him a flu shot.

“Free stuff” was the order of Resident Appreciation Day, November 19, at the Summit Apartments. President Frank H. Wu was part of a team that gave out toiletries.

QC neuroscience major Rachel Pakan, recipient of a Belle Zeller Scholarship for 2025-26, met with (in photo above from left) President Frank H. Wu, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sean Pierce, and Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson on November 19. The scholarship honors the memory of Zeller, a prominent political science professor and scholar at Brooklyn College who led the faculty organization that became the Professional Staff Congress-CUNY and served as that union’s founding president.

From left: Dean of Students Dwayne Jones, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sean Pierce, President Frank H. Wu, Women's Basketball Head Coach Travis Ponton, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Thomas Bashen

QC’s newest Knight, women’s basketball coach Travis Ponton, joined President Frank H. Wu and others for coffee on Thursday, November 20.

From left: Jeffrey Rosenstock, assistant vice president for External and Governmental Relations; Liza Marquez, director for External and Governmental Relations; President Frank H. Wu; Assembly Member Steven Raga; Jamey Battle, legislative director/press secretary for Assembly Member Raga

Assembly Member Steven Raga from Queens stopped by campus on November 20 to speak to an urban studies class led by James Vacca. He also spoke with college officials about campus facility needs.   

Kylynn White Named ECC Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year; New Women’s Basketball Coach Gets First Victory

Queens College freshman Kylynn White has been selected as the East Coast Conference (ECC) Women’s Volleyball Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team.

White, a setter from Chicago, Illinois, had an outstanding freshman season. She led the Knights in kills per set (2.79), assists (3.92 per set), and was first in the conference in service aces (58). She also ranked tenth in the country in aces and third in triple-doubles.

In other Knights’ news, the men’s basketball team won its only contest of the week in dramatic fashion. Trailing by one point to Lincoln University with just 18 seconds remaining, the Knights got a lay-up from Tahj-Malik Campbell which put them ahead for good. QC went on to win 62-60.

The women’s basketball team went 1-1 last week, earning a 57-44 victory over the University of Bridgeport last Saturday. It was the first win for first-year Women’s Basketball Head Coach Travis Ponton.

This week, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will take on Adelphi University on Tuesday. The men’s team will host the Panthers at 5 pm, while the women’s team will visit Adelphi at 5:30 pm. Over the weekend, the women’s team will host the Knights Thanksgiving Invitational. They take on Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at 1 pm and St. Anselm College on Sunday at 3 pm. Also on Sunday, the men’s basketball team travels to Massachusetts to take on Assumption University at 3:30 pm.

For the latest Knights’ news, visit queensknights.com/.

The Circus Came to Colden Auditorium

360 All Stars—a “supercharged urban circus” combining standout performers from sports and street culture—made its Kupferberg Center for the Arts debut earlier this month. More than 3,200 families, students, and teachers enjoyed the show across two days, with a family performance on Sunday, November 16, and a schooltime performance the following Monday. For the benefit of those who couldn’t attend, here’s a recap.

Transgender Day of Remembrance on and off Campus

LGBTQIAA+ Programs at Queens College, in partnership with the Queens College Gender, Love and Sexuality Alliance, organized a candlelight vigil on November 20 to honor transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people lost to hate, violence, and suicide. After a solemn candlelit march from the flagpole to the fountain, students read the names of the victims. The vigil ended with a poem, and parting thoughts.

The previous day, LGBTQIAA+ Programs organized a group of students to attend Queens Borough President Donovan Richards’ Transgender Day of Remembrance event at Queens Borough Hall. Queens College senior Artemis Lew (he/him) was the featured youth speaker. Queens College Admissions was also in attendance.

Choral Society To Perform Ellington  

The Queens College Choral Society (QCCS) will present Duke Ellington’s The Best of the Sacred Concerts on December 14 at 4 pm in Colden Auditorium. For this, its 85th annual winter concert, the QCCS will be joined by an ensemble of musicians from the Louis Armstrong House Museum (LAHM), led by Bruce Harris, artistic director of programs, and students from the Aaron Copland School of Music’s jazz program. The concert, conducted by James John, will feature tap dancer Marshall Davis Jr., a member of the QC faculty who has appeared on and off Broadway; narrator Randall Keith Horton, a QC alumnus who served as Ellington’s conducting and composing assistant; and vocal soloists Maya Raisha, Briana Swann, and C. Anthony Bryant.

Tickets may be purchased here. Students with QCID and anyone below the age of 18 can purchase tickets for $7 at the box office or online (click the seating map for this option).

Ellington wrote three Sacred Concerts in the last decade of his life, drawing on spirituals, jazz, blues, and other genres to create moving, nondenominational music. He conducted the premiere of each work. As the title implies, The Best of the Sacred Concerts is a compilation published and performed separately. 

QCCS is a community-, faculty-, and student-based oratorio society affiliated with the Aaron Copland School of Music, with a diverse membership that welcomes all.

Political Science Department Lobby Sports a New Look

The Political Science Department lobby has gotten a makeover recently thanks to Professor Yan Sun. Sun oversaw renovations of the lobby in Powdermaker 200 that included a new sofa, tables, artwork, charging stations for laptops and iPhones, and a collection of framed pictures that highlight successful Queens College political science alumni.

Students who walk through the halls of the Political Science Department can now see framed pictures of previous QC students, from all walks of life, who went on to have an impactful career in political science. Sun—whose research specializes in Chinese politics, Asian politics, ethnic politics, and political corruption—obtained a donation from a family member to help fund the improvements to the lobby. She curated and organized the project as a way to promote the major to students and to make the department lobby welcoming for them.

“We have experienced declines in majors, so we have to think of ways to increase interest. Because of demographic changes in the student population, today we have more students from immigrant backgrounds and a lot of them want to major in ‘safe’ disciplines—skills,” explained Sun. “That’s very understandable. But of course, there are also kids interested in politics. We’re trying to show that if you’re interested, there are many ways to have a striving career in political science.”

The Political Science Department has a long and rich history, with successful alumni from a wide range of professions that attest to the versatility of a political science degree: executive directors of non-profit organizations, partners in law firms, CEOs of large corporations, and even elected officials. Mojgan Lancman, New York State Supreme Court judge; Adriano Espaillat, a U.S Congressman; and Ester Fuchs, a prominent professor at Columbia, are just a few examples of alumni who found success in various fields after earning a political science degree at QC. Their photos now adorn the walls of the Political Science Department along with many others.  

Sun plans to continue to add graduates as time goes on, and she is focused on highlighting a diverse group of graduates, in regard to both their professions and their backgrounds.

“I thought about picking out our successful alums in different areas, added Sun. "So when students are walking, they can get some inspiration.”

Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to visit the Political Science Department at any time to view the exhibit.

Next Stage in Julia del Palacio’s Career

Julia del Palacio, associate dean of the School of Arts and director of strategic partnerships and development at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, has been appointed executive director of Queens Theatre, as reported in the Queens Chronicle.

A Mexico City native, del Palacio is a professional performer of Mexican folk dance and co-founder of ensemble Radio Jarocho, which specializes in the music and dance of southern Veracruz. She has toured internationally, led large-scale cultural events, and curated festivals. She holds a PhD in Latin American history from Columbia University.

“I am honored to join an institution that has long championed artists, welcomed families, and created inclusive spaces for creativity and connection,” said del Palacio.

“Julia brings an extraordinary blend of artistic vision, strategic expertise, and deep commitment to Queens’ cultural ecosystem,” said Gary Kesner, president of Queens Theatre’s board. “Her leadership across higher education, the nonprofit arts sector, and community partnership-building is exactly what Queens Theatre needs in this next chapter.”

“Julia has been an extraordinary leader whose impact on Queens College and the School of Arts will be felt for years to come,” said Arts and Humanities Dean Simone Yearwood. “Her steadfast optimism, strategic insight, and commitment to student success have shaped signature efforts including the Arts Leadership Bootcamp, our collaboration with NYC Queens Park, and the Writing Series. While we will miss her greatly, we celebrate this next step in her career and wish her every success in her new role.”

Design Students Wanted

The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is accepting applications for its fifth annual Hazel Siegel Student Scholarship. Honoring the memory of a renowned textile designer, educator, and chapter member, the scholarship covers all expenses of a three-day trip to IIDA’s SHIFT Conference in Dallas, Texas, February 11-13, 2026. Attendees will be able to participate in firm and project tours, portfolio reviews, mock interviews with practicing professionals, an industry expo, continuing education sessions, and a wide range of networking opportunities. In addition, winners will receive a one-year student membership to IIDA NY.

The scholarship is open to currently enrolled New York State undergraduate and graduate interior design students in good academic standing. Candidates must be available to participate in the SHIFT Conference. Applications are due by Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:59 pm. For more information and access to the application form.

Get Ready for Winter

Students can make progress toward their degree this winter. Running January 2 to 23, Winter Session offers undergraduate and graduate courses in online and hybrid formats. Don’t be left out in the cold! For more information, click here. 

Graduate students Yea Lin Lee and Francesca D'Arista were awarded 2025-2026 Jacqueline Schiller Scholarships. A high school English teacher, Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education. She plans to finish her master’s in English and continue her higher education journey in an MFA or PhD program. D'Arista is pursuing a dual master’s in library science and history and an advanced certificate in archives. Currently working as an archives intern at CENTRO, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, they were previously an inclusive collection development intern at the CUNY Graduate Center's Mina Rees Library. D’Arista holds a BA in comparative literature with concentrations in Africana and Latin@/e/x Studies . . . .

Khaleel Anderson

Amir Khafagy

Zach Reyes

Three QC graduates have been named to CUNY’s “50 Under 50” list CUNY Announces 2025 50 Under 50 Alumni – The City University of New York of outstanding alumni for 2025: Khaleel Anderson ’19, New York State Assembly Member representing District 31; Amir Khafagy ’18, senior labor reporter for Documented; and Zach Reyes ’20, lead designer for streetwear brand Only NY. . . . . Vice President for Communications and Marketing and Senior Advisor to the President Jay Hershenson will present “CUNY 101: Behind the Scenes” on Thursday, December 4 at 4 pm over Zoom through At Home with Queens College. Hershenson will discuss CUNY’s origins, the fiscal crisis of the 1970s, and the real story of the current CUNY state law. Register for the talk here