"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. | | Runners and Walkers Participate in Fourth Annual LaGuardia Community Run | | | | About 200 runners and walkers came out for the Fourth Annual LaGuardia Community Run on Sunday October 19. Proceeds from the 5K race will support Finca La Florecita, LaGuardia’s urban farm, which provides fresh produce to the LaGuardia CARES food pantry, and cultivates the next generation of Urban STEM agricultural leaders. If you participated in the race, you can access results and photos here. Participants can bring their race bib to Tacombi—LIC, a Mexican restaurant located nearby at 27-10 43rd Avenue, for a 15% meal discount through the end of this week. The top male runner was Tomasz Wawrzyniak (17:52.61), who has now won the race three times after previously placing first in the 2022 and 2023 runs; the top female runner was Irene Starygina (22:29.51); and the top non-binary runner was Konika Chowdhury (50:23.91). The top finishers in each group also received a $100 gift certificate to Tacombi. | | Since 2009, the National Day on Writing has been observed each October 20 to honor the many ways writing shapes our lives—from text messages and journal entries to essays and poems. This year, LaGuardia celebrated National Day on Writing on October 21 to accommodate the Diwali holiday. Students gathered in the Poolside Café around tables scattered with poetry prompts, colorful markers, and blank bookmarks, ready to explore the written word as a method of self-expression. The event—organized by English Department instructors Anastasia Figuera (Adjunct Lecturer), Deirdre Flood (Lecturer and Journalism Major Program Director), and Dr. Rochelle Spencer (Lecturer)—offered students the opportunity to participate in creative writing activities like blackout poetry, translation poetry, and letters to their future selves. Students also played tabletop games, crafted bookmarks, enjoyed refreshments, and visited tables hosted by the Queens Public Library and the LaGuardia Library. Read about five students at the event here. | | LaGuardia Community College Serves as Venue for Final NYC Mayoral Debate | | The final New York City mayoral debate, held on October 22 at LaGuardia Community College, brought together Independent Andrew Cuomo, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, and Republican Curtis Sliwa for a substantive discussion on the city’s future. President Kenneth Adams welcomed the candidates and the audience in the Mainstage Theater. With early voting set to begin soon, the event served as the candidates’ final opportunity to present their policy priorities before Election Day, offering a comprehensive look at competing paths for New York City’s next chapter. The debate was organized by Spectrum News NY1, and moderated by Errol Louis of Spectrum News NY1, Brian Lehrer of WNYC and Katie Honan of The City. | | | | LaGuardia President Kenneth Adams has been selected for PoliticsNY and amNY’s 2025 Power Players in Education list. The 2025 Power Players in Education list looks to honor the dedicated leaders across New York’s vast education system, featuring presidents of educational institutions, policymakers, nonprofit directors, and others who are involved in shaping New York’s education system. In a brief interview for the list, President Adams discussed the current educational landscape and goals for 2026: “I want to ensure that more students – especially low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented groups – can access higher education via our associate degree programs or workforce training opportunities. I want to build more partnerships with NYC employers so we can offer paid internships to every LaGuardia student who wants one,” he said. | | 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.
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Request a Business Card from the Division of Communications and External Affairs | | | | Do you need a business card? LaGuardia is no longer using an external vendor to print business cards—instead, business cards are now being printed in-house at the Print Shop. If you’d like a business card, please contact your department or division administrator to place an order through the Division of Communications and External Affairs’ (CEA) Project Request Form. CEA will create a LaGuardia-branded business card for you and send it to the Print Shop for printing. | | Fall 2025 Transfer Fair is Today! | | This week is National Transfer Student Week, and LaGuardia is celebrating with a Fall Transfer Fair today. Students are encouraged to attend the Fall Transfer Fair to explore schools and programs after their graduation from LaGuardia. The fair will welcome more than 40 CUNY, SUNY and private institutions and is taking place until 6 p.m. in the E-Building Atrium. Check out a list of schools attending and other upcoming transfer events. | | | Fall 2025 Job and Internship Fair to Take Place October 29 | | | | Mark your calendars! The Fall 2025 Job and Internship Fair is happening on Wednesday, October 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the M-Building Gym. This exciting event connects students directly with employers offering internships, part-time, and full-time opportunities across a wide range of industries. Learn more. | | | | The LaGuardia community is invited to attend the Seventh Annual Hunger Banquet, where students will explore global food insecurity and food justice through guided discussion and role play. This immersive event challenges participants to consider the inequalities in food access both locally and around the world. Lunch will be served to the first 100 attendees. Following the banquet, the Food Day Fair will celebrate community, wellness, and sustainability with hands-on activities and educational booths from programs across the college. Light snacks will be available as you connect with peers, explore food-focused initiatives, and learn how to take action on and off campus. For more information, contact Cynthia Vazquez at cvazquez@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | The FY2026 Tax Levy August 31, 2025 Operating Budgets by department are available for viewing. | | | 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. Book your timeslot here for one of the following dates:
For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.
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2025-2026 College Senate Executive Committee Elections
On Wednesday, October 22 the College Senate held its Executive Committee elections; The following individuals were elected:
- Cristy Bruns, Chair
- Leslie Scamacca, Vice Chair
- Jill Kehoe, Secretary
- Patricia Sokolski, At-large Faculty Representative
- Luke Cardaio, At-large Staff Representative
- Tamoy Bloomfield At-large Student Representative
- Nabina Sambahamphe At-large Student Representative
| | LaGuardia Supports Taste of Sunnyside | | |
On October 12, the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District hosted its 15th Annual Taste of Sunnyside restaurant crawl. In spite of the weather, a sizable crowd attended the event, which included more than 65 participating restaurants. LaGuardia Community College took part, interacting with locals and providing them with LaGuardia news updates.
Pictured at right: Dirk McCall, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines and Luda Spajic (External Affairs).
| | | Assembly Member Claire Valdez Tours LaGuardia | | |
On October 15, Assembly Member Claire Valdez visited LaGuardia Community College to learn more about the College's robust programs and to meet with students, faculty and staff. Assembly Member Valdez represents the 37th Assembly District in Queens––which includes Ridgewood, Woodside, Maspeth, and Long Island City––where LaGuardia is located. During her visit, she observed our EMT Skills Lab Class in action and took a walk through Finca La Florecita where our Student Farm Crew showcased their harvest and introduced her to our new composting system. Before she left, she joined our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on the Greenway, where she enjoyed the vibrant festivities.
Pictured above: Assembly Member Valdez with the La Finca Farm Crew and President Kenneth Adams.
| | Assembly Member Steve Raga New District Office in Woodside | | | | |
On October 17, LaGuardia Community College attended the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Assembly Member Steven Raga's new District Office. Assembly Member Raga represents the 30th Assembly District in Queens––which includes the neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Maspeth, and Jackson Heights–– home to the largest number of LaGuardia students. The event was a celebration with many friends and community groups throughout his district.
Pictured to the left (from left to right): Claudia Chan, Deputy Director for Government Relations, Neily Vera Martinez, Legislative and Budget Director for Council Member Julie Won and Assembly Member Steven Raga
| | LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | | Archives' Director of Public History Programs to Receive Distinguished Alumni Award from Gettysburg College History Department | | The Archives' Director of Public History Programs, Dr. Stephen Petrus, will receive the Gettysburg College History Department Distinguished Alumni Award on October 28. This award is given to outstanding alumni of Gettysburg College, a liberal arts college in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Petrus will deliver a public lecture, titled "Where Have All the Protest Songs Gone?" He will also meet with students to discuss careers related to history. Dr. Petrus graduated from Gettysburg with a double major in history and philosophy; he later went on to earn a PhD in history at the CUNY Graduate Center. The award committee recognized his work in particular at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives as a co-curator of six exhibits on New York City LGBTQ+ history. Congratulations, Dr. Petrus! | | | LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | | The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Rough Draft Festival, which will run from March 9–21, 2026. For over two decades, the festival has championed bold, original voices shaping the future of theater. Playwrights and theater-makers are invited to submit works-in-progress for development and public presentation at LPAC––one of New York City’s most dynamic incubators for new performance. Selected artists receive up to ten hours of rehearsal space prior to technical rehearsals, along with seven hours of tech time with LPAC’s professional crew. Each project will be awarded a development budget of up to $3,000, determined in consultation with LPAC staff. Artists will also benefit from marketing and press support, full venue services (including front-of-house and box-office staff), and a public presentation in LPAC’s professional performance spaces. Applications are open through November 20, 2025. Learn more about the festival and how to apply here. | | This Saturday, October 25, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., LPAC’s Little Theater will be the site of a benefit concert and performance series centered on reproductive justice and abortion access. My Body, My Voice: A Night of Performance and Activism, presented in partnership Bechdel Project, will feature original songs by singer-songwriters and musical theatre artists, the New York City premiere of The Pavement Kingdom: a clinic escort play, and a panel discussion on reproductive justice. Based on playwright Courtney Bailey's volunteer experience at Planned Parenthood, Pavement Kingdom follows “Charon,” a clinic escort in the Midwest who helps patients safely navigate past protestors while using her solitary time in the “pavement kingdom” to work on her comedy routine. Proceeds will benefit The Brigid Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to abortion care. Tickets are available on a sliding scale and can be reserved here. | | Careers in Engineering Program Helps Students Network and Navigate Job Search | | LaGuardia’s Careers in Engineering program has hosted a handful of events for Engineering students at LaGuardia to network with industry experts and learn more about job opportunities in their field. On September 18, about 60 students attended a Welcome Back Mixer, featuring a panel of CIE student ambassadors who shared their transformative internship experiences: Melanie Choca Moreno, Zane Avan, Scott Atlixqueno, and Lorens Cardenas. Melanie and Zane conducted summer research at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Scott Atlixqueno had internship at DJ Fix, and Lorens Cardenas at IfMagic. More recently, on October 8, about 40 students attended a Career Talk with Bob Catell, former chairman and chief executive officer of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Energy Delivery. During his talk, Mr. Catell shared insights from his career spanning more than 30 years in utilities engineering and executive leadership, emphasizing the importance of communication and compassion as a manager. | | LaGuardia Community Invited to Upcoming Global and Experiential Learning Events | | |
Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend upcoming events hosted by the LaGuardia’s Office of Global and Experiential Learning:
| | | 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.
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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
| | | Students Learn about Careers in Cybersecurity at CTEA Summit | | LaGuardia’s Career and Technical Education Assistance (CTEA) Center hosted a Cybersecurity Summit at LaGuardia on October 16 in the second floor atrium of the C-Building. The summit, which aimed to help students learn more about careers in cybersecurity, featured a series of talks, panels, and activities for students to network with and hear firsthand accounts from industry experts. LaGuardia CIO Wayne Levy kicked off the summit with opening remarks, followed by a keynote address from Angie Woodruff of JetBlue. In her address, Woodruff detailed her career path in cybersecurity, later answering questions and offering advice to students. Following Woodruff’s keynote address, students heard from a series of additional speakers: Simon Maycock (the Mets), Geraldine Okan (the Cyber Thriver), Clayton Banks (Silicon Harlem) Jordyn Casal (ConEdison) spoke in a panel on career paths in cybersecurity, while Essence Warner (Live Nation) and Fatou S (My Datacation) spoke about the future of the industry. | | SOAR and Elemezzi Internship Applications are Available Now | | | | The SOAR Experiential Learning Program and the Elmezzi Career Fellows Program are now accepting applications for Spring 2026 internships. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and apply classroom learning in professional settings. Students must apply online by December 15, 2025. | | Meet the Coaches: Jarrett Lockhart, Head Coach, Men’s Basketball | | |
Now in his fourth season as Head Coach of LaGuardia’s Men’s Basketball program, Jarrett Lockhart has quickly established himself as a transformative leader for the Red Hawks program. In 2023-24, Lockhart made history by producing LaGuardia’s first-ever All-American, Arthur Dukes, who was named to the NJCAA 1st Team after leading the nation in scoring with 30.9 points per game. Dukes was also honored as CUNY and Region XV Player of the Year, a testament to Lockhart’s ability to elevate talent and mentor student-athletes both on and off the court.
Learn more about the other coaches leading our student-athletes here.
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LaGuardia CC Red Hawks 1 - 1 Dutchess CC Falcons
The LaGuardia Men’s Soccer Team closed out their season with a draw on October 16 in a game against the Dutchess CC Falcons at their home field on Roosevelt Island, Jack McManus Field. The ball went to the Falcons from the opening kick-off. Throughout the first half, both teams fought to dominate possession and create scoring chances, and they were evenly matched. Dutchess took nine shots, putting three on target, and LaGuardia took seven shots, with four of them requiring a save from the Falcons goalkeeper.
| | The Red Hawks struggled defending corners all season, and they conceded the first goal of the game from a corner kick. During the halftime break, LaGuardia Community College Athletic Director, Marquee Poole, presented a poster and a soccer ball to sophomore Red Hawks defender, Luiz Fernando Cardoso, to celebrate and recognize his contributions to the team, the athletics program, and the LaGuardia community as a whole. Cardoso completed two full seasons with the Red Hawks, playing a variety of positions all over the pitch. He brought many positive qualities to the team; leadership, flair, toughness, and competitive spirit. LaGuardia will certainly miss having him in the selection next season. The Red Hawks returned to the field fired up and ready at the start of the second half. Left winger, Edwin Sherpa, caused a lot of trouble for the Dutchess defenders. A cross from the left side fell to Red Hawks center midfielder, Youssef Elsayed, and he guided the ball past the Dutchess goalkeeper and into the net with a sweet side-foot volley. The game finished 1 - 1, with the Red Hawks ending their with a record of 2-8-2. | | |
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. Check the Athletics website for full schedules:
Women's Volleyball
- 10/25, 12 p.m., at Dutchess CC
- 10/25, 1:30 p.m., at Orange CC
| | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | | Benefits Fair and Free Flu Shots on October 29 | | Come learn about your benefits on October 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the E-Building atrium. It’s a buffet style presentation where we will have tables manned by the actual vendors that provide your benefits, and you can pick and choose what you consume. All LaGuardia employees are welcome! Also at the fair, we will be providing free flu shots through our partner, Affiliated Physicians (AP). AP will have a table at our Benefits Fair where you will receive your shot. Please register through AP's website here. | |
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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 3, 2025 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – E Building, E-407
- 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) | | 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 Week Three: Update Your Software | | |
Updates often include critical security patches that protect your devices, apps, and accounts against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Helpful Update Tips
- Turn on automatic updates on your operating system and apps.
- Restart devices regularly so updates can finish installing.
- Leave your computer on when you leave campus for the day or step away. Don’t turn it off. CUNY and vendors regularly release updates automatically integrated into our system.
- Manually lock your screen using Ctrl + Alt + Delete to maintain security and restrict access.
- By leaving your computer on, it’s automatically updated at night so your PC will operate at peak efficiency when you logon.
For help with updates, contact our HelpDesk by submitting an IT HelpDesk ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal, or by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call (718) 482-6134.
Our emails and supporting information are available from the National Cyber Security Awareness Month page on the CUNY web site. For more information and helpful password resources and tips, refer to your IT Update email dated October 15. 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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