November 1, 2021

Faculty Awards 2021

Presidential Faculty Award for Diversity and Inclusion (New this year)

Schiro Withanachchi Lecturer, Economics; director of BALA Withanachchi holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University, an MBA in Decision Sciences from St. John’s University, and a doctorate in Business from Baruch College. After an early career with Lockheed Martin (Aircraft) Corporation, she transitioned to higher education. Her extensive experience in living and working overseas has made her an authority on international business and learning, equipping her to lead Collaborative Online International Learning on campus through the Stevens Initiative. A compassionate educator, she connects students to internships required in their programs and gives classes assignments designed to help students prepare for real-world interviews.

Excellence in Teaching Awards

School of Arts and Humanities

Mariana Zinni Associate professor, Hispanic Languages and Literatures Zinni, who earned her doctorate and MA from University of Pittsburgh, teaches a broad range of classes at Queens College and The Graduate Center and serves as her department’s undergraduate and major advisor. Fellow faculty members describe her as the kind of professor who changes the world: an excellent colleague, a great administrator, a serious and prolific researcher, and a dedicated and innovative educator. Students praise her for teaching a tremendous variety of courses and making herself available to discuss any matter. “Professor Zinni has inspired me through my career in Hispanic Languages and Literatures,” said one student, one of several who cited her for inspiring them to pursue advanced degrees. “She is amazing,” wrote another student.

Marcella Mandracchia Adjunct assistant professor, Linguistics and Communication Disorders; UTR supervisor Mandracchia received her doctorate in Instructional Leadership from St. John's University's Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership in 2015. A Queens College faculty member since 2017, she teaches courses in TESOL and supervises student teachers. She won raves from students for making TESOL education accessible, enjoyable, and inspiring. One student wrote that “Dr. Mandracchia has provided an informative and rigorous learning experience that not only has been applicable to my full-time teaching position, but also toward my character as well.” Another noted that “she is the most intelligent professor I have had with a sense of humor that allows learning to become easier. Work becomes an experience that will stay with me and I will carry into my own classroom.”

School of Education

Jacqueline Darvin Professor, Secondary Literacy Education; deputy chair, director of 5-12 Literacy Program Now in her thirtieth year as an educator, Darvin is pursuing an advanced degree in Educational Leadership and credentials as a New York State School District Leader. Before becoming a QC professor, she taught middle and high school English for twelve years, gaining insights that she shares with peers and students. Colleagues credit her for the national recognition accorded the literacy program and—at a time of increased reliance on remote platforms—her excellent ideas for online teaching. “Jackie inspires me and the students in the literacy program every day,” noted one faculty member. A student wrote that “she has played a large role in my newfound understanding of literacy at the secondary level, the founding principles of a research-backed literacy program, and the relationship-building that needs to happen in a school in order to carry out a successful literacy program.”

Deborah Gruber Adjunct assistant professor, Educational and Community Programs Gruber holds a doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis and a Master’s in Education and Special Education. She has been working in the fields of education and applied behavior analysis (ABA) for over 30 years and has practiced yoga for 20 years. Her completed research includes teaching yoga to young children with developmental delays with teachers in the school environment and parents in the home. Her dedication is evident to her students. One observed that she is “very knowledgeable and passionate about ABA and special education. Her passion makes her classes engaging. She provides interesting and useful resources and research to explore. She has gotten to know each one of her students and it is clear that she cares about everyone.”

School of Mathematics & Natural Sciences

Scott Wilson Professor, Mathematics Wilson, who specializes in topology and geometry, is the graduate advisor for the department’s master’s program and a member of the doctoral faculty at the Graduate Center, CUNY. He completed his doctorate at Stony Brook and went to Minnesota for his post-doc. At Queens College, he has taught everything from 100-level undergraduate courses to 700-level master’s courses. He has advised several undergraduates on independent study courses on topics related to topology and algebra, and mentored independent research for students who made presentations at undergraduate mathematics conferences. “Professor Wilson made me realize that mathematics is beautiful, it is an art, and a language that anyone willing to put in the required work, energy and persistence can eventually get to not only understand, but even fall in love with,” commented one student. “He challenged us, made us appreciate mathematics, and was always there to help us and guide us.”

Akina Nakayama Adjunct lecturer, Mathematics A New York State-certified math teacher for grades 7-12, Nakayama taught high school math for seven years and is currently enrolled in the post-master’s School Building Leadership program. She plans to pursue her administrator license to become a school building principal with the Department of Education. Queens College students describe her as empathic, patient, and effective—traits that allow her to reach everyone, including individuals with math phobia. One student recalled that “she has made online teaching extremely organized and manageable especially for a math class. I personally was afraid of the course because I feel that math can be difficult to learn online. But the professor’s confidence and passion for the material has truly changed my perspective on the course.” An alumna herself, Nakayama came to Queens as an international student, entering the TIME2000 math teaching program after faculty saw her talent for the subject.

School of Social Sciences

James Vacca Distinguished lecturer, Urban Studies Vacca had a long career in public service and spent 12 years on the New York City Council, representing a district including Throgs Neck and other east and central Bronx communities. He holds a Master’s in Urban Studies from Queens College and is a faculty advisor to the Urban Studies Club. Students said that his energy makes Zoom sessions feel like in-person classes. Many noted that he combines thorough knowledge of his subject with true kindness, routinely providing grocery store gift cards to individuals he knew to be struggling. A student who received emergency funding as well as help for day-to-day expenses credits Vacca with saving his life. “At the beginning of the pandemic, I still had to go out to work to make ends meet,” the student wrote. “I lacked a secure safety net to ease the impact of COVID-19 on my studies and mental health. I did not even have to ask. James went out of his way to make sure I was safe and secure.”

Chihiro Shibata Adjunct lecturer, Anthropology A doctoral candidate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Shibata is conducting the first long-term study of cooperative behaviors and body-size implications in golden-handed tamarins in Suriname. At Queens College, she has impressed colleagues with her attention to minutia others might overlook. A faculty member commended her for remembering details about every student, even in a class of 50 or more. Students with special needs get special attention. “Because of my blindness, I had many concerns,” one student commented. “Learning about evolution requires heavily visual learning, such as graphs and pictures, which is a major challenge for me. Professor Shibata kindly sensed my difficulties and decided to invite me to the lab, so that I can experience primates and human skeletons tangibly. From this experience, the world was no longer just a verbal description for me, but it became a rich, multiple sensory reality.”

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