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"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.
"Campus Update" will be published every other week during the summer of 2025. Publication dates will be July 9, July 23, August 6, and August 20, after which the newsletter will resume weekly publication.
| | 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. | | LaGuardia Hosts Annual CRSP Symposium Showcasing Student Research | | Today, LaGuardia hosted the annual CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP) Symposium, where more than 170 associate degree-seeking students from across CUNY presented their original research projects. The event marked the conclusion of their year-long participation in the program. Presented by the CUNY Office of Research and supported by the City of New York, the symposium provided students with an opportunity to share their work with peers, faculty, and guests. Joianne Bittle (LaGuardia ’25, Environmental Science: Animal Sciences) delivered a featured presentation on her project, “Morphology, Microscopy and Mapping the Spider Genus Zelanda (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)” which combined microscopy, AI mapping, and imaging software to study ground spiders, under the guidance of Professor Boris Zakharov (Natural Sciences). Awards will be presented to students for outstanding poster and oral presentations later this afternoon. Dr. Roman Senkov (Natural Sciences) and Dr. Nathan Hosannah (MEC), co-directors of CRSP at LaGuardia, played key roles in organizing and hosting the event. | | | | On June 30, El Diario NY—one of the most widely read Spanish-language news outlets in the U.S.— featured Miguel Posada Perez (’25, Mechanical Engineering), whose journey from Colombia to the U.S. in pursuit of higher education was nearly cut short by a serious medical crisis. In Spring 2023, Miguel experienced a sudden allergic reaction while on campus. He sought help from LaGuardia’s Health Services, where staff called an ambulance. At the hospital, Miguel was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome—a rare and potentially life-threatening immune-related condition. Miguel spent several months recovering while remaining committed to his studies. He was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Currently, he is considering transfer options at the University of Rochester and the University of Virginia, with plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research in biomedical, environmental, and power systems engineering. Read the full article in Spanish here. | | LaGuardia’s Fine Arts program is in the spotlight in a July 8 Gothamist/WNYC article. Reporter Hannah Frishberg attributes a surge in applicants to Fine Arts programs across New York City to a growing desire among young adults to reconnect with the physical world amid digital fatigue and concerns about the rise of AI. Dahlia Elsayed, director of LaGuardia’s Fine Arts program, shares the diverse career paths available in the field, noting that recent graduates have opened art supply stores and work as tattoo artists or high-school art teachers. “There are ways to make a life that is still rooted in creative work,” she says. “They’re all still making art, but they’re also making money. Having a creative life exists beyond a studio practice.” The article also underscores the affordability of LaGuardia’s program compared to other institutions. | | CCPD Celebrates 179 Student Participants in SOAR Internship Program | | The Center for Career and Professional Development recently hosted its third SOAR Recognition Ceremony, celebrating and closing out the accomplishments of students who participated in the SOAR program this year. A total of 179 students participated in paid internships through the SOAR internship program, gaining valuable hands-on experience while making an impact in their fields of study. Students interned at more than 75 different sites, completed monthly professional development training, and regularly met with their assigned advisors. These experiences strengthened their professional skills, increased their career readiness, and deepened their commitment to serving their communities. The SOAR Internship Program is a highly competitive 12-week experience, generously supported by the LaGuardia Foundation and the Elmezzi Foundation. Students gain hands-on experience at community-based organizations, government agencies, and businesses of all sizes, while taking meaningful steps toward their career goals. | | LaGuardia has relaunched its Alumni Association to empower all LaGuardia graduates through a strong network of support, resources, and opportunities. Membership in the LaGuardia Alumni Association is free and offers guidance and tools to help alumni navigate the professional world and fosters a spirit of community by encouraging alumni to give back through volunteer efforts that support current students and college initiatives. By signing up, alumni members will receive a monthly newsletter, which includes news and updates about their alma mater. LaGuardia alumni are encouraged to share their story at alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. To volunteer and get involved, call the Communications and External Affairs Division at (718) 482-5583. Visit the Alumni Association page to learn more about your benefits and how to get involved. | | | LaGuardia Partners With Climb Together to Offer AI Career Coach Goldi | | | | LaGuardia Community College has partnered with Climb Together to pilot Goldi, an AI career coach that helps you tap into the 70% of jobs never publicly posted. Students and alumni can learn to connect authentically with other alumni, navigate career conversations effectively, and build lasting professional relationships that open doors to referrals and job opportunities. Start talking with Goldi today! | | Reserve Your Parking Pass for the Upcoming Academic Year | | Beginning Monday, July 28, you can RSVP for an Annual 2025-2026 or Fall I 2025 parking pass via TicketLeap (click here for Annual 2025-2026 passes; click here for Fall I 2025 passes). Once you have “reserved” a permit, use your TicketLeap Confirmation Number to complete the Parking Application, along with personal and vehicle information. Completed Applications and payment can be submitted in person Tuesday, July 29 through Thursday, July 31 at the Bursar’s Window (C-110) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. After your payment has been submitted, you will receive an email from no-reply@billing.metropolis.io; you must click the link to “claim” your parking permit with the lot operator, Metropolis. Annual 2025-2026 permits are $500 and are effective August 28, 2025 through August 26, 2026. Fall I 2025 permits are $242 and effective August 28 through December 26, 2025. If you have any questions, please email financeoffice@lagcc.cuny.edu or bursar@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | | College Closed on Fridays Through August 22 | | | | As a reminder, LaGuardia is participating in CUNY’s Summer Four-Day Workweek Program, which remains in effect through August 22. Until then, campus will be closed on Fridays; please keep the adjusted summer schedule in mind, and be sure to check individual office hours when seeking assistance from your colleagues in other departments and divisions. | | Brightspace Training Available | | LaGuardia will start using Brightspace in the Fall 2025. Ongoing training is available, and a full schedule can be found here. Students will start receiving communication about Brightspace before the end of the Spring term and in advance of the Fall. For more information, visit LaGuardia's Brightspace webpage or email the transition team at BrightspaceTeam@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | | | | The FY2026 Tax Levy Start-up, July 1, 2025, Operating Budgets by the department are available for viewing. | | LaGuardia Joins TLC’s Van Hailin Resource Fair at the Williamsburg Community Center | | |
Luda Spajic, a member of the LaGuardia External Affairs team, attended the Van Hailin Resource Fair at the Williamsburg Community Center on June 27. The Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) collaborated with NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez to organize the event. Several government agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare providers came together for the annual fair to support TLC drivers, share resources, and offer services and information.
Pictured above: Luda Spajic (left) with David Do, Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.
| | LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | | The BARE Dance Company returns to LPAC’s Mainstage Theater for the premiere of a new work by Filipino American choreographer Mike Esperanza. Through a cast of thirteen dancers, The Evolution of Separation examines the tension between our innate need for physical presence and the increasing isolation brought on by technology. The work blends Esperanza’s signature physicality with visual storytelling to reflect on how we relate to one another in a world shaped by screens. “Mike’s work invites audiences to reflect on the emotional cost of disconnection,” said Handan Ozbilgin, LPAC Artistic Director. Esperanza’s work has been presented at venues including the Kennedy Center and Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, and he is a frequent guest educator across the U.S. He appeared in a 2025 music video with Ariana Grande. Performances will take place July 18–20. Reserve tickets here. | | Contemporary Dance, ‘UN-spoken,’ Explores the Emotional Impact of Bullying, July 25 | | UN-spoken, a one-night-only contemporary dance exploring the emotional impact of bullying, created and directed by Elodie Dufroux, will be performed in LPAC’s Little Theater. “UN-spoken is more than a performance—it’s an experience,” says Handan Ozbilgin, LPAC Artistic Director. “Elodie transforms movement into message, giving form to the invisible weight of words and offering a powerful lens on bullying. She not only shows the pain of exclusion but the power of connection.” Blending storytelling and movement, UN-spoken delves into the lasting effects of bullying—touching on resilience, identity, and social exclusion. “We hope the show sparks dialogue and empathy, encouraging audiences to reflect on how they treat others and respond to the struggles around them,” says Evelyn Lowmark, LPAC Interim Executive Director. Tickets are available now for the show on July 25 at 7:30 p.m. | | | Chelsea Encababian awarded $19,800 grant from Urban Agriculture Resilience Program | | | | Chelsea Encababian, a lecturer in the Natural Sciences Department has been awarded a $19,800 from the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program, a national initiative launched in 2020 by the United States Botanic Garden and the American Public Gardens Association. The program supports urban agriculture projects that blend food production, education, and food security solutions. This award will deepen student engagement with composting, farming, and food justice by strengthening LaGuardia Community College’s partnership with Queens Botanical Garden (QBG). QBG supplies free compost to Finca la Florecita Urban Farm, enriching soil health for crops grown on the farm and distributed to LaGuardia Cares food pantry. Under Professor Encababian’s leadership, students and the farm crew have already harvested and distributed 500 lbs. of fresh produce in 2025. This funding will support student farm crew stipends, farm operations, and educational field trips across the five boroughs as part of SGN115: Sustainable Vegetable Production during the Fall I session. | | Through October 26, Hugo Fernandez, a professor in the Humanities Department, will have an image on view as part of a celebration of the tenure and work of Tod Papageorge, former chair of the Yale School of Arts' Graduate Program of Fine Art Photography, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Connecticut. The exhibition includes Papageorge's work of the Los Angeles Beaches in the 1970's and 80's, an exhibition of some of the over 45 Guggenheim Fellows that studied with him at Yale, and a continuous slide presentation of over 300 photographs of photographers who graduated from the program, making up a portfolio that is part of the archive of the Yale Art Gallery. You can find Professor Fernandez' work in the 1993 section of the slide presentation. | | | Dr. Nicolle Fernandes Named USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellow | | | | Dr. Nicolle Fernandes, professor and chair of the Community Health and Wellness Department, is in Washington, D.C. this week as one of 30 faculty and staff selected nationwide for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 class of E. Kika De La Garza (EKDLG) Fellows. Participants represent Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts from across the country. The EKDLG Fellows are meeting with leaders from different USDA agencies, exploring how USDA services and programs can benefit them, their students, and their communities, and learning about national and regional issues, policymaking and research. The EKDLG Fellows Program is part of USDA’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program, which supports the development of a 21st-century agricultural workforce through professional development, workforce training, and expanded opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. | | | | |
Students looking for enrollment services support can now access virtual office hours every Thursday 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
| | Heather Barikmo Explores South Korea’s Higher Education System Through Fulbright Award | | |
Heather Barikmo, Director of The English Language Center, recently returned from a two-week visit to South Korea as part of a Fulbright International Education Administrator (IEA) Award. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, this competitive award supports U.S.-based international education professionals in engaging with global education systems and building international partnerships. During her visit, Barikmo explored various aspects of South Korea’s educational landscape, including a visit to a South Korean community college, where she learned about its administrative and leadership structures, as well as innovative strategies being implemented to address demographic challenges in higher education. Barikmo reports gaining valuable insights into how U.S. study is perceived in South Korea—insights she is now using to inform new strategies to support English language learners (ELL) at LaGuardia. These include a more holistic approach to outreach and recruitment, with a focus on helping students feel safe, welcome, and connected both on campus and in New York City.
Pictured above: Heather Barikmo (fifth from right) in South Korea last month with the Fulbright Commission.
| | A new tuition-free Data Analytics Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp prepares New Yorkers making less than $55,000 annually for high-demand careers in tech. Funded by a $412,000 grant from the CUNY Workforce Development Initiative (WDI), the program offers 180 hours of hands-on training in SQL, Python, and Tableau—three of the most widely used tools in the data industry. Individuals who complete the bootcamp may qualify for a 28-month paid apprenticeship with The Data School, the training arm of data consultancy The Information Lab. Apprentices earn between $60,000 and $65,000 annually, with benefits, and gain real-world consulting experience. Those not selected for the apprenticeship will receive job placement support from LaGuardia employment specialists. The first cohort begins August 18, 2025; the second cohort begins January 2026. The program is overseen by Kelsey Harro, Technology Training Manager, ACE. | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- The Library will be closed on Fridays through August 22. Check our Library Hours before you make the trip.
- Please note our different Study Zones and be mindful of the noise levels in each area.
- MoneyBoss workshops will continue in Spring II; : Investing with Prof. Santo Trapani is on July 1 and S.M.A.R.T. Goals is on July 16. Check out the MoneyBoss website for registration details.
| | | Improvements are Underway at HR | | The Office of Human Resources is completely refurbishing its office to create a better organized and fully integrated space that will lead to smoother service for all. This means that operations in E-407 will be shuttered from June 23 until mid-August. Human Resources will be temporarily located in E-405, right across the hall. Rest assured that there will be no disruption in Human Resources services to LaGuardia employees and that the team will be back and better than ever by the end of the summer. | | Important Change to Check Distribution Policy | | Checks will now be available for pick-up between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday in room E-405. On the first Monday of every month, HR will mail out any uncollected checks with a pay date of 30 days or more. | | LaGuardia Seeks to Fill Open Faculty and Staff Positions | | |
LaGuardia currently has several ongoing searches for new faculty and staff members. 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 more openings, visit Employment Opportunities.
| | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | CUNYID Passwords Expired; Change Your Password Today | | On June 2, CUNY/CIS expired all CUNYID passwords, except those that had been changed since May 17, to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the CUNYfirst system and MS Office 365. If you haven't already changed your CUNYID password, we encourage you to change it today using the currently available password change function on the CUNYfirst system sign on page. Changing your password is easy. For more information visit the CUNY Change My CUNY Login Password page. If you have questions or need help, please 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. | | 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. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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