About International Voices

International Voices is an award winning annual publication of Westchester Community College students. The creative works showcased here represent some of the diverse experiences and perspectives of the Westchester Community College community. This diversity and inclusive spirit are at the core of the College mission, stemming from the belief that education should be accessible to all and that improving education levels brings benefits, both tangible and intangible, to the community at large.

Contact Information

Kent Trickel, Associate Professor
English, Reading and ESL Department
Academic ESL Coordinator | Abeles Endowed Chair for Distance Learning
Kent.Trickel@sunywcc.edu | GTW S233D | (914) 606-8509

Vanessa Williams Brings Star Power to Event

At the sold-out Westchester Community College Foundation “Transforming Futures Together” Gala on November 8, 325 guests packed Tappan Hill in Tarrytown. More than $480,000 was raised to support student scholarships, emergency aid and other critical programs at SUNY Westchester Community College.

The event marked the start of the 10th anniversary year of DR. BELINDA S. MILES as President of SUNY Westchester Community College.

Longtime Westchester Community College Champion VANESSA WILLIAMS emceed the event. Ms. Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today, selling millions of records worldwide. Her work in music, film, television, and the Broadway stage has been recognized with 4 Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAG award nominations and 7 NAACP Image Awards.

Students told their compelling personal stories and introduced the five stellar leaders in Westchester County who were honored:

County Executive GEORGE LATIMER received the Public Service Award in recognition of his 36 years of service to the people of Westchester County and New York State. Latimer became the ninth Westchester County Executive in 2018, and was elected to a second term in 2021, never losing an election during his three decades in public office.

DORRY SWOPE received Westchester Community College Foundation’s Philanthropy Award. Over the years, Dorry and her family have made significant contributions to SUNY Westchester Community College as well as to conservation, arts, and health care organizations.

SINFOROSA “ROSE” TAN & WILLIAM H.P. KAUNG received Westchester Community College Foundation’s Community Leadership Award. Rose and Bill are recognized for their decades of volunteer service to SUNY Westchester Community College and the community. Rose is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at SUNY WCC.

DAVID BERRY, a SUNY Westchester Community College alum, received the Westchester Community College Foundation Viking Voyager Alumni Award. David is the founder of NomadCIO LLC, which provides interim Chief Information/Technology Officer and M&A leadership globally.

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October 16, 2023, Valhalla NY – Ten students from Westchester Community College (WCC) have recently been selected to receive a S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life and Education) scholarship from the PepsiCo Foundation. This scholarship is part of the PepsiCo Foundation’s Community College Scholarship Program – which was established in 2021 to address the issue of underrepresentation in high-demand fields.

The PepsiCo Foundation’s community college program includes two types of scholarships – Uplift Scholarships for students seeking two-year associate degrees or trade certificates and S.M.I.L.E scholarships for community college graduates transitioning to four-year colleges.

The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship awards two-year scholarships of up to $25,000 per year ($50,000 total) to students from historically underserved communities. Each scholar also receives access to resources such as financial literacy courses and is assigned a professional mentor from PepsiCo to provide guidance and support along their educational journey. To qualify, students must be transitioning to complete their bachelor’s degree in a business or STEM field in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S.

WCC and the PepsiCo Foundation recently announced the latest cohort of 10 WCC 2023 graduates who were selected as S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship recipients. The scholars and their current schools are:

• Daniela Bloom-Pavon – SUNY Binghamton University
• Wellington Castro – Pace University
• Sashawn Francis – CUNY Lehman College
• Adriana McFadden – CUNY Queens College
• Shirley Montenegro – Pace University
• Tyfanna Moulton – Kennesaw State University
• Ramon Perez – Kennesaw State University
• Jason Uyaguari – CUNY Hunter College
• Joan Waldron – Columbia University
• Khayri West – Pace University

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit: https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/scholarships/pepsico-foundation-smile/

”SUNY WCC is proud to continue its relationship with PepsiCo to further our shared commitment to diversity and access in higher education,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of Westchester Community College. “Those of our students who were selected for the S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship have distinguished

themselves for their academic excellence and dedication. They are typical of the thousands of students who come to SUNY WCC for an affordable option before continuing their studies at a four-year institution.”

“Driving lasting change is our focus at the PepsiCo Foundation, and what better way to do that than to invest in the education and future of the next generation,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo. “A single scholarship can be the catalyst for these ambitious students to complete their education, build generational wealth within their families, and contribute to a stronger community for all.”

David Swope Student Center stands in testimony to his belief in the transformational power of scholarship.

Valhalla, NY – October 13, 2023. SUNY Westchester Community College renamed its Student Center to The David Swope Student Center. Mr. Swope was a dedicated, tireless and generous supporter of SUNY WCC and its students, serving as a member, President and Chairman of the WCC Foundation Board, as well as Chair of the WCC Board of Trustees.

The unveiling of the new name featured as speakers County Executive George Latimer, Chair of the Board of Trustees for SUNY WCC LeRoy Mitchell, and former Chair of the WCC Foundation Board Joanne Landau.

“This renaming to honor David Swope is a powerful symbol of his commitment to education and the opportunities it provides,” said County Executive Latimer. “David’s tireless dedication to SUNY Westchester Community College, its students, and access to affordable education will now forever be memorialized. We are profoundly thankful to the Swope family for their generosity and service to our community.”

“This well-deserved tribute celebrates David’s devotion to the college, and more specifically to its students,” said Dr. Mitchell. “His passion was for making higher education affordable, particularly for those who were less fortunate. He understood the importance of completion for these students and tried, through his generosity and unflagging efforts, to help remove barriers and obstacles for those in need. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Swope family for their generosity and service to the County and to the college.”

“David was a leader in the community in investing in Westchester’s most precious resource – our intellectual capital,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President of SUNY WCC. “His efforts and the support of those he collaborated with has already vastly improved the success of our students and is a keystone in building a stronger Westchester County.”

“David’s gentle guidance and enlightened leadership as Chair of the Foundation Board enabled the success of several major initiatives at the College and Foundation over the past two decades,” said Ms. Landau. “David’s belief in the transformational power of scholarships, both financially and emotionally, has helped countless students succeed when they thought they could not.”

Grant Supports SUNY WCC Initiative To Build Community College Capacity In Culturally Responsive Professional Development And Grantsmanship.

Valhalla, NY (September 26, 2023) — SUNY Westchester Community College was awarded a $3 million grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students pursuing degrees in STEM at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The project will help to further the NSF’s commitment to enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Through this grant, SUNY WCC will establish a HSI Resource Hub (HSI-Hub) that will serve as a catalyst for innovative initiatives at 14 regional SUNY and CUNY Community Colleges to enable them to more effectively serve the HSI community and its stakeholders, including the colleges and their administrators, faculty, and students. Collaborators on the project include Mentor-Connect, a project that mentors community colleges in NSF grantsmanship, and the Center for Broadening Participation in STEM from Arizona State University,

The SUNY community colleges that will participate in this program are: Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan and Westchester. The CUNY community colleges participating are: Borough of Manhattan, Bronx, Guttman, Hostos, Kingsborough, LaGuardia and Queensborough. The eleven counties served by these 14 SUNY and CUNY community colleges are home to 87.5% of all Hispanic and 79.8% of all African American New Yorkers.

This 5-year grant will enable the NY HSI-Hub to encourage and expand culturally responsive instruction and grantsmanship at these community college HSIs and emerging HSIs. Research-based instructional models and strategies will guide professional development in culturally responsive methods for college educators. The NY HSI-Hub will also support grantsmanship at participating colleges, fostering the knowledge-base and skill-set to effectively apply for, implement and comply with grants, leveraging the talent within community colleges to overcome common constraints to drive transformation. Participating schools will meet annually to share best practices and successes, which will serve as national models.

“Community Colleges are critical in launching STEM learning and careers among Hispanic and other underrepresented students,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “This grant will have long-lasting and wide-ranging impact on our students and our national economy as we strive to meet the workforce needs of our 21st Century economy with a well-trained, diverse workforce.”

“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s important to acknowledge that while the number of Hispanic students earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields is rising, Hispanic students remain underrepresented in STEM programs and jobs,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. “By establishing the regional HSI Program Resource Hub at SUNY Westchester Community College, SUNY’s first Hispanic Serving Institution and now one of eight in the SUNY system, we are clearly communicating our commitment to increase Hispanic inclusion and student success in STEM programs. I am grateful to

SUNY Westchester Community College for leading the regional effort of this program, and to our NSF partners for making this important work possible.”

“CUNY is thrilled to partner with SUNY’s Westchester Community College on this important initiative, and thankful to the NSF for their $3 million award that will advance culturally-responsive STEM teaching at our seven community colleges, all of which have large Hispanic populations,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Ultimately, this five-year award will help make New York a global leader in creating and attracting jobs in life sciences, health care and public health, increase Latinx representation and success in STEM programs and better prepare CUNY students for jobs in these in-demand fields.”

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education (Award No. 2311235).

What:

SUNY Westchester Community College will be renaming its Student Center to The David Swope Student Center. Mr. Swope was a dedicated, tireless and generous supporter of WCC and its students, serving as a member, President and Chairman of the WCC Foundation Board, as well as Chair of the WCC Board of Trustees.

Who:

• Hon. George Latimer, Westchester County Executive
• Dr. Leroy Mitchell, Chair SUNY WCC Board of Trustees
• Joanne Landau, Immediate past Chair, WCC Foundation
• Dorothea Swope

Why:

Mr. Swope’s belief in the transformational power of scholarships, both financially and emotionally, has helped countless students succeed when they thought they could not.

When:

Monday, October 2
5:00 – Dedication

Where:

SUNY Westchester Community College, David Swope Student Center, Front Entrance

Media contact:

Mark Stollar
Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications Mark.stollar@sunywcc.edu
914-606-6638

SUNY WCC reaffirms commitment to increasing student success and improving operational processes through hire of Ben Naylor, a collaborative-minded higher ed leader specializing in institutional innovation.

Valhalla, NY – October 2, 2023. After an extensive search process, SUNY Westchester Community College has named Ben Naylor as its new Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategic Operations. In this role, Mr. Naylor will work closely on strategic planning, decision-making, and the execution of advancing the President’s leadership agenda including continuing progress on increasing enrollment and graduation rates, establishing agile processes that improve operations, and expanding SUNY WCC’s role as an innovative exemplar for community colleges across the nation.

Mr. Naylor has served at Rockland Community College for the past nine years, including six as the Chief of Staff to two RCC presidents. He brings to SUNY WCC experience in working collaboratively with a diverse college community and in supervising the Offices of Institutional Research and Information Technology Services as well as providing strategic leadership in the Office of the President.

More recently, Mr. Naylor served as the Executive Director of Government Relations and Institutional Planning at RCC, managing the college’s relationships with federal, state, and local officials, raising funds through federal and state grant opportunities, and coordinating the strategic planning work of the college. Last year, he was the project lead on a $3 million congressional earmark request for construction of a Nursing Simulation Laboratory, matching the largest grant in the institution’s history.

Prior to his time at RCC, Mr. Naylor served as a Department Administrator at the NYU Wireless 5G Research Center, a Research Analyst at the Global Strategy Group, and a Research Analyst at The Cook Political Report.

“After an exhaustive search, SUNY WCC found its new Chief of Staff and VP of Strategic Operations right next door at Rockland Community College,” said Dr. Miles. “Mr. Naylor’s familiarity with SUNY, with our region, and with the needs of our diverse student body will help him get up to speed quickly. We are excited and fortunate to have him bring his skills and experience to our college, and look forward to his contributions in our continuous efforts in increasing student success.”

“Westchester Community College is a jewel in the SUNY system and I am tremendously excited to contribute to the growth, development, and success of this outstanding institution,” said Mr. Naylor. “I am looking forward to joining Dr. Miles’ team and working collaboratively with the dedicated senior

administration to ensure that WCC is properly positioned to support every student in their drive to better their lives through higher education.”

Mr. Naylor received his B.A. in Government at Georgetown University, followed by his Masters of Professional Studies in Political Research Methods at George Washington University.

NYS Department of Health approves SUNY WCC as an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program provider

Valhalla, NY (September 12, 2023) — SUNY Westchester Community College has been approved to offer an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program by the New York State Department of Health. The program consists of brief in-person training and all attendees receive a free Narcan response kit. The training is provided free of charge to all faculty, staff, students and community members.

This initiative will be spearheaded by George W. Contreras, Dean of the School of Health Careers, Technology and Applied Learning. Dean Contreras is a 30-year veteran paramedic in the New York City Emergency Medical Service (NYC EMS).

“As a paramedic, I have witnessed how Narcan saves lives,” said Dean Contreras. “It is extremely important to raise awareness of this life-saving training, and I am delighted that SUNY Westchester is now part of the educational solution to an on-going public health crisis.”

To obtain more information, reserve a spot at the next upcoming session or schedule a small group session, email Dee Mabra at Delzora.mabra@sunywcc.edu or call 914-606-6910.

SUNY Westchester Community College participated in and collaborated with an emergency tactical course and drill conducted at the New York Medical College campus in Valhalla.

In a historic moment for SUNY WCC, faculty and students played a critical role in a weeklong federal training course for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services from across the nation who convened at Westchester County last week.

Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Operational Medical Support (CONTOMS) is a federal course which prepares participants to become tactical emergency medical technicians (EMT-T). It is offered only four times per year in the United States. At the end of the training, the participants engage in a 16-hour mass casualty incident drill to put their knowledge and newly acquired skills to the test. On June 15, 2023, this drill was in effect from 7AM until 11PM at the New York Medical College campus in Valhalla. The SUNY Westchester faculty and students of the summer emergency medical technician (EMT) course were able to observe and participate as patients in this course and drill.

“Being prepared for mass casualty incidents is becoming even more important for EMTs so this level of participation is important. It is a wonderful and unique experience for our students,” said George W. Contreras, Dean of the School of Health Careers, Technology and Applied Learning. “As a practicing paramedic for over thirty years, I deeply value the importance of hands-on practical training as much as possible. The students played patients with various injuries including gunshot wounds, stabbing, shrapnel and overdose. They were prepped with make-up and special effects to add realism to the drill. Today’s event was a great display of collaboration among higher education institutions, federal, private, and county agencies practicing during the drill as they would in a real-world event.”

This year’s collaboration and participation was coordinated by Dean Contreras who took this course many years ago and is now a guest instructor for the same. Over 25 students from EMT Professors Rob Del Greco and Joyce Wilson courses participated as well as local volunteers such as Chappaqua and Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps. As per the course instructors, the drill was a huge success due to SUNY Westchester’s participation. The collaboration was such a success that the course instructors invited SUNY Westchester to participate next year, providing a valuable and unique experience for a new cohort of students.