The President’s Forum panel, which included a former presidential spokesperson, addressed the future of the nation at Westchester Community College. The event was covered by local journalists including those at News 12. Some of the nation’s leading names in journalism, politics and government assessed the new national leadership during a special current events forum on Sunday, November 12.

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United or Divided, One Year Later

SUNDAY AFTERNOON NOVEMBER 12, 2017
Forum 2:30 TO 4:30 PM
RECEPTION 4:30 TO 5:30 PM

A year has now passed since the 2016 presidential election. Our distinguished panel of journalists will examine the new administration and Congress— what has been or has not been accomplished. Do we have more unity or more division? What can we expect in the years ahead? There will be opportunity for questions from the audience.

MAX BOOT
Military historian and foreign-policy analyst. The Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Boot is also a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and the Los Angeles Times, a member of USA Today’s Board of Contributors, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and a regular contributor to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Commentary, and other publications.

ARI FLEISCHER
Former White House Press Secretary & Spokesperson for President George W. Bush, Fox News Contributor, and President of Ari Fleischer Communications. He is the bestselling author of Taking Heat.

RUTH MARCUS
Editorial Board and op-ed columnist for The Washington Post, specializing in American politics and domestic policy. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

DAVID SANGER
Senior Writer and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times. Bestselling author of Confront and Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power, and The Inheritance. He has been a member of two teams that won the Pulitzer Prize.

Moderator
LESTER M. CRYSTAL
Long time Executive Producer of the PBS NewsHour and former President of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY FORUM ENVISIONS FUTURE ROLE OF EXTENSION CENTERS IN EDUCATION AND JOBS LOCALLY

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Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of Westchester Community College, invites Mount Vernon leaders and stakeholders to a community conversation about The Future of Education and the Workforce to help reimagine the role of the college’s extension centers in supporting local business, civic, education and nonprofit organizations. Westchester Community College has five extension centers located throughout the county that provide access to the college’s affordable and high quality programs to over 10,000 individuals every year. The community conversation will introduce Dr. Vanessa Morest, the new college Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Morest is a noted researcher in community college reform and an accomplished practitioner who previously held senior leadership positions in research, planning, and academic affairs at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. Administrative leaders from the college’s Workforce Development and Community Education division are hosting and facilitating the community conversation.

WHO:
College Administration
Local Community Leaders and Stakeholders

 WHERE:
Westchester Community College Mount Vernon Extension Center
17 South Fifth Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY

WHAT:
Community Conversation on the Future of Education and the Workforce Extension Center (Tour and Panel Discussion)

WHEN:
Wednesday, October 18, 10-11:45 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public.  Advance registration is requested by contacting 914-606-7201. Representatives from news media are welcome and should contact Patrick Hennessey at 914-606-6638. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information on the college, visit www.sunywcc.edu.

Evening classes are back at the Port Chester Extension Site at Port Chester Middle School. They had been relocated to Port Chester High School. They are now back at the Middle School.

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE PEEKSKILL COMMUNITY FORUM ENVISIONS FUTURE ROLE OF EXTENSION CENTERS IN EDUCATION AND JOBS LOCALLY; FORUM FOLLOWED BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

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In a groundbreaking partnership between Westchester County, Westchester Community College and local stakeholders, the institution’s first extension location opened at 27 North Division Street in Peekskill in 1994. Since then, four more centers have opened countywide to make the college’s affordable and high quality programs more accessible to the county’s residents. The college serves more than 10,000 individuals at extension locations every year. Westchester Community College President Belinda S. Miles invites local community leaders to reimagine the role of these extensions in supporting local business, civic, education, and nonprofit organizations.  The community conversations will introduce Vanessa Morest, the college’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Morest is a noted researcher in community college reform and an accomplished practitioner who previously held senior leadership positions research, planning, and academic affairs at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut. Administrative leaders from the college’s Workforce Development and Community Education division are hosting and facilitating the community conversation.

WHO:
College Administration
Local Community Leaders

WHERE:
Westchester Community College Peekskill Extension Center
27 North Division Street
Peekskill NY 10566

WHAT:
Community Conversation on the Future of Education and the Workforce Extension Center Tour and Panel Discussion

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 10-11:45 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public.  Advance registration is requested by contacting 914-606-7301.  Representatives from news media are welcome and should contact Patrick Hennessey at 914-606-6638. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information on the college, visit www.sunywcc.edu.

Westchester Community College has expanded its Honors offerings to include a new Honors College. The first cohort of eighteen students (the maximum enrollment) was welcomed to the college during a special ceremony on September 6 during which these scholars received new laptops.

The newly created Honors College allows top-performing high school graduates to complete a two-year Honors-Designated Associate Degree in an academically challenging environment. These students will be individually mentored until they graduate and will be encouraged to transfer to renowned four-year universities for two additional years of Bachelor’s Degree studies.

All students are given textbook stipends, the laptops, and full tuition coverage subject to any financial aid that they have received.

“The opening of this new Honors College has its roots in our strong tradition of academic rigor and student engagement,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College, at the ceremony. “This makes Westchester Community College a destination of first choice to many students going on to college. It showcases the college as an institution of high academic quality and standards, and recognizes our faculty who share research and experiences with our students.”

She noted that for many of these students, the two-year degree will be the start of their effort to gain an advanced education as they pursue future degrees and enter careers as professionals in healthcare, law, and other fields.

The Honors College faculty consists of award-winning, exceptionally caring professors. In addition to intellectually engaging courses designed to nurture critical thinking and independent, in-depth exploration of meaningful concepts and current issues, students will enjoy exciting co-curricular opportunities such as participation in summer study abroad at Cambridge University in England and the ability to contribute to academic publications, attend conferences/symposia, complete internships, and take advantage of numerous leadership and applied learning options.

For three decades, Westchester Community College has offered individual Honors classes through its Honors Program. This is the first time it is giving the students the option of a full Honors College (the longstanding Honors Program, which consists of individual classes, will continue to be offered to other students).

The Honors College is funded by the Westchester Community College Foundation through a gift from a generous anonymous donor.

Among the extraordinary students who are in the initial group of students are Sasha Rodriguez, a member of the Dominican National Karate Team who has her eye on participating in the Olympics; Nancy Elsohafy from Egypt, who wants to study Neuroscience in the future; Julia Guyon, who is interested in becoming an educator and a published writer; Jamila Desir, who intends to become a Civil Rights attorney; and Prince Ababio, a former resident of Ghana who wants to pursue a career in healthcare, focusing on pathology in order to alleviate suffering in Africa.

The full list of Honors College students is:

• Prince Ababio originally from Ghana, now living in Yonkers, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Paula Abila of Croton-on-Hudson, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Juan De Jesus Manzarron Benitez of White Plains, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Jamila Desir of Peekskill, Liberal Arts/Social Science student.
• Isatou Dukureh, originally from Gambia, now living in the Bronx, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Nancy Elsohafy, originally from Egypt, now living in Ossining, Liberal Arts/ Social Science.
• Daniella Glade of Yonkers, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Julia Guyon of Cortland Manor, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Fredric Jones of Peekskill, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• John Kelley of Mount Kisco, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Gabriella Liriano of Cortland Manor, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Lucas McCauley of Carmel, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Alondra Ochoa, originally from Mexico, now living in New Rochelle, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Caleb Peddie of Mount Vernon, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Brianna Penzo of Amawalk, Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Sasha Rodriguez of Yonkers,​ Liberal Arts/Social Science.
• Kenneth Sandoval of Yonkers, Liberal Arts/Humanities.
• Amy Tovar of Yonkers, Liberal Arts/Humanities.

See photos here…  Congratulations, scholars!

On Friday, December 29, scheduled maintenance will be performed on the college’s network infrastructure.  Between the hours of 5:00 AM and 12:00 PM (noon) college resources will NOT BE ACCESSIBLE FROM OFF CAMPUS, this includes email , MyWCC, PeopleSoft (Campus Solutions, HR and Finance), VPN, college website,  and Blackboard.

The phone and voicemail systems will not be affected during this maintenance window.

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION PRESENTS GREAT CHEFS COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AND DINNERS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

The Westchester Community College Foundation is presenting its Great Chefs of Westchester Cook for Westchester Community College series of cooking demonstrations and three-course dinners in October and November. These tantalizing events will be held in the college’s state of the art instructional kitchens and Culinary Dining Room. Host Chef Philip McGrath, Curriculum Chair of the college’s Culinary Arts and Management Program and former chef and owner of Iron Horse Grill, has assembled a stellar cast of culinary celebrities who will create epicurean delights and teach you how to dazzle future dinner guests.

The evenings begin with liquid refreshments, followed by a demonstration of the how-to’s of each meal. Afterward, enjoy the chef’s succulent creations paired with an accompanying wine or beer. Each guest will leave with recipes for dinner and beer/wine pairing information. Sign up for one or two events or the entire series. All of this culinary decadence is in support of scholarships and programs for students. Bon Appétite!

*Fig and Olive, Chef Cristian Petitta, 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 16. Petitta learned to cook alongside his mother and grandmother in the family’s kitchen outside of Rome. After attending culinary school in Rome, he worked at the St. Regis in Rome; the Baglioni Hotel, a five star hotel in England; and a yacht club in Porto Cervo in Sardinia. After moving to the U.S., he was Executive Chef at La Bocca and Pax Romana and is currently Chef de Cuisine at Fig and Olive in Scarsdale. A teacher at heart, the Chef will share his techniques and recipes for making fresh mozzarella and pasta.

*Moderne Barn, Chef Ethan Kostbar, 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23. Kostbar is a self-described “Jewish Yenta” with a love for food. His experiences at The Culinary Institute of America and the opportunity to work with some of the country’s most renowned chefs influence his menu choices. Join him to learn how he balances an appreciation for local, handpicked ingredients with his well-loved mantra: “Simple, seasonal food is delicious food.”

*bartaco, Chef Jonathan Rohland, (Event postponed – Date to be announced). Rohland began his career at John Harvard’s Brew House in Atlanta, then became the Culinary Leader of Nordstrom’s restaurant division. Joining the bartaco team in 2015, he brought his focused passion for the brand and culture to this restaurant inspired by the healthy  outdoor lifestyles and beach culture of Brazil, Uruguay, and Southern California. Join the Chef and learn how to fuse fresh ingredients to create the bold flavors of three barcaco signature dishes, all paired with the restaurant’s signature maragita made with the brand’s Libelula tequila.

*Inn at Pound Ridge by Jean-Georges, Chef Ron Gallo, 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1. After completing his degree at the Culinary Institute of America, Gallo went on to the acclaimed La Cote Basque. From there he went to Lafayette, the four-star New York City restaurant. Currently Chef de Cuisine at The Inn at Pound Ridge by Jean-Georges, he will teach how to subtly balance flavor and texture.

This series helps ensure the ability of the Westchester Community College  Foundation to meet student and college needs not met by public funds. As part of its mission, the Foundation raises funds in order to provide scholarships for student  scholarships. More than $20 million in scholarship support has helped more than 16,000 students complete their education since the Foundation was created in 1969. In the 2016-2017 academic year, over $1.6 million in scholarships was awarded to students.

One of the many programs that the Foundation funds scholarships for is the Culinary Arts and Management curriculum. It leads students to careers, not only in restaurants, but also in commercial, on-site, and institutional establishments. Course work includes culinary arts, business management, work experience, and a basic liberal arts core. Culinary Arts and Management graduate move into positions in the field or transfer to four-year colleges to continue their studies. Participation in the Great Chefs series helps transform lives through the gift of educational opportunity.

One hundred percent of all funds raised from the Great Chefs Series go directly to the Westchester Community College Foundation’s Scholarship and Program Fund, which supports the On Campus Food Pantry. The pantry assists our students who are struggling with food insecurities.

Tickets for each event are $150. For details, please visit the Great Chefs page or call 914-606-6558.

ARI FLEISCHER, RUTH MARCUS, DAVID SANGER ADDRESS THE STATE OF THE NATION AT WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 12

Westchester Community College is pleased to present the institution’s annual President’s Forum event, United or Divided: One Year Later, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 12. A year has now passed since the 2016 presidential election. Our distinguished panel of journalists will examine the new administration and Congress, covering what has been or has not been accomplished. Do we now have more unity or more division? What can we expect in the years ahead?

The event will begin with a two-hour panel discussion moderated by Lester M. Crystal, longtime Executive Producer for the PBS NewsHour and former President of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.

The panelists are:

• Max Boot is a military historian and foreign-policy analyst. The Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Boot is also a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and the Los Angeles Times, a member of USA Today’s Board of Contributors, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and a regular contributor to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Commentary, and other publications.
• Ari Fleisher, former White House Press Secretary and Spokesperson for President George W. Bush, Fox News Contributor, President of Ari Fleischer Communications, and bestselling author of Taking Heat.
• Ruth Marcus, Editorial Board and Op-Ed Columnist for The Washington Post, specializing in American politics and domestic polity, finalist for Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
• David Sanger, Senior Writer and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, bestselling author of Confront and Conceal: Obama’s Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power, and The Inheritance. He has been a member of two teams that won the Pulitzer Prize.

Following the panel, there will be a reception from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The President’s Forum, a fundraising event for student scholarships and faculty and institutional development, has been presented by the college’s Foundation for the past 31 years. Tickets range from $75 to $350. Reserve tickets online at www.mysunywcc.org/events. For further information, please call 914-606-6558.

Fall classes are about to begin (including Valhalla classes which start September 5 and extension locations on September 8).

Click here for course listings: https://mywcc.sunywcc.edu

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES RETURN OF  MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS; COACHES HIRED, 2017-2018 SEASONS ANNOUNCED, DETAILS AT JULY 26 PRESS CONFERENCE

Westchester Community College has announced the return of its men’s and women’s basketball teams with the new seasons beginning later this year. New coaches have been hired and were introduced at a press conference on Wednesday, July 26 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hartford Hall Boardroom on the college’s Valhalla campus.

A national search attracted more than two hundred highly qualified applicants including former professional basketball players and highly touted coaches from a variety of competitive levels. Sean Kelly has been named the men’s coach and Nesta Felix has been tabbed as the women’s coach.

“This promises to be an enriching experience for many of our students, not only those who will field the teams,” says Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College. “The student athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their skills on the court, while their fellow students will be able to show their enthusiasm and exhibit school spirit during the upcoming season. This will truly enhance the overall college experience for all,” she adds.

“I am pleased to be able to announce that basketball is returning to Westchester Community College,” says the college’s Athletic Director Mike Belfiore. “We have begun to recruit players for both teams and look forward to the fall when our student-athletes will again be able to compete against other institutions in the region.”

Kelly, whose Bronx Community College teams posted a 74-43 record over five seasons, advancing to an NJCAA regional title game and two regional Final Fours, also coached at Bergen Community College. At that New Jersey institution, he led the team to an undefeated 30-0 regular season campaign (2009). Prior to Bergen, he was an assistant coach at Mercy College. Kelly earned his BA at the University of Scranton and his Masters at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Felix was the women’s basketball coach at Yeshiva University (2012-2015) and was named the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year (2014). She also has coached at Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, New York (15-5 record), currently coaches a Scarsdale, New York Eighth Grade Tri-County girls basketball team (2011 to present), and was assistant women’s basketball coach at Monroe College (2002-2008). She received her BA from Iona College and her Masters at Monroe College.

This fall marks the return of the men’s and women’s basketball after a two-year hiatus. Both teams will compete at the Division Two level. Practices for the new teams begin in October with the regular season games commencing in November 2017.

Members of the press were invited to a press conference at the college on Wednesday, July 26 at which time the details of the new coaches and dates for upcoming games were announced. Meanwhile, prospective college students  interested in trying out for the teams should contact Westchester Community College’s new Athletic Director at michael.belfiore@sunywcc.edu.