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Westchester Community College Foundation Announces Four New Board members
The Foundation awards over $2 million in scholarships to SUNY WCC students and provides more than $2 million in programmatic funding to SUNY WCC annually
The Westchester Community College Foundation has announced the addition of four new members to its Board. The Foundation, which has been supporting the college’s efforts to provide access to quality education and skills for success for over five decades, has named as new board members: David Berry, Wilson Kimball, Richard Martinelli and Linda Moser.
“Once again, the Foundation has added highly esteemed members to its Board, an affirmation of the Foundation’s importance and value to the College and the community,” said Board Chair Joanne Landau. “The Foundation played a critical role in the lives of so many SUNY WCC students during the pandemic, ensuring they had the support they needed to continue in their studies. With COVID-19 still impacting so many families, combined with new economic headwinds, the Foundation’s support will continue to be an invaluable resource for our students and our region’s residents.”
David Berry is an award-winning, multi-industry, transformational and innovative CIO/CTO who has dealt with emerging technologies and value-chain disruptions providing strategic direction and value-added execution at world-class organizations. Mr. Berry currently serves as Chief Information Officer of Boardriders, a global apparel company with operations in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. He was recipient of the prestigious CIO Top 100 Award (CIO Magazine) for delivering cutting-edge, innovative solutions to integrate a $1B acquisition. Mr. Berry, a veteran of the US Navy, earned his Associate’s Degree from Westchester Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems from Pace University.
Wilson Kimball is the President and CEO of The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers, where she oversees the management of more than 1700 owned and/or operated affordable housing units as well as administering over 5000 Section 8 vouchers for the second largest public housing authority in the State of New York. Prior to MHACY, Ms. Kimball served as a Commissioner for the City of Yonkers, advancing economic opportunities for residents, business owners and developers of Yonkers through development under the direction of the Deputy Mayor and Mayor. Ms. Kimball earned her MBA in Finance from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, her JD, Law and Doctor of Law – JD, Public Interest from Fordham University Law School, and her BA in Government from Skidmore College.
Richard Martinelli is President of Today Media Custom Communications, publisher of four monthly regional magazines and an array of custom and ancillary publications, including Westchester Home, 914INC, and Westchester Weddings. Prior to Today Media, Mr. Martinelli served on the Yonkers City Council for 10 years, including two as City Council President. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.
Linda Moser has an extensive career as a publishing professional, most recently as the Publisher/Product Manager, Higher Ed for Pearson. Throughout her career she was responsible for the development and delivery of high-quality print and digital products for English Language Learners in the US and worldwide. She commissioned authors, led teams of editors, and collaborated with colleagues across departments and around the world. Other roles she held at Pearson include Product Owner of Wall Street English, Editorial Director of Primary, Director of Project Management and Director of Editorial Production. Ms. Moser earned her BA in Psychology at Case Western Reserve University.
New Partnership Between SUNY Westchester and Port Chester Schools Eliminates Barriers to College Entry
Port Chester students are now eligible for automatic general admission to SUNY Westchester Community College, alleviating anxiety surrounding the college application process and putting graduating seniors on the fast track to a college degree.
June 13, 2022 – Port Chester, New York – SUNY Westchester and Port Chester Schools today announced a first-of-its-kind college admissions program for Westchester County. Starting with the class of 2022, Port Chester High School seniors may bypass the traditional application process for automatic admission to SUNY Westchester Community College. With student and parent consent, Port Chester High School transmits personal and academic information through secure electronic transfer to SUNY Westchester, which automatically admits eligible students who are completing high school diploma requirements. The new approach streamlines college entry by eliminating two critical barriers: the college application and the application fee.
“Our collaboration with Superintendent Dr. Aurelia Henriquez and High School Principal Luke Sotherden is re-inventing college admissions, streamlining processes, and promoting access and equity,” said SUNY Westchester Community College President Dr. Belinda S. Miles. “We are putting students first by making it even simpler, faster, and more affordable to access high quality academic and career pathways that lead to high-wage, high-demand jobs and transfer to universities. Especially during these challenging and uncertain times, we are intensifying our efforts to strengthen student support systems that address academic, economic, and other needs in fulfillment of our mission as an inclusive community college providing open access to opportunity.”
“Being able to partner with WCC on this has been super exciting and all of our juniors and other underclassmen should look at what automatic admission means,“ said Mr. Luke Sotherden, Principal of Port Chester High School. “This means that if you work hard in your studies, you too can automatically gain admission to WCC free of any barriers and take college courses that can better your life after high school. All of our Rams are capable of great things.”
“Reinventing the college admissions process has removed barriers to success for all Port Chester students,” said Dr. Aurelia Henriquez, Superintendent of Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District. “Inclusive excellence means that despite adversity, we are ensuring that all students have access and opportunities to all that life has to offer. We are so grateful to WCC for this new relationship. We look forward to building on this incredible opportunity to so that not only are all students accepted to college, but we also want to see them graduate from SUNY Westchester.”
Over the past three year, an average of nearly 60 Port Chester High School seniors chose to attend SUNY Westchester each year, making this a high-impact program for both partners. Port Chester seniors who opt-in to sharing information with SUNY Westchester will skip the admissions application process and receive an application fee waiver. The innovative program reduces anxiety around college admissions by transitioning students directly into SUNY Westchester’s Viking VIP program, which provides priority appointments with academic and financial aid counselors, preferred access to new student orientation services, and an exclusive invitation to SUNY WCC Commitment Day.
Port Chester seniors are offered automatic general admission to SUNY Westchester. Students seeking entry into special programs such as nursing or veterinary technology must still meet corresponding program admission requirements.
Port Chester Schools is a pioneer in the community college’s first automatic admissions program, which will be expanded to include additional districts in the future. For more information, contact the SUNY Westchester Community College Admissions Office at Admissions@sunywcc.edu or 914-606-6735.
SUNY Westchester Community College Renewed For A Third Year As Part Of The Metallica Scholars Initiative
$25,000 award at SUNY WCC will support students looking to develop skills for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Valhalla, NY (August 2, 2022) – SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $25,000 to transform the future of students in the community, the third year in a row that SUNY WCC has been selected for this grant. These funds will be used to support students looking to enter or further their careers in Advanced Manufacturing. In its first two years at SUNY WCC, nearly 300 students benefitted from this scholarship, gaining the skills they need to attain high-demand, well-paying jobs.
The grant is funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide direct support for career and technical education programs across the US. Direct impact on job and wage growth drives the Metallica Scholars Initiative. On average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program.
“I am thankful that I have had support from Metallica, my school and my community,” said Kwame White, Metallica Scholar and SUNY WCC alumnus. “This award helped change my life because it helped me pay for my bills and put food on the table until I began working. This award has given me hope that there are people that believe in me and want me to do good and spread it in return.”
SUNY WCC will focus its efforts on programs that provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills increasingly needed in the regional job market. Students will take coursework in machine learning, CNC, and other National Institute of Metallurgy (NIMS) certified competencies that lead to high-skill, high-wage career pathways in advanced manufacturing. No prior knowledge of manufacturing is necessary.
“SUNY WCC is proud of our on-going partnership with Metallica’s All Within My Hands to prepare our students for the in-demand careers that are amongst the drivers of our regional economy,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President at SUNY Westchester Community College. “In the current economic climate in which demand for well-prepared employees is high and the cost of living is rising rapidly, this generous grant provides the opportunity that can make a real difference for families throughout our region.”
Having grown from a concept to a thriving educational strategy that focuses on enhancing skills while providing services to students looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has generated a proven and measurable impact since its establishment in 2019. AWMH will replicate the program further by adding ten more schools to the roster, investing $1.8 million to expand in year four.
“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople,” said Pete Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of the 2022-2023 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 men and women in 32 community colleges across 27 states. We are honored to support these students of all ages and backgrounds and look forward to growing the program even farther in the future.”
“The Metallica Scholars program has proven to provide significant resources for community college students looking to learn the skills needed for today’s workforce,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “We are honored to partner with the All Within My Hands Foundation to continue to expand this opportunity for community colleges and their students.”
To learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative at SUNY Westchester Community College, please visit www.sunywcc.edu/metallica
SUNY Westchester Community College Student Dylan Ortiz Named Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow
Valhalla, NY— Dylan Ortiz, a student at SUNY Westchester Community College, was recently named a 2022 Reporting Fellow by the Pulitzer Center. Projects by Reporting Fellows address some of the most critical, and underreported, stories in today’s world, spanning climate injustice, migration, and reproductive health.
Mr. Ortiz was honored for his project focusing on food insecurity in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. His reporting will look at food resiliency in the community in the form of pantries and markets, and also efforts to address root causes of food insecurity. While completing his studies at SUNY WCC, Mr. Ortiz was a junior video producer for Bantam Tools producing video storytelling content for promotional and educational use.
“Studying at SUNY WCC allowed me to enhance my academic strengths while also focusing on areas where I could improve,” said Dylan Ortiz. “My education at SUNY WCC prepared me to become a versatile custodian of knowledge who was able to take on the Pulitzer Fellowship.”
“At SUNY WCC, Dylan took Film courses such as Video Editing and Documentary which helped to prepare him to plan and produce the short documentary that he’s making for his summer Pulitzer Fellowship,” said R. Jenny Evans, Chair of SUNY WCC’s Film Department. “We are grateful for the recognition by the Pulitzer Center that journalism and film studies students at SUNY WCC receive a high-quality education, and they do so at a fraction of the cost of most other colleges and universities.”
Mr. Ortiz is the second SUNY WCC to be named a Reporting Fellow in the past two years. Kyle Cristello was named a Reporting Fellow in 2021, traveling to the Dominican Republic to tell the story of the death of his friend’s grandfather, creating a portrait of grief in the time of coronavirus.
For more information on SUNY Westchester Community College’s journalism program, please visit www.sunywcc.edu/journalism
SUNY Westchester Community College Celebrates First In-Person Commencement Ceremony Since Pandemic Outbreak
SUNY Westchester Community College celebrated its 74th commencement last week on campus, the first in-person graduation since 2019.
While the in-person event was made possible due to reduced levels of COVID-19 infection from a year ago, safety protocols, including mandatory wearing of masks while indoors, were implemented to ensure the safety and well-being for all attendees. Further, commencement was divided by school into three different ceremonies in order to reduce attendee density in the Physical Education Building, where the ceremonies were held.
“This year’s commencement celebrated the tremendous achievements of our graduates who persevered through the worst days of the pandemic, as well as the dedicated efforts of our faculty and other employees to provide the support our students needed to reach this milestone,” said Dr. Miles. “This dedication, combined with innovative programs, has been a critical factor in the doubling of our graduation rate over the course of the past seven years.”
SUNY Westchester Community College President Belinda S. Miles and WCC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Leroy Mitchell spoke at each of the three ceremonies. The featured speaker was Ms. Lisa Denig, president of the WCC Alumni Association and Counsel to the Chief Judge of the State of New York, Honorable Janet DiFiore. Among the graduates at the ceremony were the winners of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence, winner of a Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and other honorees. Of the more than 1,600 graduates, many will be transferring to four-year institutions including Columbia, NYU, SUNY campuses and local colleges, while many others will be entering the workforce in such fields as cybersecurity, nursing, fashion design, and digital filmmaking.
SUNY Westchester Art Gallery to Exhibit The Sculpture of Ronald Bladen
SUNY Westchester Community College, in sharing compelling arts with the public, will present Angle/Edge/Plane, The Sculpture of Ronald Bladen.
August 26, 2022 – Valhalla, New York – SUNY Westchester Community College announced it will present Angle/Edge/Plane, The Sculpture of Ronald Bladen at its art gallery beginning September 8, 2022, with a public opening on September 8 from 4-6 pm. The exhibit, which runs through November 30, 2022, is open to the public.
Ronald Bladen (1918-1988) was an American painter and sculptor renowned for his large-scale sculptures. On exhibit are scale models of Bladen’s larger work, accompanied by hand-drafted engineering drawings. His artistic stance was influenced by European Constructivism, American Hard-Edge Painting, and sculptors such as Isamu Noguchi and David Smith. Bladen in turn had stimulating effect on a circle of younger artists including Carl Andre, Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt and others, who repeatedly referred to him as one of the ‘father figures’ of Minimal Art.
“It is an honor to host an exhibit by such a world-renowned artist,” said Joseph Morris, Director of SUNY WCC’s Art Gallery. “The fact that he has been so influential on many of today’s younger artists is particularly resonant for a college’s gallery.”
For more information visit Art Opening: Angle / Edge / Plane, The Sculpture of Ronald Bladen – Westchester Community College (sunywcc.edu)
SUNY WCC Dean Carmen Martinez-Lopez Honored by Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
September 27, 2022
Valhalla, NY— Dr. Carmen Martinez-Lopez, Dean of the School of Business and Professional Careers at SUNY Westchester Community College, recently received the Hispanic Women of Impact Award from the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Martinez-Lopez has served SUNY Westchester Community College as dean since 2016, where she has facilitated the creation of the new Robert Weiner Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity; led the implementation of the School of Business; and spearheaded the Professional Careers Success Team, whose main goal is to offer a holistic approach to academic success. In identifying student needs and in support of faculty, Dr. Martinez-Lopez led and guided the Viking Resources for Obtaining Associate Degrees and Success (ROADS) program.
Dean Martinez-Lopez is a member of the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board, and also serves on the Board of Directors of Volunteer New York whose mission of positive action aligns with her own personal life view.
“I am humbled and honored by this recognition from the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,” said Dr. Martinez-Lopez. “What is special about this tribute is that it is based not on my own accomplishments but the impact I have had on others. Pursuing a career in higher education is dedicating my life to helping raise others to reach their full potential, and being able to do so at our local college fills me with pride and joy.”
“Dr. Martinez-Lopez epitomizes the talent, hard work, determination and tenacity of Latinas who blaze a trail to create a successful life,” said Aleida Frederico, Chair of the WHCC. “Dr. Martinez-Lopez has not only forged a path fulfilling her own dreams, she has become a leader who has served as a mentor and role model for the next generation.”
The Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the leading county-wide Hispanic business organization dealing with the concerns of the growing Hispanic business community of Westchester. The WHCC promotes programs, events, resources and activities that propel Hispanic businesses forward.
Presenting the work of Christine Knowlton at the Center for the Digital Arts Gallery
When: Exhibition will run from September 6 through December 9, 2022.
Location: Center for the Digital Arts Gallery, Peekskill Extension Center
27 N Division St, Peekskill, NY 10566
Art Exhibition: Reimagined Elements, Christine Knowlton
New York, August 8, 2022. The Center for the Digital Arts Gallery of the Peekskill Extension of SUNY Westchester is presenting the work of Christine Knowlton on view from September 6 through December 9, 2022. The opening reception will be on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the public is welcome. From a young age, Christine Knowlton turned scraps of materials into unique creations. Christine earned a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and established a successful career in textile design, product development, and color consultation. As a freelance artist/designer she shifted into digital media and experimental video, produced two Sight and Sound multimedia works, music fundraiser events at the Paramount, while working on film and TV productions. Over six years, she created a feature documentary film about blind sailors who race on open water, Sense the Wind shown at SUNY Westchester Community College, premiered at the Jacob Burns Film Center, and showed around the world.
The COVID-19 shutdown was a call to make solo art after sewing 900 fabric face masks as a volunteer. This prompted Christine to make visceral analogue art using textured paint, broken mirrors, and auto glass fragments with paper collage. This was a period of intense experimentation and creating a large body of work in two years and still continues. Since creating Fog of Shattered Dreams and exhibiting at AW, her multi-media artwork and photography has since been in many regional group and solo exhibitions. Christine’s second solo show, Reimagined Elements continues an exploration into reflective art, collage, and photography much inspired by ongoing study of the Zen Elements of Nature.
In 2019 Christine initiated a NYS funded Peekskill DRI public arts project, the Five Elements Arches Mural, five panels to be installed Fall 2022 on the South Street Highway 9A retaining wall above the Peekskill train station.
For more information about Christine Knowlton, please visit ChristineKnowltonArt.com or Christine.knowlton.1 on INSTAGRAM. You may also contact peekskill@sunywcc.edu or 914-606-7300 for opening reception information and viewing hours. For more information about The Center for the Digital Arts Gallery, please visit www.sunywcc.edu/peekskill.
Pulitzer Prize Winning Political Journalists to Address State of The Nation at Westchester Community College President’s Forum Event
Valhalla, NY, April 18, 2022 – The Westchester Community College Foundation will present the Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum held virtually on Tuesday, May 10th from 5:30 to 7:00PM. The President’s Forum is an annual event featuring a distinguished panel of journalists, political leaders, historians, and other prominent leaders who gather to engage in a balanced discussion on a current topic of political importance.
The theme of this year’s program is Where are We Now? Journalism, Social Media and the State of Democracy and it will feature a tribute to Lester Crystal by Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour. The panel will include leading experts in the fields of government and politics, media, foreign affairs, the economy and education, and it will be moderated by Brian Lehrer, host of The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC Radio’s daily call-in program.
Panelists scheduled to appear include:
- Jacqueline Alemany– Washington Post congressional correspondent and author
- Helene Cooper– Pentagon Correspondent, The New York Times
- Linda Greenhouse– Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Lecturer in Law, Yale Law School
- Christina Greer– Associate Professor Political Science, Fordham University
- Hank Sheinkopf– Political strategist and speaker
- Bret Stephens– Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and Associate Editor, New York Times
The event was named this year to honor the late Lester Crystal for his contribution on behalf of Westchester Community College students. Crystal was the Executive Producer of the PBS NewsHour and former President of MacNeil Lehrer Productions. Past speakers have included President Clinton, Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, journalists Paul Krugman and Paul Gigot, and many others. Westchester Community College Foundation board members Betty Cotton and Evelyn Stock co-chair the event.
“We are honored to recognize Lester Crystal’s contribution on behalf of Westchester Community College students by naming this prestigious event in his memory” said Evelyn Stock. “ For many years, this event was moderated by Lester, a long- time Executive Producer of the PBS NewsHour and former President of MacNeil Lehrer Productions and a member of the WCC Foundation Board of Directors. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and support for our foundation, and we speak for the students who received support from the many sponsors and donors to our program.”
Sponsors of the Westchester Community Foundation Lester M. Crystal President’s Forum include JPMorgan Chase and Con Edison. Funds raised from this event will support the Foundation’s Scholarship and Program Fund. To reserve tickets or to sponsor this event visit www.sunywcc.edu/presidents-forum or for more information, contact Jessica Denaro, Director of Development, Annual Giving, Westchester Community College Foundation at 914-774-1608 email jessica.denaro@sunywcc.edu.
Westchester Community College Expands Student Care with New Health and Wellness Suite
Westchester Community College opens new facility to better provide holistic support for student success
Valhalla, NY, April 7, 2022 – Westchester Community College cut the ribbon on a new Mental Health Suite, designed specifically to give WCC students the extra help they need in order to succeed.
WCC’s Department of Mental Health and Counseling Services creates a campus environment that is safe, growth fostering, and prioritizes the psychological, social, and emotional well-being of our college community. Employing a holistic approach to mental health, the department offers confidential, individual and group mental health services to students.
Many Westchester Community College students face significant burdens – financial and academic concerns, food insecurity, homelessness, and the emotional turmoil these and other factors bring – that affect their mental health and, consequently, their academic success. The pandemic exacerbated these challenges through two years of uncertainty, loss and trauma.
A consortium of public and private sources has come together to create the new Mental Health Suite at WCC. Located adjacent to the Health Services office, this new facility provides a private and confidential space for students to seek support and wait for appointments, sends a clear message to the WCC community that student mental health is a priority, and acknowledges the clear link between mental health and academic success. Its proximity to the Health Services office highlights that mental health is just as important as physical health and creates a Health & Wellness Center for the College.
The Mental Health Suite is made possible with a gift from Susan Yubas and Michael Benenson, funds from the WCC Faculty Student Association, and other generous donors to the Westchester Community College Foundation
“This new Health and Wellness Center is an example of how we listen to what the college community tells us it needs – that it is important to care for the whole person – body AND mind,” said Susan Yubas. “This collaboration is an excellent example of WCC, the Foundation and the community of donors working together to increase and expand the outstanding quality of services needed to further the success of all WCC students.”
For more information on WCC’s Department of Mental Health and Counseling Services, visit www.sunywcc.edu/mentalhealth.