Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Tours BMCC Labs and Library

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (center, red tie), met with BMCC President Anthony Munroe (far left) and others on a tour of the BMCC human simulator and biology labs, Library and Learning Resource Center.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (center, red tie), met with BMCC President Anthony Munroe (far left) and others on a tour of the BMCC human simulator and biology labs, Library and Learning Resource Center.

April 12, 2022

On April 11, newly-elected Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine visited Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) for the first time since being sworn into office in January. He met with BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and Provost Erwin Wong, and toured the College’s health and science labs and Library and Learning Resource Center at the 199 Chambers Street campus.

BMCC President Anthony Munroe, students and staff in the BMCC Library.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (center, red tie) met with BMCC President Anthony Munroe, students and staff in the BMCC Library.

On hand to talk with Borough President Levine about BMCC’s array of health-related programs and majors were  Allied Health Sciences Department Chair Everett Flannery, Health Education Department Chair Lesley Rennis and Paramedic Program Director Meghan Williams.

Borough President Levine observed a class exercise in which students responded to an emergency case scenario and intubated a human simulator in the Lanza Patient Simulator Lab. Respiratory Therapy Instructors Angela Lorenzo and Tom Paolillo, as well as Paramedic Instructors Andrew Miller and Marc Moorer, explained what the students were learning in their activity.

Next, Borough President Levine visited BMCC’s Plasmid DNA Isolation Lab and talked with Science Professor and molecular biologist Lalitha Jayant. “This is an introductory Biology lab where students isolate extra chromosomal plasmid DNA from bacteria. They plan to analyze this DNA in their next lab,” said Professor Jayant. BMCC students not only conduct lab exercises related to their coursework, they participate in funded research opportunities alongside faculty scientists who share their insight into today’s STEM fields.

(L-R) Respiratory Therapy Instructor Angela Lorenzo, Borough President Mark Levine, BMCC President Anthony Munroe and Respiratory Therapy Instructor Tom Paolillo
(L-R) Respiratory Therapy Instructor Angela Lorenzo, Borough President Mark Levine, BMCC President Anthony Munroe and Respiratory Therapy Instructor Tom Paolillo in the Lanza Human Simulator Lab.

Last on the Borough President’s tour was BMCC’s A. Philip Randolph Memorial Library, where the group visited the Learning Resource Center, was introduced to a group of student peer mentors and learned about critical academic support services in conversation with Janice Zummo, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Support Services, Michael Hutmaker, Dean of Student Affairs, and others.

The Borough President’s Office has been instrumental in helping BMCC secure funding for a number of important capital projects over the last several years, including lighting upgrades across campus and a planned renovation of the Library.

“We were honored to host a visit from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and introduce him to our students and the many great academic and workforce programs that the college offers,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe. “The Borough President has been a great champion of BMCC and our students and we are glad he got an opportunity to see them today in action. As New York City’s economy revives and we move toward a post-pandemic world, we are preparing students to enter rapidly expanding fields such as healthcare and IT that can propel their upward mobility. We look to partners in government, industry and education to help make this a reality for our students.”

“The Borough of Manhattan Community College is an important conduit in our city between low-income communities of color and economic prosperity,” said Borough President Levine.  “Here, young adults acquire meaningful, hands-on experience and training so that they have the skills to either enter the workforce in positions where there are opportunities for growth, or continue on to baccalaureate studies with confidence. It was an honor and a privilege to witness future first responders and researchers at work and connect with students and faculty alike. With the right support, community colleges like BMCC will not only help lead New York City’s Covid-19 recovery, but will also help to advance equity across the country in the long term.”

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • On April 11, newly-elected Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine visited BMCC for the first time since being sworn into office in January
  • He met with BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and others, observed student activities in the College’s health and science labs, and toured the BMCC Library and Learning Resource Center at the 199 Chambers Street campus
  • The Manhattan Borough President’s Office has been instrumental in helping BMCC secure funding for a number of important capital projects, including lighting upgrades across campus and a planned renovation of the Library

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