BMCC Welcomes Three New Deans
In its efforts to enhance student retention, faculty excellence and institutional growth, BMCC has brought on board three new deans, two of whom are filling new positions within the College. Jim Berg is BMCC’s first Associate Dean of Faculty, and begins his role on January 25. Janice Zummo, BMCC’s first Assistant Dean of Academic Support Services, joined the college in early January. Christopher Shults, BMCC’s new Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, will come on board February 1.

BMCC Establishes Office of Internships and Experiential Learning Students at BMCC now have more opportunities to gain valuable real-world experience outside the classroom. In November 2015, the college established its Office of Internships and Experiential Learning. BMCC named Laura Burrell director of the new office.

Community College Week Ranks BMCC Sixth Fastest Growing Community College
BMCC ranks #6 among the fastest growing public two-year colleges of its size in the United States from fall 2013 to fall 2014 according to data complied by Community College Week magazine in its December issue.

Renowned Theatre Artist Visits BMCC Classroom
James Scruggs, an award-winning writer and performer, visited an Introduction to Theatre class led by Professor Bertie Ferdman on December 1, 2015. Scruggs shared his creative process with students and discussed his groundbreaking performance pieces addressing social crises such as racism in America and shootings of unarmed men of color.

BMCC Professors Receive Diana Hacker Award
BMCC professors Christa Baiada, John Beaumont, Nancy Derbyshire and Jeff Gonzalez (pictured here with students) recently won the Diana Hacker Award for Outstanding Programs in the category of Foster Student Success. The professors made their award-winning presentation about the BMCC Teaching Academy at the Two-Year College English Association’s annual conference in October 2015. Congratulations to our professors and the BMCC Teaching Academy.

Professor John T. Means Publishes Article in Italica Journal Recognizing BMCC’s Increased Enrollment in Italian Courses
BMCC Professor Tom Means of the Modern Languages Department recently discovered that the BMCC Italian program, in which enrollment has quadrupled since 2000, is the largest Italian program among community colleges, nationwide, according to data in the Modern Language Association's Language Enrollment Database. Professor Means has also just published an article examining language learning, in Italica, a top peer-reviewed journal in the field of Italian Studies. “The thrust of the article is about how the majority of our Italian students are Hispanic, and that through a linguistic phenomenon called ‘intercomprehension’, Spanish speakers are able to decode Italian rather naturally,” says Means.

Winter/Spring 2016 BMCC Commons Available The Office of Public Affairs has published the Winter/Spring 2016 issue of the BMCC Commons. The publication was redesigned to include more content about faculty research, alumni and donor engagement, grant awards, and student achievement. The publication is available in print and online.

African Heritage Month Kicks-off Feb. 3 BMCC’s African Heritage Month begins February 3 with a variety of activities and performances including African drumming, music, dancing, poetry, an African-themed fashion show schedule at the BMCC cafeteria in the Main Campus Building. Food will be served. To learn more about the full schedule of events, click here.

Art/Works Exhibition on Display Feb. 10 – March 19 Art/Works, an exhibition of recent faculty art, will open on Wednesday, February 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Shirley Fiterman Art Center and run through March 19. Featured faculty artists and designers will include Yevgeniya Baras, Aisha Tandiwe Bell, Tess Bilhartz, Lynn Braswell, Simon Carr, Betty A. Copeland, Elisa Decker, Donelle Estey, Dikko Faust, Pat Genova, John Goodrich, Xico Greenwald, Joseph Haske, Sarah Haviland, Ann Hjelle, Ana Garces Kiley, Michael Leigh, Susan Leopold, Charles McGill, Thaddeus Radell, Jessica Ramirez, William Reed, Kimberly Reinhardt/Analog Exodus, Judy Richardson, Owen Roberts, Erik Saxon, Adele Shtern, Rachelle Street, Janet Esquirol Sylvan, Joan Thorne, A.C. Towery, Michael Volonakis and Amy Westpfahl. The Shirley Fiterman Art Center is located on the first floor of Fiterman Hall, 81 Barclay Street between Greenwich Street and West Broadway. It is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6:00 p.m. For more information, call (212) 220-3013.

New Benefit With a BMCC ID Card
Attention Faculty and Staff: Your BMCC ID Card has many features. Santander Bank has underwritten the cost of your BMCC ID Card and your ID Card is a Smart ID Card. It can be linked to a Santander Bank account and used as a debit card if you would like the convenience of one card for both BMCC Campus purposes and personal banking. You can have a BMCC Smart ID Card without having a banking relationship with Santander, however, in order to use your BMCC Smart ID Card for traditional ATM functions, you will need to have a Santander bank account. To learn more about the features of your BMCC Smart ID Card, a representative of Santander will be on campus for informational meetings on February 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In Room N452 in the Main Campus Building. No reservation is necessary.

TIAA-CREF Representative on Campus Feburary 2
Faculty, Non-teaching Staff and Adjuncts: Narcisse Dargenson from TIAA-CREF, will be on the BMCC campus Tuesday, February 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Room N599P. Mr. Dargenson is available to discuss financial goals. Space is limited. To reserve a time, call (866) 843-5640, Monday through Friday, between from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

BMCC Student LeAnn Wright Is Featured in the Article, “A Bronx Institution’s Good Works,” Published by the Wall Street Journal
January 26, 2016 – Wall Street Journal

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center’s "Monk in Motion: The Next Face of Jazz” Highlighted in AXS.com
January 23, 2016 – AXS.com

“TPAC’s Family Series Season to Continue with Alice in Wonderland,” Published in Broadway World.com
January 21, 2016 – BroadwayWorld.com

“David Bowie’s Life From Brixton to Becoming a Global Superstar,” Article Includes “Moon” Premiere at BMCC’s TPAC
January 11, 2016 – ColoradoNewsDay.com

Ron Rubin Celebrates 50 Years of Service at BMCC, Featured in “A Yarmulke-Wearing Professor Bids Farewell”
January 8, 2016 – The Jewish Press.com

BMCC Student Tamara Williams Featured in "Discrimination, Violence and Death: The Reality for Transgender Women of Color in 2015” Published by Vibe
December 29, 2015 – Vibe magazine

TPAC’s presentation of “Henry and Mudge” Listed on Broadway World.com
December 29, 2015 – BroadwayWorld.com

“Pure Jazz Publisher Jo Ann Cheatham Dies at 72” Published by Amsterdam News January 21, 2016 – New York Amsterdam News

BMCC Alumni Council Encourages Participation in Events and Networking
BMCC’s Alumni Council was formed to invite BMCC alumni who are interested in strengthening relationships between alumni and the college. For information contact Joy Cooper, Director of Development, at jcooper@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Ways to Give
The BMCC Foundation is grateful for contributions of all types and at all levels. Learn about the ways you can help ensure student success and make a difference at BMCC. Donate to BMCC

VITA Free Tax Preparation
Through April 15, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

BMCC Downtown Chorus Concert
February 2, 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

TPAC Presents Rick Younger and Other Comedians
February 5 at 8:00 p.m.

Learn About Upcoming Events at the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship

Men’s Basketball: Williams Game Winner Lifts Panthers Past Kingsborough

Men’s Basketball: Panthers Offense Erupts in Win Over Sharks

Women’s Basketball: Lady Panther Wash Out Wave in Rematch

Women’s Basketball: Weekend Update, Second Half Run Pushes Lions Past Panthers

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