Student, Faculty, and Alumni Stories

  Introducing Eric Aldrich, our New State Department Diplomat-in-Residence Eric Aldrich, a seasoned diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, has recently taken on the role of Diplomat in Residence for New Jersey and New York, stationed at the Colin Powell School at CCNY. With a career spanning refugee issues, human rights, and academic exchanges, Aldrich brings a wealth of experience to his new role. We had the opportunity to discuss his journey and insights into diplomacy. A Journey in Diplomacy Aldrich's path to diplomacy was inspired by the… Read More »


  Closing the Opportunity Divide - MD Miah ‘24 I am a first-generation recent graduate from the City College of New York, having majored in economics with a concentration in finance and a minor in management and administration. Originally from Bangladesh, my family moved to the Bronx, New York, when I was young. Growing up in the Bronx, I faced various challenges related to financial literacy and adapting to a new culture. One specific financial challenge we faced was dealing with predatory payday loans, which resulted in severe financial stress… Read More »


    Sarah Aponte,  Chief Librarian, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Professor, The City College of New York Libraries Sarah Aponte’s journey from the Dominican Republic to becoming the Chief Librarian at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (DSI) at CCNY is a story of resilience and dedication. In 1994, Aponte spearheaded the creation of the Dominican Library at DSI. Starting with community donations, she built it into the leading U.S. resource on Dominican studies. The library now holds the largest collection of Dominican self-published… Read More »


  Meet Nica Genestin ’22: A Story of Resilience and Determination Nica Genestin, a 2022 alum, embodies resilience and determination. She immigrated to the U.S. at five, facing numerous challenges with her family before starting her higher education journey at Borough of Manhattan Community College and later transferring to CCNY. Initially drawn to biology, Genestin discovered her true passion for political science through internships at the Social Science Research Council and Democracy Corps. Today, she serves as the Program Coordinator at Barnard… Read More »


  Yana Kucheva: Championing Housing Justice and Community Engagement Professor Yana Kucheva, interim chair of the Sociology Department at CCNY, explores the intricate intersections of housing, social inequality, and justice, She is also deeply engaged in community-based research. Currently the interim director of CCNY’s Sociology Department, Kucheva channels her passion for teaching and mentorship, inspired by her own mentor, Professor Hilary Silver. Please share something about your personal and professional background. I am a sociologist and… Read More »


From Syria to NYC: Reem Aliessa’s Journey in International Studies and Social Responsibility   Reem Aliessa ‘14 was born and raised in NYC to Syrian immigrant parents. Her passion for International Studies was shaped in large part by her family’s Arab-American identity and nurtured by the resources and opportunities at the Colin Powell School. Today, she works as the Vice President and Senior Program Manager at Citi Volunteers, where she leverages her education and experiences to make a positive social impact. Her journey from CCNY to a leadership role… Read More »


  Crossing Horizons: Anson Cheuk-Hin Chung's Journey in Political Science Anson Cheuk-Hin Chung, a 2022 graduate of CCNY in Political Science and History, is currently pursuing an MA in Political Science at the University of Toronto.  Where are you from, and what is your background story? Please share your details from the period before you arrived at CCNY. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and immigrated to New York City when I was fifteen. Before my migration in 2016, Hong Kong had experienced several social movements, including the 2014… Read More »


  Nushrat Bushra: A Personal Journey to Mental Health Advocacy Please share a little about your background — what’s your story? I am a first-generation college student, born and raised in Bangladesh. I moved to the USA at the age of 12, entering a completely new environment. Initially, adapting was challenging due to the cultural and religious differences. It took some time to feel comfortable here, especially without any friends and having left my brother and relatives back in Bangladesh. Language was another significant hurdle. Although I could… Read More »


  Societal Perspectives: Professor Larry Au's Journey In the academic realm, Professor Larry Au stands out for his interdisciplinary scholarship. Originally from Los Angeles and Hong Kong, Au has spent the last decade in New York City. He became an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department in Fall 2022. Au's research focuses on inclusive science and medicine, delving into precision medicine's globalization and the politics surrounding long Covid. As he works on his first book project on Chinese biomedical innovation, Dreams of Global Science:… Read More »


    Paul Wachtel’s Journey from Physics to Psychology and a Storied Career at CCNY   Please share something about your personal and professional background. I grew up in the Bronx and have been a New Yorker for most of my life. We were a family of four living in a one bedroom apartment. My father had dropped out of school after the ninth grade to support his single mother and younger sister. So I can identify with the many students at City who are the first in their family to attend college, and with the experience of whole new worlds… Read More »


Last Updated: 01/15/2020 15:46