Class 2022

2022 Commencement & Photo Gallery

CCNY CWE's Students Listed as CCNY Great Grads 2024

Adam Cohen

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Originally from Maine, Adam Cohen moved to New York City 10 years ago to focus on his passion: restaurants, food and wine. With almost two decades of experience and success in the restaurant, food and wine industry, Cohen found himself pivoting during the pandemic when he lost both his jobs.

The 34-year-old was in search of a career that would provide long-term security and enrolled at The City College of New York in the middle of the pandemic. At CCNY, Cohen finished his degree requirements remotely in three semesters, while simultaneously working two, and sometimes three, restaurant jobs.

“I left undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder more than 10 years ago after personal matters took over my focus from school,” he said. “Frankly, I was scared to go back to school and thought my academic skills would be too far gone, but City College changed that and helped me get over my fears, approach goals with a step-by-step mindset, and remain positive.”

While at City College, he made the Dean’s List, graduating summa cum laude. After graduation, Cohen hopes to pursue a career in the media field but also has a strong desire to work for city government someday.

“I was empowered to finish—and finish strong—and that shift in mindset is directly transferable to my feelings about what is next for me professionally,” he said.

Darren Taraza

B.S in Early Childhood Education

For Darren Taraza, teaching has been a passion since he was young, and while studying early childhood education at The City College of New York, his dream was fully realized when he landed a job as a pre-K lead teacher at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School in Inwood, Manhattan.

The 23-year-old has been on his own since the age of 16. He is committed to serving and teaching children of all backgrounds and abilities because he believes that every child is unique, has something to bring to the table and deserves free, high-quality education.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with children as a teacher, and I want to give back to the community that I serve,” said Taraza, who grew up in the Bronx and attended the High School for Environmental Studies. “I make it my mission to help children further their development and serve families of all socioeconomic backgrounds to ensure that they receive the high-quality education that they are entitled to.”

While at CCNY, he received grants from NYC Men Teach, which aims to improve the diversity of the New York City teaching workforce by adding 1,000 male teachers of color into the teacher pipeline, and a New York Educational Incentive Program scholarship for graduate school.

When he’s not teaching, Taraza has a growing social media following within the gamer community. He is continuing his education at City College by pursuing his master’s degree in the School of Education’s Graduate Program in Early Childhood Education. “As a Latino, I want to be able to show the world and lead by example that male educators of color can educate, engage and empower students to achieve beyond academics and also achieve a strong sense of identity and belonging in this world,” he said.