From City to the World

Historic remarks on COVID, health disparities, social mobility, education and present-day politics and culture by CCNY 2022 honorary degree recipients Dr. Anthony S. Fauci and leading documentarian of the African American experience Stanley Nelson are captured in this special Commencement episode. City College President Vincent Boudreau introduces the speeches, recorded live on the occasion of CCNY’s 175th anniversary, at the college’s first in-person Commencement since 2019. Also hear from the CCNY valedictorian and salutatorian and distinguished guests including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.  

Host: CCNY President Vincent Boudreau

Speakers: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; CUNY Trustee Ken Sunshine; honorary degree recipient and documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, CCNY ’76; Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of NIAID and chief medical advisor to Pres. Biden; Valedictorian Rose Mary Biju; Salutatorian Ali Khalil; Chief Marshal Janet Steele; Provost Tony Liss; Gary Calnek, president of the Alumni Association of The City College of New York

Recorded: June 3, 2022

The City College ROTC Program, where the late Gen. Colin L. Powell got his start more than 60 years ago, will yield 16 cadet commissions into the U.S. Army this June. Of this cohort of 2022 graduates from across CUNY, more than 50% were born abroad and became U.S. citizens, enabling them to serve in the nation’s military. Hear from Lt. Col. LaShell Y. Davis, Professor of Military Science at CCNY and director of the CUNY ROTC program, based at CCNY, about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to today’s U.S. Army and her perspective on working at one of America’s most diverse campuses. The conversation, with CCNY President Vincent Boudreau, stretches from the Vietnam-interrupted history of ROTC at the college to changing opportunities and horizons for current cadets, including internships; a new military talent-management emphasis on resumes, interviews, skills and preferences in matching personnel with branches and units of the armed services; and the advent of U.S. Cyber Command. Davis and Boudreau are joined by Lt. Gen. Samuel Ebbesen (Ret.), a 1961 CCNY graduate who began his career, and a lifelong friendship with the late Gen. Powell, in ROTC at the college. Ebbesen describes ROTC of his day and an elite group, the Pershing Rifles, that he and Powell joined and that continues today. Currently, Ebbesen is a member of the board of visitors at CCNY’s Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.

Host: CCNY President Vincent Boudreau
Guests: Lt. Col. LaShell Y. Davis, Professor of Military Science at CCNY and director of the CUNY-wide ROTC program; Lt. Gen. Samuel Ebbesen (Ret.), CCNY Class of 1961

Recorded: May 23, 2022

Modernizing urban infrastructure and bringing high-quality career training and jobs to underserved communities are shared goals of the new Charles B. Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative (RIWI) at The City College of New York. The brainchild of former U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel, who served Harlem and surrounding areas for 46 years in Congress, RIWI and new economic opportunities are now a reality for these communities, thanks to Federal support secured by Rangel’s successor, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat. In this episode, CCNY President Vincent Boudreau invites listeners inside the Great Hall of City College to experience the April 2022 launch of RIWI at a celebration of former Congressman Rangel, the guest of honor and statesman-in-residence at CCNY. Hear leaders from the local to national level pay tribute to Rangel, his career and the promise of the RIWI project.

Host: CCNY President Vincent Boudreau
Guests: Speakers include U.S. Rep Adriano Espaillat; former U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel; President and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce Lloyd A. Williams; President of the NAACP New York State Conference and Member of the National Board of Directors Dr. Hazel N. Dukes.

Recorded: April 14, 2022

Related: "Lion of Lenox Avenue" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgjRGQZvvLA

In 2020, a long friendship was formalized between The City College of New York and Harlem's New Heritage Theatre Group (NHTG), making NHTG CCNY's theater company in residence. It is the oldest Black nonprofit theater company in New York City. In conversation with CCNY President Vincent Boudreau, NHTG executive producer Voza Rivers recounts the history of theater in Harlem since the days of the Harlem Renaissance and the work of his organization, founded in 1964. From his unique experience over the decades, Rivers also explains why it has been important—as well as successful both artistically and for Harlem theater audiences—for him to partner with "downtown" theater producers. And now, how—amidst the adversity of the COVID pandemic—NHTG expanded its audience internationally with virtual programming and returns, rejuvenated, to live theater. Hear about the comprehensive, hands-on Theatre program at CCNY from Associate Professor of Theatre and Speech Jennifer Tuttle, as well as the platform it provides for student voices and social justice protest in original works students create, perform and produce. Learn more about the collaboration between CCNY and NHTG and its synergies and benefits in the classroom, on the stage, and in the Harlem community.

Host: CCNY President Vincent Boudreau
Guests: Voza Rivers, Executive Producer and a founding member of New Heritage Theatre Group, Harlem; Jennifer Tuttle, Associate Professor and Chair of CCNY's Department of Theatre and Speech.

Recorded: March 15, 2022

Diverse by design, CCNY was founded in 1847 with a mission to educate the "children of the whole people" and introduce public education to New York City. Fast forward to 1969, when the disparity between the small numbers of Black and Puerto Rican students — compared with Harlem's population and the city as a whole — gave rise to historic campus protests, occupation and a two-week strike. Open admissions followed for the next six years. In this episode, President Vincent Boudreau recounts this formative period in CCNY's modern era and visits a 1970s chapter in Black history on campus with legendary rapper Kurtis Blow. Hear Blow, born a block away, tell his CCNY history, from finding the inspiration here for his hit "Basketball" to studying here for a time until making his groundbreaking record deal. For perspectives on educational attainment equity at City College today, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management leaders Celia Lloyd and Dr. Naomi Nwosu-Stewart join President Boudreau in a conversation about engaging and supporting current students, a majority of whom are people of color.

Host: CCNY President Vincent Boudreau
Guests: Celia Lloyd, CCNY Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; Dr. Naomi Nwosu-Stewart, CCNY Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management; Elder Kurtis Blow Walker, rapper, minister and President of the United Coalition for Humanity.

Recorded: February 14, 2022