��ճԹ� Foundation Archives - ��ճԹ�

Announcing the 2026 Rosen Fellows

Susan Landers — Wed, 20 May 2026 19:25:20 +0000

��ճԹ� proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 Rosen Fellowship, an award that supports outstanding undergraduate students as they pursue ambitious, original projects across disciplines and around the globe.

The Rosen Fellowship reflects Florence Cohen Rosen’s remarkable generosity and vision: a proud ��ճԹ� alumna who chose to give back in a way that expands opportunity for future generations.

Since founding the fellowship in 2011, Rosen ’59 has created more than just financial support for students; she has opened doors to bold, unconventional experiences that they might never otherwise pursue. Her delight in nurturing potential and her enduring faith in ��ճԹ� students, whose work, she notes, renews her “faith…in the future of America,” shine through every fellowship awarded, embodying a legacy of curiosity, ambition, and imagination.

This year’s fellows represent a diverse range of academic interests—from archaeology and environmental science to music technology, public health, visual arts, and documentary filmmaking—demonstrating the creativity, curiosity, and impact-driven work that define the ��ճԹ� community.

2026 Rosen Fellows

Ellery Canesper will attend the HARP Archaeology Field School in Scotland.
Julia Lucinda Fernandez will participate in the Gabii Project, an archaeological excavation of the ancient city of Gabii near Rome focused on urban development and cultural interaction in early Italy.
Noah Hopkins will create to-scale Pokémon figures and photograph them in natural environments to share knowledge about ecology and conservation through a collaborative art project.
Leon Isaacs will take part in a weeklong tree-climbing expedition with Cornell University.
Raymond Thomas Jones will create a digital instrument and synthesizer sample catalog using sounds from natural environments and electrical signals of plants in Iceland.
Dima Muhieddine will study how diet, lifestyle, and access to preventive care shape oral health in Spain and Morocco through immersive observation.
Chavely Reynoso will produce a chronology of Dominican art history from Indigenous Taíno works through contemporary art, resulting in a digital and print publication and database.
Iggy Jerell Strickland will design and produce a drag costume, prosthetics, and character portfolio rooted in horror and performance.
Brent Thomas Whiteside will begin a feature-length documentary on blues musician Bobby Rush.

The 2026 Rosen Fellows exemplify ��ճԹ�’s commitment to experiential learning, interdisciplinary exploration, and socially engaged scholarship. Their work reflects the breadth of inquiry and creative practice fostered across the college. We congratulate this year’s Rosen Fellowship recipients and look forward to following their projects in the months ahead.

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Creating Valuable Experiences for Every Student

Susan Landers — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:06:37 +0000

Mentorship helps define the student experience at ��ճԹ�.

A signature component of the college’s mentoring ecosystem is The Tow Mentorship Initiative, through which students collaborate with faculty on groundbreaking research. This unique and powerful program enables faculty and students to conduct and present independent research across a wide variety of disciplines.

One such mentor-mentee pair, Professor Tony Wilson and biology major Dilfuza Kurbanova ’25, focused their research on antibodies, key components of the immune system. A first-generation student who arrived at ��ճԹ� from Turkey just a year before joining The Tow Mentorship Initiative, Kurbanova worked with Wilson to use recombinant DNA technologies, originally designed to produce human antibodies, to synthesize them in seahorses.

Beyond the lab, the program supports students in navigating applications for graduate school, internships, grants, and fellowships. As Kurbanova explains, “Before starting the Tow program, I didn’t have much knowledge about academic research and graduate school, but the program explains our options after graduating and encourages us to think about our future goals,” which for her include attending medical school.

Reflecting on his experience as a mentor, Wilson noted, “Regardless of where the students go after graduation, having the opportunity to participate in a program like this is life changing.”

The Tow Mentorship Initiative is just one of the many holistic mentorship experiences from which students can benefit at ��ճԹ�. With the help of peer-to-peer mentors, alumni mentors, advisers, and others, we offer unparalleled access to support systems students value for life.

Visit Boundless ��ճԹ�

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Enabling Every Student to Find Their Passion

Susan Landers — Tue, 05 May 2026 16:06:27 +0000

Born in Bangladesh and raised in ��ճԹ� from the age of 9, Mujibur Shaad ’26 navigated language and cultural barriers early on. He came into ��ճԹ� through the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK program, which provides academic, financial, and counseling support to low-income students who don’t meet traditional academic standards.

The psychology major has taken full advantage of the academic and experiential opportunities available to him. Through The Tow Mentoring and Research Program, which pairs students with faculty mentors to conduct scholarship, Shaad worked in a biochemistry lab studying the link between bone health and diabetes.

Through Global Medical Brigades, he volunteered in rural clinics in Panama and Belize. He later interned in Morocco through a study-abroad internship, observing surgeries and shadowing physicians. He most recently spent a summer in Kenya through Columbia University’s ICAP Next Generation Internship, an initiative funded by The Tow Foundation that provides students with opportunities in global public health. In addition to the internship, he worked alongside a doctor building a new hospital—something he dreams of doing in his native Bangladesh.

Shaad’s engagement extends far beyond the classroom. He has served as president of the Philosophy Society, competed internationally with the Speech and Debate Team, and played on the ��ճԹ� tennis team, helping lead them to two City University of New York Athletic Conference finals. These experiences strengthened his leadership skills while reinforcing a sense of belonging and purpose.

“��ճԹ� has so many opportunities,” Shaad says. “If you reach out, the people and resources here can truly change your life.”

He is on track to graduate in spring 2026 and is applying to medical school, carrying forward the impact of an education designed to open doors and transform lives.

Visit Boundless ��ճԹ�

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Nourishing Intellectual Lives

Susan Landers — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:10:50 +0000

David Hochman

It began with a chance encounter.

The scene: on board one of the many passenger liners crossing the Atlantic in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Enter Eleanor “Lee” Bell ’49 and Stanley Hochman ’49. They recognize each other…they think.

“Don’t I know you from ��ճԹ�?” each wonders.

It turns out they have more than an alma mater in common. Both are returning home from extended time in France: she teaching at a girls school in Brittany, he studying at the Sorbonne on the GI Bill. Both are smart, intellectual, and curious about the world.

In this way, their voyage home also becomes a beginning: Soon a couple, they marry two years later.

Photo Credit: Lütfi Özkök. Lee and Stanley Hochman in their Manhattan apartment in the 1980s. The photographer, Lütfi Özkök, was a friend whom Lee Hochman met in Paris in 1949; now internationally known for his portraits of writers and artists, he was a student at the time.

A Generous Choice

This story has long been cherished lore in the Hochman family—with the Hochmans’ son, David, later coming to understand how deeply important a ��ճԹ� education had been to his parents. It had provided a foundation for their life’s work as editors, translators, and writers.

And so, after his parents’ deaths, David Hochman and his wife, Dr. Eugenia (Genie) L. Siegler, professor emerita of clinical medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, made a generous choice: to create two funds in Lee and Stanley Hochman’s honor for ��ճԹ� students in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Hochman and Siegler’s gift establishes The Stanley Hochman ’49 and Eleanor Bell ’49 Hochman Scholarship Fund, which will provide tuition assistance for undergraduates studying in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences who demonstrate financial need, and The Stanley Hochman ’49 and Eleanor Bell ’49 Hochman Research and Development Fund. The latter provides financial support for undergraduates studying in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences to engage in travel, research, mentorship, artistic expression, community engagement, or any other opportunity that allows students to gain hands-on experience bridging their classroom with the world outside.

This act of generosity reflects David Hochman and Genie Siegler’s desire to make the kind of opportunities Lee and Stanley Hochman had—opportunities that allowed them to envision and then inhabit intellectual lives—accessible to more people. Having attended ��ճԹ� when it was tuition free, his parents would have been thrilled, David says, to provide “support for families that have limited means but high ambition”—families like both Lee and Stanley Hochman’s own in the 1940s.

Not (Yet) Friends

Lee Bell, later Hochman, graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in 1945, enrolling in ��ճԹ� that same year. Stanley Hochman graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1942, then served in the U.S. Army’s 66th Infantry (“Black Panther”) Division during World War II, before returning home in 1946 to enroll in ��ճԹ�.

But the two never quite connected while they were at school.

“They didn’t really know each other on campus,” says David Hochman. Their four-year age difference meant that, although they may have “passed each other on the Quad,” they moved in different circles. However, their lives had many parallels.

“They were both bookish kids. They were first-generation Americans. They came from homes where Yiddish was the language their parents mainly spoke,” says David.

Both his parents spent their teen years in ��ճԹ�, although they had previously lived in other boroughs, and upon their graduation from high school, he says, “I don’t think either one of them ever considered a different undergraduate option, because [��ճԹ�] was then free and their families did not have a lot of money.”

At ��ճԹ�, the parallels continued: Both majored in English. Both took courses in French and, according to their son, became “lifelong Francophiles.” After graduation in 1949, each independently travelled to France—one to study, one to teach. And on the way home, their paths would finally cross.

Moving Onward

Upon returning to the United States, they enrolled in graduate school, earning master’s degrees from Columbia University (she in comparative literature and he in English). They married. Both took jobs in the New York publishing world.

“They worked in book publishing their entire lives,” says David Hochman, who describes his parents as “smart, incredibly widely read in English and American literature, and curious about all the arts, especially theater and movies.”

Stanley Hochman was an editor at several New York City publishing houses, including McGraw-Hill, Walker and Company, and, finally, Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, where he was founding editor of the Ungar Film Library series.

Lee Hochman was a copy editor at the paperback-book publisher New American Library from 1964 until her retirement in 1990, rising to the level of copyediting chief.

“They lived a life of the mind that intersected with what we think of as the glamorous literary world, at the latter’s point of contact with commercial publishing,” says David. “They certainly weren’t the kind of editors who take big name authors to expensive lunches, but they knew all the gossip of the publishing industry…because they lived it daily and had friends all across it.”

Translation and Some Literary Romance

Their editorial work was Lee and Stanley Hochman’s “day job, and at night they were freelance translators,” says their son; they translated fiction, nonfiction, and “even some science fiction,” all generally from the original French. These included works like Stanley Hochman’s 1986 translation of French actress Simone Signoret’s Adieu, Volodya. And Lee Hochman’s still-in-print 1991 translation of The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas. And, together, their update of Kettridge’s French-English English-French Dictionary and their translation of Germinal, the Émile Zola classic.

“I treasure all their work,” says David Hochman. “However, since the joint translation of Germinal was done while I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I witnessed their sweat over it, it is the one that looms largest for me.”

The couple also published a series of romance books under a pseudonym.

They had fun writing these books, says David, because “they were able to match the style of the genre with literary references that would make sense for people who know English literature.”

David Hochman and Genie Siegler at home, with a selection of Lee and Stanley Hochman’s published works.

“There Will Never Be Enough”

“My parents were humanities people,” says David. “I think they would have understood that there’s always going to be government support for research in the sciences—that’s the way it has worked in our society since World War II—but the humanities and social sciences will always scrap for support. There will never be enough.”

That lack of a sufficient funding framework for the humanities and social sciences was an impetus not just for the gift as a whole, but for the two separate funds—one designated for tuition support and the other for supplementary (but essential) student experiences.

This kind of a boost makes a big difference to students.

“The Hochman family gift will enable us to offer greater access to scholarships and awards and make possible meaningful opportunities such as research, travel, and other real-world experiences that extend learning well beyond the classroom,” says Philip F. Napoli, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “We are touched that Mr. Hochman’s family made this contribution in honor of his parents.”

From Idea to Reality

While David Hochman describes himself as “mostly retired” now, his career has given him particular insight into the mechanics, and requirements, of higher education.

He spent decades working at the intersection of academic science research and regional job creation—including at the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology and as a consultant in technology-based economic development. His work experience, he says, has brought him “into contact with a lot of universities and with a lot of faculty—and I have a good sense of how institutions work, what they need, what they don’t get, and so on.”

So how exactly did he come to the decision to establish these funds for ��ճԹ� students?

“My dad died in 2014 and my mom in 2018, so all during COVID I was in the process of settling their estates and dealing with their belongings,” says David. “And as anybody who’s lost their parents knows, it takes time to process everything—not just the emotions, but the physical stuff.”

As he looked through his parents’ papers, he discovered “memorabilia that they had kept.” Things like high school newspapers, high school yearbooks—and ��ճԹ� transcripts.

“I began thinking about those transcripts and thinking about what I could do,” says David. “And that’s really how [the gift to ��ճԹ�] came about.”

Lee and Stanley Hochman had created a financial aid fund at their son’s preparatory school in honor of his grandparents, and with that gift in mind, David realized “there was nothing that honored my parents under their names.”

His next thought was “Well, if I wanted to honor my parents by name with a similar financial aid fund, what would be the right place to do it? And ��ճԹ� is the right place to do it.”

By honoring his parents in this way, David has ensured that the curiosity, discipline, and love of learning that shaped his parents’ lives will continue shaping the lives of future ��ճԹ� students. What began as a chance encounter on an ocean liner has become a legacy that will ripple outward for years. Through this gift, Lee and Stanley Hochman’s story now arcs into others: students who will dream bigger, travel farther, and discover more because of the doors the Hochmans have helped to open.

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Edwin H. Cohen ’62 To Be Honored With NAIOP New Jersey Lifetime Achievement Award

Audrey Peterson — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:46:17 +0000

Edwin H. Cohen ’62, owner and principal of Prism Capital Partners LLC and a veteran leader in New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry, has been named the recipient of the Charles Klatskin Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Jersey chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

The honor will be presented on May 14 at the NAIOP New Jersey’s 39th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Gala at The Palace at Somerset Park in New Jersey.

“Edwin Cohen’s achievements speak to a visionary and committed career in the real estate industry,” says Michelle J. Anderson, president of ��ճԹ�. “His devoted engagement with ��ճԹ� derives from a similar commitment to excellence. We are proud to celebrate this well‑earned recognition of his remarkable contributions.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award, named for Charles Klatskin, a pioneering leader in the state’s commercial real estate industry, annually recognizes an individual who has shown a distinguished record of service to the commercial real estate industry and community.

“Edwin Cohen’s career exemplifies the leadership, integrity, and long-term commitment that this award represents,” says Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP NJ.

Cohen has been one of the most prominent figures in the Tri-State Regional real estate brokerage and development community for more than six decades. In 2003, he joined longtime friend and associate Eugene Diaz to form Prism Capital Partners LLC, where he serves as a partner and principal. Under their leadership, Prism has grown into a major owner, developer, and investor in residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use properties throughout New Jersey.

Over the course of his career, Cohen has completed hundreds of real estate transactions across the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan area, including overseeing the leasing of several million square feet of office space. He previously served as an executive director at Cushman & Wakefield Inc., following senior leadership roles at Grubb & Ellis Company, where he held executive positions in both the firm’s New Jersey office and New York operations from 1986 to 1994.

Cohen’s career in real estate began in 1966, when he established and led the Suburban Division of Wm. A. White & Sons, a role he held until the firm’s acquisition by Grubb & Ellis in 1986.

In addition to his real estate achievements, Cohen has maintained a deep and long-standing commitment to education, culture, and community service. A graduate of ��ճԹ�, he has served on the school’s Foundation Board of Trustees for over 30 years, including four years as chair. ��ճԹ� awarded him its Presidential Medal in 2011, followed by the Best of ��ճԹ� Award from the ��ճԹ� Foundation in 2015 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Cohen has also been actively involved in the performing arts, helping produce and support numerous concerts and live entertainment events. These include the “Broadway by the Year” series at Town Hall, the “Broadway by the Season” series at Merkin Hall, performances at Manhattan’s 54 Below, and live entertainment at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where he also serves as a founding trustee.

His community leadership extends to faith-based and cultural organizations as well. Cohen was a founding member of the New Synagogue of Fort Lee, contributing to the early concept for its Holocaust Museum and playing a key role in the eventual merger of Congregation Beth Israel and the New Synagogue, now known as the Center Avenue Synagogue Since the merger, he has served as a vice president on the synagogue’s board of trustees and as a member of the executive committee.

With a career marked by professional excellence and civic leadership, Cohen’s selection for NAIOP NJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award shines a light on his lasting impact on both the commercial real estate industry and the communities he has served.

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Uniting for Student Success: ��ճԹ� and Aon Explore the Power of Purposeful Partnerships

Richard Pietras — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:26:57 +0000

At a recent event in the Presidential Lecture Series, ��ճԹ� President Michelle J. Anderson sat down with Aaron K. Olson, Executive Vice President at Aon and author of , for a lively and thought-provoking conversation on the growing synergy between academia and industry.

Held on September 30 at the Aon New York headquarters with a guest introduction by Christine Williams, Aon Northeast Regional Leader, the event brought together students, alumni, faculty, and professionals eager to explore how cross-sector partnerships can help drive meaningful, student-centered change.

Together, Olson and Anderson addressed a central question: How can educators and employers collaborate to prepare the next generation for a future defined by both uncertainty and opportunity?

“Each stakeholder plays a role in helping an organization reach its goals,” said Olson. “In higher education, that means developing real relationships with industry and staying responsive to change.”

Purpose as a Unifying Force

The conversation emphasized the power of purpose in aligning diverse stakeholders—faculty, students, alumni, donors, and employers—around a shared mission: student success.

“What do we mean by making a difference?” Olson asked. “It’s about elevating student success to a level where it commands attention and resources. That’s where employers and educators can come together.”

President Anderson highlighted the impact of Aon’s commitment to higher education and the students ��ճԹ� serves.

“Aon’s dedication to fostering student success is truly inspiring,” she said. “Few companies demonstrate this level of devotion.”

Aaron K. Olson, Executive Vice President at Aon, and ��ճԹ� President Michelle J. Anderson address the audience at the Presidential Lecture Series event on September 30.

Preparing Students for a Changing Workforce

As artificial intelligence and automation reshape the job landscape, Olson stressed the need for closer collaboration between employers and colleges to ensure graduates are prepared for tomorrow’s roles.

“��ճԹ� has leaders who are focused on this outcome,” Olson said. “Businesses should prioritize schools with a track record of producing qualified graduates—without saddling them with overwhelming debt.”

��ճԹ� is already leading in this space. Consistently ranked among the top institutions nationwide for economic mobility, the college delivers a high return on investment and opens doors to meaningful, upwardly mobile careers.

“Social mobility may sound academic,” Olson noted, “but businesses understand ROI. Look at schools like ��ճԹ� that deliver real value.”

Real Students, Real Impact

The evening featured powerful stories from students whose lives have been transformed by these partnerships.

��ճԹ� student Damir Shavkatov, who is pursuing a psychology major and a marketing minor, shared his journey from first-generation college student to intern at Aon.

“My father used to drive us around Manhattan and say, ‘One day, I hope you work in one of these buildings.’ Now I do,” Shavkatov said. “Doing an internship at Aon was a game-changer for me. Even though my internship is over, I still carry my Aon badge in my backpack every day.”

He credited ��ճԹ� for providing opportunities he might not have found elsewhere.

“If I went to a different school, I would probably have stayed behind the scenes. I wouldn’t necessarily have been a student that the professors really engaged with since a lot of schools, it’s about prestige, where the student came from. But ��ճԹ� has shaped me. And here I am on the 30th floor. “

Aon’s engagement goes far beyond internships. The company helped establish a risk management and insurance curriculum at ��ճԹ� and actively recruits from its diverse, talented student population.

Aaron K. Olson, Executive Vice President at Aon and author of “Strategy and Change: Finding Opportunity in Disruption Through Insight, Choice, and Risk,” signs a copy of his book for a student.

Advice for the Next Generation

During the Q&A, a student asked what skills emerging professionals should prioritize. Olson’s answer was simple yet profound: “Invest in relationship-building,” he said. “We watch for students who are proactive—who go out of their way to connect.”

As the evening concluded, one message stood out: while disruption is inevitable, it can be a force for good when approached with shared purpose, strong partnerships, and an unwavering focus on student success.

Watch this Presidential Lecture Series event .

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��ճԹ� Mourns the Passing of Leonard Tow

Richard Pietras — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:14:48 +0000

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Leonard Tow, a beloved alumnus, cherished friend, wise mentor, and one of the most generous supporters in the College’s history. A proud graduate of the Class of 1950, Len’s belief in the power of education transformed our campus and touched countless lives.

Through his vision and generosity, ��ճԹ� was able to build the majestic Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts and create the exceptional Tow Mentoring Initiative, both of which have profoundly enriched our campus community. Len’s commitment to education, along with that of his late wife and fellow alumna Claire Tow ’52, also supported research, the arts, faculty and student travel, and countless other opportunities that have shaped the College for the better.

One of the most recent and heartfelt gifts grew out of Len’s close friendship with Tania León—a renowned composer, conductor, and educator who taught at ��ճԹ� for many years. In 2024, The Tow Foundation endowed the Tania León Chair of Music, a lasting tribute to his friend that will enrich the college for generations to come.

Beyond his extraordinary philanthropy, Len was a trusted confidant and an inspiring mentor to many, including me, offering guidance, encouragement, and genuine warmth and humility. His kindness, wisdom, and unwavering belief in others left an indelible imprint on those who were fortunate enough to call him a friend.

Len Tow opened doors for thousands of students at ��ճԹ� who might not otherwise have had the chance to pursue their dreams. His legacy will live on in every classroom, every lab, and every gathering space his generosity made possible — and in the hearts of all who knew this giant of a man.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Tow family. The memory of Leonard Tow will forever be a guiding light on the ��ճԹ� campus.

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A Gift in Turn

Susan Landers — Wed, 14 May 2025 14:25:04 +0000

When describing her path to becoming a molecular and cellular biologist, Chafen Lu speaks about the pivotal moment when she first encountered Biology Professor Peter Lipke in summer 1987. Lipke was a visiting professor at the university in China where Lu worked as a biochemistry instructor. Lipke’s lectures focused on molecular biology—Lu was his interpreter.

“I was fascinated,” she says. “He talked about recombinant DNA and the application of the technology surrounding it. It was pretty new in China.”

Two years later, Lu was in the United States, working in Lipke’s lab. He became her mentor and adviser as she earned her Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology at CUNY’s Graduate School.

Lu credits her experiences working with Lipke—who recently retired—as laying the foundation for her career, which includes the development of groundbreaking treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and malaria, among other notable accomplishments. To honor him on his retirement, Lu has established the Peter and Anne Lipke Professorship in Biology at ��ճԹ�. The goal of the gift is to support research and help the Biology Department continue recruiting top faculty.

“Peter is an inspiration for me, both in my personal and scientific journey,” says Lu. “But more importantly, he is dedicated to mentoring, educating, and increasing campus diversity,” which includes his career-long efforts to increase the number of minority students in his laboratory and biology and the sciences in general.

“What could be better than establishing a professorship in his honor, to keep his legacy and values of teaching students and promoting equity and diversity for generations to come,” she adds.

From Rural China to the Big City

Chafen Lu

Chafen Lu’s story begins in a rural village in China during the Cultural Revolution, when the country’s goal was to remove any vestiges of capitalist and traditional cultural elements from Chinese society. Like other children at that time, at a young age Lu helped her family, working in the fields and taking care of her younger siblings. Despite the limited educational resources in the local schools (“we had a sort-of locked cabinet that served as the school library”), Lu excelled academically. When China restored college entrance exams in 1979, she was one of the few from her village to pass and attend university.

“First in my family and first in my village for many years,” says Lu.

She wanted to study biology, so she majored in forest protection and then earned her master’s degree in plant pathology at an agricultural school in northern China. Lu had been thinking about studying in the United States—some fellow graduate students had already done so. After the Lipke lectures, she was ready to pursue her Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology.

“Peter’s an amazing mentor,” says Lu. He helped her with the application process to CUNY Graduate School and even met her at the airport. “He encouraged independence and critical thinking. We’d have lab meetings that were always stimulating. He always made himself available whenever I had questions or wanted to share exciting research results,” she adds.

An Outstanding Career

Lu’s work with Lipke—on a cell adhesion protein called alpha-agglutinin—was fundamental to her postdoctoral training and during her career at Millennium Pharmaceuticals leading drug discovery and development teams. A family of cell adhesion molecules called integrins were a key part of the therapeutic antibodies that Lu helped develop for a drug—Entyvio—that has become a preferred treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.

“It’s gratifying to see something you worked on turn out to be a treatment that can heal and save lives,” says Lu.

She joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School, where she trained students in molecular biology and supervised research assistants and postdoctoral fellows. She continued her research, working on multiple projects and publishing prolifically. One project stands out for Lu—the malaria vaccine design project. “The disease is still a global health issue,” she says, “particularly in Africa and subtropical regions.” Her work is contributing to a more efficacious malaria vaccine.

Just as she was inspired and mentored by Peter Lipke, Lu would like to see her gift of the professorship do the same for ��ճԹ�.

“I hope it helps the Biology Department to recruit diverse, talented faculty who will, in turn, prepare students for successful careers in science- and health-related fields.”

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Redefining Potential

Susan Landers — Wed, 14 May 2025 14:14:11 +0000

Yolande Matthew ’05 came to the United States as a teenager with mixed emotions—excited for the opportunity but wistful for her home in Grenada. She ultimately made her way to ��ճԹ�, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance, leading to a successful career in banking. For more than 19 years, she has concentrated on financial inclusion, with a passion to help people from all backgrounds access services and build wealth and financial confidence.

Here, she talks about finding her purpose, why she gives back to her alma mater, and her advice for today’s students.

Tell us about your background.

There is no me without Grenada; I was born and raised on that little island in the Caribbean. While growing up there, my values were shaped to make me who I am today. Family and community were a key part of my upbringing, and this aligns with my career choice.

In 1998, at 16, I moved to the United States. For the first few months, I was excited and terribly sad at the same time. I missed my home country and wasn’t sure about my future or purpose. What was I going to do with opportunities that came my way? How would I acclimate to the culture? They were some of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced—and although I was still a child, I grew up really fast.

I knew that to make it in America, I had to lean into my purpose and rely on the community. I made it a priority to help my family in Grenada and future generations to come. Opportunities meant finishing high school and going to college.

Why did you choose ��ճԹ�?

��ճԹ� was not my first college experience; I began at Baruch College (CUNY). I was excited to be there and wanted to study business, but I struggled with the new environment and was advised to start with a community college. So, I transferred to Kingsborough Community College (CUNY); it was a wonderful experience!

Along with the education, there was a beach next to [Kingsborough] that reminded me of Grenada—it turned out to be an excellent foundation for my college years. My ultimate goal was to earn a bachelor’s degree at a school where other Caribbean students and a good mix of different cultures could come together in a diverse environment. I knew that would help me grow and evolve. ��ճԹ� had all of that! It’s one of my favorite memories, and a great experience in the U.S.

What made you decide to pursue banking as a career?

I went into banking because I wanted to help others, especially those in my community, with financial education. During my senior year, I went to the Magner Center for career advice and a résumé review. I thought my résumé was pretty good until Natalia [Guarin-Klein] looked at it! She saw me right away.

Around the same time, Citibank came to campus to recruit students for a management associate program. I was headed home, passing students in suits on campus. I asked them where they were going, and they said that Citibank was there to recruit. I was dressed casually but decided to check it out. I sat in the back and watched as the Citibank executive was introduced. I applauded loudly—I was so excited—and he noticed. He said, “That looks like somebody who will get the job.”

The next day, I told Natalia I wanted to interview for the program. The company only hired one student each year. And I knew this was the right fit for me; I would learn and grow and build my career. After four rounds of interviews with Citibank, with Natalia coaching me along the way, I got the call from the program manager—I was the one student selected from ��ճԹ�.

You stayed with Citibank after completing the program.

After graduation, I began the two-year Management Associate program at Citibank and then became a bank manager in a predominantly Caribbean community in ��ճԹ�. That branch was underperforming, but I was able to boost its success through community engagement and building a high-performing team. I felt like I was giving back to the community and helping the company.

Based on my success, my manager challenged me to take a role leading Citibank’s headquarters branch. After six years of leading teams and driving success, I was chosen to lead the Citibank client experience engagement program supporting the branches.

You currently work at Truist. Is your current job role similar?

I’m a financial inclusion executive at Truist, and a lot of my work draws from my previous experiences. We help clients in our communities build financial confidence regardless of where they are on their journey. Just like I needed Natalia to coach me during college, I believe everyone needs a financial coach for advice and guidance to live a life of financial wellness.

Every day, I get excited that my team and I have the opportunity, through community outreach, to engage with small businesses, colleges, employers, and employees to share banking solutions, deliver financial education, and connect clients with bankers focused on their success. We also work with great partners like Operation HOPE, which helps provide one-on-one coaching as an extension of our work.

Your own philanthropy extends to your alma mater.

I donate to ��ճԹ� because I am where I am because of ��ճԹ�, specifically the Magner Center. The center played such a pivotal role in my life.

When I think about college students and the opportunity to invest and give back, I remember where I came from and how it started. Low income does not mean low potential. And if I could give even just one dollar, it makes a difference.

I live in North Carolina, so I can’t come to the campus as much as I’d like to, but I can help financially. That can change a student’s life–like the support I received. It all comes down to waking up in the morning and asking, “What am I going to do today to make a difference and live my purpose, or how can I improve myself?”

What is your advice for today’s students?

Ask for help and remember you’re not alone. The person sitting next to you in class or the person you’re walking next to on campus may be having the same thoughts or experiences that you’re having. Don’t be afraid to share your story, like I’m doing right now. Take time to network and build relationships, especially with people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives, as this accelerates your growth and prepares you for the world. Finally, when you understand your purpose, what I call “your why,” lean into it, do the work, and persevere. You’ve got this, and you, as you are, are enough!

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��ճԹ� Establishes the Peter and Anne Lipke Professorship in Biology

Richard Pietras — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:07:46 +0000

Sometimes a professor makes such an impact that their legacy keeps growing and growing. That is the inspiration behind ��ճԹ�’s new Peter and Anne Lipke Professorship in Biology.

Made possible through a gift from Professor Lipke’s former student Chafen Lu—a former assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School—the professorship honors Lipke’s legacy as a biology professor, which began at the college in 2006.

Instrumental in the growth of the college’s School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences through his service as a faculty member and department chair, which included mentoring countless students and faculty, Lipke began his CUNY teaching career at Hunter College in 1978 before coming to ��ճԹ�, a tenure spanning close to 50 years. Throughout his career, Anne counseled, tutored, and fed students. She served as lab manager before and after her career as a NYC public school teacher. They co-taught at ��ճԹ�.

(From left) Timothy Springer (Chafen Lu’s husband), Chafen Lu, Peter Lipke, and Anne Lipke.

Lipke was particularly passionate about teaching and mentoring diverse students who might not otherwise be exposed to biological science. This led to him being awarded the prestigious American Society for Microbiology (ASM) William A. Hinton Award for Advancement of a Diverse Community of Microbiologists in 2018.

“Through the generosity of Chafen Lu, the Peter and Anne Lipke Professorship in Biology will celebrate the legacy of one of ��ճԹ�’s most distinguished and accomplished science faculty members while continuing to offer our diverse students a strong foundation in biological sciences,” said President Michelle J. Anderson. “On behalf of the college, I would like to thank Chafen, Peter, and his wife and partner, Anne, for their incredible contributions to the lives of our students.”

“This is an incredible honor for Anne and me. It is so much more special because it includes the generosity of a former student. We hope it will inspire students and faculty to sustain the great research, mentoring, and teaching in the sciences at ��ճԹ�,” Lipke said.

Lipke retired from ��ճԹ� in Spring 2024 and was instrumental in the lives of countless students, including Lu. Lu earned her Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the CUNY Graduate School, where Lipke was her thesis adviser. Her mentor and professor also co-authored her first seven research papers, including her published Ph.D. work.

An accomplished researcher, Lu did postdoctoral work at Harvard and then worked at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, where she led the multidisciplinary drug discovery and development teams before joining the Harvard Medical School pediatrics faculty. Lu is named as the inventor on 24 current or pending patents and serves on the Marine Biological Laboratory Council, an advisory body of the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Lu credits Lipke for introducing her to molecular biology while she was a student in China and later for encouraging her to move to New York City and enroll in the CUNY system.

“Peter is an inspiration for me, both in my personal journey and scientific journey,” Lu said. “But more importantly, Peter is dedicated to mentoring, education, teaching, and campus diversity. What could be better than establishing a professorship to honor him, to keep his legacy and values of teaching students and promoting equity and diversity for generations to come? I hope this gift will advance the scientific community at ��ճԹ� and support its undergraduate students, faculty, and research interns.”

A special event, “Science and Stories: A Symposium and Retirement Celebration in Honor of Peter Lipke,” was held at ��ճԹ� on Nov. 22, 2024, to celebrate Lipke’s exceptional career. The symposium brought together scientists, storytellers, friends, and family to honor the Lipkes’ contributions to science and education.

Most recently named a Distinguished Lecturer by the ASM for 2024–26, Peter Lipke is a world-renowned microbiologist who specialized in the study of fungi—specifically how protein amyloids affect adhesion of the fungi, the host response to colonization by fungi, and whether amyloid-targeted drugs can be developed as antifungals. He has authored 119 papers and several patent applications, and he was also elected to the American Academy of Microbiology and as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Lipke earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California-Berkley.

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