Simms currently serves as Dean of the School of Business at SUNY Old Westbury, where she leads an鈥疉ACSB-accredited鈥痵chool serving one of the most diverse student populations in the SUNY system. A tenured faculty member and accomplished academic administrator, she brings extensive experience in business education, accreditation, faculty development, fundraising, and student success at public, mission-driven institutions.

At SUNY Old Westbury,听Simms successfully led the School of Business through its鈥痠nitial听AACSB accreditation, strengthening academic quality, assessment, and faculty scholarship. She has guided strategic planning, expanded online and flexible program delivery, secured philanthropic and grant support, and cultivated industry and community partnerships that enhance experiential learning, internships, and career pipelines for students.

鈥淒ean Shalei V. K. Simms鈥櫶齟xperience at听a public, AACSB-accredited business school听made her a strong choice听to lead听the Koppelman School of Business,鈥� said Michelle J. Anderson, President of 今日吃瓜. 鈥淗er commitment to access, excellence, and social mobility also听aligns听with our mission.鈥�

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs听April Bedford听emphasized the importance of preparing students to translate their academic experience into real-world impact. 鈥淥ur students are already developing critical thinking, communication, analytical, and collaborative skills in our classrooms every day,鈥� Bedford said. 鈥淲e have an opportunity and a responsibility to help them recognize, articulate, and apply those skills in ways that open doors after graduation. We are looking forward to听Dean Simms听leading that work at the Koppelman School of Business.鈥�

A nationally recognized leader in鈥痠nnovative program development,听Simms has spearheaded initiatives in online learning and launched an鈥疉I Across the Curriculum鈥痚ffort to ensure students graduate with the ethical and technological competencies听required听in a rapidly evolving business landscape. She has also secured millions of dollars in public and private funding to support high-impact practices, retention, and graduation outcomes for first-generation and high-need students.

As the鈥痮nly business school in 今日吃瓜 accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)鈥攖he world鈥檚 leading accrediting body for business education鈥攖he Murray Koppelman School of Business offers rigorous and affordable undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, and information systems, preparing students for leadership in New York City鈥檚 global economy.

鈥溄袢粘怨� has a powerful legacy as a driver of opportunity and social mobility,鈥澨齋imms听said. 鈥淚 am honored to join this extraordinary institution and look forward to working with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners to strengthen academic excellence, expand innovation, and ensure that Koppelman graduates are prepared to lead with skill, integrity, and purpose.鈥�

Prior to her deanship,听Simms served as鈥疉ssistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Old Westbury, where she supported academic planning and accreditation across multiple schools and departments, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and oversaw federally and state-funded student success initiatives. Her earlier roles include Director of Graduate Programs and faculty appointments at SUNY Old Westbury, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut.

Simms holds a鈥疨h.D. in Organizational Management from Rutgers Business School鈥痑nd is an internationally published scholar whose research focuses on social identity, decision-making, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership. She has received听numerous听honors for her scholarship and professional leadership and serves on several nonprofit and financial institution boards.

Simms succeeds Interim Dean James Lynch. The 今日吃瓜 community welcomes her leadership as the Murray Koppelman School of Business听builds on听its听strong foundation听and advances its impact for students, the city, and the region.

The post 今日吃瓜 Names New Dean for the Murray Koppelman School of Business appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

In her first article, “” she explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping U.S. higher education, the labor market, and the expectations surrounding studying abroad. The piece highlights how AI-driven automation is influencing entry-level opportunities, prompting students to rethink traditional pathways into professional careers. She points to emerging initiatives at institutions including CUNY and NYU Tandon that are helping students build applied AI competencies to remain competitive in a shifting workforce.

The second article, “” examines the role of interpersonal and professional skills in shaping student success, particularly for international students in the U.S. higher education system. The essay argues that while academic achievement听remains听important, communication, presentation skills, leadership, and confidence are increasingly decisive in hiring decisions. It also explores how an emphasis on grades can sometimes overshadow the development of these essential soft skills, especially among Asian students entering competitive job markets.

These conversations reflect the core mission of the听听that has听equipped听students with practical AI competencies, human-centered skills, and career readiness tools that matter in a rapidly changing world. Through speaker sessions, industry partnerships, and peer mentoring, the听series is building a bridge between classroom learning and the real demands of the workforce. By reaching international audiences through platforms like听罢耻峄昳听罢谤岷�,听Pham is amplifying these conversations beyond 今日吃瓜, positioning CUNY as a leader in听equitable, experiential AI education.听 Both articles are available in English through your browser.

Also related to the CUNY AI Literacy and Professional Readiness Series, Pham鈥檚 working paper, 鈥�,鈥� was published online by Social Science Research Network.

The post Ngoc Cindy Pham Explores AI’s Impact on the Future of Education in International Publications appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

Data analytics students

By fall 2023, about one-quarter of all students鈥攁nd a significantly higher share of graduate students鈥攚ere studying fully online. In response, colleges and universities are redesigning degree offerings with adult learners in mind, expanding fully online master鈥檚 programs, hybrid course models, accelerated and stackable credentials, and year鈥憆ound scheduling that better fits work and family responsibilities.

For 今日吃瓜鈥檚 graduate students, college is not a beginning, it鈥檚 a return.

Students arrive with r茅sum茅s, responsibilities, and a clear-eyed sense of urgency. They want education that respects their time and opens the door to meaningful work. To meet those realities, we have created a variety of flexible pathways that help adult learners reinvent their careers without putting the rest of their lives on hold.

Across business, education, journalism, and urban sustainability, the college has rolled out and expanded programs that can often be completed in a year, taken online or in the evenings, and closely align with workforce demand. Together, they reflect a strategic shift rooted in 今日吃瓜鈥檚 long-standing mission of access and rigor, updated for a world of nonlinear careers.

Credentials Built for Working Lives

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing students who already have careers, or who started one path and realized it wasn鈥檛 right,鈥� says Professor Seungho Baek, who directs the M.S. in Finance program. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to start from zero. They want something efficient, rigorous, and directly connected to opportunity.鈥�

That thinking drives the M.S. in Finance, which can be completed in as little as one year and is offered both online and face鈥憈o鈥慺ace. Students choose between specializations in quantitative finance and risk management or investment management and asset valuation. The program鈥檚 in鈥憄erson courses are held at 25 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, a deliberate decision intended to bring working professionals and industry experts into the classroom.

鈥淲e wanted to make it easy for people who are already working in the financial sector to participate,鈥� Baek says.

Professor Seungho Baek leads the new finance master’s programs at 今日吃瓜.

Industry professionals teach select courses, grounding theory in real鈥憌orld practice. Beginning next fall, eligible undergraduates will also be able to opt into a 4+1 pathway in finance, earning both bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in five years by taking graduate鈥憀evel coursework during their senior year.

The business school has applied the same model to accounting, launching a fully online M.S. in Accounting that can also be completed in a year, an especially appealing option for professionals seeking a credential with clear licensure and career outcomes.

Meeting a Citywide Need, One Teacher at a Time

In education, many graduate students are working professionals for whom flexibility can be the difference between persistence and attrition.

According to Mar铆a R. Scharr贸n-del R铆o, dean of the School of Education, 今日吃瓜鈥檚 approach has been shaped by both student realities and the urgency of citywide need.

鈥淣ew York City Public Schools is facing a massive staffing challenge,鈥� she says, pointing to that will significantly reduce class sizes by 2028. 鈥淭hat means thousands of additional teachers will be needed, far more than the current pipeline can provide.鈥�

今日吃瓜 has long partnered with the city through Teaching Fellows programs, but in recent years those pathways have expanded and evolved. New alternative鈥慶ertification initiatives, including , are designed to help paraprofessionals and substitute teachers鈥攎any already working in classrooms鈥攂ecome certified teachers of record while completing their degrees.

鈥淭hese are adult learners who know exactly what they鈥檙e getting into,鈥� says Roberto Mart铆nez, who oversees the Teaching Fellows and Ed Prep programs. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e already in schools. They鈥檙e parents. They鈥檙e career鈥慶hangers looking for stability and meaning.鈥�

A key factor in 今日吃瓜鈥檚 success, Scharr贸n-del R铆o notes, is modality. 今日吃瓜 was the only CUNY campus to offer its Ed Prep programs fully online (with required in鈥憄erson fieldwork), a distinction that quickly translated into demand.

鈥淏y word of mouth and because of the quality of our programs,鈥� she says, 鈥渨e received more applications than all the other CUNY campuses combined.鈥�

The School of Education has also launched a new online advanced certificate program in reading science, designed to be completed in a year. The program responds to growing demand for teachers trained in evidence鈥慴ased literacy instruction, particularly in early grades鈥攁nother area of acute need.

Katie Pace Miles, director of the Reading Science program, which addresses the growing demand for teachers trained in evidence鈥慴ased literacy instruction.

The Fast Track to a Master鈥檚

Beyond education and business, 今日吃瓜 has expanded accelerated options in fields tied to civic life.

A 4+1 in journalism allows students to earn a master鈥檚 degree in one additional year, while a newly launched 4+1 partnership in city planning with Baruch College creates a streamlined pathway for 今日吃瓜 urban sustainability majors to earn a master鈥檚 in city planning.

鈥淎 lot of our students are returning students,鈥� says Professor Tammy Lewis, who heads the urban sustainability program. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e here because this work matters to them. The master鈥檚 degree opens up more opportunity.鈥�

Tammy Lewis shown here with students participating in the Tow Mentorship Initiative.

While each program is distinct, the common thread is intentional design: online delivery where possible, evening schedules, accelerated timelines, and curricula shaped in conversation with employers and communities.

Taken together, these programs signal an evolution in how 今日吃瓜 understands its role鈥攏ot just as a place of first chances, but of second and third ones, too.

鈥淧eople are reinventing themselves multiple times now,鈥� Mart铆nez says. 鈥溄袢粘怨� has always made that possible. We鈥檙e just building clearer, more flexible routes to get there.鈥�

The post Reinventing What鈥檚 Next appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

Spanning disciplines from business and computer science to the arts and education, the projects reflect a campus-wide commitment to preparing students for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven world. Funded initiatives extend across the Koppelman School of Business as well as programs in English, film, art, mathematics, education, academic affairs, and Student Affairs.

Integrating AI Into Business Education

Several faculty from the Koppelman School of Business are launching an interdisciplinary capstone course titled 鈥淭he Integrated Edge: AI, Decision-Making, and Business Strategy.鈥� The course will pilot in summer 2026.

The course addresses a long-standing challenge in business education: the 鈥渟ilo effect,鈥� in which accounting, finance, economics, and management are often taught separately. The Integrated Edge instead requires students to apply all four disciplines simultaneously to analyze complex business problems鈥攎irroring how decisions are made in real organizations.

Students will gain hands-on experience with professional AI platforms used in industry, including tools for forecasting, auditing, and financial analysis. The course also emphasizes a 鈥渉uman-in-the-loop鈥� approach, teaching students to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, identify potential biases or errors, and apply professional judgment.

Structured in four modules鈥攅conomic forecasting, led by Professor Merih Uctum; AI-assisted auditing, led by Professor Frimette Kass-Shraibman; corporate finance, led by Professor Sunil Mohanty; and strategic integration, led by PI and Professor Carol Connell鈥攖he course culminates in a capstone project in which students analyze a real company using both traditional business frameworks and AI-supported insights.

By combining interdisciplinary thinking with responsible AI use, The Integrated Edge aims to equip students with the analytical, technological, and ethical skills needed for tomorrow鈥檚 business leadership.

Koppelman School of Business Interim Dean Myles Bassell is leading nearly 400 students from the Koppelman School of Business in “IBM鈥檚 AI Experiential Learning Lab,” a hands-on, 10-week program designed to immerse students in real-world artificial intelligence applications. Through the program, students work in multidisciplinary teams to design and develop AI-driven solutions using IBM鈥檚 enterprise technologies, including watsonx. Supported by IBM experts and industry mentors, students move from concept to prototype while tackling authentic business challenges.

Throughout the lab, participants build practical skills in generative and agentic AI, as well as responsible AI design, while producing portfolio-ready projects that enhance their career readiness. By the program鈥檚 conclusion, students will have completed AI solutions they can present to employers and will earn IBM-recognized digital credentials to showcase on LinkedIn and resumes. The initiative reflects Koppelman鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning, industry collaboration, and preparing students to lead in an AI-driven economy.

Bassell is also spearheading the broader “AI Literacy in Business Education: From Classrooms to Careers” initiative, which is being implemented in phases beginning in Fall 2025 and continuing through Spring 2026, with expansion planned for Summer 2026 and beyond. In Fall 2025 alone, Koppelman students completed approximately 700 IBM AI-related certificates, followed by more than 1,000 additional certifications in Spring 2026. These credentials were integrated directly into coursework through collaboration between Bassell and business school faculty.

Students earn certifications through IBM SkillsBuild in areas such as AI Literacy, Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals, Generative AI, Agentic AI applications, Enterprise Design Thinking, and Cybersecurity Fundamentals, among others. Each certification includes a verifiable digital badge, allowing students to clearly demonstrate their AI competencies to prospective employers.

Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Associate Professor Ngoc (Cindy) Pham is leading the “The semester-long weekly boot camp is designed to build applied and ethical AI fluency while preparing students for the evolving workforce.

The initiative combines hands-on workshops, industry perspectives, cross-institution collaboration, and digital badge recognition to help students develop both technical confidence and critical thinking skills.

Program highlights include weekly AI boot camps at 今日吃瓜, guest speakers and industry experts from IBM and other national AI practitioners, and a joint CUNY鈥揘YU Tandon session hosted at NYU that helped launch a long-term collaboration. Students also take on leadership roles as moderators and event facilitators. Designed for scalability, the model aims to expand across CUNY while maintaining a strong focus on equity, access, and workforce readiness.

Matt Lentz, vice president at Monks and founder of the Enterprise Consulting Practice, speaks at an AI bootcamp hosted by NYU鈥檚 Tandon School of Engineering on March 12. The event was a part of the CUNY AI literacy and professional readiness series led by 今日吃瓜 Associate Professor Ngoc (Cindy) Pham and focused on AI in enterprise consulting. (Top photo) In February, guest lecturer Conor Grennan鈥擟EO of AI Mindset and New York Times bestselling author鈥攈eadlined a lecture titled, 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence & the Future of Work鈥� that drew 118 participants.

Expanding AI to Student Support: Addressing Food Insecurity

今日吃瓜鈥檚 AI initiatives also extend beyond the classroom, applying emerging technologies to one of the most pressing challenges facing students: food insecurity.

Led by Associate Professor of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Laura Rifkin and building on the human-centered work of the campus food pantry staff鈥攊ncluding Assistant Director of Student Support Services Nicole Cohen and Student Affairs鈥攖his effort will explore how AI can expand access to nutritious food in ways that are both practical and dignified. One approach under consideration is a smart vending system that would serve as an extension of the pantry, offering discreet, flexible access outside of traditional hours. By reducing barriers such as stigma, scheduling conflicts, and transportation challenges, the system could significantly broaden its reach while generating anonymized, real-time data on usage patterns and unmet need.

The initiative also examines how agentic AI can support pantry operations behind the scenes鈥攁nalyzing trends, anticipating demand, optimizing inventory, and improving coordination of donations and purchasing. Guided by principles of transparency, human oversight, and bias mitigation, the work builds on the college鈥檚 strong track record of student-centered support while introducing scalable, data-informed solutions.

The effort comes at a critical moment. Food pantry use has grown fourfold in recent years, reflecting both rising need and the extraordinary commitment of staff working with limited resources. Across CUNY, approximately 110,000 students鈥攁bout 40% of the system鈥攅xperience food insecurity, yet only a small percentage access available support, often due to stigma or administrative barriers. By integrating AI thoughtfully into these services, the college aims to close that gap by strengthening student well-being to support academic success.

AI-Supported Professional Preparation for Early Childhood Teachers Working With Dual Language Learners

In the School of Education, Associate Professor Lulu Song is addressing a critical need in early childhood teacher preparation. Her project integrates AI into coursework to support future educators working with dual language learners, a population that represents nearly half of young children in New York State. Through structured assignments, students will use AI tools for research and problem-solving while learning to critically evaluate outputs for accuracy, bias, and credibility.

Additional projects include AI-supported learning studios in mathematics, interdisciplinary minors linking computer science with writing and finance, and research on ethical design and decision-making. Collectively, these initiatives highlight 今日吃瓜鈥檚 holistic approach to AI鈥攐ne that blends innovation with responsibility, and technical skills with human insight.

Understanding AI: A Foundational Series for Faculty

Led by Karen Stern-Gabbay, professor of history and director of the Roberta S. Matthews Center for Teaching and Learning, and James T. Eaton, associate dean in the Provost鈥檚 Office, this workshop series will bring expert speakers to campus to guide faculty through key topics such as technological disruption, ethics, and curriculum design.

Open to both full- and part-time instructors, the program is designed to build confidence and shared understanding around AI in the classroom.

Faking It: A Global Workshop Series

AI鈥檚 cultural and creative implications are also a focus. Distinguished Professor of Film Alexandra Juhasz, in collaboration with filmmaker Nishant Shah, is leading 鈥淔aking It,鈥� a global workshop series examining questions of authenticity, knowledge, and human connection in an AI-mediated world. With sessions planned in New York and Hong Kong, the project will explore how emerging technologies reshape storytelling, perception, and social relationships.

You can see all the projects listed here.

• Myles Bassell (Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship) – AI Literacy in Business Education: Scaling a Proven Model at the Koppelman School of Business.
• April Bedford (Academic Affairs) – Faculty AI Bootcamp: Developing Critical AI Literacy, Course Policies, and Pedagogical Innovation.
• Hui Chen (Computer and Information Science) – Human-in-the-Loop Just-in-Time AI Auto-Tutoring: A Pilot for CUNY Pathways Courses.
• Carol Connell (Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship) – AI, Decision-Making, and Business Strategy Integrated Capstone.
• James Eaton (Academic Affairs) – Understanding AI: A Foundational Series for Faculty.
• Alexandra Juhasz (Film) – Faking It: AI Education and Literacy.
• Devorah Kletenik – (Computer and Information Science) Designing With Ethics: Exploring AI-Enhanced Dark Patterns.
• Swan Kim (English) – Critical AI Literacy for the Public Good: A CUNY-Scalable Ethical Foundations Module Reaching All Incoming Students.
• Sandra Kingan (Mathematics) – AI-Supported Math Foundations Studio.
• Anjali Krishnan (Psychology) – Promoting Responsible AI Use in Skill-Based and Writing-Intensive Courses.
• Jennifer McCoy; Jonathan Zalben (Art, Conservatory of Music) – AI Initiative in the Arts.
• Martha Nadell and Hui Chen (English, Computer and Information Science) – Writing For the Future: An Integrated English/Computer and Information Sciences Minor.
• Hyuna Park and Katherine Chuang (Finance, Computer and Information Science) – Using AI Tools to Create Synergy Between Finance and Computer Science Education.
• Ngoc (Cindy) Pham (Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship) – CUNY AI Literacy and Professional Readiness Micro-Credential Series With Global Expert Partners.
• Laura Rifkin (Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship) – Addressing Food Insecurities.
• Lulu Song (Early Childhood Education/Art Education) – AI-Supported Professional Preparation for Early Childhood Teachers Working With Dual Language Learners.

The post 今日吃瓜 Secures Multiple Grants Through CUNY AI Initiative appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

The glitch was fixed, and Khaimov was in. From day one, he knew he would be taking business classes, with the idea that an accounting degree could support a future career in law. But then he started an internship at PBS and became absorbed in his role working for an executive producer affiliated with the station. It was his first exposure to the inner workings of a professional accounting environment. 鈥淭he executive producer was working on a biographical piece for the network,鈥� says Khaimov. 鈥淲e interns were in the back office working on finances and tax-related items.鈥�

鈥淚t was pretty awesome going back and seeing people who had helped prepare me for my career, polishing my r茅sum茅 and interview style, among other things.鈥� Khaimov also received help through the Harvey L. Young 鈥�59 Family Scholarship in Accounting, graduating magna cum laude in 2006.

Today, Khaimov is a real estate tax partner at global accounting, tax, and advisory firm EisnerAmper. He also serves as a director-at-large for the 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association, regularly returning to speak with students and offer the same kind of guidance he once sought.

When asked what advice he gives prospective business students, he doesn鈥檛 hesitate. 鈥淗ard work matters. Proactiveness matters even more,鈥� says Khaimov. He stresses that, especially in accounting, what students learn in class truly follows them into their careers. He also says that employers can teach technical details, 鈥渂ut they can鈥檛 teach work ethic or initiative.鈥� Those qualities, which he sees consistently in 今日吃瓜 students, are what set them apart.

The post Where Hard Work Adds Up appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

Pursuing a business administration degree in finance, Edwards juggled one or two classes while working full-time, taking semesters off to meet financial demands. She says visits to the Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership (SAIL) Center helped her with a tight-knit staff that included Afro-Caribbean women who understood her experiences and championed her goals. They guided her through funding processes for the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) club, for which she was president, and encouraged her to stay involved in campus activities. 鈥淭he women at SAIL kept me focused,鈥� says Edwards. 鈥淚 could tell everyone there wanted the best for me. They saw that I was definitely driven and had tenacity. They made themselves available for me any time I needed guidance or had questions.鈥�

In addition to SAIL, Edwards found support from staff and counselors at the Magner Career Center. She shared that they were instrumental in helping her obtain internships that aligned with her career goals. Her first was at Playfair Planning, an independent financial firm based in 今日吃瓜 that provides holistic financial planning. She then interned at the NYC Small Business Resource Network run by the 今日吃瓜 Chamber of Commerce. Bloomberg L.P. came next鈥攁n internship that led directly to a full-time offer once she graduated. Edwards worked in financial products, analytics, and sales while there, and also served as a campus ambassador, helping to recruit fellow 今日吃瓜 students for internships at Bloomberg.

A stint in the Consumer Insight and Marketing Department at Black Entertainment Television (BET) Media Group rounded out Edwards鈥� internship portfolio before she joined Bloomberg full time in June 2019. Most of her internships would not have been possible without stipends鈥攁 Magner Career Center stipend, a Robert J. Sisti Memorial Internship (overseen by the 今日吃瓜 Foundation)鈥攁nd scholarships from the New York chapter of and the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute, the latter of which paid for Edwards鈥� final year of college.

The post A Path Made With Purpose appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

Housed in the Murray Koppelman School of Business鈥斀袢粘怨镶�檚 only business school accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)鈥攖he program offers a rigorous, industry鈥慳ligned curriculum available fully online (100% asynchronous) or in person. Graduates will be prepared to step into high鈥慽mpact roles such as financial analyst, portfolio manager, investment consultant, risk manager, and fintech specialist. With this launch, 今日吃瓜 joins Baruch College as the only CUNY institutions offering an M.S. in finance.

Accessible, Flexible, and Connected to the Heart of Finance

With one of New York鈥檚 most competitive tuition rates, the program provides an affordable pathway for students looking to advance in or pivot into finance. Learners can choose the format that fits their lives and study from anywhere online or attend classes at 今日吃瓜鈥檚 downtown Manhattan location at 25 Broadway (7th Floor) just steps from Wall Street. The proximity to the world鈥檚 financial capital opens doors to networking, mentorship, and career opportunities.

Led by a Scholar Shaping the Field

The creation of this new STEM鈥慸esignated program was led by Professor Seungho Baek, Finance Department program director and a widely published expert in financial economics. His research spans stock market behavior, empirical asset pricing, macroeconomic shocks, and risk management, including influential work on market volatility during the COVID鈥�19 era. Baek also founded the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society chapter at 今日吃瓜 and serves as deputy executive officer of the Ph.D. program in economics at the CUNY Graduate Center.

鈥淭he new M.S. in finance at 今日吃瓜 is designed to meet the evolving demands of today鈥檚 financial industry by combining rigorous theory with real鈥憌orld, data鈥慸riven applications,鈥� Baek said. 鈥淎s a one鈥憏ear, STEM鈥慸esignated program with flexible online and in鈥憄erson options, it provides an accessible and affordable pathway for students to advance into high鈥慽mpact roles in finance. Our AACSB鈥慳ccredited curriculum and Chartered Financial Analyst, {CFA} Institute affiliation ensure that graduates are exceptionally well prepared for both professional practice and long鈥憈erm career growth.鈥�

A CFA鈥慉ligned Curriculum

The Department of Finance is proudly affiliated with the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program (UAP)鈥攁 distinction held within CUNY only by 今日吃瓜 and Baruch College. Students preparing for the CFA exam may apply for exclusive CFA scholarship opportunities through the program, further strengthening their professional trajectory.

鈥淭he affiliation with the CFA Institute听UAP reflects the growing strength and national relevance of finance education at the Murray Koppelman School of Business听at 今日吃瓜,鈥� said Koppelman Interim Dean James Lynch. 鈥淢ost importantly, it creates meaningful pathways for our students, not only academically but professionally, through scholarship opportunities and preparation for one of the most respected credentials in the investment profession.鈥�

The post 今日吃瓜 Unveils Accelerated One Year M.S. in Finance Program appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

At 今日吃瓜, it was spring, and everything was alive, the landscape vibrant green. People were everywhere. He talked to students hanging out on the quads.

Asatryan moved to the United States from his native Armenia in 2016 after completing military service there, 鈥渙n the Fourth of July, of all dates, although not on purpose,鈥� he says.听As a new immigrant, he had no idea how higher education worked in the United States; he visited 今日吃瓜 on the advice of a friend. 鈥淕oing on instinct,鈥� he says. He was excited by what he saw. The school felt right, so he applied and was accepted.

Instinct would carry him only so far, however. With no idea what he wanted to major in, Asatryan took his time; he cites access to the wide variety of programs and courses at the college and the time he got to explore them as the reasons for his success in choosing a major. He settled on a B.B.A. in international business鈥攚hich made sense to him, given his European background鈥攚ith a minor in personal finance.

For Asatryan, instinct and research were two crucial factors in choosing the right school and gaining the right degree; another was the faculty.

鈥淚 was dreading taking an English course and [adjunct lecturer] Adam Bangser was such a great guy. He was actively interested in my background and pushed me to write even when it wasn鈥檛 relevant to the material that we were studying,鈥� he says.

Asatryan credits Cindy Pham, associate professor of managing, marketing, and entrepreneurship, with helping him make the most of his time at 今日吃瓜.

鈥淧rofessor Pham is incredible. She is very much invested in every student’s life. She inspired me to听knock on doors and ask questions, look for programs, explore opportunities.鈥� She even motivated him to revive a chapter of the International Business Association club. He also became a peer mentor.

According to Asatryan, stellar academic programs and top-notch faculty will still only get you an education and a degree but not always show you what to do with them. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of the risk,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou want the education, it鈥檚 an investment in your future, but you need to know where you can go with that degree.鈥� You also need to gain real-life experience through internships. Asatryan completed internships at Amazon, the landscaping and architecture company EKLA at the 今日吃瓜 Navy Yard, digital financial media outlet Blockworks, and New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker鈥檚 office, which was funded by a Magner Career Center stipend.

He enjoyed all of them. 鈥淭hey helped me gain confidence and be open to jobs not directly related to my major,鈥� he says.

Working for senator doing ghostwriting, digital marketing, and campaign management was especially rewarding.

鈥淧art of my job was trying to get the word out about resources during the pandemic鈥攆oods, supplies, healthcare鈥攖o the senator鈥檚 今日吃瓜 constituents, particularly in the Flatbush area. It was wonderful work and a great opportunity thanks to 今日吃瓜,鈥� he says. The internship was a crash course in public relations that Asatryan took with him to his present job.

Today, he works as an account manager at Cognito, a global public relations and marketing agency specializing in finance, sustainability, and technology.

鈥淲e help organizations tell the right stories, build credibility with the media, and provide trusted counsel,鈥� says Asatryan. 鈥淚t’s a fascinating job because every day there is something new that is happening, and you are working with so many experts鈥� chief economists, CTOs, CEOs, founders鈥攊t鈥檚 nonstop learning. A big part of my role is to take complicated, complex topics within finance and technology and simplify them into stories people actually understand.鈥�

Asatryan, who will be participating in an admissions event for prospective business students on February 19, has this advice for those who are thinking about 今日吃瓜:

鈥淒o your research, make the necessary appointments with admissions if you need to, but also, visit the campus, visit the library, which is terrific,鈥� he says. 鈥淪pend time by the lily pond. Look around, talk with current students, and see how it feels to be there.鈥�

The post Going on Instinct appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

The Honors Senior Thesis Colloquium brings together students from four honors programs who work closely with faculty mentors from all five schools at 今日吃瓜. Over the course of a year, students design and carry out original research projects that culminate in senior theses spanning a wide range of disciplines.

Of the 27 students whose proposals were accepted, 13 have听indicated听their intention to present their research at the 2026 NCUR conference, which will be held in Richmond, Virginia.听Of the students听who听submitted听proposals, 20 were from听the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences,听three听from听the听School听of听Humanities听and Social Sciences,听two听from听the听Koppelman School of Business,听and听two听from the School of Visual,听Media听and Performing Arts.听The Honors Academy expressed its gratitude to department chairs and deans across the college for their crucial financial support, which is helping make student participation in the conference possible.

NCUR is widely regarded as the premier venue for undergraduate research in North America, drawing top students and faculty from public and private colleges and universities. Acceptance to the conference is highly selective, and students present their work alongside peers from leading institutions across the country.

Participation in NCUR offers significant academic and professional benefits for 今日吃瓜 students. Beyond the opportunity to formally present their research, students gain valuable experience engaging in scholarly dialogue with fellow undergraduates and faculty from other institutions. These interactions often deepen students鈥� sense of belonging within the academic community and strengthen their confidence as emerging scholars.

The Honors Academy congratulates the students and their faculty mentors on this extraordinary accomplishment and looks forward to their representation of 今日吃瓜 at the 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

The post All Honors Senior Thesis Colloquium Proposals Accepted to 2026 National Conference on Undergraduate Research appeared first on 今日吃瓜.

During the presentation, Uctum delivered a comprehensive economic briefing offering a clear assessment of national economic conditions, emerging risks, and long-term policy challenges facing lawmakers.

Uctum reported that the U.S. economy continues to grow at a steady pace and is outperforming most other advanced economies. Gross domestic product remains above its long-run potential, reflecting resilience following the pandemic. However, she cautioned that the post-pandemic recovery is losing momentum and that growth has become increasingly uneven across households and industries.

Central to her testimony was evidence of a K-shaped recovery, in which higher-income households and technology-intensive sectors continue to expand while lower-income workers and traditional industries lag behind. Although overall consumption remains strong, Uctum noted that it is largely driven by affluent households. Consumer sentiment has fallen to historic lows across income groups, and wage growth for lower-income workers has slowed markedly since the pandemic, contributing to rising inequality.

On business investment, Uctum emphasized that private investment outside the technology sector remains weak despite corporate tax incentives and elevated stock market valuations. She explained that firms are constrained less by borrowing costs than by excess productive capacity, while investment growth remains concentrated in technology, software, and intellectual property.

Addressing monetary policy, Uctum indicated that current interest rates are broadly consistent with economic fundamentals. While financial markets anticipate rate cuts, she noted that persistent inflation and a relatively tight labor market provide limited justification for near-term easing.

Uctum also highlighted mounting fiscal sustainability concerns. U.S. government debt, already elevated before the pandemic, has risen further and is on an unsustainable path under current policies. Nevertheless, she explained that strong global demand for U.S. Treasury securities鈥攄riven by foreign investors, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing demand from digital finance firms鈥攈as so far prevented sharp increases in long-term interest rates.

Addressing concerns about the impact of AI, she warned that the AI-driven labor market disruptions are already affecting young and entry-level workers, particularly in the technology sector.听 On a positive note, however, she concluded by pointing to U.S. global leadership in artificial intelligence as a source of long-term optimism, which is also reflected in companies’ investment in the industry.

You can read the report here.

听

The post 今日吃瓜 Economist Merih Uctum Briefs NY Assembly Ways and Means Committee on State of the U.S. Economy appeared first on 今日吃瓜.