Queens College: A Legacy of Notable Professors and Alumni
Queens College, a cornerstone of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, boasts a rich history of distinguished faculty and accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions across various fields. This article explores the notable professors who have shaped the institution's academic landscape and the prominent graduates who have left their mark on the world.
Distinguished Faculty: The Heart of Academic Excellence
The CUNY Graduate Center, an integral part of the CUNY system, prides itself on its accomplished and esteemed professors. Among them, approximately 130 teachers and mentors form the central faculty. Many of these core faculty members have achieved the highest ranks within the Graduate Center, a testament to their exceptional contributions. Furthermore, the Graduate Center draws upon the expertise of approximately 1,700 faculty members from across the CUNY colleges, creating a diverse and dynamic intellectual environment.
The title of "Distinguished Professor" is the highest academic honor that CUNY can bestow upon its faculty members. This prestigious rank is awarded to professors who have demonstrated exceptional performance records at national and international standards in their respective fields.
Mirkin and Nomura: Exemplars of Faculty Excellence
Professors Mirkin and Nomura stand as prime examples of the caliber of faculty at Queens College. They are among a select group of professors to hold the title of "Distinguished Professor" at the college, located at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Queens College President Frank H. Wu has lauded them for utilizing research results to address real-world problems.
Mirkin's research delves into nano-electrochemistry, employing nanometer-sized electrochemical probes in conjunction with scanning probe microscopy techniques to explore systems and processes at the nanoscale. These highly versatile probes enable him and his team to examine a wide range of phenomena, including nanoparticles and biological systems. One notable example of their work involves positioning the tip of a probe near a substrate surface to study charge transfer reactions at a nanostructured solid/liquid interface. Mirkin's journey to the United States as a refugee from the former USSR in 1989 adds another layer to his inspiring story. He earned his doctorate in electrochemistry from Kazakh State University and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin before contributing to the early development of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). His accomplishments include publishing around 200 journal articles and chapters, as well as co-editing the first monograph on SECM and a monograph on electrochemistry.
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Nomura, a professor in Queens College's psychology department, focuses her research on the impact of genetic susceptibility and fetal programming on neurobehavioral development. Her work explores the concept that conditions experienced in utero can have lasting effects on an individual's life. Nomura received her doctorate from Columbia University and trained at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She has received a prestigious career development award at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and launched a longitudinal study of mother-child dyads with support from then-President Barack Obama's scientific stimulus grant. Her findings on the effects of climate-driven disasters on children in utero provide an opportunity for early intervention to address any resulting behavioral issues.
CUNY's Distinguished Professors
The City University of New York elevated 12 faculty members to the rank of distinguished professor during the 2022-23 academic year. The designations were formally approved by the CUNY Board of Trustees in May and June and bring to about 145 the number of distinguished professors actively serving on the University’s faculty.
According to CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, the elevated faculty members join a group of extraordinary scholars and teachers who have built international reputations for their scholarship, creativity and vision. Appointments to the title of distinguished professor require the completion of a rigorous process of administrative and peer review. The newly named distinguished professors represent six CUNY colleges, with faculty appointments at Brooklyn College, The City College of New York, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, Hunter College and Queens College.
CUNY’s distinguished faculty members produce scholarship and other work that advances the University’s commitment to strong public-impact research, a key component of the mission that was outlined in the University’s recently unveiled “CUNY Lifting New York,” a strategic plan to transform CUNY by 2030 and strengthen the many impacts it makes locally, regionally and economically.
Other examples of CUNY's distinguished faculty include:
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- Terry Huang: The chair of health policy and management in CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, Dr. Huang is globally recognized for his innovative approaches to chronic disease prevention and community health improvement. As the director of CUNY’s Center for Systems and Community Design, he collaborates with NYC Parks to evaluate the impact of the Community Parks Initiative, a $318 million park equity investment that has led to the redesign and renovation of more than 60 neighborhood parks throughout the city. He also founded Firefly Innovations at CUNY, a public health entrepreneurship platform for health equity startups.
- Sarit Golub: An acclaimed social psychologist at Hunter College, Dr. Golub's research on sexual behavior and stigma has transformed healthcare delivery to people affected by HIV-AIDS. Her groundbreaking work demonstrated how to get people to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as “PrEP,” a strategy widely adopted as the HIV-prevention standard.
- Masha Gessen: A renowned Russian American journalist, Professor Gessen joined the full-time faculty at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and was named the school’s first distinguished professor. A staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of 11 books, Professor Gessen has been honored for insightful and impactful journalism and commentary in international affairs, human rights, and LGBTQI+ culture and politics.
- Patricia Cronin: An Interdisciplinary artist and one of three newly appointed distinguished professors from Brooklyn College, Cronin’s work includes “Memorial to a Marriage,” a marble sculpture and the world’s first monument to marriage equality, bronze versions of which are permanently on display at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx and at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland.
- Kimiko Hahn: A poet and former recipient of the honor, Hahn was elected to the board of chancellors of the Academy of American Poets.
- Wayne Koestenbaum: A founding figure in queer studies, Koestenbaum secured a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship.
- Tania León: Distinguished Professor Emerita of Brooklyn College, León won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2021 and became the first CUNY-affiliated faculty member to receive a Kennedy Center Honor.
- Myriam P. Sarachik: A trailblazing physicist and distinguished professor at The City College of New York, Sarachik overcame sexism and personal adversity to become a widely acclaimed leader in her field.
Notable Alumni: Shaping the World Beyond Campus
Queens College has also produced a remarkable array of alumni who have achieved prominence in diverse fields, from arts and entertainment to politics and academia.
Arts and Entertainment
- Jon Favreau: A versatile actor and filmmaker, Favreau has appeared in films such as Rudy, Swingers, and The Wolf of Wall Street, and has directed blockbuster movies like Iron Man.
- Adrien Brody: An Academy Award-winning actor known for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in The Pianist, Brody has also starred in films like The Brutalist.
- Paul Simon: A legendary singer-songwriter, Simon is renowned for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel, creating iconic hits such as "The Sound of Silence" and "Mrs. Robinson." He enrolled in CUNY Queens College from 1959 to 1963, studying English literature.
- Jerry Seinfeld: A stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Seinfeld is best known for his observational comedy and his eponymous sitcom, Seinfeld.
- Fran Drescher: An actress, writer, and producer, Drescher gained fame for her role as Fran Fine in the television sitcom The Nanny, which she also created and produced.
- Carole King: A prolific singer-songwriter and musician, King is one of the most successful songwriters in American history, having written or co-written 118 pop hits that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Ray Romano: A stand-up comedian and actor, Romano is best known for his role as Raymond "Ray" Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, for which he won three Primetime Emmy Awards.
- Barbara Bach: An actress and former model, Bach played the Bond girl Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me.
- Hal Linden: An actor, television director, and musician, Linden has starred in numerous stage and screen productions.
- Marvin Hamlisch: A composer and conductor, Hamlisch was one of the few people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, a feat dubbed the "EGOT".
- Shaunette Renée Wilson: An actress known for her role as Dr. Mina Okafor in The Resident, Wilson has also appeared in Black Panther and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
- Bruce Kulick: A guitarist best known as a former member of the band Kiss, Kulick has also played with Union and Grand Funk Railroad.
Politics and Activism
- Daniel Bongino: A conservative political commentator, radio show host, and author, Bongino hosts The Dan Bongino Show on Rumble.
- Joy Behar: A comedian, television host, and actress, Behar co-hosts the ABC talk show The View. She enrolled in CUNY Queens College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: A representative for New York's 14th congressional district, Ocasio-Cortez gained national attention for her progressive policies and grassroots activism.
- Adriano Espaillat: A representative for New York's 13th congressional district, Espaillat is the first Dominican American and first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress.
- Frank Kameny: A gay rights activist, Kameny is considered one of the most significant figures in the American gay rights movement.
- Andrew Goodman: A civil rights activist, Goodman was one of three Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) workers murdered in Philadelphia, Mississippi, during the Freedom Summer campaign.
- Nicos Christodoulides: The President of Cyprus, Christodoulides graduated from CUNY Queens College with a Bachelor's degree in Byzantine studies, political science, economics, and Modern Greek Studies.
Other Notable Alumni
- Michael Savage: An author, political commentator, activist, and former radio host, Savage is known for his nationally syndicated talk show, The Savage Nation.
- Jerry Lawson: An electronic engineer, Lawson is known for his work in designing the Fairchild Channel F video game console and leading the team that refined ROM cartridges for commercial video game cartridges.
- Robert Moog: An engineer and electronic music pioneer, Moog was the founder of Moog Music and the inventor of the first commercial synthesizer, the Moog synthesizer.
- Cara Santa Maria: A science communicator, journalist, biologist, television producer, and neuroscientist, Santa Maria hosts the podcast Talk Nerdy and co-hosts The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast.
Documenting Faculty Contributions: Special Collections and Archives
Queens College's Special Collections and Archives (SCA) plays a crucial role in preserving the legacy of its faculty. SCA collects papers of faculty who demonstrate exceptional scholarly, teaching, and service activities. SCA also documents faculty involvement in civil rights and social justice movements.
Notable collections include:
- The Alexander Kouguell Papers: These papers chronicle Alexander Kouguell's personal life, career, and 68-year tenure at Queens College.
- The Andrew Greller Collection: This collection documents the work of Dr. Andrew Greller, Professor Emeritus of Biology, and his contributions to local land conservation efforts.
- The Banesh Hoffmann Collection: This collection contains selected papers, published works, and recordings of this accomplished Queens College mathematics professor.
- The Dean Savage Papers: These papers document civil rights initiatives by northern student volunteers under the auspices of the Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) Project.
- The Hortense Powdermaker Collection: This collection comprises materials related to Hortense Powdermaker's research and field work in Lesu, Indianola, and Luanshya.
- The Hratch Zadoian Collection: This collection consists of items donated by Hratch Zadoian, professor of political science and retired administrator at Queens College, relating to various projects he was involved with.
- The Joel Mandelbaum Collection: This collection contains numerous printed and handwritten scores and manuscripts created by Joel Mandelbaum.
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