��ɫ��Ƶ

The first-ever Mini-Conference on Undergraduate Research at CUNY’s central office attracted more than 150 attendees from across the University, a significant proportion of them from T��ɫ��Ƶ.

Professor of Iberian and Latin American Cultures Isabel M. Estrada, who directs CCNY’s Fellowships Program, led off by discussing an application for an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant that would create the CUNY STEM And Research Scholars Bridge Program. To be known as CUNY STARS, this program “would integrate community college students into growth-oriented multi-institutional pathways within the CUNY system to foster their access to graduate education, and to effect systemic change,” she said.

“It is important for CUNY students to be involved in research,” said Associate Vice Chancellor and University Vice Provost for Research , who also noted that 13 campuses participated in the day’s conference. “These introductions should begin at the undergraduate level so that students can see the wide scope of options available to them in this changing global, digital knowledge economy.”

Total grants and contract expenditures by the CUNY Research Foundation topped more than $600 million in FY24, she pointed out.

The mini-conference featured two panel discussions and four breakout sessions. The morning panel, on perspectives of students and alumni, featured four representatives of CCNY, including moderator of the Office of Experiential Learning.

One, Richard Perez, a psychology senior, shared the challenges he faced as an older student returning to college after losing most of his vision eight years ago. That experience ignited his passion for advocacy, particularly for individuals with different abilities. Crediting the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership’s network, he received an offer to intern with the New York State Commission for the Blind. He and his wife earned second place in the Zahn Innovation Center’s business start-up incubator competition in the Standard Chartered Women + Tech Track for SpotLight, which provides care management for individuals with low or no vision.

“One of the sayings I often remind myself of is that setbacks and failures are valuable because they provide an opportunity to reflect, analyze, and ultimately find a way forward,” he said. “This mindset was central to the creation of SpotLight, which came about after hearing about the struggles faced by members of our community who had lost their vision.”

The day concluded with an overwhelming majority of the attendees voting to hold a second such conference next year.