Undergraduate Research Day Showcased Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research across the Disciplines
Undergraduate Research Day, held in December, was organized by the Research Committee, the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) Team at Queensborough, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), and the Queensborough Academies.
“Undergraduate Research Day showcases the breadth and depth of the outstanding research of our dedicated and talented faculty and students. Faculty mentors also present on the research they embed into their courses,” said Sharon Lall-Ramnarine, Campus Coordinator for Undergraduate Research, Director of the CUNY Research Scholars Program, chair of the Research Committee and Member of the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative Team at Queensborough.
The conference gives students the opportunity to learn about academic research conducted by faculty and their fellow students, and to show the potential for research in a wide range of fields.
“This event is one of the academic highlights of the year for us as an institution dedicated to the formative role that undergraduate research plays in the success and collaboration of our faculty and students,” said Dr. Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D., Interim President of Queensborough Community College. “It is also a strong demonstration of the commitment by our partners at CUNY, who serve as conduits to research opportunities and other support activities for all undergraduate students.”
Undergraduate Research (UR) is one of five High Impact Practices implemented by the College, and all have proved to increase student engagement and persistence. One such student, UR presenter Angelica Pomar, will graduate in the spring of 2019 with an Associate of Science degree in Gallery and Museum Studies. Angelica discussed how her research project, a retrospective of conceptual artist and philosopher Adrian Piper, strengthened her desire to pursue art professionally. Her poster featured some of Piper’s works from the 1960s through the present.
“I chose Adrian Piper because she represents race and the power of femininity. She celebrates her identity as African American and Jewish, and bucks the idea that if you don’t look like something you aren’t something. That really struck a chord with me since my heritage is Hispanic, Puerto Rican and Colombian, but I’m still put in a category as Hispanic. I’d like to follow in her footsteps as a successful, groundbreaking female artist.”
Angelica hopes one day to be a teacher so she can take what she learned from her mentor, a professor who has made a marked difference in her life, and “pay it forward.”
That mentor is Dr. Kathleen Wentrack, Associate Professor in the department of Art & Design, who first met Angelica when she interned last semester at The New Zone art gallery in Brooklyn, which represents women’s art across all identities.
When Angelica was a student in Dr. Wentrack’s modern art class, she expressed an interest in doing an Honor’s project which led to her research project. Dr. Wentrack, who has been a full-time professor at Queensborough since 2007, guided Angelica in her classroom work and research, and suggested art exhibits to visit and trade articles to read and study. Dr. Wentrack also served as her art adviser and discussed transfer programs that would best serve Angelica’s academic and professional goals. Angelica heard many good things about the Art & Design department, not least of which came from her mother, who studied with Dr. Wentrack about nine years ago! Another of Wentrack’s star students was the College’s own Senior Photographer, Leo Correa.
2018 Undergraduate Research Day had 80 presentations and drew 200 attendees. The presentations featured the work of 76 students who were mentored by 42 faculty, and 4 faculty who embed research into their courses.
(Presenters represented Biological Sciences and Geology, Business, Chemistry, Engineering Technology, the Kupferberg Holocaust Center, Mathematics, Nursing, Physics, Social Sciences and Speech, Communication & Theatre Arts.)
Acknowledgments:
The City University of New York
Research Scholar’s Program (CRSP)
Queensborough Academies
The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP
QCC Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (SANNAS)
QCC Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program
Research Initiative for Maximizing Student Success (RIMS)
Queensborough Summer Intensive Program (SIP)
QCC CUNY I-CORPS: Tools for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Success (STEM Ties)
Space Weather Research and Education Program
QCC NSF S-STEM Scholars Program in Smart Energy
The Kupferberg Holocaust Center
Recognition and Gratitude:
Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D., Interim President of Queensborough Community College
Dr. Sandra Palmer, Provost and Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang, Dean for Research
Dr. Kathleen Landy, Assistant Dean, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)
Dr. Michael Pullin, Assistant Dean for Academics
Stephen Di Dio, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing and Communications
Tony Gamino, Director of Creative Services, Marketing and Communications
Phillip Roncoroni, Digital Content Manager, Marketing and Communications
Richard D’Amato, Print Shop Coordinator, Print Shop Services
Jacinta Patrice-George, Office of Sponsored Programs
Rawric Sumner & Kristina Papacostas, College Assistants, CRSP
Raj Vaswani, Manager of Strategic Technology Implementation & Integration, (IT)
Adam Volin, Sr. Systems Architect
Pedro Irigoyen and Andrew Xu, CLTs, Chemistry
Terrance Rohan, CLT, Biology
Jerry Sitbon, CLT, Engineering Technology
Marcos Peralta and Alejandra Rosas, Metropolitan Food Services
Vivi Tsarouhas, Administrative Superintendent, Buildings and Grounds
Dr. Irina Rutenburg, Chemistry
Dr. Tirandai Henraj-Benny, Chemistry
Dr. Paul Sideris, Chemistry
Dr. Sujun Wei, Chemistry
Members of the Research Committee:
Professor Kathleen Wentrack, Art and Design Department
Professor Andrew Nguyen, Biological Sciences and Geology Department
Professor Christina Manzo, Business Department
Professor Sharon Lall-Ramnarine, Chemistry Department
Professor Dugwon Seo, Engineering Technology Department
Professor Melissa Dennihy, English Department
Professor Mélida Sánchez, Foreign Languages and Literature Department
Professor Rezan Akpinar, Health, Physical Education and Dance Department
Professor Jeff hall, History Department
Professor Mi-Seon (Christine) Kim, Library Department
Professor Andrew Bulawa, Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Professor Scott Litroff, Music Department
Professor Georgina Colalillo, Nursing Department
Professor Marie Chantale Damas, Physics Department
Professor Kersha Smith, Social Sciences Department
Professor Franca Ferrari-Bridgers, Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department
Marisa Hollywood, Kupferberg Holocaust center
Moira Adams, Office of Grants/Sponsored Programs
Shiang-Kwei Wang, Academic Affairs
Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative Team:
Professor Joan Petersen, Biological Sciences and Geology Department
Professor Sharon Lall-Ramnarine, Chemistry Department
Professor Maria Mercedes Franco, Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Professor Rex Taibu, Physics Department
Professor Rommel Robertson, Social Sciences Department
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