Faculty News & Kudos

Nazanin Munroe curated an exhibition at the College’s Ursula C. Schwerin Library, “Fate, Love and Divinity: Silks for the Sufi”

City Tech Director of Textile Technology and Assistant Professor of Business & Technology of Fashion, curated an exhibition at the College’s Ursula C. Schwerin Library, “Fate, Love and Divinity: Silks for the Sufi” (closed February 1, 2023). The solo exhibition looked at clothing as a way to express inner beliefs based on concepts from Sufism (Islamic mysticism). Read more . . .

Robin Michals participated in a gallery talk and group exhibition, In the Wake

In the Wake, (closed January 31) at the virtual Doris C. and Alan J. Freedman Gallery. Curated by photographer Stanley Greenberg to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and the first anniversary of Hurricane Ida, the show reminds us of the complexity, urgency, and promise of the climate challenge facing our city. The exhibition features photographs by Bryan Anselm, Jade Doskow, Natan Dvir, Alex Fradkin, Anthony Hamboussi, Robin Michals, Accra Shepp, and Stanley Greenberg. View the Exhibition. . .

Matthew Stanton has joined the City Tech Office of Communications as Communications Manager.

He comes to City Tech with wide-ranging experience in online, broadcast, and print journalism, content strategy, digital and multimedia communications, and user engagement. We are excited to welcome Matthew into this important role.

Tasha Rhodes has been appointed Interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management

We know we are in good hands and wish her all the best for her transition and new role at the college.

Justin F. Vázquez-Poritz, City Tech’s Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, has been granted the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Corporation (HENAAC) Award

Justin F. Vázquez-Poritz, City Tech’s Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, has been granted the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Corporation (HENAAC) Award (Education) by the Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) organization. The Award recognizes Dr. Vázquez-Poritz’s distinguished service and achievements as a dean, professor and scientist doing research on various aspects of theoretical physics, as well as for his exceptional work promoting Hispanic culture and serving the Hispanic community of City Tech, which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) this year.

Professor Gaffar Gailani, with co-PIs Professor Denise Sutton, and Professors Sidi  Berri, Akm Rahman, and Angran Xiao were awarded a $570K grant

Professor Gaffar Gailani (Mechanical Engineering Technology), with co-PIs Professor Denise Sutton (Business), and Professors Sidi  Berri, Akm Rahman, and Angran Xiao (Mechanical Engineering Technology) were awarded a $570K grant from the National Science Foundation’s ATE program for Technician Training for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials. The project is a collaboration between NYU and City Tech’s Mechanical Engineering and Business departments, and will include a college-wide “Smart Tank Competition” to promote student entrepreneurship

Professor Ashwani Bedi (Adjunct, Architectural Technology) was recently promoted to Director of Structural Engineering

City Tech Adjunct Professor of Architectural Technology, Ashwani Bedi, was recently promoted to Director of Structural Engineering at the New York City Department of Design & Construction (DDC).

He brings close to 40 years of experience, working with various national and international consulting firms, and has been with the DDC for over 17 years.

Bedi started with the DDC as a Senior Structural Design Review Engineer in 2005 and had been the Deputy Director of Engineering there since 2016. He has been involved in several in-house design projects and has led the Forensic and Building Sciences group analyzing and assisting with engineering issues, Mayoral priorities and emergencies arising on various projects.

Licensed in New York and New Jersey as a Professional Engineer, Bedi holds a Master’s in Structural Engineering from NYU, a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Pratt and an Associate’s in Construction Technology from City Tech. He has been an Adjunct Professor in the College’s Department of Architectural Technology since 2006 and is the co-author of Structure for Architects (Wiley, 2012) and Structure for Architects: A Case Study in Steel, Wood, and Reinforced Concrete Design (Routledge, 2019).

The DDC is New York City’s primary capital construction project manager, building many of the civic facilities New Yorkers use every day. Its staff members provide communities with new or renovated structures such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, courthouses and senior centers. They also design and improve vital infrastructure such as roadways, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs to ensure a healthy and resilient city.

For more information about the New York City Department of Design and Construction, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/ddc/index.page.

Professor Viviana Acquaviva (Physics) is one of seven researchers selected for the Simons Foundation’s first class of Pivot Fellows

Professor Viviana Acquaviva (Physics) is one of seven researchers selected for the Simons Foundation’s first class of Pivot Fellows. The program will support the seven accomplished researchers as they apply their talent and expertise to a new field in mathematics or the natural sciences. Each fellow will receive support for one year of training in their new field under a mentor, followed by the opportunity to apply for up to three years of research funding in the new discipline. Professor Acquaviva is an astrophysicist using data science techniques to study the universe, and she will be a Climate Scientist in training under the new program. Read more about her work and the program here.