Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate and Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York | CUNY Graduate Center
Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate and Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York | CUNY Graduate Center
The City University of New York (CUNY) has announced its inaugural "50 Under 50" alumni list, recognizing distinguished graduates who have made significant strides in their respective fields over the past year. This first-ever cohort highlights the diverse talents and achievements within CUNY’s expansive community, including activists, lawyers, journalists, and entrepreneurs.
“CUNY’s story is best told by the over one million alumni who have been uplifted by the University’s mission, many of whom pay it forward by making an impact in their industries,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We congratulate these 50 CUNY alumni for standing out in how their careers have progressed since their graduation.”
Among the honorees is Ischia Bravo, the first Latina to serve as Bronx County’s clerk and commissioner of jurors. Bravo holds an associate degree from Hostos Community College and a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Another recipient is Andrea Dalzell, a disability advocate and chief operating officer for Access Initiatives. Dalzell is notable for being the first registered nurse in New York to graduate nursing school using a wheelchair.
Jerome Bishop Lane Jr., a community ministry organizer for the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey, supports 90 churches in New Jersey and also serves as executive director of The Transformation Family, Inc. Chris Mossiah, a City College of New York graduate and former U.S. Navy electronic technician with two decades of experience in technology, currently works as a product director at JPMorgan Chase.
George D. Adames served as the first LGBTQI+ community liaison for the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office and now works as deputy general counsel for the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
“CUNY alumni are making a difference in New York and around the world every day,” said CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Maite Junco. “We’re particularly proud to shout out these 50 changemakers who have done so impressively soon after their time at the University.”
The selection process was managed by CUNY's Office of Communications and Marketing which accepted nominations from all CUNY colleges based on alumni impact within their industries over the past year.
In addition to this recognition initiative, CUNY launched an Alumni Network earlier this year aimed at engaging graduates from its 25 colleges under one central group. The network includes LinkedIn and Facebook groups for alumni connections, quarterly newsletters, an Instagram page for updates, professional development events such as networking receptions with resume reviews and personal branding workshops.
CUNY encourages interested alumni to stay connected through resources available on its Alumni webpage.
The full list of 2024 “50 Under 50” honorees includes:
- George D. Adames
- Yehonatan Alfasi
- Kay Bell
- Lawrence Ben
- Justine Billups
- Ischia Bravo
- Arlene Burgher
- Shanaz Chery
- Malika Christopher
- Haiwen Chu
- Rachel Cole
- Catalina Cruz
- Andrea Dalzell
- Essence English
… [List continues]
For more information about The City University of New York or to view additional honorees' details visit https://www.cuny.edu.
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