Spring 2011 Issue - Lehman College

development news
Dr. Cedeño de Fernández became First Lady in 2004 and has concentrated
her efforts on working with some of the most vulnerable
sectors of her country’s population, aiming to reduce poverty, improve
education, and close the digital gap. Many of these initiatives
have won national and international praise, and she has received
numerous awards, including the World Information Society Award
from the International Telecommunications Union and the Gold
Medal of the Government of Italy. The Latin Pride National Awards
also designated her as “Woman of the Year.”
Dr. Cedeño de Fernández received her Doctorate of Law from the
Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and her master’s degree
in corporate law and economic legislation from the Pontifical Catholic
University. She also has studied at Georgetown and Harvard
universities, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
Thanking Alumni Donors with Champagne
And Waltzes
More than 100 alumni enjoyed a champagne reception in the
Lehman College Art Gallery this February, followed by a Sunday
afternoon concert with the Opole Philharmonic of Poland at the
Performing Arts Center (PAC). This was the second event held by
the Office of Alumni Relations to recognize Lehman alumni who
have supported the College.
Two Grants Provide Students with
Emergency Funds
There was good news recently for Lehman students confronting a
sudden emergency, like the loss of a job or a place to live. A threeyear,
$300,000 pledge from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation
and a $62,000 grant from the LCU Foundation are providing
funds to help students through tough situations.
Students may apply for funds from the Petrie Foundation to cover
a wide range of emergencies, including medical and dental work,
loss of childcare, essential clothing, like a winter coat, and travelling
expenses. The LCU grant is being used to aid women living on
the economic edge and experiencing housing crises. At Lehman,
there is a pressing need for the type of assistance offered by both
foundations.
“Both of these grants will provide the College with a critical opportunity
to help students who have financial needs,” says Jose
Magdaleno, vice president for student affairs. “This will allow them
to facilitate their academic success and achieve their ultimate goal,
namely, graduation.”
At the reception, alumni had an opportunity to
mingle, meet, and reconnect with one another,
and also enjoy “New York Fiber in the Twenty-
First Century,” which was on display in the Art
Gallery. The PAC generously provided alumni
with complimentary tickets to the Philharmonic
performance.
“The art exhibit and the concert gave us a wonderful opportunity
to welcome our alumni and friends back to campus, and express
our great appreciation for all they do for Lehman College,” said
Cristina Necula, Lehman’s director of alumni relations. “We
were delighted to offer them this beautiful afternoon of art and
music, and it was heartwarming to see so many alumni return to
campus—several of whom had not been back since graduation.
We hope this event will become a yearly tradition.”
10 Lehman Today/Spring 2011
Clockwise from top left: Fredrick Gilbert, acting executive director of the
Lehman College Foundation, Cristina Necula, director of alumni relations,
Professor Keith Happaney (B.A., ‘92) of the Lehman Psychology Department,
and guest Violetta Tadla with Aravind Mallipudi (M.S., ‘98); Professor Emeritus
William Seraile and his wife, Jane, Diane Joye (B.A., ‘08), and Thomas Smithwick
(M.S., ‘96); Stuart Gang (B.A., ‘78), guest Patricia Serafinn, and Rosemary
Pearce (B.A., ‘78); Rita Iturralde (B.A., ‘76) and Karen Jordan ‘75; Guest Kathy
Daly and Leah Santavicca (B.S., ‘77); Guest John Stoia, Madeleine Richard
(B.A., ‘69), and Kathleen Costa (B.A., ‘74) and her husband, Joseph.