Fall 2019 Magazine

CAMPUS
NEWS
Celebrating
APIDA Heritage Month
May marks Asian
Pacific Islander Desi
Associated* (APIDA)
Heritage Month, and
MMC held several
campus-wide events
during the final weeks
of the semester to
honor and celebrate
APIDA cultures,
histories, and identities.
Organized by MMC’s
Office of Student
Development and Activities, in conjunction with the Student Activities
Advisory Board, Campus Activities Board, and Cultural Peer Mentors,
the events were developed to be representative of as many cultures
as possible.
This year’s keynote event was a workshop on APIDA identity and
success in the workplace with educator Isabella Villacampa, Associate
Director for Community Engagement at New York University’s Center
for Student Life and a celebrated expert on topics including social
justice and identity, social media, and generational differences.
Other events included a Chinese calligraphy workshop; a food and
culture festival called Taste of Culture: Vietnam; an excursion to the
Museum of Chinese in America in lower Manhattan; a screening of the
blockbuster film Crazy Rich Asians; and a roundtable discussion on
perceptions of Asian ethnicities called But You Don’t Look Asian.
“It was wonderful to see APIDA student representation, not only in
event attendance, but also in the planning process to incorporate
their own experiences and cultures in the month’s agenda,” recounts
Fanny He, Assistant Director of Student Activities and Inclusivity
Programming. “As a staff member who identifies as Asian, it was
special for me to have a hand in cultivating the activities for this
heritage month, and I am excited to see how this celebration
continues to grow in future years.”
*APIDA officially stands for “Asian Pacific Islander Desi American,” but MMC substitutes
Associated in place of American to be inclusive of both domestic and international
students.
PROFESSIONALS
REVIEW STUDENT
PORTFOLIOS
In ART 480: Professional Portfolio, a
capstone course open to all concentrations
in the Art and Art History Department,
students create a portfolio for future
professional opportunities or graduate
studies. Instructed by Jim Holl, MFA,
Associate Professor of Art, students work to
develop a personal vision for their portfolios
and design their own curriculum within
a seminar that features weekly critiques
mentored by
Professor Holl.
The course
culminates in
Professional
Portfolio
Review Day, an
end-of-semester
showcase in
which students
present
their final work to faculty and industry
professionals for feedback. Last semester,
professional reviewers included designer
and illustrator Jane Archer, animator
and illustrator Julia Gran, and brand
designers Eric Shelton of Gensler
and Roger Vandenbergh of Onoma Design.
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT
HONORS CAROL BERMAN ’13
The 2019 Annual Scholarship Benefit was held on April 29 at Jazz at Lincoln
Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. Nearly 300 guests attended as the College
honored Carol Berman, a proud alumna of the Class of 2013, a member of
the MMC Board of Trustees, and a lifelong champion of education.
The Annual Scholarship Benefit is MMC’s largest fundraiser of the year, with all
proceeds supporting need-based student scholarships. Addressing attendees,
Berman highlighted the crucial importance of the event for the College and
thanked all those who contributed generously to the evening’s success.
“Adversity comes to us in many different forms,” Berman said. “Through
my involvement in the Marymount Manhattan community, I’ve learned
that many intelligent, talented, and driven students cannot afford to attend
college. My mission is to help them overcome their adversities and give
them the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. . . . On behalf of the entire
Marymount Manhattan family and the students who will now have the
chance to succeed, thank you for your support.”
16 | Marymount Manhattan College
Fall 2019 | 17