January Academy is taking place on January 25 and 26, 2022 over Zoom. Zoom links will be sent out after registration.
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 (Click title to read description)
'Make It Quick' A Creative Writing Workshop Exploring Short Fiction, 10:00am-11:15am
Instructor: Cameron Stewart, Student Writing Specialist, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting Time: January 25, 10:00am-11:15am
Please note that this class is now full. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please email janet.fu@mhc.cuny.edu.
Have all your stories been snoring lately? Are you looking for prose that’s sudden and daring? Welcome to the world of flash-fiction! Together, we will explore short stories 1,000 words or less in length, then try writing one of our own. This is a low-stakes invitation to all who are looking to get creative. All writers, new and experienced, are welcome.
| About the Instructors: Cameron Stewart is the Student Writing Specialist at Macaulay. He’s excited to help you hone your writing voice and maybe discover your next favorite author. |
Balance: Proven Advice for Health, School, and Life, 10:00am-11:15am
Instructor: Andre Fludd, TLC Postdoctoral Fellow, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 25, 10:00am-11:15am
At some point, we all struggle with maintaining healthy life habits, focusing on school or work, and trying to have a life of our own. Luckily, there are hacks to help us get more done with less time and end the day feeling more satisfied with our lives. This workshop will comprise practical, proven advice for progression in three areas we often struggle with: 1) health & fitness, 2) school/work, and 3) personal goals and/or hobbies. Throughout this workshop, I will give helpful advice for balancing these three categories, avoiding misinformation, and learning how to progress in each. Taken as a whole, these practical tips will help anyone get more done with less time and end the day feeling a greater sense of achievement.
| About the Instructor: Andre Fludd is an ethnomusicologist who specializes in Indian classical music and diaspora studies. He earned his doctorate from the Graduate Center (CUNY), where he wrote his doctoral dissertation, “Indian Classical Music in the New York Metropolitan Area: The Development of a Transnational Ecosystem.” Fludd is also a versatile guitarist and student of Indian classical music, which was explored in his master’s thesis “The Electric Strings of South India: A Case Study of Electric Guitar in South Indian Classical Music.” He has taught classes on World music and music appreciation and focuses on using music as a conduit to greater cross-cultural understanding. Outside of work, he is also an avid filmgoer, martial arts hobbyist, and desserts connoisseur. |
Taking Up Space: Being Comfortable When Invited to Sit at the Table, 11:30am-12:45pm
Instructors: Vanessa Valdés, Interim Dean, Macaulay Honors College at CUNY
Meeting time: January 25, 11:30am-12:45pm
In this workshop we will identify strategies that allow us to be comfortable and confident in taking up space when we are in new environments: a new class, a new job, a new internship, a new opportunity. How do we present our best selves in spaces where we may be the only one or there are only a few from our background? What happens when we are venturing into spaces unfamiliar to our friends and families? Where can we lean for guidance? We will discuss all of this and more.
 Vanessa Valdés |
About the Instructors: Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés is the Interim Dean of the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY for the 2021-2022 academic year. She is the former director of the Black Studies Program at The City College of New York-CUNY, where she had been a professor since 2007. In addition to conversations she organized as the Black Studies Program director, Dr. Valdés worked with the Department of Student Life and Leadership Development at CCNY regularly, leading workshops for their annual Women’s and Men’s Leadership Conferences as well as other gatherings throughout the academic year. https://macaulay.cuny.edu/directory/dr-vanessa-k-valdes/ |
Makeup for Zoom and Beyond, 11:30am-12:45pm
Instructor: Amanda Hick, Assistant to the CAO, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 25, 11:30am-12:45pm
I invite you to join me for a makeup session that will help you find your inner and outer beauty! Whether you’re putting on makeup for personal enjoyment, an interview, or a glamorous night out…. I will show you tips and tricks! You can follow along if you have makeup, or simply watch and enjoy. All are welcome!!
 Amanda Hick |
About the Instructors:Amanda Hick is the assistant to Macaulay’s CAO, and a professional opera singer (Amanda Zory). She is delighed to share her makeup artistry skills, which she has picked up throughout her years of performing. Amanda has her opera performance degrees from the Juilliard School, Ithaca College, and CUNY Hunter College.https://www.amandazory.com/ |
Resting Stitch Face: Embroidery Workshop, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Instructor: Kelly O’Donnell, Director of Science Forward, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 25, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Please note that this class is now full. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please email janet.fu@mhc.cuny.edu. There is another session on Wednesday, January 26, 10:00am-12:00pm.
Come get crafty at our intro to embroidery workshop! Gather some basic supplies and join us to get started with this classic needlework technique. You’ll learn basic stitches and techniques so you can begin making beautiful creations.
At minimum, you will need these items: embroidery hoop, needles, floss, scissors, and a piece of fabric. You probably have a pair of scissors at home and your fabric really can be anything: old clothes, sheets, pillowcases, tote bags, etc. Try to find something woven rather than knit to work on. You will likely have to buy the hoop, needles, and floss. We have some suggestions for those individual items, as well as some suggestions for kits that come with everything you need (including fabrics with patterns on them that you can follow). YOU DO NOT NEED EVERYTHING LISTED BELOW IN THE EQUIPMENT LIST; just pick the item (or items) that will give you the basics (hoop, needles, floss, and fabric and scissors (if needed).
| ITEM | LINK FOR PURCHASE |
| Basic kit with pattern (basic pattern) | Bucilla Stamped Embroidery Kit Pocket Posies |
| Basic kit with pattern (more complex pattern) | Beginner Embroidery Full Kit “Plant” Pattern with Hoop DIY Craft Kit Stay at Home |
| Build your own kit (blank cross stich fabric) | Build Your Own Embroidery Starter Kit |
| Kit with three patterns + scissors | Embroidery Starter Kit with Pattern and Instructions, 3 Sets Cross Stitch Kit Include Embroidery Clothes with Plants Flowers Pattern, 1 Embroidery Hoops, Color Threads and Tools (Catus&Daisy) |
| Tools Only (higher quality tools, but no fabric or floss) | Tool Kit Essential Tool Kit for Hand Embroidery |
 Kelly O’Donnell |
About the Instructor: Kelly O’Donnell is the Director of Science Forward at Macaulay Honors College. She oversees scientific programing and academics for Macaulay. Dr. O’Donnell also regularly teaches one of the Science Forward seminars and occasionally teaches upper level courses such as Ecological Change & Human Disease and Detecting Bullshit in the Modern Age. Before coming to Macaulay, Dr. O’Donnell completed a teaching post-doc at Columbia University. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook University and a BS in Biology from Cornell University. Her academic interests are in botany, urban ecology, citizen/community science, and invasive plant evolution. Her non-academic interests include embroidery, trapeze, and Star Trek. |
Being Seen & Heard: Healthy Communication In Your Relationships, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Instructors: Dorene Ng, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Macaulay Wellness Center and Kristina Gowin, Associate Director of Wellness and Counseling, Macaulay Wellness Center
Meeting time: January 25, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Have there been miscommunication and negative patterns of communication in your relationship(s) that have caused you stress? During this interactive workshop, participants will understand their communication style, understand other people’s communication style, and learn techniques on how to communicate your needs so that you feel heard and acknowledged, while also learning ways to actively listen and acknowledge other people’s needs. Participants will come away with a toolkit of strategies and new ways to form healthier interactions.
| About the Instructors: Dorene Ng is the Associate Director of Clinical Services at Macaulay Honors College. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her Master of Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Dorene has clinical experiences working in education and non-profit organizations, where she provided inclusive and affirming counseling to students, families, and educators of diverse backgrounds and identities. Additionally, she enjoys facilitating supportive groups and providing workshops or training to other professionals about anti-oppressive practices and trauma-informed strategies. Dorene approaches her work with each person in a holistic and collaborative manner.
Kristina Gowin works in the Wellness Center at Macaulay Honors College as the Associate Director of Wellness and Counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and received her dual Master’s degrees in Psychology and Psychological Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University. Kristina has experience working with young adults and families through non-profit organizations in settings such as foster care homes, schools, and community based clinics. She also supports the professional development of social service providers through training and consultation. Kristina believes in working collaboratively with people through a recovery-oriented and self-directed approach to help them reach their full potential. https://macaulay.cuny.edu/student-life/student-well-being/mental-health-and-wellness-center/ |
Manual Photography Basics, 3:30pm-4:45pmpm
Instructors: Christopher Cali, Student Development Coordinator, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 25, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Do you have a DSLR or Mirrorless digital camera? At this workshop, you will learn about the technical aspects of a camera and what adjustments you can make to influence your images. We will talk about some of the most important camera settings and what you can do to get the effects you want on your photos.
Bring Your Camera: Bring your camera with you to this workshop, so that you can put what you learn into practice!
| About the Instructors: Chris Cali graduated from Macaulay in 2018 and now works as the Student Development Coordinator. When at Macaulay, he founded the Macaulay Photography Club. Photography has been a hobby of his since High School.
https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/chriscali/category/photography-work/ |
Introduction to Financial Literacy, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Instructor: Alan Chen, Tomoon Youtube Channel
Meeting time: January 25, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Everyone deserves the right and opportunity to engage with the modern world in a financially meaningful way to move upward in the socioeconomic ladder. We will go over the basics of credit cards, credit scores, debt, bank accounts, and taxes. There is so much more to explore, and this is a good start to your financial journey.
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About the Instructor: Hello! My name is Alan and I’m an alumnus of Macaulay Honors College at Baruch College. You would think after attending business school, I would know how to manage my personal finances. Unfortunately financial literacy is not a skill taught in schools. I come from a low-income family and have seen first hand the negative effects of poor money management and not saving early enough for retirement. My goal is to help people retire happily. By day, I write code as a software engineer; by night, I study financial literacy and make youtube videos. |
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 (Click title to read description)
Resting Stitch Face: Embroidery Workshop, 10:00am-12:00pm
Instructor: Kelly O’Donnell, Director of Science Forward, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 26, 10:00am-12:00pm
Come get crafty at our intro to embroidery workshop! Gather some basic supplies and join us to get started with this classic needlework technique. You’ll learn basic stitches and techniques so you can begin making beautiful creations.
At minimum, you will need these items: embroidery hoop, needles, floss, scissors, and a piece of fabric. You probably have a pair of scissors at home and your fabric really can be anything: old clothes, sheets, pillowcases, tote bags, etc. Try to find something woven rather than knit to work on. You will likely have to buy the hoop, needles, and floss. We have some suggestions for those individual items, as well as some suggestions for kits that come with everything you need (including fabrics with patterns on them that you can follow). YOU DO NOT NEED EVERYTHING LISTED BELOW IN THE EQUIPMENT LIST; just pick the item (or items) that will give you the basics (hoop, needles, floss, and fabric and scissors (if needed).
| ITEM | LINK FOR PURCHASE |
| Basic kit with pattern (basic pattern) | Bucilla Stamped Embroidery Kit Pocket Posies |
| Basic kit with pattern (more complex pattern) | Beginner Embroidery Full Kit “Plant” Pattern with Hoop DIY Craft Kit Stay at Home |
| Build your own kit (blank cross stich fabric) | Build Your Own Embroidery Starter Kit |
| Kit with three patterns + scissors | Embroidery Starter Kit with Pattern and Instructions, 3 Sets Cross Stitch Kit Include Embroidery Clothes with Plants Flowers Pattern, 1 Embroidery Hoops, Color Threads and Tools (Catus&Daisy) |
| Tools Only (higher quality tools, but no fabric or floss) | Tool Kit Essential Tool Kit for Hand Embroidery |
|
Kelly O’Donnell |
About the Instructor: Kelly O’Donnell is the Director of Science Forward at Macaulay Honors College. She oversees scientific programing and academics for Macaulay. Dr. O’Donnell also regularly teaches one of the Science Forward seminars and occasionally teaches upper level courses such as Ecological Change & Human Disease and Detecting Bullshit in the Modern Age. Before coming to Macaulay, Dr. O’Donnell completed a teaching post-doc at Columbia University. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Stony Brook University and a BS in Biology from Cornell University. Her academic interests are in botany, urban ecology, citizen/community science, and invasive plant evolution. Her non-academic interests include embroidery, trapeze, and Star Trek. |
Capturing a New York Minute: The 'decisive moment' in an image, 10:00am-12:00pm
Instructor: Michael Grohman, Partner, Duane Morris
Meeting time: January 26, 10:00am-12:00pm
Program will address fundamentals of capturing a moment in New York with a camera, including basic elements of composition and legal issues relating to photographing in public. Photography assignment will be given prior to the workshop, during which each student can present his or her work for the class. Importance of following your own artistic passion will be emphasized, as will how one can continue to be an artist when one’s formal profession is in another discipline.
Job Search Strategies, 10:00am-11:15am
Instructor: Gianina Chrisman, Associate Director of Career Development, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting Time: January 26, 10:00am-11:15am
Get help planning your career, getting a job and being successful at work with this free, helpful and fun training!
Students will gain a better understanding of what influences their career choices, identify key skills, and how to leverage their social networks and conduct appropriate research to maximize their job application. Students will leave with job search strategies and information on finding remote/virtual placements.
 Gianina Chrisman |
About the Instructor: Gianina Chrisman, Macaulay’s Associate Director of Career Development, leads the college’s efforts to match Macaulay students with high-level internships and research positions.
Gia received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, with a double major in Psychology and English Literature and a minor in Music. In 2010, she earned her M.S.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. She comes to Macaulay from VISIONS, a non-profit organization that provides resources for people who are blind and visually impaired, where she served as the Youth Employment Coordinator. Prior to VISIONS, Gianina worked at the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, and Hunter College. Gianina is also an avid fencer and has served as the Assistant Coach at Yeshiva University and Hunter College in the past. |
50 Tips to Get Your Dream Job, 11:30am-12:45pm
Instructor: Scott Mesh, CEO, Los Ninos Services
Meeting time: January 26, 11:30am-12:45pm
Get your dream job by following these 50 Tips! Do you know what employers look for? Learn how to impress employers and stand out by avoiding interview mistakes that can cost you the job. This is your chance to ask an experienced employer how to do things right and to have your best chance of landing that dream job.
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About the Instructor: Dr. Scott Mesh is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO/Co-Founder of Los Niños Services. He has interviewed and hired over 500 people in the past 20 years. Los Niños is one of the largest and best regarded special education providers of autism and developmental disabilities services to toddlers and preschoolers in NYC. He is the Director of the International Young Child Expo and Conference, rated a top 5 Early Childhood Conference in the US. He previously taught at Queens College and is the Co-Author of A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Assessment. He is active in the Entrepreneurs Organization where he created the Young Entrepreneur Summit. Dr. Mesh is the very proud parent of a Macaulay Honors College junior. |
How to satisfy the experiential requirement with an internship, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Instructors: Gianina Chrisman, Associate Director of Career Development, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 26, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Learn how to satisfy the Macaulay requirement for completing an internship, as part of the experiential learning requirement, and key information you’ll need to make sure it’s approved.
|
Gianina Chrisman |
About the Instructor: Gianina Chrisman, Macaulay’s Associate Director of Career Development, leads the college’s efforts to match Macaulay students with high-level internships and research positions.
Gia received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, with a double major in Psychology and English Literature and a minor in Music. In 2010, she earned her M.S.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. She comes to Macaulay from VISIONS, a non-profit organization that provides resources for people who are blind and visually impaired, where she served as the Youth Employment Coordinator. Prior to VISIONS, Gianina worked at the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, and Hunter College. Gianina is also an avid fencer and has served as the Assistant Coach at Yeshiva University and Hunter College in the past. |
Declutter Your Mind & Space, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Instructors: Dorene Ng, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Macaulay Wellness Center and Kristina Gowin, Associate Director of Wellness and Counseling, Macaulay Wellness Center
Meeting time: January 26, 2:00pm-3:15pm
Declutter Your Mind & Your Space: a workshop to discuss how to manage anxious thoughts and feelings during a stressful time, a toolkit of strategies and techniques will be discussed to utilize when anxiety is becoming overwhelming, and how your space can influence how you feel, especially how decluttering and clearing a designated space can clear the mind/reduce stress.
| About the Instructors: Dorene Ng is the Associate Director of Clinical Services at Macaulay Honors College. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her Master of Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Dorene has clinical experiences working in education and non-profit organizations, where she provided inclusive and affirming counseling to students, families, and educators of diverse backgrounds and identities. Additionally, she enjoys facilitating supportive groups and providing workshops or training to other professionals about anti-oppressive practices and trauma-informed strategies. Dorene approaches her work with each person in a holistic and collaborative manner.
Kristina Gowin works in the Wellness Center at Macaulay Honors College as the Associate Director of Wellness and Counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and received her dual Master’s degrees in Psychology and Psychological Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University. Kristina has experience working with young adults and families through non-profit organizations in settings such as foster care homes, schools, and community based clinics. She also supports the professional development of social service providers through training and consultation. Kristina believes in working collaboratively with people through a recovery-oriented and self-directed approach to help them reach their full potential. https://macaulay.cuny.edu/student-life/student-well-being/mental-health-and-wellness-center/ |
Everyday Astrophysics for Fun & Profit*, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Instructor: Emily Rice, Associate Professor, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 26, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Have you ever wanted to make sense of the Sun, Moon, planets, constellations, and your place in the Universe? Join Macaulay professor and astronomer Dr. Emily Rice in a guided exploration of practical astronomy and have your questions about the cosmos answered by an expert in a fun, interactive workshop . *Profit not guaranteed 😉
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About the Instructor: Emily Rice is Associate Professor of Astrophysics at at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York (CUNY), faculty in the Physics Ph.D. Program at the CUNY Graduate Center, and a resident research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Dr. Rice studies low mass stars, brown dwarfs (sometimes called “failed” stars), and directly-imaged exoplanets by analyzing their spectra and modeling their atmospheres, along with her research group, Brown Dwarfs in New York City (BDNYC), co-led by Prof. Kelle Cruz (Hunter College) and Dr. Jackie Faherty (AMNH). Dr. Rice frequently gives public presentations about space and science, including at the Hayden Planetarium at AMNH, and makes media appearances, coordinates Astronomy on Tap events at social venues around the world, and shares astronomy-inspired fashion through the STARtorialist blog and online shop. |
Aquaria in Your Area: Aquatic Environments for Your Dorm or Apartment, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Instructor: Joseph Ugoretz, Chief Academic Officer, Macaulay Honors College
Meeting time: January 26, 3:30pm-4:45pm
Freshwater tropical fish, in a small planted tank, can be one of the most beautiful and satisfying pets available. And they’re perfect for honors students: fascinating, attractive, indoors and low-maintenance. You can be sure your fish will live and thrive, if you start out right. This workshop will cover the basics of starting and keeping a small aquarium in limited space and with a limited budget (and some hints about how to go bigger and more expensive, if you get ambitious once you begin). You will leave with a clear idea of how to begin, recommendations about what plants and fish (and other creatures) you can keep, and solid information about costs and questions.
| About the Instructor: Dr. Ugoretz has kept and bred fish of different kinds and from different rivers and oceans for over 30 years. Currently he has (at home) over 100 gallons behind glass, including a display biotope of Lake Tanganyika and three planted tanks of various freshwater tropicals.
If there’s a mistake that can be made in the aquarium hobby, he has made it, learned from it, and will be happy to talk about it. |
Credit Score and Credit Cards, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Instructor: Alan Chen, Tomoon Youtube Channel
Meeting time: January 26, 4:00pm-5:15pm
Learn about credit scores and how they can impact your financial lives. We will discuss the various characteristics of a credit score such as how lenders use it, how it is calculated, and why it is so important. By the end of this workshop, you will understand how credit cards can affect your credit score and what you can do today to increase your credit score.
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About the Instructor: Hello! My name is Alan and I’m an alumnus of Macaulay Honors College at Baruch College. You would think after attending business school, I would know how to manage my personal finances. Unfortunately financial literacy is not a skill taught in schools. I come from a low-income family and have seen first hand the negative effects of poor money management and not saving early enough for retirement. My goal is to help people retire happily. By day, I write code as a software engineer; by night, I study financial literacy and make youtube videos. |
Novice Stock Market Investing, 6:00pm-7:15pm
Instructor: Alan Chen, Tomoon Youtube Channel
Meeting time: January 26, 6:00pm-7:15pm
Stock market investing is a scary journey for many of us and some people even consider the stock market similar to gambling. During this session, you will go from having zero knowledge of investing to everything you need to start your long journey to accumulate wealth. We will go over several key topics such as approaches to investing, impact on taxes, and research tools.
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About the Instructor: Hello! My name is Alan and I’m an alumnus of Macaulay Honors College at Baruch College. You would think after attending business school, I would know how to manage my personal finances. Unfortunately financial literacy is not a skill taught in schools. I come from a low-income family and have seen first hand the negative effects of poor money management and not saving early enough for retirement. My goal is to help people retire happily. By day, I write code as a software engineer; by night, I study financial literacy and make youtube videos. |