Held on February 19, 2014
This event featured speakers, including Dr. Rose-Marie Aikas, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Queensborough Community College, CUNY, who discussed the prison population today and issues of legal justice in America; Ms. Jessica Rogers-Cerrato, a lecturer in the English Department at QCC who was knowledgeable about New York’s controversial “stop-and-frisk” policy; Mr. Jordan Schneider, a lecturer in the English Department at QCC who discussed class, race and issues in higher public education; former New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm, who spoke on behalf of the challenges facing the LGBTQ community; and Dr. Genny Beemyn, director of The Stonewall Center at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who has published and spoken extensively on the experiences and needs of trans people, particularly the lives of gender-nonconforming students. The event was coordinated by Dr. Trikartikaningsih Byas, Associate Professor of English at QCC.
Rose Marie Äikäs is an Associate Professor at Queensborough Community College, CUNY, where she teaches courses in criminal justice and social work. Her current research projects measure college readiness in incarcerated students, and look at the education and internship experiences of human service students who were formerly incarcerated. Dr. Äikäs received a Ph.D and M.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in Criminal Justice; an M.S.W. from Jane Addams College of Social Work; and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Genny Beemyn, Ph.D., is the director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center and the coordinator of Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse. They have published and spoken extensively on the experiences and needs of trans college students, including writing some of the first articles on the topic. Dr. Beemyn has a Ph.D. in African American Studies and master’s degrees in African American Studies, American Studies, and Higher Education Administration.
Dr. Trikartikaningsih Byas is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Queensborough Community College, CUNY. She currently teaches EN 101 (College Composition) as well as EN 225 (Special Topics in Writing as Art & Craft, with the theme of Immigrant Experience). Dr. Byas is currently learning to teach the ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) course, which allows students to enroll concurrently in linked BE 112 and English 101 courses. She received her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; an M.S. from New York University College of Nursing; a B.S. from Adelphi University; and an A.S. from LaGuardia Community College.
Daniel Dromm has been a progressive leader in Queens for over 20 years. An award-winning public school teacher, Dromm was elected to the New York City Council in 2009 and represented District 25 (Jackson Heights & Elmhurst). During his time in public office, he served as the Chair of the Education Committee. Dromm is the founder of the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee and organized the first Queens LGBT Pride Parade and Festival, which he still participates in on the first Sunday in June in Jackson Heights. Dromm co-founded the Queens Chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG), as well as the Generation Q Youth Services Program in Astoria. He also helped found the Queens Pride House.
Jessica Rogers-Cerrato is a Reference Archivist at Phillips Memorial Library at Providence College and instant photographer who writes poetry, prose, and essays. For nine years, she taught writing and literature at two CUNY Community Colleges, Bronx and Queensborough.
Jordan Schneider has been an Adjunct English Professor for over twenty years, teaching at Queensborough Community College, CUNY, for the past twelve years. He received his M.A. in English and M.F.A. in Fiction from Queens College.