Student Stories

September 14, 2020

After exploring editorial and culinary careers, Ariana Smith found her passion for international humanitarian law and human rights and enrolled in the joint program in law and international affairs offered by the Colin Powell School and CUNY Law. A course on nuclear policy taught by Dr. Jean Krasno, the program director, led Ariana to complete an internship in nuclear policy advocacy. Smith graduated in 2020 and recently became executive director of the Lawyer’s Committee on Nuclear Policy, which strives for a world free of nuclear weapons.   Where are you from and what is your… Read More »


September 14, 2020

Clinical psychology student Melodie Perez is making the most of her academic endeavors. Serving as both a statistics peer coach and a student advisor, Melodie is taking advantage of opportunities that have introduced her to the world of counseling. “It allows me to connect with individuals to not just listen, but also help them relieve their distress and dissatisfaction,” says Melodie. Melodie hopes to build on these opportunities to achieve her goal of becoming a psychologist.   Where are you from and what is your background?    I was born and raised in Harlem. My father is… Read More »


May 11, 2020

Congratulations to our Class of 2020 Valedictorian and Salutatorians   The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global leadership is pleased to announce the 2020 Valedictorian and Salutatorians for the Class of 2020.   Valedictorian: Randall Conway                     Randall Conway is a Political Science major whose research interests focus on realism in international politics. After growing up in Connecticut, Randall enlisted in the Air Force at age 17. He spent six years (2007-2013) in Bioenvironmental Engineering stationed at Kirtland AFB. During that time, he… Read More »


March 18, 2020

Dear Colin Powell School Students, I write to share updates and to encourage you to stay in close touch with us at the Colin Powell School via email, phone, and social media as we adjust to social distancing. This has been a difficult week, and we are living through a period of tremendous uncertainty. As we prepare to resume classes remotely tomorrow, our first priority is the health and safety of students, staff and faculty. Toward that end, we have spent the past week retooling courses and adjusting operations. We look forward to being back underway with instruction—albeit… Read More »


February 04, 2020

For most of her young professional life, Kalima Mckenzie-Simms has dedicated herself to helping schools become safer places for LGBTQ youth. Under her leadership, the PFLAG Safe Schools Program has more than tripled its presence in New York City schools. The program counters homophobia, transphobia, and bullying; gives LGBTQ students the support they often lack at home; and educates school communities about sexual orientation and gender identity. In recognition of her tireless and passionate work, Mckenzie-Simms was selected to… Read More »


December 16, 2019

Stanley Azuakola is an international student currently earning his Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) degree at City College. He was recently selected to join the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect, a network of emerging social leaders from around the globe. Before coming to study in the US, Azuakola was politically engaged in his home country, creating new online platforms to improve civic dialogue and participation. In this interview, Azuakola discusses his path to the Colin Powell School, his activism, and his recent… Read More »


September 23, 2019

MPA Student Elvin Garcia was selected as one of only three recipients of the notable Open Society Foundations Presidential Fellowship Can you tell us about yourself, where are you from and what brought you to the Colin Powell School?  I was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx. My parents are from the Dominican Republic. Like many Dominican families, we started in Washington Heights and there my mom, a single mom, raised me and my two siblings. We then settled into the West Bronx, in the Soundview area shortly after. I was a… Read More »


September 19, 2019

The Climate Policy Fellows Program is designed to support CCNY undergraduate students from the sciences, social sciences, architecture and engineering degree programs with training, professional development, and internship opportunities that link climate-related science, engineering and economics to public policy. Fellows will participate in two intensive three-day workshops led by a range of senior national and international climate policy leaders. The workshops will prepare fellows to understand how science, engineering, and economics research affects public policy, and how… Read More »


August 28, 2019

The Boudreau Fellows Program honors the Colin Powell School’s inaugural dean, Vince Boudreau. Boudreau Fellows are supported with mentoring, advising and opportunities to engage in special projects, as well as assistance in finding professionally relevant internships in between their two years of support. Boudreau Fellows are eligible for two years of scholarship support ($5000/year). The second installment of the scholarship is contingent on being in good standing, both academically and within the fellows program… Read More »


August 28, 2019

Thanks to the generosity of former Ambassador Stuart Bernstein, the Colin Powell School launches this fall the Stuart Bernstein Scholarship in International Studies. The inaugural recipients are Nailah Garard and Keith Mulet, both International Studies students. Garard is a senior who is double-majoring in International Studies and Anthropology. She is active in the Politics of Sexual Violence Initiative at the Colin Powell School. Mulet is a first-generation Guatemalan-American also in his senior year majoring in International Studies with a dual BA/MA degree in History as well… Read More »


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Last Updated: 01/31/2020 15:52