2025

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Dr. Francesco Crocco received his Ph.D. in English from the CUNY Graduate Center with a concentration in British Romantic Poetry. 
Dr. Crocco has published several books and articles on literature, pedagogy, and educational technology. He also developed a game-based learning management system and educational video games with funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. His current research interests include faculty professional development, utopian studies, and AI. 

In addition to teaching for CUNY SPS, Dr. Crocco trains faculty to teach online as the assistant director for instructional support in the Office of Distance Learning at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, LA. Prior to that, he was the director of the Online Writing Lab at Excelsior College and an associate professor of English at the CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College. 

When he is not teaching or leading professional development efforts, Dr. Crocco enjoys hiking, kayaking, playing guitar, reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time with his three children and dog. 

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Shane Snipes, PhD is an educator, entrepreneur, and AI researcher creating change in business and entrepreneurship education at BMCC. As Deputy Chair and Entrepreneurship Degree Coordinator, he brings AI, experiential learning, and community-driven innovation into his teaching. He created Citizen Entrepreneur Explorers Program (CEEP), expanding entrepreneurial education globally, and co-created AI Literacies for Innovative Thinking course. A Blackstone Launchpad leader, he has secured grants for student businesses, launched BMCC’s Founders Festival showcase, and mentors’ startups. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Snipes pioneers AI-enhanced learning, shaping tech-savvy, socially conscious business leaders. 

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Jacklyn Tomlin is a three-time graduate of CUNY with a degree in Disability Studies. While in graduate school, she focused on advocacy, never imagining that the framework she learned in class would become an essential tool for mobilizing her own community. 

As a Black woman navigating the daily struggles of life in New York City, Jacklyn was compelled to take action after witnessing the systemic neglect and apathy affecting her neighborhood. Living in a historically redlined community now burdened by overcrowding, housing instability, and resource deprivation, she saw firsthand how disenfranchisement leads to disengagement. 

When the conditions in her neighborhood became impossible to ignore—such as lead in the water, rising substance abuse, and the tragic murder of a child—Jacklyn knew something had to change. Without a team or institutional backing, she turned to artificial intelligence to organize, mobilize, and advocate for her community. 

Her efforts eventually caught the attention of her local senator and councilwoman, demonstrating that AI can be a revolutionary tool for grassroots activism. 

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Saint Lee (they/them) is a dedicated advocate, scholar, and community leader with a strong background in social services and a deep commitment to equity and justice. As a first-generation college student pursuing a degree in psychology at CUNY SPS, Saint is passionate about addressing systemic inequalities and empowering marginalized communities. 

With extensive experience in public health and social services, Saint has worked in roles such as Medication Case Manager, Testing and Navigation Coordinator, House Monitor, HIV Testing/Outreach specialist, and Community Outreach Specialists. Their background reflects their dedication to harm reduction and community well-being. 
Saint's professional aspirations center on becoming a professor of social work at the college level and serving as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility trainer for organizations that provide services to Black and Brown communities and individuals at the intersections of multiple identities. Their work is informed by a deep understanding of structural oppression, and they seek to create inclusive spaces for learning, healing, and growth. 

Beyond their professional ambitions, Saint is a mentor to fellow students, providing guidance and support to those navigating higher education. Their passion for advocacy extends to their research interests, which include digital equity, stereotype threat, restorative justice, and the impact of AI on marginalized communities. 
Saint's dedication to community building and social justice fuels their commitment to fostering systemic change, whether in the classroom, in advocacy spaces, or through research that challenges inequities. 

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Harmony is a student and an educator who is committed to promoting inclusive education. With 19 years of experience in graphic design and a passion for education, she is a passionate teacher committed to fostering creativity and design excellence in students. She has an associate degree in early childhood education and mass communication. She is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in disability studies and is currently employed as a resource worker at the BMCC where she applies her skills to assist students with a variety of needs. She is passionate about advocacy and community service; she volunteers with the NYC Alliance for Sexual Assault, participates in leadership development through CUNY SPS's dual leadership program, and is a member of the CUNY SPS Change Warrior Program volunteer initiative. She also engages in partaking in community work in her local church. Harmony is an officer in Alpha Kappa Delta Pi and supports programs that enable students/teachers to have continuous learning experiences. In her spare time, she enjoys helping others, writing, singing, and playing. 

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Mekki Elbadri is a Senior Reviser/Translator at an international organization, a position he has held since 1999. He has lived in various locations around the world for study and work, including Sudan, France, Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and is currently based in New York, USA. He began his career in academia, teaching linguistics, French language, and translation at the university level in Sudan. Mekki is a certified coach and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Business Management and Leadership at CUNY School of Professional Studies. He is fluent in English, Arabic, and French, and has basic knowledge of German, Spanish, and Chinese. 

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Jennifer is in her third year of the MA program and brings her experience design leadership in marketing and advertising to examine disability through the lens of the media. Currently, she is also helping to build the GenAI platforms of the future for brands, while tackling ethical AI design along the way.

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Tanya Perez is a vibrant Nuyorican playwright, performer, filmmaker, and clown who loves to dive into the human condition through her dark comedies. She recently wowed audiences with her Off-Broadway debut of her solo show, Welcome to Clowntown, earning rave reviews. As a Bx Arts Factory Artist in Residence, she showcased her visual art in the gallery exhibition Temporal Release. Tanya's passion for interdisciplinary artistry shines through in her work as a teaching artist, where she uses Purposeful Play techniques to inspire and empower students nationwide. Her talent has been recognized in The Best 10-minute Plays of 2024, published by Smith & Kraus. 

She has collaborated with amazing organizations like Sing for Hope, Utah Theatre Association, Brooklyn College, Florida International College, and Conch Shell International Film Festival. Tanya is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association. 

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Marlee Koenigsberg (she/her) is a theatre director, teaching artist, and disability justice advocate based in New York City. She received her M.A. in Applied Theatre from CUNY School of Professional Studies and is currently pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies. Marlee has collaborated with various organizations in the NYC area, including DOROT, New York Deaf Theatre, Underground Skills Exchange (U.S.E.), Roundabout Theatre Company, and The Shadow Box Theatre. Currently, Marlee works part-time at Baruch College as a Disability Accommodations Specialist in the Student Disability Services office. Marlee is a proud member of CUNY’s Disability and Access Coalition (DAC) and served as Vice Chair of Accessibility from fall 2022 to spring 2024. She earned her B.F.A. in Acting/Theatre Arts from Adelphi University. 

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Peter Kowalchuk has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, working with Halliburton, Schlumberger, and has consulted with operators like Shell, Aramco, and Petronas. He has led digital transformation efforts, from safeguarding field data to developing AI-driven solutions. At Microsoft, he helped shape cloud standards for data privacy, security, and responsible AI. Now at Beusa Energy, he drives innovation in digital and green technologies while also teaching AI and data topics as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY and through industry training programs. 

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Kay Excell, SHRM-CP, currently works in Talent Acquisition, specializing in process improvement on both the talent and internal organizational side. She is pursuing an Executive Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, bringing a strategic approach to recruitment, workforce planning, and organizational development. 

With a background in program management, she has experience designing structured programs, leading data-driven hiring initiatives, and optimizing talent strategies. Passionate about ethical hiring practices and talent selection, she integrates evidence-based strategies into practical applications to drive effective recruitment and process optimization. Kay is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Association for Talent Development (ATD), the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), and Blacks in Industrial Organizational Psychology (BIOP). She stays at the forefront of developing initiatives and best practices in talent acquisition and organizational effectiveness.

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Anthony Sweeney is a higher education administrator with expertise in community engagement and program development. He founded the Office of Student Life at the CUNY School of Professional Studies, which has grown to include student leadership training, clubs and activities, two peer-mentoring programs, and a technology loan program. Anthony has also managed online, social media, and print marketing campaigns for both non-profit and corporate institutions. In addition, he has worked as a documentary outreach and distribution specialist, focusing on film acquisitions, sales, marketing, and product development.