Autism Acceptance Month: Promoting Inclusivity
April is Autism Acceptance Month, promoting inclusivity and positivity toward those with autism spectrum disorder. Here we highlight a few members of the New York Tech community who are working to enhance understanding, therapies, and life experiences for those with autism.
New Books by New York Tech Alumni
A selection of new books, covering everything from a care manual for combat sports athletes and a fictional story of battle to a memoir on mingling with celebrities and a musical children’s book about the Black men and women whose inventions changed everyday life.
Leading the Way
New York Tech celebrates women in our community in honor of Women’s History Month. Here are highlights of a few who have risen to leadership positions and continue to make strides in elevating women’s careers.
Alumni Profile: Brooke Danielsson
New York Tech alumna Brooke Danielsson, Ph.D. (B.S. ’16), was not particularly interested in academics, but as she pursued her education, she found in the right circumstances, she could thrive. Now, she seeks to share her passion with young students.
Alumni Profile: Amir Gefen
As the AI Lab Manager at the Ministry of Education in Israel, Amir Gefen (M.A. ’95) scouts for educational technologies that use artificial intelligence (AI) and matches them with schools as pilot programs, ultimately offering recommendations to the government on how to approach and what to do with AI in the classroom.
Annual Big Give Breaks Record
This year marks the Big Give’s fifth anniversary. And the New York Tech community celebrated in a big way, bringing in $415,915 from 939 donors.
Alumni Profile: Emaan Mughal
Raised with a strong work ethic, Emaan Mughal (B.S. ’22) was taught the importance of giving back to the community. An advocate for health equity, she hopes to work in underserved areas as a future physician.
Alumni Profile: Gail Kubik
Gail Kubik (B.Arch. ’10) combines her career as an architect and deep commitment to the climate to find ways to educate and prepare architects and engineers in disaster relief and how to combat climate change.
Alumni Profile: Rasika Girish Deosthali
Growing up in a small town with complex alleyways and roads inspired Rasika Girish Deosthali (M.S.’22) to pursue a master’s in urban design.
Alumni Profile: Ava Watts
Ava Watts (M.S. ’21) was looking for a challenge. While running two businesses, the mother of two left her home in Trinidad to pursue her master’s degree and ultimately began a new career in environmental work.
Alumni Profile: Jacqueline Velez
As the founder and principal of JMV Associates and JMV Architect, Jacqueline Velez (B.S. ’85) has had a chance to influence the shape of spaces and communities. “By creating and reshaping spaces and communities, we can make them appealing and elevate the occupants’ quality of life.”
Alumni Profile: Dina Ragab Selcky
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in marketing, Dina Ragab Selecky (B.S. ’17, M.B.A. ’18) stayed at New York Tech and earned her M.B.A. She is now vice president for strategy and growth at Health Plus Management, a physician support organization focused on the orthopedic, physical medicine, and rehabilitation markets.