The Verrazano School
Verrazano students participate in Verrazano Extracurricular Learning Activities (VELAs) that enrich their undergraduate experience through academic, social, and cultural learning opportunities outside the classroom. VELAs expose students to new ideas and opportunities outside of their majors and encourage broader interests and exploration. VELAs can help students connect with opportunities on and off campus and become more fully engaged in their CSI college experience.
VELAs feature a wide range of topics including career preparation, study abroad, international issues, and community service. VELAs may also include musical performances, creative arts discussions, and leadership activities. Some VELA events, such as the World on Wednesday series, are sponsored through partner offices. Leaders in the Lounge is a special VELA series in which members of the administration and faculty meet with small groups of students to discuss various issues ranging from campus policies to choosing a career path. Exploring Careers is a VELA series in which guest speakers talk about their career paths, including education, employment background, and community involvement, to help students learn more about the interesting and often unexpected trajectories that careers can follow.
Students must RSVP for VELA events in advance via email (katie.geschwendt@csi.cuny.edu or cynthia.palumbo@csi.cuny.edu), phone (718.982.4171) or in person (5N-113).
April 2013
World on Wednesday Lecture Series presented by the Center for International Service
VELA-Approved
Wednesday, April 24th
Topic: Learning About the United States and Foreign Affairs
Speakers: Kevin Loftus, CSI Exchange Ambassador from Ireland
Juwan Yoo, CSI Exchange Ambassador from Korea
Time: 12:20-1:10 p.m.
Location: Campus Center (1C), Green Dolphin Lounge
RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.
Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Bridge Park Walking Tour with Matthew Postal, Architectural Historian and Guide
Friday, April 26th at 2:00 pm
(meet at the ferry terminal on Staten Island to take the 12:30 pm ferry)
Double-VELA!
This two hour walking tour focuses on Brooklyn Heights, the city's first historic district, and Brooklyn Bridge Park, which extends along the East River for nearly 1.5 miles. Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh, we'll descend into the growing park via an elegant new footbridge, enjoy spectacular views of Manhattan, and if time allows, take a spin on Jane's Carousel, located in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Matthew A. Postal is an architectural historian specializing in twentieth-century architecture and urbanism. He holds a PhD in art history from the Graduate Center of the City of New York. He has been a member of the research staff of the Landmarks Preservation Commission since 1998 and is an adjunct professor of architectural history at the New York School of Interior Design and Lewis and Clark College. He is coauthor of the Guide to New York City Landmarks and 10 Architectural Walks in Manhattan.
Space is limited, and students should only RSVP if they can definitely attend. We have to purchase tickets for this event, so it’s very important to know who will be attending. RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.
VELA: Undergraduate Research in the Sciences and Psychology
Tuesday, April 30th
Time: 2:30-3:30
Location: 5N-112
Verrazano Student Speakers:
Juliet Baidoo, Biochemistry
Joseph Inigo, Biochemistry
Nora Mahmoud, Psychology BS
This workshop is for Verrazano freshmen and sophomores pursuing majors in the sciences or psychology. Current Verrazano students will talk about how they got involved in undergraduate research and provide advice about how you can start the process. This is a great workshop to attend to start thinking about your required Verrazano capstone project, and you’ll also learn more about the capstone requirement.
RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.
May 2013
World on Wednesday Lecture Series presented by the Center for International Service
VELA-Approved
Wednesday, May 1st
Topic: Dragon Seed: Chinese Immigrant Youths in New York
Speakers: Uwe Gielen, St. Francis College
Time: 12:20-1:10 p.m.
Location: Campus Center (1C), Green Dolphin Lounge
RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH): Tour the Our Global Kitchen special exhibition and the Rose Center with CSI Professors
Friday, May 3rd
Meet at AMNH at 10:00 am, event concludes by 1:00 pm
Double-VELA!
Tour Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, and Culture – a special exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History that explores the complex and intricate food system that brings what we eat from farm to fork. In sections devoted to growing, transporting, cooking, eating, tasting, and celebrating, the exhibition illuminates the myriad ways that food is produced and moved throughout the world. Visitors will examine the intersection of food, nature, culture, health, and history—and consider some of the most challenging issues of our time.
Professor Charles Liu, Director of The Verrazano School and an Astronomy professor at CSI, will accompany the group through the exhibit and share highlights. After the visit to the Global Kitchen exhibit, we will meet Dr. Emily Rice, an Astronomy professor at CSI, for a tour of the Rose Center.
The group will meet in the foyer of the Rose Center for Earth and Space - inside the revolving doors facing north on 80th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West – at 10:00 am. This is the Hayden Planetarium Entrance. The event will conclude by 1:00, but you are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum or Manhattan!
Space is limited, and students should only RSVP if they can definitely attend. We have to purchase tickets for this event, so it’s very important to know who will be attending. RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.
VELA: Undergraduate Research in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Business
Thursday, May 9th
Time: 2:30-3:30
Location: 5N-112
Verrazano Student Speakers:
Alicia Jimenez, English
Chris Bitetto, Communications
Kubra Shirazi, Business
This workshop is for Verrazano freshmen and sophomores pursuing majors that fall under the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. These majors include, but are not limited to, Business, Communications, English, History, SLS, and more. Current Verrazano students will talk about how they got involved in undergraduate research, independent studies, and honors thesis work and provide advice about how you can start the process. This is a great workshop to attend to start thinking about your required Verrazano capstone project, and you’ll also learn more about the capstone requirement.
RSVP to Katie Geschwendt or Cynthia Palumbo as soon as possible.