Register to join us for our very first CUNY BA Students and Alumni Café, where you will have the opportunity to meet some of our talented CUNY BA alumni and learn more about their careers and experiences after graduation!
This event will follow a speed-meeting format so you can meet and chat with all our CUNY BA alumni as you rotate between the different tables in the room. Ask all your questions to early-career and experienced professionals who successfully transitioned towards unique careers.
Come and discover the CUNY BA community alongside CUNY BA students, alumni, doctoral fellows, and staff. Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP and learn more about our guests:
Kayla Strauss
Kayla Strauss is an experienced labor and employment attorney with a background in both AmLaw 100 and boutique employment law firms. She has advised clients on labor, employment, corporate, and finance matters. In her current role, she continues to counsel companies on issues like discrimination claims, wage and hour compliance, and diversity initiatives. Kayla is also an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law in the Howard Law-World Bank Externship Program. Dedicated to people-focused work, she has contributed to pro bono efforts, including voting rights and asylum claims. Her experience includes roles at the World Bank Group Administrative Tribunal and the New York State Supreme Court, adding a global dimension to her expertise. She earned her juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 2021 and graduated from the CUNY BA program in 2010, studying at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Hunter College.
Haris Khan
Haris Khan is the Acting Chief of Staff for the NYC Department of Small Business Services, where he supports an organization with 300 employees, ~$250M annual budget, and over 20 centers in all five boroughs. In addition to being the principal adviser to the Commissioner, he oversees the department’s external affairs teams, which include communications, outreach, intergovernmental affairs, and strategic initiatives. Having previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Haris has advanced critical legislation at the city and state government levels, including Local Law 151 of 2023 which saves New York small businesses roughly $8.9M annually, as well as prepared agency leadership for legislative, budget, and oversight hearings. He earned his Master’s in Management Sciences as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and earned his Bachelor’s in Politics, Diplomacy, and Law at City College through the CUNY Baccalaureate Program.
Ladyane Lima
Ladyane Lima is an aspiring author, former Wall Street executive, and passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. Ladyane graduated from the CUNY BA program in 2012 with a degree in Economic Policy and Latin American Studies. After nearly a decade of a successful career on Wall Street, she transitioned to pursue her passion for helping women transform their lives. Launching this Fall, The Waves We Ride – A Woman’s Journey of Overcoming Life Adversities and Embracing Change, her debut book is a memoir and motivational guide that offers a unique blend of personal experiences and practical advice for women seeking to embrace change and thrive. Ladyane lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children and dedicates her time to inspiring others through coaching and speaking engagements.
Angela Vasovic
Angela Vasovic graduated from City College in May 2022 with a CUNY BA degree in (a) International Relations and Diplomacy and (b) Economy and Society. She is now completing her Master’s degree in International Relations (Political Science) at the CUNY Graduate Center. Angela has been working at the U.S. Department of State since August 2022. She started as a political and economic analyst at the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), supporting identification and acquisition of sites for new embassies. Last year, Angela did a three-month rotation at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she led negotiations on resolutions for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Since February 2024, Angela has worked as a program officer at the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), overseeing and managing nuclear threat reduction programs.
Nafeeur Rahman
Nafeeur Rahman graduated in 2023 from CUNY BA with dual concentrations in Computer Science and Philosophy. He currently works as a Software Engineer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, specializing in Over-the-Horizon Radar, and is pursuing his master’s in Computer Science part-time at Georgia Tech. Previously, he interned at NASA and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during his undergraduate studies.
Syeda Tabassum
Syeda Tabassum (she/her) is a 1.5-generation Bangladeshi woman residing in Queens, New York. She is a recent graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College, where she pursued an interdisciplinary major in Computer Science and Society, bridging coding with urban sociology and environmental justice studies. As a Gilman scholar, she studied abroad in Denmark in January of 2023. Her research interests range from education to climate technology and elevating the narratives of marginalized communities. She currently works as a Software Engineer and has various creative pursuits with an emphasis on visual art and film-making. She recently curated her first exhibition, which focused on using art as activism.
Brandon Greyson Kim
Brandon Greyson Kim (CUNY BA ’23) is currently an Advisory Associate at PwC Consulting. Prior to joining PwC, Brandon was a Financial Analyst at a NYC-based financial services company. Brandon has also held roles at Baker Tilly LLP, CohnReznick LLP, AstraZeneca PLC, and PwC Products & Technology. Separate from his work as a Consultant, Brandon currently sits on the Associate Board of Hunger Free America, a 501(c)(3); and previously, on the Advisory Board at XR Safety Initiative, a Standards Developing Organization (SDO).
Eddy Aboudi
Eddy Aboudi is a driven and versatile CUNY BA graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in two distinct areas: (1) Human Relations Management (2) Hebrew Language and Culture. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, Eddy also accrued 15 credits for life experience as a managing director for an HVAC service company. With a robust educational background and practical experience, Eddy is currently exploring new opportunities to leverage his diverse skill set and make a significant impact.
WHO: CUNY BA Alumni and YOU
WHAT: Chat and talk about all things graduation and careers (casual/informal)
WHERE: CUNY Graduate Center (Midtown, Manhattan)
WHEN: Tuesday November 12, 2024
TIME: 6 PM – 8 PM