The Sixth Annual CUNY BA Student Showcase
The CUNY Graduate Center
May 6, 2025 from 5-7pm
5-7 PM, William P. Kelly Skylight Room
Order of Events
Opening Remarks, 5 PM
Jody Clark Vaisman, Academic Director of CUNY BA
Madeline Scrace, CUNY BA student and Master of Ceremony
Presentations and Q&A, 5:10 PM
Closing Remarks, 6:45 PM
2025 Presenters
Jack Cameron studies neuroscience and social epidemiology through CUNY BA and the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy’s 4+1 MPH Program in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. His research interests focus on developing novel methods to assess and predict cognitive decline along the dementia continuum, with particular attention to how multimorbidity and structural inequities shape cognitive aging. Jack is currently involved in research at both the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Brooklyn College, CUNY. His work includes efforts to validate the Remote Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease REsearch (R-CARE) Toolbox in a diverse Bronx sample and to investigate how common medical comorbidities—such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease—influence the endorsement of subjective cognitive concerns among older adults. He has also contributed to projects at University College London examining the clinical and research utility of a portable, ultra-low-field MRI scanner for segmenting brain tissue volumes and structures associated with dementia-related neurodegeneration. Before moving to New York, Jack worked as an emergency medical technician in coastal New England. He now serves as both the Recitation Coordinator and a Recitation Leader for General Chemistry I at The City College of New York. As a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow, he will join Partners in Health this summer in Malawi to conduct mixed-methods research on the role of community health workers in reducing the morbidity of non-communicable diseases and to support the development of social health interventions in remote communities.
Queen Carrasco (she/they) is a junior in the CUNYBA program with areas of concentration in Social Data Science and Curatorial Studies. She presented her independent curatorial project In Our Glory: A Tribute to the Diaspora, travelling through the history of photography as a tool for black communities to control their own narratives.
Miguel Frías is a CUNY BA student with areas of concentration in Romance Languages & Linguistics. He studies the linguistics behind the most commonly spoken Romance languages—Spanish, Portuguese, Italian & French—with a special focus on phonology and phonetics. After graduation, he plans to study for a PhD and eventually become a professor. Besides languages, other areas of interest include political science, music, fitness & LGBT affairs. CUNY BA has been the perfect avenue for exploring his interests and satisfying his thirst for knowledge. He is very thankful to have come across the CUNY BA program!
Bella Hubbard is a senior at hunter college. She is a violinist and an activist, and her areas of concentration are Music and Public Advocacy.
Lela Pines is a CUNY BA student in the class of 2025, completing her degree in Creative Advocacy, which focused primarily on creative writing, political science, and sociology. For her final capstone she has been working on an exploration of libraries and looks forward to sharing her full write up soon. In the fall she will be sticking with CUNY and starting her Masters in Library Science at Queens College.
When she's not working on her studies, she enjoys going to the theater, working on her independent creative projects, slowly working through DuoLingo's German course, reading, over-analyzing television shows, and exploring various topics by going down Google and Reddit rabbit holes.
She's especially grateful to CUNY BA, the CUNY BA Fellows, her mentor, and her project interviewees for the opportunities to explore and share her interests this semester and across her entire degree.
Alexandria Thylane Rohn is a software engineer turned interdisciplinary researcher exploring cognitive science, gender theory, philosophy of mind, and artificial intelligence. After eight years working at prominent Silicon Valley companies, including Reddit and Apple, she returned to academia to merge her technical skills with philosophical inquiry. Alexandria’s current research integrates the embodied framework of 4E cognition with gender theory, critically examining how identity is constructed, experienced, and represented, especially within transgender experiences and artificial intelligence. A passionate tech builder, public speaker, and educator, Alexandria actively supports the queer community and other marginalized identities. She plans to pursue a PhD in philosophy.
Eva Schmidt is a senior in the CUNY BA program at Hunter College, with areas of concentration in Research Methods and Asian American studies. Originally from Arizona, with a background in the performing arts, she continually looks for ways to blend and find connections within her varied interests. Inspired by her personal experiences, she seeks to contribute to these fields in a meaningful and representative way where voices, often marginalized and underrepresented, are amplified and celebrated.
Claire Schwimmer is a senior at CUNY BA with an area of concentration called Access, Equity and Holistic Health. She is learning about the multitude of factors that impact a person's health and the policies we can enact to improve our collective health. Her research combines quantitative and qualitative analysis to explore whether LGBTQ+ people have access to a "good death". She is currently working at a pediatric primary care practice helping connect people to necessary social services. Prior to CUNY BA, she spent ten years working in tech startups helping build software removing barriers to accessing healthcare.
Nedelka Sotelo is a singer/songwriter, actress, and independent artist from Mexico City. A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York, she moved to NYC to expand her career and transition into arts and culture administration. With over six years of experience in organizations like Queens Public Library, Culture Pass, and Queens Rising, Nedelka has developed expertise in production, planning, budgets, marketing, and advocacy. Currently pursuing a degree in Arts in Creative Economy as a CUNY BA student, she combines her passion for the arts with her commitment to supporting performers, presenters, and the community through her work.
Celine Zhang is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice centers on sculpture, particularly ceramics, while also exploring collage, printmaking, and mixed media. Her work often reflects a deep sensitivity to materiality, form, and the environment, drawing inspiration from natural textures and sustainable practices. With a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Celine integrates eco-conscious methods into both her creative process and daily life. Beyond the studio, she finds joy and balance through reading and playing guitar, pursuits that nurture her artistic curiosity and inner rhythm. Her evolving body of work speaks to the interconnectedness of art, nature, and everyday living.
What is the CUNY BA Student Showcase?
This event allows current CUNY BA students to showcase their work to the CUNY community. CUNY BA students explore a wide range of research interests, and together, their works represent a mosaic rarely found at the undergraduate level.
This event is also an essential professional development experience. Student presenters receive helpful support and practice sessions in preparation for the Showcase. The Showcase is a platform for students to share their work and offers a greater sense of community across the CUNY BA program.
Check out the recordings from previous CUNY BA Student Showcases on the CUNY BA Youtube channel.
Presenter FAQs
What type of project can I submit?
You can submit any project that you are working on—a research project, a performance piece, an art piece—as long as:
- You are a current CUNY BA student,
- The project is completed, or near completion, when you apply (so that it will be ready well enough in advance of the showcase),
- You can present it at the showcase in a brief period (5-10 minutes), and
- The project is supervised by a CUNY faculty member (not necessarily your CUNY BA mentor).
The format of your presentation can be tailored to your unique project as long as it can be presented briefly and online. Each presentation is followed by a few minutes of Q&A.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
Email the CUNY BA Fellows at fellows@cunyba.cuny.edu with any questions or concerns regarding the Student Showcase. CUNY BA Fellows are available to assist you throughout the entire Showcase experience (e.g., help completing the application, creating slides, feedback on the presentation, etc.).