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Title: Maxine Lance
Description: Maxine Lance was a student in the first graduating class of LaGCC in 1973. She later became a CUNY Office Assistant, eventually working in College Discovery and retiring in 2019. Timestamp summary of interview: (1:05) Maxine Lance said she decided to attend LaGCC because all of her friends were applying to college. She didn’t want to be left out so she applied to LaGCC. (1:53) Talks about meeting people through Student Activities and her major in Data Processing (2:52) Describes the M-Building and Great Hall and how encouraged interaction and impacted student life. (4:15) She discussed prices in the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch and compares them to the present time. (5:16) Talks about being part of the first graduating class (7:01) Talks about her courses, especially in Data Processing and her professors (8:13) Describes how the college and student body has changed since she was a student (having remained at the college as an employee) and how she thinks it has affected student life. (10:32) Speaks about her experience with Cooperative Education and the challenges of attending class and while working. Talks about the different internships she had, including working in the Extended Day department with Ralph Garrett. (14:05) Continued to work at LaGCC in the Registrar office. She said during that time she believed Eileen Murray was the Director and she had also worked in the Adult and Continuing Education Department part-time with Allen Goldberg. She now working at Student Affairs in the College Discovery program and is working there for 13 years. (18:05) Goes on to talk about the Cooperative Education program and the opportunities and skills it builds. (19:23) Lance talks about her work history at the college, working as a hourly for about 10 or 11 years and now she is Civil Service for almost 9 years. (20:01) End
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Lance, Maxine, Students, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Dorrie Williams
Description: Dorrie Williams at the time of the interview was Associate Dean of Cooperative Education. He talks about establishing the Cooperative Education program at the College, the changes in the college, and the future of work. Timestamp summary of VHS interview: (1:16) Talks about work experience at IBM before coming to LaGCC, finding out about the college and coming in for an interview. (2:27) Meets with Sheila Gordon at the new college, and said he thought he went to the wrong address – “it was not a college”. Goes on to describe the M-Building in its original condition as an empty factory. (5:57) He also meets with Gordon’s co-worker Ben Baim. There were only 2 people and the secretary that made up Cooperative Education. (6:50) They could not hire Williams until they hired the Dean of Cooperative Education – The Dean would make the final decision – but they would recommend Williams to the Dean. (7:29) After an interview with Dean Harry Heinemann Williams was hired and started working on May 1, 1971. (7:55) Williams said, that summer there was lots of work in terms of recruiting. (8:52) He said, Cooperative Education was on the 3rd floor of the Main building, along with all of the other college offices. (9:19) President Joseph Shenker (Williams also mentions Dr. Rose Palmer) had mandated the Cooperative Education program for all students and built the mission of the college around the concept. (10:56) LaGCC had a division of Cooperative Education at the Deans level – reporting directly to the President. (12:28) They had looked around the country at other established Cooperative Education programs at Antioch College in Ohio, and Northeastern University in Boston. Also looked at BMCC’s (Borough of Manhattan Community College) program in the CUNY system. (13:40) Talks about hiring new staff and the general excitement at the college- coming right out of the 60s (15:31) Williams spoke about the history of the idea of cooperative education history starting from the University of Cincinnati – LaGCC looked at all theories and spoke about how to attract students in Western Queens. (17:49) Speaks about the curriculum and relevant education. (18:48) Williams discussed technology and the work environment beginning to change – “We as a society had to better prepare our future workers.” (21:35) He said they all sat down, himself, Dean Heinemann, Sheila Gordon, Ben Bain, and other members and agreed to build a marketing plan. (23:17) Williams said they were lucky to have companies here in the Metropolitan Area - they had established a brochure for Cooperative Education. (29:00) Talks about contacting CEOs or Human Resources managers in the first few years of the college “We would send literature of who we were and what we needed and would get back to them.” (41:43) Williams discussed the changes over the first 25 years of the college– society having evolved, the college growing, and changes in student demographics, especially in the end of the 1970s to the mid-1980s. (50:26) Williams discussed the year 1990 and the changing future of work (52:33) Discussed students learning to work and interact with others. (55:16) Summarizes the Cooperative Education program and how the college served as a model for Coop Education worldwide.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Williams, Dorrie, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Enock Charlotin
Description: Enock Charlotin was a student in the Cooperative Education program and talks about his experiences immigrating from Haiti and attending the college. Timestamp summary interview: (1:23) Enock Charlotin came to attend LaGCC in 1989 after his sister referred him to the Cooperative Education program. (2:48) After being accepted, talks about his motivations and how LaGCC supported his goals (3:08) In 1980, he had decided he wanted to learn more about computers and his parents sent him to New York from Haiti, talks about that experience (4:05) Had Professor Washington for his first course Intro to Computers. Describes Professor Washington as a teacher and role model about (5:06) Talks about the quality technology resources at the college and being ahead of other colleges (6:48) In regard to the social setting here at LaGCC – “your friends were from different backgrounds and we were all students we could talk to one another.” (7:43) Charlotin discussed the counselors and how that worked with the Coop Ed PROGRAM (9:32) Talks about his first internship at UAPC/University Application Processing Center in Brooklyn and his current work at UAPC at LaGuardia. (11:20) Talks about the Coop Seminar and guidance he had received. (14:05) Most of the teachers here at LaGCC take the time with students. Goes on to describe several areas and departments of the college that he had help from when he was a student here. (15:20) Was a member of a student club, mentions Ed Hollis, Luis Merchant of Student Services. (19:03) Spoke about the opening of the E building, how that made the college bigger, and how in his opinion made the college more professional and attractive to more students.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Charlotin, Enock, Cooperative Education, Students, Immigration
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: George Hamada
Description: Dr. George Hamada was Provost, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Chair of the Natural and Applied Sciences Department and one of the original faculty of the College. He talks about the establishment of the college, the Long Island City area, Cooperative Education and helping develop the Health Sciences program. Timestamp summary of interview: (00:57) Dr. George Hamada discusses the start of LaGCC and the effect of the culture shifts in the 1960’s greatly impacted the mission of the college and how it would be organized. (3:00) Speaks about the faculty at LaGCC during the beginning of the college – “We were a college born in Open Admissions.” Goes onto the talk about the philosophy of the college. (4:10) Talks about coming over to the college from Queens Borough Community College and the differences between the two colleges (5:32) Describes the college as an environment of innovation and allowing for experimentation. (6:33) Goes onto the excitement he felt during that time “Intellectually the most exciting time of my life” and the overall commitment of faculty and staff (7:08) “If we were an alternative college – they were alternative students” Talks about the student body and how it evolved over the years (8:14) Discussed teaching science and his Ecology Intensives course, which involved off campus trips to the beach. (10:24) Describes the first day he walked in and had a room in the M building on the 4th floor and the conditions the building was in (12:56) Talks about the orientation sessions for employees before the college started, including a helicopter ride. (15:23) Describes the area the College was in, such as train tracks on 31st St for the Macys and Gimbels warehouses. (16:00) Hamada discussed the Science and Math area combined with the Math department. Explains how the different divisions were organized compared to the present [1996] (17:01) The college saw itself as a business college because of Coop and Human Services – never saw themselves in health. Talks about the state of the science courses and professors (18:40) Goes on a walk around the college with President Shenker to find a room suitable for the first science lab (20:15) They ran their first class of 13 students, some who eventually worked at the college themselves. (20:55) Curriculum was developing slowly – developed general science – he was coordinating Science – Michael Hoban was Chair of the Department. (21:10) Talks about the inclusion of Occupational Therapy into the college and department (22:48) Makes efforts to modify the college’s Master Plan to include Allied Health as an employment connection for the Health Sciences and to develop the that program. Naomi Greenberg became director of the Occupational Therapy program. Later the Dietetic Technician, Mortuary Science, Animal Health, and Nursing programs were developed. (24:58) Receives a grant in 1975 from the Veterans Administration to collaborate with the VA hospital in Brooklyn (25:42) Discusses the different science programs. (27:17) Returns to talking about the Nursing Program. (29:18) Covers 1980’s nursing shortage and need to increase enrollment. (30:41) Discussed sorting out the Nursing Program to fit the Quarter System and Semester credits, (32:48) Talks about the Mortuary Science program (38:46) Talks about the closeness of the faculty/staff community (1975-1976) and the fiscal crisis and uncertainty of the college’s future in that time (39:42) “We were very unusual – we were making an impact – mission to generate success. Physically we never had enough room – never kept up.” (41:15) Speaks about renovations and moving offices many times (48:12) Hamada talks about changes in the college, and speaks about the 1980s and his position, the different programs and about technology. (52:41) End
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Hamada, George, Health Sciences, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Harry Heinmann
Description: Harry Heinemann was Dean of Cooperative Education, he discusses the Cooperative Education program. Timestamp summary of interview (follows Sandra Watson interview on tape): (41:13) Dean Harry Heinemann speaks about how President Joseph Shenker developed the college to integrate the academic curriculum with work experience and to serve the low middle income population of Western Queens. “… families would encourage their sons and daughters – particularly their daughters.” (44:39) Explains the Quarter Calendar. (45:15) “We wanted real jobs- we wanted students to be paid for the work they did” speaking of the Quarter Calendar and Cooperative Education. (46:06) Partnerships with LaGCC started with a lot of ideas – lots of changes had to be made. They had to go out and market Cooperative Education, Dean Heinemann said, He had spoke about IBM and mentioned Professor Dorrie Williams (LaGCC faculty member of Cooperative Education) (48:17) Discusses IBM and LaGCC students being hired and being hired as graduates and moving on to managerial positions. (50:25) “In 1971, before the college opened, we were out there developing jobs – they went to Official Electronics, up the street, and were developing jobs.” (51:40) Speaks about the development of Cooperative Education Prep for students and connecting work experience with classroom experience. (53:17) “Back in the 1970s there was a tremendous demand for secretaries – so it was very easy to develop positions for secretaries. Today, here is a tremendous demand for computer science students and telecommunications majors.” (54:27) Goes into how internships were developed. Faculty member would join in on meetings with business managers to work out educational needs (55:46) Becomes a member of organizations such as the Queens Personnel Management Association and Queens Chamber of Commerce, to get to know the business community and promote Cooperative Education. (57:24) Describes Changes in the economy and employment in the past 25 years and it’s effects on the Coop program. “We follow the economic pattern in the city and in the region.” (58:51) He also discussed Coop Seminar, bridging work experience and academic credit Speaks about the use of field manuals and described TAR (Teaching Application Reinforcement) handbooks which connect to learning to work experience [Archivist Note: TAR books are kept in Institutional Archives collections] (01:05:13) “LaGCC was really the first mandatory Cooperative Education program in the country at the 2 year college level and the first Cooperative Education that offered academic credit in all majors including Liberal Arts” (01:06:31) Bloomingdale's was one of the first employers to take Coop students (01.09.09) In reference to looking back 25 years – Heinemann spoke about the college changing to the Enhanced Calendar and how it made problems for Cooperative Education - the softening of the economy – internships becoming part-time and unpaid – working with IBM (01:13:29) He said, graduates tend to stay with employers. “Employers are interested in our students, interested in a flexible labor force”.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Heinmann, Harry, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Vincent Banrey
Description: Mr. Vincent Banrey graduated from the college in 1977 and at the time of the interview was Associate Director of the Student Health Office. Timestamp summary [Interview follows the interview with Enock Charlotin on VHS tape]: (22:19) Introductions and discusses coming to the college as a student because of the Cooperative Education Program and his impressions of the college as a student. (24:41) “The college wasn’t very big so there was a sense of people knowing each other” (25:00) Describes the layout of the building, covering the cafeteria, “Sangria Junction,” and the multi-purpose Great Hall. (28:40) Discusses the different faculty and staff that helped him as a student and the counselors the college provided (31:20) Banrey discussed the closeness of the college in the early years and knowing people from different departments (32:53) Covers the Cooperative Education Program and mentions how the Writing for Business and Coop Seminar courses helped him prepare for writing resume and interviews. (36:07) Had an internship at the Brooklyn Navy Yards. He was a Research Analysis Assistant. (37:11) Talks about how internships helped him decide his career path. (40:00) Goes into the growth of the college, construction and the changing physical space of the college and changing administrative structure. (45:12) Covers the different support services and student resources on campus and how they have changed and grown over the years (48:32) Talks about changes in the student body and points out the large number of veterans who attended the college in the 1970’s, coming from Vietnam and benefiting from open admissions (51:35 ) In reference to the question “what makes LaGCC distinct,” Banrey said, “The slogan that was used – LaGuardia Works – because it cares about the people.”
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Students, Great Hall, Cooperative Education, Banrey, Vincent
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Rosemary Sclafoni
Description: Rosemary Sclafoni talks about her experience as an adult Extended Day student at LaGuardia Community College and later career at the college, eventually becoming Director of Academic Computing Timestamped Summary of tape: (00:55) In 1976 Rosemary Sclafoni came to LaGCC as a student to take a few courses in order to obtain employment in the public school system. Was intimidated at first but first name recognition at registration relaxed her. (04:12) Talks about professors that encouraged academically, including Dr. Richard Lieberman, Social Sciences, and Professor Robert O’Pray, Office Technologies (06:13) Sclafoni had stayed at LaGCC for a 2 year degree in Office Technology (Secretarial Science at the time) (06.37) She was asked to help at the “Bilingual Volunteers of American,” a Saturday program for students. Discusses experience. (07:19) Through the Coop program, she had an internship at LaGuardia as a secretary. Later she was offered a CLT position at LaGCC and held that position for about 10 years. (10:25) Sclafoni felt LaGCC was very supportive of her academically and the experience as a student with the counseling staff was wonderful. Compares here experience at LaGCC to that as her later experience at Baruch College. (13:59) Describes the student body in the mid 70’s, where they lived and age groups. “Many of the students that had attend were here at LaGCC learn skills to obtain jobs.” (16:03) As an Extended Day student, Sclafoni had joined study groups and attend her classes but didn’t have time to participate in the social part of the college. Describes the campus as well (22:44) She understood that computing would open doors for everyone and believed it was an important aspect. (23:23) Talks about here academic path (Bachelors and Masters) and creating her position as Director of Academic Computing, felt computing was very important and many students didn’t have computer access. (24:54) In her position of Director of Academic Computing she had to coordinate with the Academic Division in particular and the college community access and opportunity for computer resources and make them available to students. (26:06) She encouraged computing for teaching and learning for faculty. (27:00) Felt having the E building made the college more of a campus and the renovation of the C building made it airy and light and other impressions of the changing campus (pool, library, etc) (31:30) “The most unique thing [about the college] is the people and attitude people take. The attitude of the faculty and staff is supportive and approachable and encouraging.” Ends around 35:00
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Students, Extended Day, Cooperative Education, Sclafoni, Rosemary
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Sandra Watson
Description: Sandra Watson Director of Family Staff (at time of interview) talks about her experience in the Division of Adult and Continuing Education and as a counselor in the Veterans Program (00:46) Sandra Watson spoke about the founding of LaGCC in the early 1970s -- a period when people struggled during the Civil Rights movement and CUNY was in position to respond – at a time for women and people of color wanted to come into the institution -- it was a time after the Vietnam War. (2:23) Goes on to describe the student body (2:47) Talks about her coming to LaGuardia Community college as a vocational counselor for the Veterans Programs. (4:05) Came to LaGCC in 1974 and said it was a very exciting place. Talks about the Great Hall, Leonard Saremsky who would drive up in his motorcycle right up to the door; tennis courts in the back; partitions separating the space, no offices – a feeling of oneness. (4:47) Talks about Joseph Shenker’s age and the overall young staff. (5:43) The Division of Adult and Continuing Education was written in the Governance Plan – the arm to reach out to the community – a community that was very diverse. (6:53) Speaks about Adult and Continuing Education creating programs which would later be turned into degree programs – The Dean of Adult and Continuing Education was Ann Marcus, Sandra spoke about different faculty lines in Adult and Continuing Education and support for President Shenker. (8:18) Sandra said, most of the people in the division ran program areas and knew how to write grants. (8:47) Mentions the Single College Concept (9:38) “We were told we could fail, we could try, we could experiment” (11:22) Discusses the Veteran’s Program and says it was one of the most challenging programs she ever worked in. Talks about how the counseling and workshops were organized (14:14) Mentions that the Veteran’s program was not funded for the first time in 24 years (1996), in her opinion due to the sharp conservative political turn in government (15:11) Talks about how ACE programs were funded, developed and community involvement in the process. Discusses the Deaf Program (17:55) Speaks about Fern Kahn (18:19) Speaks about collaborating with funding agencies and city agencies (19:19) Goes in depth about the Deaf Program and its diversity (22:31) Discusses the continual need for space in the college, the Great Hall, moving offices (25:44) Speaks about changes in the college now and before, and innovation and LaGCC. (30:11) She also discussed changes and development of programs for changes and the community. Sandra spoke about Queens and the development of programs and going to the community – Children’s College was built. (30:11) Mentions the change of the ESL program – credit and non-credit programs. (36:11) She discussed the college and its growing older. (37:04) Sandra says she comes to a place where she works with social problems and social change – happy to be here. The institution is for the students.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Watson, Sandra, Veterans Affairs, Adult and Continuing Education, Program for Deaf Adults
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Shirley Saulsbury
Description: Shirley Saulsbury, Executive Associate to the Dean and Assistant Dean of Affirmative Action at the time of interview, started at LaGuardia Community College in 1974 as an employee, later becoming a student at LaGuardia which served to help her continue both her professional and academic careers. Timestamped summary of video (follows Andy Saluga on tape): (33:28) Saulsbury started as an hourly worker in 1974 in the Adult and Continuing Education department. She was convinced by a counselor at the time to begin to attend LaGCC. Talks about the student side of the registration process in the 70’s (36:00) Talks about working in the Human Services department and Augusta Kaplan, one of the department’s chairs. (37:14) Describes the positive classroom environment and professors she had as a student, as well as crowding issues. Mentions Professor’s Deborah Harrell and Elaine Leff. (39:16) “Students were vibrant and vocal, they knew how to voice their opinion and there was student unity.” (41:09) Describes her Coop Seminar with Professor Janet Cyril. (42:16) Talks about physical growth of the college “…it’s so large we barely know the people in our immediate area. It’s changed.” (43:00) Talks about getting her Bachelors Degree at York College and Master’s Degree and Baruch College. (45:30) Goes into her career at LaGuardia working for Human Services, Adult and Continuing Education, and then Assistant to the President. Describes writing grants, specifically for the Sheet Metal Program. (50:24) Describes the evolving campus, E-Building and Main Building (52:55) Talks about her role as Vice President of the Alumni Association and working with President Shenker to develop a more diverse Alumni program. (53:55) 1989 is interviews and hired by President Bowen as Assistant to the President. Talks about the Deans and Administrators and their involvement with the college. (1:00:01) End
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Saulsbury, Shirley, President's Office, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)