Before entering Baruch College, Mark Smiley had taken only one science class in his life. A little more than 15 years later, he is an emergency physician in North Carolina, saving lives on a regular basis.
“Best Supporting” Role for Sandy O’Hearen, Tribeca Enterprises CFO
The scene: New York City, 1996. Acting legend and Manhattan native Robert De Niro and his producing partner, Jane Rosenthal, whose dream of nurturing the local film community led them to found the Tribeca Film Center several years prior, need a finance whiz with a commercial real estate background for their growing venture. Enter Zicklin School grad Sandy O’Hearen (’91), who takes what proves to be a life-changing phone call from a job recruiter with an offer she can’t refuse.
All Aboard with Cruise Industry Leader Harry Sommer (’88)
Luxury cruises were an alien concept to Bronx-born Harry Sommer (’88). “They just weren’t a big deal in New York City,” he recalls, “especially in the late eighties.” Today that has all changed, for the industry and for the alumnus. Mr. Sommer was recently appointed president international at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, a position in … Continue reading All Aboard with Cruise Industry Leader Harry Sommer (’88)
Rocket Man: Gerald Sandler’s Unexpected NASA Career
When President John F. Kennedy famously declared, “We choose to go to the Moon” in 1962, few Americans fully understood how we would achieve that lofty goal, including—apparently—many NASA engineers. “I knew nothing about space, but who did?” laughs Gerald Sandler (’56), an unassuming statistics major who became a lead engineer and program manager with the Apollo Lunar Module Program. “Even for those of us behind the scenes, reaching the Moon was like going on a vacation where you don’t know how you’ll get there and have no idea what the destination will be like!”
In Memoriam: Gerald Milton Lotenberg (’49)
Baruch College mourns the loss of Gerald Milton Lotenberg ('49), a World War II veteran who passed away peacefully on March 13, 2019. Mr. Lotenberg had been looking forward to attending what would have been his 70th reunion of graduating from Baruch College this June.
How Castor A. Fernández Revolutionized Marketing
Castor Fernández (’66, MBA ’68) was 18 years old when—with the encouragement of his parents—he left Cuba to seek a better life in the U.S. The journey took him from Miami to New York City, where a family claimed him as a refugee through the humanitarian organization International Rescue Committee.
High Fashion Meets Higher Education
For Nana N. Yoshida (’09, MA ’17), education never goes out of style. The talented Tokyo native and accomplished fashion designer recently graduated from the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences’ MA in Arts Administration program.
Called to Serve: State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (’78)
New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow has served the 89th District of the assembly ever since, representing Mount Vernon and Yonkers in a career spanning more than 26 years and countless pieces of legislation—though it’s a career he never planned on pursuing.
Marketing Heavyweight: MBA Alumna Enters the MMA Ring
She’s received numerous professional awards and accolades—from Fortune, The Hollywood Reporter, and more— but Jacqueline Hernandez (MBA ’98) keeps the focus on others.
Iron Will: Triathlete and Polio Survivor Minda Dentler (MBA ’08)
For most competitive athletes, the Ironman World Championship is the pinnacle of physical achievement: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon. But for Minda Dentler (MBA ’08), completing this grueling triathlon meant so much more than bragging rights. Ms. Dentler, stricken with polio at six months old—and abandoned in an orphanage in India—has … Continue reading Iron Will: Triathlete and Polio Survivor Minda Dentler (MBA ’08)