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How does a high-powered advertising executive find inner peace? For alumnus Taum Dell’Armo (’69), the answer lies in the way of the samurai. The Bronx-born Dell’Armo—whose first name, “Taum,” is based on a Sanskrit holy word and is pronounced just like his given name, “Tom”—is trained in five martial arts and has been studying Iaido, … Continue reading From the Bronx to the Dojo: The Samurai Journey of Taum Dell’Armo
by Sally Fay Women who aspire to lead have been pushing boundaries for centuries, staking a claim to positions of power in corporate, government, and nonprofit arenas. And, no doubt, they’ve made gains. Optimistic observers point to the increasingly common presence of women in the C-suite and the recent election of an unprecedented number of … Continue reading Her Turn: Six Alumni Share Perspectives from the Executive Suite
Professor Mordechai L. Friedman passed away September 17, 2019, after a short illness. He taught until his death at age 81, and had started the fall semester this year. Mordechai taught for 60 years, beginning his career in the New York City high schools at age 20. He had two masters degrees (1961 MA and … Continue reading In Memoriam: Professor Mordechai L. Friedman
What started as a summer job to make ends meet turned into a surprising career for Nick Jiwa (’91). The alumnus worked at a call center in 1986 and couldn’t wrap his head around the concept. “But I needed the money,” he recalls, “and so I stuck with it.” More than three decades later, Jiwa … Continue reading The CX Pioneer: Nick Jiwa (’91)
For decades, Tom Lapinski ('72) has worked to inject humanity into America’s prison system. And his latest project, Through the Bars, is his most ambitious venture yet. The foundation supports history, music, and an inmate-run newspaper program at San Quentin State Prison, with a goal of reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration of inmates into … Continue reading Reaching Through the Bars: Tom Lapinski (’72)
It was a homecoming, of sorts, for Jillian Flexner (MBA ’16), when she returned to campus in April for the New York City premiere of Bound, a one-act chamber opera, at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. The opera was presented by Fresh Squeezed Opera, an organization founded by Flexner in 2013. “We created Fresh Squeezed … Continue reading Operatic Homecoming: Jillian Flexner (MBA ’16) and Fresh Squeezed Opera
When class of 1947 alumnus William Newman made a $5 million gift to his alma mater in 1993, its impact was immediate and seismic. At the time, it was the second-largest gift ever received by The City University of New York (CUNY), surpassed only by the 1965 bequest from the College’s namesake, Bernard M. Baruch.
When it comes to harmonizing professional and philanthropic pursuits, entrepreneur Jie Hayes (MBA ’99) hits all the right notes. The Zicklin alumna is the founder and portfolio manager of Songbird Capital, a boutique investment advisory firm based in Princeton, NJ. She is also the donor behind the Songbird Capital Scholarship Program at Baruch. Both the company and the scholarship program owe their names to the Fleetwood Mac tune “Songbird,” from the group’s mega-album Rumours, which she was learning to play on the guitar at the same time she was establishing her firm. “The song represents the confluence of my passions, from entrepreneurship, to music, to doing the right thing for my clients, my family, and the larger community,” she explains.
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.
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.
