When Anisha Rathod chose to specialize in respiratory care, she knew there would be some difficult and hectic days. “That’s where the action is,” she says. “You’re always needed in critical care situations.” She had no idea, though, that she would one day be working on the front lines of a global pandemic—one that brought … Continue reading Helping New Yorkers Breathe Easier: Anisha Rathod (MPA ’16)
The Offbeat Path: Investment Manager Turned Jazz Guitarist Robert Mwamba (’98)
Zambian-born Robert Mwamba moved to New York City as a teenager to study economics at Baruch College, but an unexpected friendship with a jazz legend sent him down a very different path. “Moving from Africa to New York was a big change, and it felt like something was missing,” recalls Mr. Mwamba. “To my surprise, … Continue reading The Offbeat Path: Investment Manager Turned Jazz Guitarist Robert Mwamba (’98)
Werq-aholic Brandon Voss (MBA ’05) Partners with RuPaul’s Drag Race
Flexibility and ingenuity are skills that Brandon Voss has tapped into often during his career. For the past three years, he and his company, Voss Events, have partnered with RuPaul’s Drag Race—among the most popular television shows of the past decade— to produce Werq the World, a global tour featuring the show’s former drag queen … Continue reading Werq-aholic Brandon Voss (MBA ’05) Partners with RuPaul’s Drag Race
Making Waves in Theater: Iyvon Edebiri (MA ’17) and the Parsnip Ship
Not even a global pandemic can stop great theater, as award-winning producer Iyvon Edebiri can attest. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak limiting public gatherings and events, her nonprofit—the Parsnip Ship—continues to highlight compelling play readings and music via podcasts and social media. “We typically record in front of a live studio audience in Brooklyn,” Ms. Edebiri … Continue reading Making Waves in Theater: Iyvon Edebiri (MA ’17) and the Parsnip Ship
True to Big Blue: Vince Masi (’80)
On February 3, 1980, only a few weeks after graduating from Baruch College, Vince Masi began an entry-level job at IBM. Fast forward 40 years and Mr. Masi is still at IBM—a four-decade-long career that he describes as anything but boring. “Though IBM is one company,” explains Masi, “it comprises several unique businesses, all with … Continue reading True to Big Blue: Vince Masi (’80)
Wish You Were Here: On the Road with Graffiti Artist Victor Fung (’05)
Many a New York City teen has tagged a wall or two, but very few turn it into a career. Victor “Ving” Fung is one of the few, and now he’s on a never-ending road trip to spread graffiti art to communities near and far. “Street art is my passion,” says the self-taught artist, who … Continue reading Wish You Were Here: On the Road with Graffiti Artist Victor Fung (’05)
Sustainable Success: Alyssa Alicino (’13, MBA ’19)
Most people view sustainability through a climate-based lens. For Alyssa Alicino, though, the field of view is much wider. “It’s an all-encompassing issue,” says the Baruch double alumna and former CUNY Macaulay Honors College student. “Sustainability impacts anticorruption measures, human rights support, sustainable finance—you name it.” Ms. Alicino deals with these issues every day in … Continue reading Sustainable Success: Alyssa Alicino (’13, MBA ’19)
From the Bronx to the Dojo: The Samurai Journey of Taum Dell’Armo
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
The Best Treatment: How Baruch’s SEEK Program Inspired Mark Smiley
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.
