Every Month as part of our CUNY CREST Monthly Bulletin, the CUNY CREST Institute Executive Director, Dr. Reza Khanbilvardi, sends a message to the CUNY CREST Community on updates of the organization.
Below is the message for January 2022 sent to faculty, colleagues, stakeholders, and peers of the CUNY CREST Institute.
Welcome to the third issue of the CUNY-CREST Institute Monthly Bulletin.
On behalf of the CUNY CREST Institute, I welcome our scientists, faculty, staff, and stakeholders to the New Year. 2021 was a great success as it pushed us to continue to triumph into 2022, despite the challenges. In this issue of the CUNY CREST Institute Monthly Bulletin, we take the opportunity to look back on some of the victories that 2021 bestowed upon us, and update our readers on accomplishments achieved by our CREST Institute members, and share with you and our students, new opportunities to explore.
In 2021, we reenergized the Institute’s mission by strengthening our strategic initiatives to create short-term plans that align with climate issues the nation prioritizes through the addition of the CUNY CREST Institute’s six initiatives: (1) Research, (2) Science Applications, (3) Education and Workforce Development, (4) Stakeholders and Community Engagement, (5) Entrepreneurship and Business Development, and (6) Environmental Justice. In 2022, we were able to expand our leadership team by bringing on board two leaders, Dr. Kaveh Madani and Harry Cikanek. We are proud to introduce Dr. Kaveh Madani as a Research Professor and Harry Cikanek as the Director of Business Development and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Kaveh Madani brings to CUNY CREST, a unique combination of experience in high-level policymaking, prominent practice-relevant research, and high-impact societal interactions. Harry Cikanek’s extensive executive experience in renewing and revitalizing programs and organizations; building teams and partnerships; and developing diverse talent, will be a major asset for the Institute. December was a busy month for many of our scientists, faculty, and staff at the Institute. The resurging of COVID 19 (and its Omicron) brought new challenges to all of us. In spite of all those challenges, I am pleased to note that CUNY CREST researchers submitted many proposals in response to federal funding opportunities as well as City agency. As we begin 2022, it is my sincere wish that the Institute will continue to provide opportunities in this institution in all the ways that work for you. We are dedicated to providing you with the best scientific and educational collaborative environment and service to our faculty, scientists, sponsors, and students.
In December, we hosted our second 2021 Institute retreat as the CUNY-CREST Team will focused on developing a 10-year Strategic Plan with a revised organizational structure to help achieve the CREST Institute’s mission and vision. We were able to introduce Harry Cikanek as one of the CUNY CREST Institute’s valued leaders in developing organizations, programs, technologies, and processes. In January, we congratulate the success of Dr. Indrani Pal, staff member Carolina Perez, and the ‘C3’ Consortium by The City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Indrani Pal’s team was selected to participate in the Gotham Innovation Gambit Program Virtual Regional I-Corps Short Course Winter 2022, offered by The NYC Regional Innovation Node (NYCRIN), CUNY I-Corps, and NYC Innovation Hotspot. One of our newer staff members, Carolina Perez was selected as a 2022 UBS X Luminary Fellow for her non-profit organization STEM Hive, who supports underrepresented students who have an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The CUNY CREST Institute would also like to highlight the Climate Center Consortium ‘C3’, was announced as one of the four finalist teams chosen to compete for the opportunity to build, program, and operate the Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island.
I know this continues to be a difficult time for many of our faculty, scientists, staff, and students. If there is anything that we can do to help anyone please reach out to us at 212-650-8099 or e-mail me at khanbilvardi@ccny.cuny.edu or Carolina at cperez1@ccny.cuny.edu
2022 is off to a great start and we are grateful to our beloved readers for continuing to support the CUNY CREST Institute!
Reza Khanbilvardi
