Humanities & the Arts Blog
Documentary filmmaking has been the foundation of the Film Program at City College since its inception more than eight decades ago. At a time when film was becoming a central force in American culture and art, there were few places where undergraduates could formally study it—until the founding of the Institute of Film Techniques at CCNY.
Unlike Ivy League or elite institutions, which were largely inaccessible to aspiring filmmakers from working-class or immigrant backgrounds, City College offered something different. As a public institution with low or no tuition, the college… Read More »
We're continuing our series spotlighting Humanities & Arts students who spent eight weeks at Stanford University through the Stanford/CCNY Summer Research Program in the Humanities. The program pairs up to five H&A students with Stanford faculty mentors, includes a weekly seminar on research and graduate applications, and offers support to pursue a focused project.
In our second Q&A, we're featuring Albany Andaluz, a student in the Electronic Design and Multimedia program whose project explored Dominican vernacular in music.
"What was originally perceived as vulgar… Read More »
We're kicking off a new series spotlighting H&A students who spent eight weeks at Stanford University through the Stanford/CCNY Summer Research Program in the Humanities. The program pairs up to five H&A students with Stanford faculty mentors, includes a weekly seminar on research and graduate applications, and offers space to pursue a focused project.
Meet Kaitlyn Murphy
Our first Q&A features Kaitlyn Murphy, a rising senior majoring in English Literature with a Spanish minor. At Stanford, Kaitlyn examined how bodies, corporeality, and textual form in contemporary… Read More »
New Mellon funded HELPS Program connects faculty and students with New York’s cultural institutions
Supported by funding from the H&A Mellon Foundation grant, the Humanities Experiential Learning Partnership Seminars (HELPS) program allows Humanities & Arts faculty the unique opportunity to plan and implement a seminar in partnership with a NYC-based museum, archive, or cultural center in order to create unique learning experiences with hands-on research for a small cohort of students. Open to any Full-Time faculty member teaching undergraduate courses within the Division, faculty develop a 3-hour seminar for a small student cohort and provide mentorship during… Read More »
A letter from Professor Barbara Nevins Taylor, Program Director
The Journalism Concentration got off to a strong start in fall 2024 and kept up the pace through the spring 2025 semester. We began by offering five students the Inner Circle Fellowship, which provided monetary stipends and special workshops. One of the fellows, Fairuz Omar Raya, was chosen for The New York Times Corps and enjoyed a year of mentoring with a Times journalist. In the spring, Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal included four of our journalism students in a fellowship cohort that provided monetary stipends… Read More »
Student photographers explore identity, culture, and creative growth at the Art Department’s Annual Student Photography Exhibition
The Art Department’s Annual Student Photography Exhibition is one of City College’s longest-running and most beloved traditions—one of the most celebrated showcases of artistic talent and community engagement. The exhibition honors former CCNY photography professor Joe Harris and his lasting impact by looking back on his legacy while celebrating today’s emerging student photographers. This year, special guest Debbie Harris, daughter of Joe Harris, attended the opening reception on May 1st, deepening the emotional resonance of the night.
When I arrived at the reception, I was… Read More »
Rain, Rhythm, and Revelation: Communications student Shirley Rafael shares her experience at the CUNY Jazz Festival
I entered Aaron Davis Hall, CCNY’s premier performance venue, feeling awkward since I'd never been there before and flushed in the face thanks to the climb across St. Nicholas Park. As I began to set up the registration table for the day, I found it ironic that I, a communications student with only one Introduction to Jazz class under my belt, would be the first face the performers would see as they entered the CUNY Jazz Festival on that rainy morning of Friday, May 9th.
Professor Michael Holober, organizer of the CUNY Jazz Festival, teamed up with Suzanne Pittson, Chair… Read More »
As a freshman in the First-Year Writing Program (FYWP) at City College, I’ve been encouraged to write from my own experiences—to bring my full self, including my language and culture, into the classroom. In my English 110 class with Professor Danny Katch, we’ve talked about how multilingualism is not a barrier but a strength. He encouraged us to bring our multilingual backgrounds into our writing and to challenge the idea that standard English is the only valid academic voice. This perspective opened something up in me. It gave me permission to value the language I grew up… Read More »
Throughout the 2024–2025 academic year, the Rifkind Center for the Humanities and the Arts continued its mission of promoting intellectual and cultural activity at º£½ÇÉçÇø. The Rifkind Center supports faculty research, organizes lectures and conferences, sponsors student outreach programs, and hosts interdisciplinary events that connect the campus community through the richness of the humanities. This year’s programming reflected the breadth of that mission, offering students, faculty, and the public opportunities to engage with valuable questions about art,… Read More »
Faculty Achievements 2024–2025: Creative and Academic Excellence Across the Division of Humanities & the Arts
Faculty in the Division of Humanities and the Arts at City College of New York continue to lead the way in scholarship, creative production, and public engagement. This academic year, their achievements ranged from prestigious book awards and international exhibitions to groundbreaking research, media appearances, and innovative classroom initiatives. Below is a cross-disciplinary roundup of standout accomplishments from H&A faculty during 2024–2025.
Annie J. Howell (Media & Communication Arts)
Distinguished Lecturer Annie J. Howell’s independent film Little Boxes—which… Read More »
Last Updated: 08/16/2024 12:02