Senate Officers

Chair: Teresa Fisher (teresa.fisher@bcc.cuny.edu; 929-322-4360)
Please reach out if you have questions or concerns for Dr. Fisher regarding Senate or related matters.

Vice Chair: Bryan Gomez

Secretary: Ellen Mareneck

Parliamentarian: Larry Brenner

Schedule

The senate meets on Thursdays, once-a-month, during the Fall and Spring semesters.

If you would like to view the meeting on Zoom (view only):

Zoom link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81396649175?pwd=CGqbCuopFV4apdAt3gGSzhdmSCVOdj.1)

Meeting ID: 813 9664 9175   Passcode: 361294

Location: Gould Memorial Library (GML), auditorium
Time: 12 – 1:50 pm

  • Spring 2026: 2/26, 3/19, 4/30, 5/14
  • Fall 2026: 9/24, 10/22, 11/19, 12/10
  • Spring 2027: 2/25, 3/25, 4/15, 5/13

Welcome!

BCC Governance – College Senate

Current Term – Fall 2025 through Spring 2027

The BCC Senate is responsible for the establishment of academic policy and for legislative and advisory functions related to the programs, operations and goals of the College. It is comprised of faculty, student government and administration representatives.

Our meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.  Agendas are available on this page in advance of all meetings.

Functions of the Senate (from the BCC Governance Plan):

  1. The Senate shall have legislative power with regard to:
    • Academic affairs, including curricula, degree requirements, admissions and grading structure.
    • The protection of the academic freedom of students and Instructional Staff.
    • The adoption of Rules of Procedure for itself, its committees and its sub committees.
  1. The Senate shall have the following advisory responsibilities:
    • Participate in the search for and appointment of the President of the College, as requested by the Board of Trustees.
    • Advise on the appointment of all individuals holding Vice President and Dean titles. These recommendations are to be submitted to the President of the College for his/her consideration. 
    • Advise on long range planning to achieve the goals of the College. 
    • Advise on campus life and activities, including ancillary services within the College (including, but not limited to, Auxiliary Enterprises, BCC, Inc. and the Student Election Review Committee), student organizations and community relations.
    • Advise the College’s administrative officers on the formulation and allocation of the College budget, of policies relating to grants, of allocation of space and facilities, and in the making of decisions pertaining to the allocation of resources for educational programs, and for research and scholarly activities.
  1. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Senate shall be fully advised of, shall routinely receive, and shall be free to seek information from the College’s administrative officers on all matters germane to the programs and operations of the College and its facilities.
  1. The College administration shall provide to the Senate in a timely fashion all pertinent information, including information on college resources and policies.
  1. Upon the invitation of the Senate Chairperson, the President shall meet with it to discuss his/her response to its recommendations.

Membership

Total voting membership = 60
Quorum = 31
2/3 Majority = 40

Ex-officio Senators (4)

  1. Larry Johnson, Jr. – College President
  2. Luis Montenegro– Provost & VP of Academic Affairs
  3. Manny Lopez – Acting VP of Student Success
  4. Andrea Pinnock – VP of Administration & Finance

At-Large Senators (19)

  1. John Athanasourelis – English
  2. Mirabel Bell-Gam – Biological Sciences
  3. Kevin Bozelka – Communication Arts & Sciences
  4. Sara Brady – Communication Arts & Sciences
  5. Larry Brenner – Communication Arts & Sciences
  6. Howard Clampman – Business & Information Systems
  7. Carlos Cruz – Communication Arts & Sciences
  8. Hisseine Faradj – Social Sciences
  9. Teresa Fisher – Communication Arts & Sciences
  10. Farnaz Kaighobadi – Social Sciences
  11. Laroi Lawton — Library
  12. Kyeng (Joe) Lee – Biological Sciences
  13. Ge Li — Biological Sciences
  14. Charles Maliti – Biological Sciences
  15. Sharmila Mukherjee — English
  16. Seth Offenbach — History
  17. Maria Psarelli – Mathematics & Computer Science
  18. Nelson Reynoso – Social Sciences
  19. Anne Vuagniaux – Art & Music

At-Large Alternate Senators (5)

  1. Theresa Smalec — Communication Arts and Sciences
  2. VACANT
  3. VACANT
  4. VACANT
  5. VACANT

Department Senators (14)

  1. Andrea Ortuño – Art & Music
  2. Shazia Khan – Biological Sciences
  3. James Cecil Simpson – Business & Information Systems
  4. Chelia Cullen – Chemistry, Earth Sciences, & Environmental Sciences
  5. Ellen Mareneck – Communication Arts & Sciences
  6. Barbara Caballero Flores – Education & Academic Literacy
  7. Harrison Carranza – Engineering, Physics & Technology
  8. Melissa Coss – English
  9. Stephen Duncan – History
  10. Nelson Santana – Library
  11. Rony Gouraige – Mathematics & Computer Science
  12. Elvira Karanaeva – Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
  13. Sa-rawla Stoute – Social Sciences
  14. Salvador Salazar – World Languages and Cultures

Department Alternate Senators (14)

  1. VACANT – Art & Music
  2. Yasmin Edwards – Biological Sciences
  3. Thomas D’Arrigo – Business Information Systems
  4. Dickens Saint-Hilaire – Chemistry, Earth Sciences, & Environmental Sciences
  5. VACANT – Communication Arts & Sciences
  6. Steve Powers – Education & Academic Literacy
  7. Mohammad Nizamuddin – Engineering, Physics & Technology
  8. Vanessa Taylor-O’Connor – English
  9. Elizabeth Hardman – History
  10. Michael Miller – Library
  11. Mehdi Lejmi – Mathematics & Computer Science
  12. Milagros Baez – Nursing & Allied Health Sciences
  13. Vacant – Social Sciences
  14. Wedsly Guerrier – World Languages and Cultures

Adjunct Senators (2)

  1. William Calathes – Social Sciences
  2. Julio Carrillo – Library

Adjunct Alternate Senator (1)

  1. VACANT

CLT Senators (2)

  1. Bubacarr Bah – Education & Academic Literacy
  2. Martha Sanchez – Learning Commons/Writing Center

CLT Alternate Senator (1)

  1. Peter John – HPER

HEO Senators (3)

  1. Chris Efthimiou – Institutional Research
  2. Albert Robinson – CTLT
  3. Karen Thomas — Student Success

HEO Alternate Senator (1)

  1. Jasmine Taby – CUNY Explorers

Registrar Senator (1)

  1. Somaiya Arefeen

Student Government Senators (15)

  1. Aaliyah Anderson (SGA Secretary)
  2. Maxwell Asare
  3. Grace Cabanas
  4. Akalia Dixon (SGA Legal Legislator)
  5. Bryan Gomez (SGA President)
  6. Christian Ibegbulem
  7. Kantchilsoe Kolani
  8. Kiarra “Kiki” Maxwell (SGA Treasurer)
  9. David Jon Murch (SGA Vice-President)
  10. Ishmael Nyann
  11. Emely Paulino
  12. Tamir Raimo
  13. Nicole “Nicky” Santos
  14. Jariel Vega
  15. Seidu Yusif

CUNY University Faculty Senate (UFS)

BCC maintains a delegation of representatives on CUNY’s university-wide senate.
Current BCC senators are:

  1. Katherine Culkin, term ends 2027
  2. Karen David, term ends 2027
  3. Teresa Fisher (Liaison to BCC Senate), term ends 2026
  4. Tamar Rothenberg, term ends 2026
  5. Vacant, term ends 20267
  6. Alternate – VACANT
  7. Alternate – VACANT

To visit the UFS website follow this link: CUNY University Faculty Senate

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