Newswise — New York City College of Technology (City Tech) will mark the annual rite of passage for graduating students at its 66th Commencement Exercises on Tuesday, June 6, beginning at 10:30 a.m., in the Theater at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. President Russell K. Hotzler will confer 1,682 degrees, including 1,011 associate and 671 baccalaureate.
Delivering the commencement address is Dr. Edwin Schlossberg, an accomplished designer, writer and artist who is the founder and principal designer for ESI Design, which creates experiential interactive spaces for museums, public spaces, retail environments and business communication systems all over the world. He will also receive the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters.
The class valedictorian is 31-year-old Deidre Mike, who, like Dr. Schlossberg, pursues both technological and artistic interests; she is a computer whiz and slam poet. With an almost perfect grade point average of 3.975 out of a possible 4.0, Ms. Mike will receive a bachelor of technology degree in computer systems technology and will be the first in her family to graduate from college.
Among those receiving diplomas will be the first graduates of the bachelor of science in health services administration program. It was designed specifically for students with associate degrees in the health care field interested in developing supervisory and leadership skills needed to qualify for positions as health industry managers.
Dr. Edwin SchlossbergCommencement Speaker & Honorary Degree Recipient
Dr. Schlossberg broke the mold of artifact-based museum exhibits with his first museum project, The Learning Environment at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, which opened in 1977. He created a fun-filled, hands-on laboratory where children discover their relationship to the natural world. Since then, Dr. Schlossberg and his team at ESI have continued to redefine the meaning of interactivity in a range of educational and recreational settings, including ten children's learning environments and over a dozen museums.
"Through his work, Dr. Schlossberg has shown himself to be a humanist first and a technologist second. I can't think of a better role model for our students," said President Hotzler. "The projects he has developed show a profound commitment to education, to historical understanding and to the transcendence of national and intellectual boundaries."
Among the most recent projects, ESI designed the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island, which enables visitors to search for information about their ancestors' arrival in the United States in a database of 22 million passenger records. Larry Bellante, project director of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, says of Schlossberg, "Ed is a unique creative genius. He is a bit of an artist and a bit of a philosopher. He is able to inspire and work with people, stimulating them into being as creative as possible."
Expanding the benefits of experiential design to business settings, ESI has developed brand-enhancing consumer experiences in retail environments, large-scale communication and signage systems, tradeshows, television programs and websites. A recent ESI innovation, the award-winning 22-story Reuters sign system in Times Square provides instantaneous displays of news, photographs and financial information from around the world, reinforcing the company's status as a leading source of global information. Schlossberg is also the creative force behind the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, the Henry Ford Museum and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.
Dr. Schlossberg holds a PhD in science and literature from Columbia University. He is the author of 11 books and numerous articles, including the groundbreaking Interactive Excellence: Defining and Developing New Standards for the Twenty-first Century. He frequently lectures on the philosophy of design and the opportunities for enhancing social interaction through interactive design.
His artwork has appeared in many solo and group exhibitions over the years and can be found in the permanent collections of museums around the world. Among the notable exhibitions were those held at Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Gallery, The National Arts Club, New York University, Cincinnati Art Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, University of California (Los Angeles), Fendrick Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Leo Castelli Gallery and The Jewish Museum.
Dr. Schlossberg is an active member of the Board of Directors for New York City Outward Bound and for the John F. Kennedy Library. Over the years, Dr. Schlossberg has been the recipient of numerous awards for his achievements in design, art and public service, most recently, the 2004 National Arts Club Medal of Honor, awarded after the club's display of a retrospective featuring 30 years of his works.
He lives with his wife, Caroline Kennedy, and two children in Manhattan. New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York is a recognized national model for urban technological education and a pioneer in integrating technology into the teaching/learning experience. The largest public college of technology in New York State, City Tech enrolls more than 12,000 students in 57 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs. Another 14,300 students enroll annually in adult education and workforce development programs, many of which lead to licensure and certification. Located at 300 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, City Tech is at the MetroTech Center academic and commercial complex, convenient to public transportation.
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