The 2022 Alumni Award honorees have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the public good and their alma mater. We honored them at our State of the College event on November 16th!
The Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are Lisa C. DeLorenzo (Ed.D. ’87), a critically acclaimed scholar in music education; Min Hong (M.A. ’91, Ed.M. ’98, Ed.D. ’03), a 32-year veteran of the New York City Department of Education, serving as a teacher, literacy coach, administrator, and now as a principal of Bronx S.T.E.M. & Arts Academy; Kate MacKenzie (M.S. ’02), serves as the Executive Director of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Food Policy; Barbara E. Weinstein (Ph.D. ’80), an internationally respected scholar, clinician and educator — currently on the faculty at the Graduate Center, CUNY, and NYU Langone Medical Center; and Alice Wilder (M.A. ’93, Ed.D. ’98), is a trailblazing leader in educational television for children, currently at the helm of the genre for a top streaming app.
The Early Career Award recipient is Tanatchaya "Tanya" Chanphanitpornkit (M.A. ’17, Ed.M. ’19), a conductor known for her joy, focusing on inspiring and educating young musicians.
Maryalice “Ali” Mazzara (Ed.D. ’84), a highly recognized and regarded leader in designing and implementing globally-focused educational, arts, and business programs and projects, received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Service.
Each year, it becomes more challenging to select just a few honorees from our long list of impressive nominees. Thank you to all those who submitted nominations, and to our Alumni Council Awards Committee members, who dedicated their time to selecting these deserving recipients. Stay tuned for more details on each honoree's work.
For a list of alumni award recipients before 2022, visit the archive here.
Lisa C. DeLorenzo (Ed.D. ’87) is a critically acclaimed scholar in music education. Prior to serving on the faculty at Montclair State University, from which she recently retired, DeLorenzo taught in Pennsylvania public schools. Her later studies with scholar John Godlad led to a profound interest in democratic practice teaching and examining education inequity.
Min Hong (M.A. ’91, Ed.M. ’98, Ed.D. ’03) is a 32-year veteran of the New York City Department of Education, serving as a teacher, literacy coach, administrator, and now as a principal of Bronx S.T.E.M. & Arts Academy. Recognized for her accomplished teaching by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Hong is the author of several publications, including children’s books, instructional texts for teachers, and academic journal articles.
Kate MacKenzie (M.S. ’02) serves as the Executive Director of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. She advises the Mayor on all issues related to food policy and the city’s food system and executes his vision of ensuring that food nourishes New Yorkers rather than feeds the healthcare crisis.
Barbara E. Weinstein (Ph.D. ’80) is an internationally respected scholar, clinician and educator — currently on the faculty at the Graduate Center, CUNY, and NYU Langone Medical Center. A pioneer in her field, Weinstein was the first to document the connection between dementia and age-related hearing loss; social isolation/loneliness and age-related hearing loss; and the negative effects of face masks on speech comprehension at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alice Wilder (M.A. ’93, Ed.D. ’98) is a trailblazing leader in educational television for children, currently at the helm of the genre for a top streaming app. Previously, during her eight years with Amazon Studios, she worked on award-winning shows like Tumble Leaf, The Stink & Dirty Show, and more.
Tanatchaya "Tanya" Chanphanitpornkit (M.A. ’17, Ed.M. ’19) is a conductor known for her joy, focusing on inspiring and educating young musicians. A double bassist from Trat, Thailand, she teaches at the Nyack Public Schools, and conducts at Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege program and the New York Youth Symphony. Chanphanitpornkit, a graduate of Eastman School of Music, has worked with music students ranging from early childhood to adulthood.
Maryalice “Ali” Mazzara (Ed.D. ’84) is a highly recognized and regarded leader in designing and implementing globally focused educational, arts, and business programs and projects. Her work often includes partnerships with diplomats, business executives, and thought and cultural leaders. In 2021 she was selected to be a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Scholar to China.