The Dominican Studies Institute Marks 20 Years of History in New York

The Dominican Studies Institute Marks 20 Years of History in New York
New York, December 29, 2014

W ith a busy gala attended by senior members of university education, politicians, activists, people from the entertainment world and former degree candidates, the twentieth anniversary celebration of CUNY’s Institute of Dominican Studies was held recently in New York.

For two decades the Institute has dedicated itself to collecting the contributions of the Dominican immigration in the United States for history and the academia. The theme of its anniversary commemoration was “The Intellectual Legacy of Dominicans” and, for the first time in its history, it introduced the presentation of the “Blue Book”, an academic tradition that emerged in the fifteenth century and, repetition intended, for the first time documents the academic achievement of Dominicans in the United States.

On the occasion of this special edition, made of one hundred copies, twenty professionals were selected. The contributions of each of them throughout their respective careers are reflected in the book.

“We have selected 20 professionals due to the meaning of this anniversary. But we know that in our community there are a number of professionals who well deserve to be included in this book for history,” said Dr. Ramona Hernández, Director of the Institute and the engine behind the organization of the gala.

Dr. Hernández, said that she felt proud of the support received for the celebration of the twentieth anniversary, an event that, despite the torrential rain that fell that day, was attended by a crowd that packed the majestic “Great Hall” of the university.

Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Chairperson of the City Council, was the special keynote speaker. Other participants in the event were: Congressman Charlie Rangel; State Senator Adriano Espaillat; Dominican Council Members for New York Ydanis Rodríguez, Julissa Ferreras, and Antonio Reynoso; the Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer, and Diana Reyna, among other elected officials. In addition, the Institute also presented several awards to individuals who over the years have supported the work of this organization.

After the dinner and ceremony, the guests enjoyed the music of singer JMartin and danced to the rhythms of Los Clarinetes Mágicos (The Magic Clarinets).

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