Learning in/about Queens

Hodaya Alon, rising sophomore

Hodaya Alon is an upcoming sophomore majoring in Early Childhood Education. In English 110, she learned how to improve her writing and think more critically. She’s excited to share how the course helped her grow as a student. 

 

 

Matthew Paolucci, URBST graduate

Matthew Paolucci recently graduated from Queens College with a degree in Urban Studies and a minor in Urban Planning. He graduated with a 3.9 GPA in his major while completing two internships—one with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he supported stakeholder and community engagement in the Real Estate Department, and another with QC NYPIRG, where he served as the Straphangers Campaign Coordinator, leading student transit advocacy. 

At Queens College, Matthew led the campus chapter of the QueensLink campaign, organizing a petition that gathered over 1,500 student signatures in support of expanding north-south subway service through Central and Southern Queens. He also planned and hosted a community town hall with over 100 attendees to discuss the borough’s transit gaps. The event generated attendees’ personal transit stories and experiences in Queens.  Drawing from this qualitative data, Matthew authored a comprehensive report that synthesized the themes of the event.  When finished, the report will be sent to every 2025 New York City mayoral candidate as a policy recommendation, urging city leadership to prioritize investment in the Rockaway Beach Branch through the QueensLink proposal. 

Outside of advocacy, Matthew sang with the Queens College Choral Society and enjoys camping, hiking, astronomy, and baseball. He plans to pursue a career in community organizing, transportation policy, or politics and is preparing to apply to graduate school for a Master’s in Public Administration. 

 

Mehmood Ali Ursani, rising sophomore  

I’m Mehmood Ali Ursani, a first-year student at Queens College with a background from Hyderabad, Pakistan. I plan to major in International Business. 

 

 

Judy Wang, URBST graduate

Hi everyone, my name is Judy Wang. I’m a recent graduate from Queens College, where I double-majored in Economics and Urban Studies. I’m currently working at Citibank as a Universal Banker. This past semester, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the Queens Botanical Garden, where I worked closely with the compost department. It was a rewarding experience that deepened my understanding of sustainability and community engagement. 

I’m super excited to share more about my journey and learn from all of you as well!