The Thought Project Podcast At The Graduate Center

Abortion attitudes can look deeply personal, but sociologist Amy Adamczyk’s research suggests they are also powerfully shaped by the places we live. On this episode of The Thought Project, host Tanya Domi speaks with Adamczyk, a professor of Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center and John Jay College, about her award-winning book Fetal Positions: Understanding the Cross-National Public Opinion About Abortion. Drawing on survey data from over 200,000 people across 88 societies, plus interviews in the United States and China, Adamczyk unpacks why views about abortion vary so widely and why national context, especially religiosity and gender equality, can influence people’s attitudes even when their personal beliefs do not. She also discusses what is shifting in the U.S. after Dobbs, how China’s one-child policy still echoes in public opinion, and what her findings suggest about access, agency, and the future of reproductive rights.

In this episode of The Thought Project podcast, CUNY Graduate Center social media coordinator Coralie Carlson reflects on a career that has spanned the Associated Press, NBC New York, and the classroom at Hunter College. A journalist since her teens, Carlson sees her work on the Graduate Center’s channels as reporting in a new format, one with its own fast, shifting news cycle. She describes how earning her M.A. at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism last December helped her learn new formats and return to hands-on journalism. Carlson also shares what she teaches in Hunter College’s Journalism for Non-Journalists news literacy course: Investigate who is behind an outlet, use “lateral reading” to verify claims, and be skeptical without becoming cynical. At the Graduate Center, she applies those same principles to amplify research, promote this podcast, and help the Office of Communications and Marketing cut through misinformation with clear, credible posts for audiences.

In this episode of The Thought Project podcast, CUNY Graduate Center Mathematics Ph.D. student Emma Hasson shares her passion for mathematics and her mission to make it more engaging and accessible. A Scientific American puzzle writer and recipient of a prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Media Fellowship, Hasson describes math as creative, beautiful, and universal: a discipline rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and play. She finds joy in helping others see math not as rigid or intimidating, but as something everyone can connect to through patterns and puzzles. She also explains why math anxiety is so common, even among teachers. Many were taught to memorize steps rather than understand concepts, leading to insecurity and a rigid, procedure-first approach in the classroom. Hasson argues that effective math learning balances structure with creativity and treats confusion not as failure, but as part of discovery.

In this episode of The Thought Project, CUNY Graduate Center Dean for the Sciences Brian R. Gibney discusses how the Graduate Center is positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. Gibney outlines the transformative impact of the Simons Foundation’s historic $75 million gift, including $50 million to launch the Martin S. Spergel Initiative in Computational Sciences at the Graduate Center. The initiative supports five interdisciplinary cluster hires from computational biology to urban AI and will bring 25 new faculty across CUNY into Graduate Center–affiliated programs. Gibney also describes plans for a new master’s program in Computational Sciences, expected to launch in fall 2027, which will train students for emerging AI-driven fields. He highlights the Graduate Center’s role in Empire AI, a statewide consortium building a powerful supercomputer for AI research, and emphasizes the collaborative strengths of the Graduate Center and its Advanced Science Research Center in driving ethical, cross-

Allegations of sexual misconduct by police officers rarely make headlines, yet emerging research shows the problem is far from rare. On this episode of “The Thought Project,” host Tanya Domi speaks with Priscilla Bustamante, a Graduate Center Psychology Ph.D. candidate, whose dissertation examines how New Yorkers experience, resist, and heal from sexual violence by police outside prisons and jails. Working with a coalition of more than 200 community organizations, Bustamante helped design a citywide survey that reached nearly 4,000 residents and conducted in-depth interviews with 37 people who described a wide spectrum of violations — from sexually charged harassment during stops to coercive encounters and invasive searches. Her findings suggest that almost one in five New Yorkers surveyed has faced some form of police sexual violence, with disproportionate impacts on Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and unhoused people, and that many live with daily fear for themselves and their loved ones. Bustamante also discusses

Economic volatility, policy shifts in Washington, and rapid advances in AI are reshaping work and the risks workers face. Occupational health psychologist Andrea Bazzoli, a professor of Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and Baruch College, joins host Tanya Domi to examine how economic stressors intersect with workplace safety, with a focus on vulnerable and marginalized workers. Drawing on his research, Bazzoli explains how job insecurity, layoffs, and remote work dynamics affect opportunity and mental health, and why employer and government responses are pivotal. The conversation also explores recent political turbulence — from leadership changes at the Bureau of Labor Statistics to tariff policies — and how those decisions filter into prices, employer behavior, and worker confidence. Bazzoli’s insights reveal how people cope with instability, and he outlines practical steps institutions can take to build fairer, safer workplaces.

Prithi Kanakamedala, professor of history at Bronx Community College and faculty member in the CUNY Graduate Center’s Liberal Studies master’s program, joins The Thought Project to explore the evolving role of historians and other scholars beyond the archive. As coordinator of the Graduate Center’s new Advanced Certificate in Public Scholarship, she describes how the program empowers scholars to work collaboratively with communities, translating research into public-facing projects and fostering democratic engagement. She shares her vision for scholarship that is deeply rooted in social justice, responsive to community needs, and accessible beyond academic walls. Kanakamedala also discusses her acclaimed book Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities That Shaped a Borough, which illuminates the resilience, creativity, and civic agency of 19th-century Black New Yorkers, offering a vital lens for understanding our shared past and future.

Luke Waltzer, director of the Teaching and Learning Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, joins The Thought Project to discuss his leadership of the Critical AI Literacy Institute, a three-year initiative funded by Google.org. The project brings together CUNY faculty to explore the impact of generative AI on teaching and learning, while creating space for reflection and experimentation in the classroom. Waltzer emphasizes that AI tools are not “intelligent” replacements for human thinking but technologies that must be critically examined for their material, ethical, and epistemological consequences. From sociology to computer science, faculty are designing interventions that help students grapple with the promises and pitfalls of AI. At the same time, Waltzer and his team are preparing graduate student teachers — who collectively teach over 100,000 CUNY undergraduates each year — with critical AI training so they can guide the next generation of learners. The conversation underscores the stakes of preservin

When Joel P. Christensen stepped into his role as CUNY Graduate Center provost last month, he brought with him a deep commitment to public higher education and to knowledge as a public good. A classicist by training, he has spent his career studying language, politics, and democracy. But it is his lived experience — as a first-generation college student from rural Maine, a teacher at a Hispanic- and veteran-serving university in Texas, and a scholar who witnessed the promise and peril of higher education during COVID — that shapes his vision today. In this episode of The Thought Project, he discusses the urgent challenges facing universities: economic inequality, political attacks, climate change, and the shifting role of technology. He also shares what inspires him about CUNY’s mission and why he believes the Graduate Center can remain a beacon for creating and safeguarding knowledge for all.

In this episode of The Thought Project, CUNY Graduate Center Distinguished Professor Cathy N. Davidson reflects on her 11 transformative years at the City University of New York. Calling CUNY “an educational miracle,” Davidson explains why she believes it’s the greatest university in the world: low-cost, high-impact, and driven by an extraordinary mission to serve “the whole people.” She shares how working with CUNY students — many of them first-generation and from underserved communities — reshaped her thinking and reaffirmed her belief in education as a public good. She offers an inspiring message in a time of crisis for higher education, arguing that CUNY’s graduates are exactly the kind of bold, compassionate thinkers we need to lead the next generation. As she prepares to retire from institutional life and return to writing, Davidson looks back with deep affection for the people who make CUNY what it is — and forward with hope, because of them.

In a time of backlash against LGBTQ+ individuals, Jean Halley, a professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and College of Staten Island, takes a powerful stand by addressing graduates at her home campus’s Lavender Ceremony honoring LGBTQ+ students. Halley joins The Thought Project to talk about why showing up as her full, queer self is an act of courage — and why visibility from those in leadership matters now more than ever. Halley urges students to speak out, invoking Audre Lorde’s call to transform silence into action: “Your silence will not protect you.” Reflecting on her own coming out and journey from a violent, racist household in Wyoming to a life of advocacy and scholarship, Halley reminds listeners that queer lives are revolutionary by their very existence — and that now is the time for bravery, solidarity, and truth.

In this episode of The Thought Project, Maura Smale, chief librarian of the CUNY Graduate Center’s Mina Rees Library, explores how academic libraries empower research and uphold democratic values in a time of growing censorship and disinformation. Smale highlights the Graduate Center library’s vital role as a research hub, connecting scholars across CUNY and beyond through expansive interlibrary loan networks that include the New York Public Library, SUNY schools, Columbia University, and more. She explains how her team of expert librarians — “small but mighty” — support a globally engaged research community through specialized consultation, open access advocacy, and resource-sharing. She also addresses the urgent challenges facing libraries nationwide, from defunding threats to book bans, and affirms librarianship as a frontline defense for intellectual freedom. With a strategic vision rooted in public scholarship and equity, Smale makes the case for why libraries remain essential infrastructure for knowled

In this episode of The Thought Project podcast, education policy expert David Bloomfield discusses the ongoing recovery of New York City’s public school system after the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bloomfield, a professor of Educational Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College at Brooklyn College and of Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center, explores how New York managed a relatively smooth return to in-person learning and highlights the renewed that understanding thar schools are vital community hubs. He also examines challenges that linger nationwide — from mask mandate battles and politicized curriculum debates to the limitations of remote learning and high-stakes testing. With an infusion of new state funding and an incoming mayoral administration, Bloomfield outlines the opportunities and risks that lie ahead, particularly around curriculum reform, equity, and leadership. He also warns of the growing threat posed by efforts to suppress truthful education and shift public funds towa

Zachariah Mampilly, the Marxe Endowed Chair of International Affairs at Baruch College and professor of Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center, joins The Thought Project to unpack the effects of the new world order on Africa and the Global South. Mampilly explains that outdated racial and colonial frameworks continue to shape international relations and discusses how countries in Africa and the broader Global South are often sidelined or instrumentalized by global powers like China and Russia. He addresses the rising challenges for these regions, including foreign interventions, resource extraction, and the enduring effects of Western imperialism. Mampilly also reflects on Sudan’s devastating conflict, the manipulation of African nations by external forces, and the missed opportunities for genuine engagement and leadership from the West. In a moment of global upheaval, he asks whether the Global South can assert new forms of influence — or if old hierarchies will simply be repackaged.

On this episode of The Thought Project, philosophy professor Michael Brownstein joins host Tanya Domi to unpack the sweeping rollbacks of long-standing U.S. social programs and the lessons history offers in fighting back. Brownstein, chair of philosophy at John Jay College and professor of Philosophy at the CUNY Graduate Center, draws on themes from his forthcoming book, Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change, to argue that meaningful change often hinges on steady, incremental action — not sudden revolution. From the decades-long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade to the organizing successes of the Black Panthers and the NRA, Brownstein explores how durable political movements are built. He discusses the political awakening of younger generations, the dangers of underestimating conservative long-term strategies, and why maintaining hope and persistence is crucial. In a polarized moment, Brownstein offers a clear-eyed but optimistic take on how ordinary people can still drive soci

Historian Benjamin Carter Hett, a professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College, joins The Thought Project for a timely discussion of the rise of autocracy in America and its unsettling parallels to Europe in 1938. Hett is the author of The Death of Democracy, which examines Hitler’s rise to power and the fall of the Weimar Republic, and he brings his deep knowledge of history to analyze present politics. As U.S. leadership shifts away from supporting Ukraine, echoing the West’s abandonment of Czechoslovakia before World War II, Hett explores the warning signs of democratic backsliding and the consequences of appeasing authoritarian regimes. How does the erosion of democratic norms in the U.S. compare to the failures of the Weimar Republic? What lessons can history offer as NATO’s future hangs in the balance and American foreign policy changes course? Listen to a compelling conversation on the fragility of democracy and the lessons of the past. The Thought Project is produced by CUNY TV and h

The CUNY Graduate Center has launched a timely new Advanced Certificate in LGBTQ Studies. Its director Laura Westengard, a professor of English at New York City College of Technology, joins The Thought Project to discuss the years-long effort to establish the 15-credit program, how it provides students with a formal credential in LGBTQ studies, and its role in bridging academic research with real-world impact. She also shares insights from her own scholarship on Gothic queer culture, exploring how the Gothic tradition — monsters, horror, and the macabre — has shaped queer identity and representation. Listen to this far-ranging conversation and hear how a carefully designed academic program is expanding opportunities for students and helping to shape the future of LGBTQ scholarship. The Thought Project is produced by CUNY TV and hosted by Tanya Domi.

Founded at the CUNY Graduate Center over 30 years ago, CLAGS: The Center for LGBTQ Studies has been a leader in LGBTQ scholarship. Now, a $100,000 unrestricted gift from CUNY scholar James M. Saslow helping to secure its legacy and future impact. CLAGS Executive Director Matt Brim, a professor at the Graduate Center and the College of Staten Island, explores the significance of this donation, the center’s ongoing work, and its role in the Graduate Center’s new Advanced Certificate in LGBTQ Studies. He also highlights CLAGS’ annual José Muñoz Award, which this year honors Angela Davis for her contributions to social justice, prison abolition, and sexual equality advocacy. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on the enduring importance of LGBTQ scholarship.

In this episode of The Thought Project, we delve into the innovative work of Corey Scher, whose satellite mapping techniques provide crucial insights into the human and environmental costs of conflict and disaster — from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to wildfires in Los Angeles. Scher, an Earth and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center, uses sophisticated mapping methods to reveal how warfare and environmental catastrophes change the built and natural landscape. His work illustrates not only the damage to structures, such as hospitals, schools, office buildings, and homes, but also severe ecological disruption, including contamination of air, soil, and water. His maps, developed by harnessing satellite radar data, cloud computing, and advanced geospatial techniques, have been featured by The New York Times, the Financial Times, The Washington Post, BBC, and NPR, and other leading news outlets. His research is also cited in reports from international humanitarian organizations.

How do we ensure every community is counted in the census? In a conversation on The Thought Project, Steven Romalewski, director of the CUNY Mapping Service, discusses the critical role of data mapping in ensuring a fair and accurate 2030 census. His team collaborates with national civil rights organizations, policymakers, and community groups to identify hard-to-count populations — such as immigrants, low-income residents, and people in rural communities — who are at risk of being overlooked. With real-time tracking tools, the CUNY Mapping Service helps guide outreach efforts, ensuring that census participation remains as inclusive and complete as possible. Romalewski highlights the stakes of an accurate count, from political representation to federal funding for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. As the census shapes policy and resources for the next decade, his work is vital in making sure no community is left behind. Listen in to learn more.