“Crossing Borders III” Fosters Scholarly Dialogue Between MMC and BHCP Communities

The Avodah Dance Ensemble (Newman Taylor Baker, Julie Gayer Kris, Sarah Zitnay) choreographed a performance with Bedford Hills Dancers during Crossing Borders III.

Psychology major Margaret Kroll ’10 presented “Family Matters” with Assistant Professor of Psychology Kimberly Howard, Ph.D., concentrating on paternal parenting and adjustments of transracial/intercountry adoptees. 

Theatre arts majors Laura Baum ’10 and Arielle Parkas ’11 and Adjunct Instructor of English Carrie O’Dell, M.F.A., discussed “Drama and Social Change” by examining positive health through the theatre experience and O’Dell’s play Breakfast with Hank about abusive addictive relationships. 

Assistant Professor of Communication Arts Giovanna Chesler, M.F.A., screened her film Bye Bi Love for the panel “Relationships Between Women: Friendship and Romance.” 

Professor and Chair of Communication Arts Katie LeBesco, Ph.D.; Associate Professor of English and Chair of Humanities Peter Naccarato, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of French Julie Huntington, Ph.D.; and a BHCP graduate discussed culinary traditions and the problems of prison food in “Food for Thought: Analyzing Culinary Experiences.” 

During lunch, the Poetry Group, organized by BHCP graduate Christina Illenberg, shared a selection of original poems in poetry-slam fashion. The group brought the audience to its feet with applause, cheers and snaps. 

“‘Writing Off the Page’ has joined the intellectual minds and voices of Marymount Manhattan campus with our voices,” Illenberg said about having a space to create and share their thoughts and words. 

Julie Gayer Kris, Adovah Dance Ensemble’s artistic director, led Bedford Hills Dancers in a choreographed performance using improvised dance movements, music and storytelling for the goal of connecting an audience of diverse traditions and cultures. 

Other Bedford Hills College Program professors included Director of BHCP Aileen Baumgartner, Peter Bell, Mimi Leahey and Rachel Simon. 

Other Marymount Manhattan College students and alumni included Seth Becker ’13, Celena Chong ’09, Sarah Crawford ’10, Dominic Delabruere ’13, Gerard Dervan ’10, Michael Hickey ’11, Alex Kane ’11, Margaret Kroll ’10, Matt Livigni ’13, Nicole Luna ’10, Arielle Parkas ’11, Nicole Reinholdt ’13, Valerie Sarnicole ’11, Erik Shell ’13 and Shane Snider ’10. 

Other Marymount Manhattan professors and staff who presented included President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D.; Michael Backus, M.F.A.; Corey Liberman, Ph.D.; Eberly Mareci, Ph.D, and Connie Passalacqua, M.F.A. 

Guest presenters included Walter Hidalgo and Jessica VanDenend of the Union Theological Seminary; Megan Angley, Christina Calbos, Barbara Gonzalez and Anneka Preston of SUNY Purchase; Dr. Dana Gage of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility’s Regional Medical Unit; Katie Gora of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum; Julie Gayer Kris of Avodah Dance Ensemble; Bernice Mennis of Vermont College; Regina Ress of New York University; and Rob Scott of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Education Justice Project. 

This event marked the third Crossing Borders Conference at Bedford Hills. The first took place in April 2007. Through the Bedford Hills College Program, MMC offers college and college-preparatory coursework to inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a New York State maximum-security prison for women. The BHCP consists of credit-bearing and non-credit courses, awarding Associate of Arts degrees in Social Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology. In 1997, Marymount Manhattan College became the program’s degree granting institution as part of a unique consortium of colleges that supports BHCP.

Published: March 11, 2010