STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The City University of New York has announced its second annual 50 Under 50 awards on Wednesday, recognizing standout alumni for their social, cultural and economic contributions across New York and beyond.
CUNY said this year’s group showcases the depth of talent across its 25 colleges, with honorees that include public officials, journalists, entrepreneurs, health-care leaders, artists and educators. Among them are four College of Staten Island graduates recognized for their work in technology, politics, environmental advocacy and design.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez celebrated the honorees, saying,“There is no better proof of the power of a CUNY education than seeing firsthand the impact our alumni are making in their industries and their communities.”
The following alumni from Staten Island have been named to the 2025 50 Under 50 list.
CUNY’s Staten Island Honorees
State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, a College of Staten Island alumna, represents the state’s 23rd District. She serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs and has played a key role in passing the Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Act, as well as leading efforts to lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 35 for earlier detection. She is being honored for her work on public safety, veteran services and coastal resiliency.
José R. Ramírez-Garofalo, also a College of Staten Island graduate, serves as president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Staten Island. He is recognized for advocating for the preservation of the borough’s natural areas and parkland and has been a key voice in the fight against the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline.
Ilir Sela, a third-generation pizzeria owner and College of Staten Island graduate, grew up helping his family run their New York City pizzerias. He founded the national online delivery platform Slice in 2010 to help independent pizzerias compete with larger chains and is being honored for building the largest pizzeria network in the United States, now used by more than 14,000 shops nationwide.
Megan McNamee works as a UX designer at Epic Games, the global gaming company behind Fortnite. McNamee has been featured by Influential Women as an “Influential Woman” for her work and is being honored for her growing impact in the video game industry. She is also a College of Staten Island graduate.
Other notable honorees include NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga; New York City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz; and New York State Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson.
A complete list of the 2025 50 Under 50 honorees is available on CUNY’s website.
Nominations for CUNY’s annual 50 Under 50 awards are reviewed by the University’s Office of Communications and Marketing. Recipients are selected based on their achievements and impact in both academic and non-academic careers, as well as their contributions to their communities and industries. Alumni, colleagues, friends and the nominees themselves can submit nominations year-round through CUNY’s online form.
The CUNY Alumni Network is a central initiative connecting more than one million alumni across CUNY’s 25 colleges. It fosters a lasting community for professional and personal growth through collaborations, mentorship, career opportunities, and other forms of support.
The City University of New York was founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education. Today, CUNY is the nation’s largest urban public university, with seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges, and eight honors, graduate, and professional institutions across New York City’s five boroughs. The university serves nearly 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students and awards 50,000 degrees each year.
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