Fadila Prastawa, Qinni (Nino) Xiang, Xueer Han, and Liliya Treyger, all MPS Design Management ’25, presented their project “Beacon of Light” to the American Institute of Architects, New York. The proposal addresses urban resilience during citywide blackouts. A pilot program is slated for Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, with plans for citywide expansion and partnerships with agencies like NYC Emergency Management and FEMA. Emphasizing community preparedness over infrastructure alone, Beacon of Light provides a scalable, human-centered model for blackout resilience that aligns with global sustainability objectives.
The Daily Hub
A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Claudia Berger, MSLIS ’21, and Gabby Evergreen, MSLIS ’24, led a workshop, “Exploring Environmental Data Through Data Physicalization,” at the 2025 METRO STEM Information Professionals Mini Conference. At that same conference, alumna Diedre Brown, MS Data Analytics and Visualization ’21, gave a talk, “Empathy for the Faceless: Using Coloring Books to Exploring the Urban Aerobiome Microclimate,” and alumna and METRO staff Mary Bakija, MSLIS ’20, helped organize the conference.
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Emily Vasquez, BFA Art and Design Education ’26, received the 2025 Seraphin Bernard Student Leader of the Year Award.
![Emily Vasquez smiling and holding up a plaque award. She wears a red top and glasses.]()
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Alumnus Jashar Awan is highlighted in Little Village magazine for his latest picture book, Every Monday Mabel, which “radiates pure joy,” writes Casey Maynard. “I have loved Awan’s previous titles, especially Towed by Toad, but this one feels like a new creative stride. . . . Everything about the presentation showcases Awan’s colorful style and wonderfully paced narrative.”
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Ben Zweig published “This Prompt Contains Prohibited Words’: Language, Ekphrasis, and the Limits of the Generative Imagination” in The International Journal for Digital Art History. Also, a panel that he organized titled “Rethinking the Ethics of “Open” in the Shadow of AI” was accepted for the Digital Humanities 2025 conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Sam Raddatz, MSLIS ‘15, has launched Forest & Trees, a consulting firm specializing in supporting cultural institution leaders who recognize a mismatch between their organization’s insides and outsides. The firm’s signature offering, the Question Catalyst, helps teams identify and address fundamental questions before investing in solutions. Learn more at forestandtrees.us.
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Studio and Gallery Manager Taylor Bielecki, MFA Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) ’22, reviewed exhibitions by Judi Keeshan and Sarah Martin-Nuss in Art Spiel.
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Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Information Claudia Berger, MSLIS ‘21, gave a talk concluding their year as the Scholars’ Lab’s first Virtual Artist in Residence. Their talk covered a data quilt made for them exploring the history of the Appalachian Trail and who national parks are designed for. Also, the companion zine to the special issue they edited for dh+lib won best DH Training Material at the 2024 DH Awards. The zine also includes work from Associate Professor in the School of Information Nancy Smith.
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Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, MFA Communications Design ’15, was featured in Artsy as one of the “must-know women artists.” “I first came across Amanda’s work at a fiber arts show at the South Street Seaport in New York last spring,” said arts patron Carla Shen. “She had this stunning site-specific installation of layers of cotton and silk flowers and greenery draped over a 12-foot diameter grain hoist that had been part of the building since the 18th century. She has also created numerous large public installations and murals driven by her commitment to using art to engage the community and find collective ways to address loss, transformation, and healing.”
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The School of Information Faculty Innovation Fund (FIF) was awarded to Assistant Professors Kathy Carbone, Sai Shruthi Chivukula, and Ashley Lee, and Professors Irene Lopatovska, and Cristina Pattuelli.
More Pratt Institute News
Workplace Ready: Project SEARCH Interns Graduate
New York City high school students received career training through Project SEARCH, a national program focused on workforce-readiness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Pratt Names Courtney Knapp New Chair of the Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment
From Pratt Institute News
An award-winning scholar and professor in the Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment’s Urban and Community Planning program, Knapp will assume the role on July 1, 2025, succeeding Eve Baron, who is stepping down to join the full-time faculty.
Alumni Harvey Fierstein and Paul Tazewell Shine at the Tony Awards
From Pratt Institute News
Esteemed writer and actor Harvey Fierstein was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the theater; Oscar-winning designer Paul Tazewell won for Best Costume Design in a Musical.