Page 6 - QT Edition #5 01-29-26

PAGE 6 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026

Hyndman Kicks Off 2026 Statewide College Tour at
MCNY, Spotlighting Adult Learners And

Workforce Innovation

Assemblywoman Alicia L.
Hyndman, Chair of the New
York State Assembly Committee
on Higher Education, launched
her 2026 statewide college tour
on January 15 with a visit to
Metropolitan College of New
York (MCNY), underscoring her
commitment to strengthening
pathways from higher education
to long-term careers in New York.
Hyndman met with MCNY
President Dr. Charles J. Gibbs
and senior leadership to discuss
the college’s financial planning,
new academic offerings, and stu-
dent support initiatives. The visit
marked the first stop in her annual
tour of colleges and universities and meet workforce needs across Alicia Hyndman to Metropolitan
across the state. New York. This will not only help College of New York as part of
MCNY, known for serving students but also fuel our economy her first college visit of 2026,” he
working adults, highlighted its ac- in the future.” said. “Her leadership as Chair of
celerated programs and stackable Hyndman also reviewed MC- the New York State Assembly’s
credentials that allow students to NY’s expanding student support Higher Education Committee
earn certificates quickly and apply services, including trauma-in- reflects a deep understanding of
those credits toward advanced de- formed retention programs and a how education, equity and eco- Park Side Restaurant
grees. The college’s business and new Veteran Center funded by a nomic opportunity intersect in
healthcare programs—including $740,000 grant. The college cur- shaping opportunity and upward
healthcare informatics and risk rently serves 40 veterans and plans mobility. It is always an honor to Queens’Finest Italian Restaurant
management—are designed to to grow its veteran services as part share ideas, and I look forward to
prepare students for high-demand of its mission to support nontra- continued dialogue and collabora-
fields and help them build sustain- ditional students. MCNY leaders tion in support of our students and
able careers in New York. also outlined workforce programs communities we serve.”
“As Chair of the Assembly aimed at addressing the statewide The visit concluded with a
Higher Education Committee, shortage of mental health provid- shared commitment to continue
I feel it is important to see how ers—an issue aligned with Hynd- collaborating on workforce de-
colleges are preparing students man’s legislative priorities. velopment, expanded veteran
for today’s and tomorrow’s work- Dr. Gibbs praised the As- support, and new pathways to
force,” Hyndman said during the semblywoman’s leadership and higher education credentials—key
visit. “MCNY is working to sup- engagement. “We were honored areas Hyndman has championed
port students, build long careers, to welcome Assemblywoman throughout her tenure.
Governor Hochul Celebrates Radical AI Establishing New About Park Side Restaurant - An Italian Landmark in the heart of Corona,
York’s First Fully Autonomous Materials Science Labs At Queens, Park Side Restaurant is truly a destination that is worth the trip.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard After one visit, you will be sure to be back again and again for one the
city’s Best Italian restaurants. Bring your appetite and enjoy authentic
Governor Kathy Hochul and always delicious dishes using the freshest ingredients and attention to
announced that Radical AI, a detail served by our professional staff. Park Side is also happy to host your
fast-growing materials science next function with our private dining area and flexible banquet packages.
and artificial intelligence com-
pany, will establish New York’s 107-01 Corona Ave. Corona Heights, NY
first fully autonomous materials
science laboratory at the Brook- (718) 271-9274 • (718) 271-9871
lyn Navy Yard, marking a major - Reservations Suggested -
investment in the state’s deep-tech
and advanced manufacturing
sectors.
Radical AI will renovate and re-
purpose space in Building 20 to
create a state-of-the-art headquar-
ters and research facility capable
of running roughly 100 AI-driven
experiments each day. The $4 mil- cialized in this state.” decades of research into months.
lion project is supported by up to Empire State Development “Our new facility will run ma-
$2 million in performance-based President, CEO and Commission- terials experiments at a pace and
Excelsior Jobs Program tax cred- er Hope Knight said the expansion scale that traditional R&D can-
its from Empire State Develop- highlights the strength of New not match,” said Joseph Krause,
ment and is expected to create York’s innovation economy. “This Radical AI’s CEO and co-found-
115 high-paying jobs in materials project brings together artificial er. “We’re grateful to ESD for
science, robotics, and AI. intelligence, advanced research, backing a vision that will help
Governor Hochul said the proj- and high-quality job creation in transform how materials are
ect reflects New York’s growing a field that touches nearly every discovered and deployed across
leadership in turning cutting-edge sector of the global economy,” mission-critical industries.”
research into economic oppor- Knight said. Regional leaders said the project
tunity. “Radical AI’s decision Founded in 2024, Radical reinforces New York City’s grow-
to establish the state’s first fully AI has grown from a small re- ing status as a center for applied
autonomous materials science search team into a rapidly scal- AI and advanced manufacturing.
laboratory at the Brooklyn Navy ing company employing more NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V.
Yard strengthens our position as than 30 scientists, engineers, Matos Rodríguez and William D.
a global hub for artificial intelli- and technologists. Its mission Rahm noted that the expansion
gence, advanced manufacturing, is to accelerate the discovery of reflects the region’s talent pipeline
and deep-tech research,” she said. next-generation inorganic mate- and collaborative innovation envi-
“By investing in companies that rials using a combination of AI, ronment, while NYCEDC Senior
push the boundaries of science robotics, and high-throughput Vice President Justin Kreamer
and technology, we’re ensur- experimentation. The company’s said the new facility will serve as
ing the discoveries that drive autonomous laboratory model can a “key hub for AI experimentation
long-term economic growth are speed up materials discovery by
developed, scaled, and commer- more than 300 times, compressing (Continued on page 10)