Thomas "Tom" A. Kelley

My degree from CCNY was a BA in urban geography. The most impressionable professor was a Holocaust survivor, Professor Melezin. In addition to being a leader in his field, he captivated the class with his stories of life and escape from the concentration camp where he was imprisoned in the snow. He subsequently came to the United States after the war. There was another memorable top professor, Professor Isaac, who mentored me in an independent study to finish my degree on time. Just before graduation, I went to a job interview at Pan American World Airways and got the job! The recruiter asked me, 'When do you want to start?' I told her that I wanted to go to my graduation and then start, as training was in Honolulu, Hawaii. Pan Am agreed, so I not only got my degree, but I landed my dream job at the same time! I worked at Pan Am for nine years before moving on. Pan Am is gone, but I stayed in the airline industry, working at both Northwest Airlines and United Airlines in various management positions throughout the world before retiring from United in 2012. After retiring from United, I went to China and taught for five years at a university in Shenzhen, China. CCNY prepared me for living, working, and prospering in a big, diverse world.