ExCEL’s Newest Partner, Van Alen Institute, Expands Impact-Driven Learning

February 17, 2026

When visitors use their phones to scan a QR code at a public art installation in Washington Heights and Gowanus, Brooklyn this summer, the data collected will help urban designers better understand how New Yorkers interact with shared spaces. The survey tool behind that effort was built by Baruch College students.

The project is part of an ongoing partnership between Baruch College and the Van Alen Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing equitable and inclusive cities through design. As a community partner of the College’s Experiential and Community Engaged Learning (ExCEL) office, Van Alen joins a growing network of organizations collaborating with faculty and students on impact-driven, credit-bearing coursework.

Led by ExCEL Director Anthony (“Tony”) Maniscalco, the program connects community partners with Baruch faculty to co-create semester-long and short-term projects that address real-world challenges across New York City.

“We pair community partners with Baruch faculty to design projects that inspire student creativity and civic mindedness,” Maniscalco said. “ExCEL Forward encourages students to gain practical, professional skills while advancing their career prospects and making New York City a better place.”

From Concept to Pilot

The collaboration with Van Alen began in Spring 2025, when undergraduates in the Zicklin School of Business developed a proof-of-concept survey tool accessible on mobile devices. In subsequent semesters, capstone students in the Department of Information Systems and Statistics expanded the platform, building a backend capable of delivering real-time data to urban planners and designers.

The app is expected to launch in a pilot phase this summer.

“Students rose to the challenge with creativity and professionalism, delivering an exceptional, data-driven proof of concept,” said faculty mentor and adjunct lecturer Rudolph Brown, who has taught the Zicklin School’s capstone course for more than a decade. “This partnership showcases the power of experiential, student-centered learning.”

Shiloah Coley, program manager at the Van Alen Institute, praised the students’ efforts throughout this project and is excited about the possibility of future collaborations with the College.

“Each semester, Baruch students bring an astounding level of intelligence and dedication,” Coley said. “Their work will deeply impact how we approach future public space projects.”

Impact Beyond the Classroom

For students, the experience has been transformative.

“I strengthened my skills in project management, teamwork, and client communication,” said Loran Maxime (BBA ’25).

Michael Schlichting Barbey (’27), a computer information systems major with a minor in computer science, added that the project sparked his interest in frontend development, data privacy, and using technology for public good.

Alumna Josefina Lima-Tufiño (BBA ’25) embraced participating in this project as a business analyst for the first time.

“We all wanted to provide a great impression and overall project to VAI,” Lima-Tufiño explained. “I’m glad the partnership has continued and other Baruch students have had the opportunity to gain real-world experience.”

Expanding Community Partnerships

Van Alen is the latest addition to ExCEL’s growing roster of partners for 2025–26, which includes Madison Square Park Conservancy, Center for Book Arts, CITYarts, New York Cares, Breakthrough NY, L.O.V.E. Mentoring, and Earth Matter NY.

Through collaborations like these, Baruch continues to expand community-engaged learning opportunities that prepare students to contribute meaningfully to New York City’s civic, social, and economic life.

Explore Baruch’s community-engaged learning programs and participating courses.

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