Four alumni of the College of Staten Island have been named to the prestigious CUNY 50 Under 50 list, which, according to the University, celebrates a class of distinguished graduates who have made headway in their respective fields over the past year. This prestigious recognition highlights the diverse talents and achievements of CUNY’s vibrant and expansive community.”

Commenting on this year’s CSI alumni who were named to the 50 Under 50, CSI President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch said, “We are delighted to celebrate the CSI alumni featured on this year’s list. Their dedication and hard work have propelled them to leadership in their fields, and they stand as shining examples of the excellence and impact of a CSI education.”

This year’s CSI alumni include:

Ilir Sela

Ilir Sela is the founder and CEO of Slice, a delivery service bringing the best of your local pizzeria to your front door.

Born to an Albanian family in Macedonia and raised on Staten Island, Sela grew up helping his family run their New York City pizzerias. After completing a degree in Computer Science at the College of Staten Island, Sela started his first company, Nerd Force, in 2003 with a mission of serving small businesses with information technology solutions.

Sela franchised the business in 2005 and scaled it to 124 locations by 2008 when he sold it to Nexus Management PLC. Sela then combined his passion for technology with his deep experience in the pizza industry to build Slice — a company that empowers local pizzerias with the tech, data and marketing to compete with the big chains.

Slice has become the largest pizzeria network in the U.S. and generated more than $2 billion in earnings for over 15,000 independent pizzerias nationwide.

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton has been representing the state’s 23rd District, which includes Staten Island’s North and East Shores and parts of Southern Brooklyn, since 2023.

Sen. Scarcella-Spanton serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, championing legislation to support veterans, including appointing veterans’ liaisons, expanding tuition assistance and improving maternal healthcare for veterans.

She played a key role in passing the Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Act and led efforts to lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 35 for earlier detection. She continues to prioritize public safety, securing measures in the 2024 State Budget to elevate assaulting retail workers to a Class E felony, enact anti-squatting legislation, and restore the 20-year service retirement benefit for New York City police officers.

Committed to affordability for all New Yorkers, she has worked to preserve the Staten Island resident discount on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, prevent tuition hikes for SUNY and CUNY schools, and introduced legislation to establish a State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate. Sen. Scarcella-Spanton also serves on Senate Committees for Civil Service and Pensions, Cultural Affairs, Disabilities, Labor, and Women’s Issues, continuing her dedication to her constituents.

José Ramírez-Garofalo

José Ramírez-Garofalo is a Staten Island-based conservationist, scientist, and community organizer who serves as President of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving open space and parkland. Under his leadership, the organization is reshaping how New Yorkers see the Borough’s natural areas. As President of Protectors, Ramírez-Garofalo has helped continue the legacy of the group as a forceful advocate for forests, wetlands, and shoreline habitats across Staten Island, with a particular focus on environmental justice for waterfront and working-class communities.

He has been a key voice in the fight against the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline, working alongside regional partners and environmental law organizations to defend Raritan Bay and Lower New York Harbor from renewed industrial harm.

A proud College of Staten Island graduate and adjunct lecturer, Ramírez-Garofalo brings his scientific training and teaching experience directly into his advocacy, using data, community science, and public education to build a broader, more inclusive conservation movement. In doing so, he has helped ensure that Staten Island is no longer treated as a dumping ground, but recognized as a living laboratory and a vital landscape for New York City’s ecological future.

Megan McNamee

Megan McNamee is a user experience (UX) designer in the video game industry currently working at Epic Games on Fortnite Battle Royale.

McNamee’s journey into making games is fueled by a relentless pursuit of innovation, pushing the boundaries of gaming to create solutions that resonate with players worldwide. Their ultimate goals are to create change, spark positive emotion, and introduce immersive experiences. To McNamee, video games hold unmatched potential to teach, bring people together, and provide a sense of comfort and belonging.

As a product of the CUNY ASAP program, McNamee graduated from the College of Staten Island in 2021 with a degree in Computer Science. Their passion for intuitive and meaningful UX started in their coding classes where they were introduced to technical problem-solving challenges, which ultimately sparked their passion for working through and proposing multiple solutions that provide players worldwide with the tools they need to play their way.

Witnessing players express their gratitude for the impact games have had on their lives continues to inspire McNamee to contribute to creating those meaningful experiences. They genuinely consider this one of the most fulfilling careers and are truly grateful to have found their passion in this industry.

CUNY collected nominations for the past few months through a form, and selected recipients who represent every CUNY college and stood out for the impact they have made in their respective industries in the past year.

By Terry Mares