▁associate ▁degrees ▁to ▁His pan ic ▁students . ▁ ▁When ▁speaking ▁to ▁groups ▁of ▁B M CC ▁students , ▁Pérez ▁often ▁refers ▁to ▁his ▁own ▁experience ▁of ▁growing ▁up ▁in ▁an ▁imm igr ant ▁household ▁with ▁limited ▁income , ▁and ▁experien cing ▁academic ▁challeng es . ▁Res pond ing ▁to ▁criticism ▁about ▁community ▁college ▁gradu ation ▁rates ▁from ▁former ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁Mayor ▁Rud olph ▁Giul iani , ▁Pérez ▁founded ▁the ▁B M CC ▁Out ▁in ▁Two ▁program , ▁which ▁provides ▁scholar ships ▁and ▁academic ▁support ▁en abling ▁students ▁to ▁gradu ate ▁in ▁two ▁years . ▁Pérez ▁led ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁a ▁partners hip ▁between ▁B M CC ▁and ▁S UN Y ▁Empire ▁State ▁College , ▁so ▁that ▁B M CC ▁gradu ates ▁have ▁a ▁path way ▁to ▁ear n ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁an ▁acc red ited ▁distance - learning ▁program , ▁and ▁he ▁facil itated ▁B M CC ' s ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁NY SI M ▁( C UN Y / N Y U ▁Lang one ▁Medical ▁Center ), ▁which ▁serves ▁as ▁a ▁training ▁site ▁for ▁B M CC ▁al lied ▁health ▁students , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁for ▁college ▁students ▁across ▁New ▁York ▁City . ▁ ▁Community ▁service ▁▁ ▁Ad vis ory ▁Board ▁Member , ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁Amer icas ▁Film ▁Festival ▁of ▁New ▁York • <0x09> Ad vis ory ▁Board ▁Member , ▁Lower ▁Manh attan ▁Development ▁Corporation ▁• <0x09> Board ▁Member , ▁Dow nt own ▁Alliance ▁• <0x09> Board ▁Member