Three members of the Colin Powell School community — an accomplished alum and two distinguished former fellows — have been named to the CUNY 50 Under 50 list, which celebrates rising leaders who exemplify service, innovation, and impact across fields.
Angela Antonia Torregoza,Esq., Founder of LegalEase.us and a summa cum laude City College graduate, Angela was recognized for her commitment to empowering immigrant communities.
An immigrant from the Philippines with more than a decade of experience in immigration law, Torregoza has guided families toward permanent residency, artists through visa processes, and entrepreneurs establishing businesses in the U.S.
Honored by Super Lawyers and active in major legal associations, she continues to champion accessible immigration services. Torregoza was a dual sociology and education major at City College, and earned her law degree from CUNY School of Law where she was a Larry Levine Human Rights Fellow.
Ethan Frisch, Former Colin Powell School fellow Ethan Frisch — entrepreneur, humanitarian, and co-founder of the single-origin spice company Burlap & Barrel – was also on the list.
A Macaulay Honors and CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies graduate, Frisch’s path spans professional kitchens, international aid work, and even an appearance on Shark Tank. His company partners directly with farmers around the world to build sustainable and equitable spice supply chains. Frisch also serves on numerous nonprofit boards and has taught as an adjunct lecturer, including at City College.
Rounding out the honorees is Troy Blackwell, a former Colin Powell Global Leadership Fellow whose groundbreaking public service career has taken him from the U.S. Peace Corps to the Biden-Harris Administration.
Blackwell served as Deputy Chief Communications Officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office, becoming the agency’s highest-ranking Latino appointee during the administration. Previously, as the Peace Corps’ global spokesperson — the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the role — he led communications across 64 countries and spearheaded the landmark “Bold Invitation” recruitment campaign.
Blackwell now serves on Google’s Changemakers Advisory Board and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, among other leadership roles.
Together, Torregoza, Frisch, and Blackwell represent the Colin Powell School’s commitment to public service, global engagement, and social impact, and demonstrate the extraordinary paths CUNY graduates continue to forge.
Read more about all 50 individuals here.
