November 2025 Student Spotlight

How has the Marxe School’s Higher Education Administration program helped you become a better advisor?
The Marxe School’s Higher Education Administration program has helped me become a better advisor. The courses I have taken in the program have allowed me to better understand my role as an academic advisor and the institution I work at, CUNY John Jay College. In my Introduction to Higher Education, I focused my final paper on the academic advisement center’s (AAC) impact on student success at John Jay. Throughout my research, I learned more about the center’s history and the work it has accomplished. Other courses in the program include reflective assignments, which have made me consider my strengths and weaknesses. So, I try to implement a new way to advise incoming freshmen every semester. More recently, I took Student Advisement, and the final project was to create our personal philosophy of academic advising. The assignment helped me identify my advising approach based on advising strategies and theories such as developmental advising and proactive advising. Overall, the program has been a learning experience for me, and every semester I find myself able to connect with my student cohort in various ways.

Tell us about your involvement in the HEA Club.
Currently, I am the vice president of the HEA Club. I joined the club in Spring 2023 as an e-board member. We were tasked with rechartering the club and working closely with the Office of Student Life to ensure we met all criteria. Now, I work closely with other e-board members in developing 3-4 events every semester for HEA students to ensure they are familiar with the career path that higher education provides. Also, developing and executing workshops that help students navigate their graduate studies, such as the course registration social. This event allows students to hear from each other about what to expect in courses they plan to enroll in the following semester. This event lets students chat with Dr. Ryan Coughlan about the capstone course. Being part of the HEA Club has been a learning experience and a great way to network with my peers and future leaders. I meet them early on their journey at New Student Orientation and see their growth in the classroom setting.

What is your role as Senior Academic Advisor in the LEAP Program at CUNY John Jay like? What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
As a Senior Academic Advisor at John Jay College, I support freshman and sophomore students. My caseload of 300+ students includes upperclassmen, so my day-to-day responsibilities vary. My focus with the students I support is to provide academic advisement and experiential learning opportunities. I ensure that students start thinking early about how their major aligns with their career goals, and if they are unsure, we use resources at John Jay, such as the Career Learning Lab. Additionally, I try to support students in eliminating any barriers to their college journey. For instance, if a student has difficulty understanding why they have an outstanding balance, I guide the students in helping them understand their CUNYFirst account and direct them to the office that will support them, whether that is financial aid, the bursar’s office, or our one-stop Jay Express. I also work with at-risk students, who are students on academic probation and academically dismissed students. I support them in getting back on good academic standing or developing a plan to ensure they continue their college journey. Working with this student population is challenging because I see firsthand that these students juggle schoolwork and other responsibilities that affect their academic performance. With over three years of experience at John Jay, I feel I am making a difference for the students I support. However, that was not always the case. I found it challenging when I first started since I was unfamiliar with CUNY policies and systems. After connecting with my colleagues and following up with supervisors, I became more familiar with CUNY systems and John Jay’s catalog to support students better.

Do you have any classes or professors that have been outstanding for your HEA experience?
Dr. Gaskew and Dr. Adams were the two professors who made my HEA experience fantastic. Dr. Gaskew pushed me when it comes to writing. She has also allowed me to reflect on my growth, which, as individuals, we sometimes forget to reflect on all the great work we have accomplished. She encourages me and her students to think about how we want to impact the higher education field. Due to her encouragement, I presented at “Advancing CUNY: Intentional Connections and Smart Collaborations”. Dr. Adams has valuable experiences and shares them with all his students in his classes.  I have taken three of his classes, and his approach as a practitioner has influenced the way I am considering moving forward in my CUNY career.