January 2025 Winners

Caitlyn Ferguson

ASAP Financial Aid Specialist
ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs)

On the Queensborough homepage under Facts & Figures, it states that 90 percent of Queensborough students graduate without Federal student loan debt. This impressive number is possible through grants, scholarships, work-study, tuition payment plans, and information about loans to cover tuition, books and other supplies all of which fall under the umbrella of the Office of Financial Aid.

A separate resource for the same purpose fall under the umbrella of Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), which provides comprehensive financial, academic, and career-related support services for students to build a connected community to graduate students within two to three years.

“I am passionate about helping students graduate debt free,” said Caitlyn Ferguson, who has been the ASAP Financial Aid Specialist at Queensborough since 2019. “To accomplish this goal, they need guidance to submit financial aid applications, which contain technical language that can be confusing and overwhelming. I encourage them to take one step at a time."

Courtney Packer, ASAP Program Manager/Associate Director, nominated Caitlyn for the C.A.R.E.S. Award, noting, “She navigates and resolves complex financial aid problems, simplifying information for students, parents, and staff.”

A New York native, Caitlyn grew up on Long Island and has resided in Queens since 2017. Her career in financial aid spans ten years, first as a full-time financial aid advisor at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, Long Island, where she pursued her master’s degree in instructional technology.

“Though working in the private sector offered some exciting advantages, my heart was set on working at a public education institution in large part because my undergraduate experience at Queens College was inclusive and very rewarding.”

Approximately 2,600 students were enrolled in ASAP this semester and received assistance from 25 advisors, including Caitlyn, the point person for all things related to financial aid.

“We have a tightly knit team. I can rely on our advisors. They work with a caseload of about 150 ASAP students and give them a gentle nudge that they cannot register for the next semester with an open bill.”

Caitlyn noted that as of mid-December 88 percent of eligible ASAP students successfully completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

To get to that number is no easy feat.

“The 2024-25 FAFSA form overhaul had a lot of technical glitches and created hurdles for ASAP students. Every time that I was able to help a student complete their application felt like a huge win.”

Each semester, if an ASAP student is receiving some financial aid after completing their applications and submitting all required documentation, the ASAP scholarship will fill the tuition gap, which helps with retention and graduation rates. ASAP scholarships for part-time students and students who apply through the DREAM act need to be processed manually, which Caitlyn spends her time on when not meeting individually with students, conducting student outreach, or reconciling awards.

“She manages all the components of ASAP scholarship processing. Her efforts continue to increase ASAP scholarship eligibility and FAFSA and TAP completion rates. With financial barriers being a major obstacle to student persistence, her work in this area is invaluable,” notes Courtney.

Caitlyn received her master’s in science from the New York Institute of Technology; her bachelor’s degree in English from Queens College, and her associate degree in liberal arts from Nassau Community College.

“I originally studied to teach English but after student teaching in a high school, I decided the classroom was not for me, but I still liked the idea of working with students. It was suggested to me that I should look into higher education. I love being on this campus in an environment that lifts everyone up."

Cindy Roman

Academic Advising Specialist
Academy Advisement

“I map out with students — especially first-year students — how to incorporate their studies with their personal lives — whether they have long commutes, family responsibilities, or full or part-time jobs. It is crucial to get them on track quickly,” said Cindy, who sees about 40 new, incoming, readmit and continuing students a week.

Academic Advising Specialist, Carla McIntosh, said, “Cindy provides tailored support that empowers students to succeed. They feel valued and understood.” Carla, who nominated Cindy for the C.A.R.E.S. Award, has worked with her for four years since Cindy first joined the office.

About the time Cindy came on board, she started working with a Business Administration student. He needed to take one required traditional A.S. in Business course to graduate. However, the Business Administration online program is designed for students with 30 credits or less and he had over 30 credits. This problem became an obstacle that stood between him and getting his degree. “I have worked with him over the past several years as he navigated through this program, balancing his course needs as he traveled back and forth to Florida to manage his company,” said Cindy. “I connected with the professor who teaches the required course — business law — and with his permission, arranged for the student to take the class.” He graduated in Dec. 2024.

“I also advise students on strategies to avoid academic burnout, especially if they are planning to pursue a challenging area of study such as the nursing program, or majors in the sciences.” 

“Her consistent efforts equip students with practical tools to effectively balance their academic, personal, and extracurricular commitments,” said Carla. “Her individualized approach fosters a sense of accountability and confidence among her advisees. It is no surprise that word has spread about her exceptional support; she now has a waiting list of students eager to benefit from her guidance.” 

Cindy remarked that it is usually one’s own experiences that color their passion for a fulfilling life. “As a young, single mother, my priority was my family but pursuing my education became increasingly important to me. I asked myself, what would my life be like with the benefits of knowledge and expanded horizons?”

Cindy pursued her education at Hostos Community College where she majored in Business. She enrolled in the fall of 2016 and joined the ASAP program. In addition to her coursework, she was a work study student and then a college assistant in the advisement office. She received her associate degree in 2018 and transferred to Lehman College where she graduated in the spring of 2020 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Now she is aiming for her master's at CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) in business management and leadership.