May 2025 Winners

Constance Williams

College Archivist
The Kurt R. Schmeller Library

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then words evoke lasting images.

As College Archivist at the Kurt R. Schmeller Library for more than 30 years, Constance (Connie) Williams has overseen and organized a vast collection of rare artifacts--photographs, literary papers, yearbooks, booklets and student and faculty contributions going back 65 years when Queensborough was founded.

Most recently, to celebrate last month’s National Library Week, Connie curated a display at the entrance to the library, Sharing Treasures from the College Archives. Among the featured items were a photo of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s visit to Queensborough, the first issue of Communique printed in 1969, a photo of the 1969-70 Men’s Bowling Team, and a 1960 Certificate certifying that Queensborough is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

“Connie knows that libraries hold a unique place in the collective memory of Queensborough and the academic life of students—a place of quiet discovery, where students explore their academic interests, find their passion and possibly their future dream careers,” said Alice Doyle, Communications and College Relations Manager in the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement, who nominated Connie for the C.A.R.E.S. Award. “Connie is often seen talking with students, answering questions and guiding them to the resources they need. And she always smiles and laughs and has time for everyone.”

Connie recalled assisting a student who despaired that she was older than other students and wanted to withdraw from the College. “You will still be older than the other students if you do not continue your studies,” said Connie. Years later the student sent Connie a letter and photo of her receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

A native of North Carolina, Connie earned a Bachelor of Science from Hampton University in Virginia. After completing a master's degree from the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Michigan, Connie accepted a position at East Carolina University, a part of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill system. When a new medical school library opened in Greenville, North Carolina, she was appointed their first satellite medical librarian.

In the 80’s, Connie moved to Queens and worked in Manhattan at a medical corporation where she conducted research for attorneys who argued lawsuits involving medical cases. During this time, she applied and was hired at Queensborough as an adjunct faculty member in the library and became full-time in 1994 while pursuing and earning her Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) at Queens College. In 2003 Connie received tenure and in 2009 was named Associate Professor.

Connie also serves as the Head of Access Services, Deputy Chief Librarian and for two years was Interim Chief Librarian and Department Head. She also served many years as the library liaison to the Homebound Program sending research articles and books to Queensborough students with disabilities who enrolled in courses offered from home.

As a certified medical librarian, Connie teaches information literacy classes for the Nursing and Allied Health departments and has introduced Archival classes to students with several participating faculty.

“We have a tall stack of white gloves that students and everyone who visits the archive must wear. My late husband was a huge help in laundering these gloves for me,” she smiled.

Aside from the archives, there are many resources at the library for students. They are given 300 free copies per semester; they can check out calculators to use during exams in computer mathematics and graphic calculators for exams in engineering courses. “These are expensive tools, and we are proud to provide students with this great service.”

In addition to these advantages, students can reserve books from any CUNY college and keep library books for the entire semester. Connie says she always has a good book on her night table. Her current read is Harlem Rhapsody.

“Of course I’m learning all the time, not just from books I enjoy but from the students I teach and see in the archives and around the library in general. I have met and known so many wonderful students, faculty and staff over the decades and am honored to oversee Queensborough's historical treasures. You know, everyone needs community. And I found it. Right here.”

Jose Holguin

Academic Advising Specialist, Liberal Arts Academy
Academy Advisement

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated from high school,” said Academic Advising Specialist, Jose Holguin, ‘09. “It was my godmother who encouraged me to try Queensborough. She had attended QCC years ago and remembered the supportive faculty and staff. I decided to enroll as a Liberal Arts major in 2007 and immediately knew I was in good hands.”

And that’s how Jose wants students to feel when they meet with him in the Academy Advisement office.

“Many students worry they aren’t prepared to navigate college life. I reassure them that they are not alone, that this is a new beginning and that we are here to help them get across the finish line.”

“Jose works tirelessly to assist students with advisement needs,” said David Buckner, Academy Advising Specialist, Liberal Arts Academy, Academy Advisement, who nominated Jose for the C.A.R.E.S. Award. “He also ensures the information relevant to student advisement, enrollment, and retention is organized and made readily available to [his colleagues] in the Advisement office.”

With Jose’s caseload of 400 students per semester, this is no easy feat.

Students are assigned an Academy Advisor who becomes their personal guide throughout their college career at Queensborough through program planning, selection of courses, understanding of degree requirements, and more. To forge a meaningful advisor/advisee relationship, Jose draws from his own experiences as a student at Queensborough.

He recalled his natural shyness when he started as a College Lab Technician (CLT) through work study in Basic Skills, which merged with the English department about nine years ago. “At that time Basic Skills housed a tutoring center. I was reticent when asked to tutor English reading and writing but my supervisors encouraged me, and I agreed. They were pivotal in my growth as a student, a mentor and a person with the self-confidence to achieve my dreams. I am grateful for their help and kindness, a reflection of QCC’s caring and respectful approach to student success.”

As a student, Jose discovered his interest in psychology which proved instrumental in his role as a tutor and as an Academic Advisement Specialist. “Sometimes I apply my knowledge of psychology for myself,” he laughed. After graduating from Queensborough in 2009 with an associate in science (AS) degree in Liberal Arts, Jose continued his education at Queens College, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and English, respectively.

He is both a proud CUNY graduate and lifetime New Yorker, having grown-up in Harlem, and then resided for several years in the Bronx, before finally settling in Queens. “I am so New York, I do not have a car and take the Q27 to and from work every day!”

There is little time between arriving at the office and sitting behind his desk before the day starts. He sees between ten to 15 walk-ins and about seven students a day who have appointments.

Students initially see several Academy Advisors but then are assigned a dedicated advisor through to graduation. “I work with students for an average of three years,” said Jose, who has been an Academic Advising Specialist in Academy Advisement since 2019.

Jose was also one of the first advisors for the Freshmen Group in Spring 2022 and continued in that role through Spring 2024.

“For students who had not taken college credits before, we created advisement logs, recommendation folders with general information as well as campus maps and then held presentations for groups of students about all services,” said Jose. “We then helped them individually register for classes.”

David said, “Jose has worked in conjunction with the English Department to provide information about English and math courses for students in need of remediation classes to ensure that the Advisement staff is prepared to provide our students with the best schedules for their personal academic and professional needs. He served as a point person to clarify new placements for ESL (English as a Second Language) and CLIP (CUNY Language Immersion Program). His insights have resulted in an office that functions at a high level of excellence.”

“One of the most important things about QCC is community and I wouldn’t be here without the community around me, especially David, Anjali Ramdhanie, Mary Casatelli and Evelyn Chimborazo.”

Jose’s thoughts returned to his core purpose. “I want students to invest in themselves, to discover their inner voice and know why a community college education is wonderfully unique and invaluable for their future.”