To help John Jay seniors start their final year on the right foot, the Completion for Upper-division Students Program (CUSP), held its Senior Year Welcome Event on September 4.  Students were able to partake in a casual meet-and-greet on the Jay Walk, grab a bite to eat, take photos, and learn more about the academic and professional resources available to them through the program. CUSP’s goal is to ensure that John Jay seniors have the support and resources they need to make it across the graduation finish line and fulfill their career and life goals after earning their degrees. Speaking to the students, Cassandra Evans, Ph.D., CUSP Program Manager asked an interesting question. “What is an archer and what do they need to carry out their function?” asked Evans. “An archer is a person who needs a target to perform a specific function.” Using this analogy, Evans explained the role of CUSP in the students’ academic journey. “An archer who doesn’t see their target is lost, and if you’re a senior without a target, you might not graduate,” she said. “You might not know what your target is right now, but I promise, you will know by the time you graduate. It is our mission to help you get there.”

Reiterating CUSP’s goal of ensuring that each senior is on the pathway to commencement, Elton Beckett, CUSP Faculty Fellow, highlighted some of the resources students can receive through CUSP. “We offer financial aid assistance, we can help you find internships and jobs, we provide resume assistance, and we have access to an incredible alumni network,” said Beckett. “CUSP has many resources that can help you succeed. We want to see all our students on commencement day and we want them to be working toward the career they want. If you ever find yourself not having the answer to a question, remember that we are here to guide you in your journey, so please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Before the event finished, students were able to hear from Sumaya Villanueva, Ph.D., Assistant Provost of Academic Engagement, who spoke about her own journey after college. “I majored in Sociology for my bachelor’s degree. When I was getting ready to graduate, I started to think about what I was going to do with my degree and realized that I had no idea what I wanted to do. Everyone I knew that had a Sociology degree was on the path to becoming a professor. So I thought about becoming a professor too,” she said. After taking a gap year, studying for her GRE, and working a few jobs, Villanueva began to pursue her doctorate with the intention of becoming a college professor. But once she was in the program, she realized that a career as a professor was not for her.

“What I learned from that experience was what I did want. I wanted to work in a college setting. I wanted to make sure that students had a guide that would help them succeed. Because the journey of figuring out what you want out of life takes time. It’s a matter of tuning inward, finding what motivates you, and then thinking about what mark you want to leave in the trajectory of your life,” she said. “CUSP enables students to have access to a group of professionals that will help them get in tune with what they want out of their lives and careers, and then help them achieve it. Our goal is to give students direction and a real sense of hope. We want them to know, they are not alone.”

After the event, we spoke with several students to learn why they joined CUSP and what they hope to do after they graduate.

Vanessa Nunez ’20
Major: International Criminal Justice

I decided to join CUSP because it’s a unique program that focuses on helping seniors meet their goals. My goal is to work for the United States Department of Homeland Security, either combating drug trafficking or money laundering. Being at John Jay and having professors who have worked in these fields and have firsthand knowledge on criminal justice subjects has been incredible. And now being part of CUSP, I know that I will be prepared to enter the criminal justice field after I graduate.

Lizbeth Rossi ’20
Major: International Criminal Justice

I decided to join CUSP for the advisement that they offer. I was looking for some advice about my future, my academics, and what I can do for my career, and CUSP has been there to help me figure it out. I transferred from the Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2017. John Jay has been a great place to learn about the criminal justice field, and get one step closer to my dream job of being a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State.

Stephan Howell ’20
Major: International Criminal Justice

I’m a transfer student from the New York City College of Technology. When I came to John Jay, I didn’t have a clear direction about what I should be doing. Then, I heard about CUSP. They offer advisement and resources to help seniors successfully finish their degrees and then go onto their careers. I’m currently a Police Cadet and once I graduate from John Jay, I’ll be in the Police Academy. It’s because of the direction that I’ve received during my time at the College that I feel prepared to go into law enforcement.

Rosalinda Pierre ’20
Major: Forensic Psychology

I came to John Jay after graduating from the Borough of Manhattan Community College and I have been here for a little over two years. I came to John Jay because I really liked the Psychology program that the College offers. I want to work as a counselor, specifically helping criminal justice-involved individuals. Thanks to CUSP and John Jay, I know my dream will come true.

Pamela Gamarra ’20
Major: Forensic Psychology

I decided to be part of CUSP because I wanted to learn more about the journey post-graduation—how to get the job I want and how I can use that job to help others. I’ve always been interested in psychology and how certain environments affect the behaviors of individuals. I truly believe that no one is born a criminal, it’s the environment that can often influence criminal behavior. I want to work with children, maybe as a counselor, and prevent them from going down the wrong path.