November 2024 Winners

Michele McLoughlin

College Assistant
CUNY EDGE/Financial Aid

Talk about a one-stop shop.

The fourth floor of the Kurt R. Schmeller Library houses an amazing array of student support services which are all interconnected: the Advocacy Resource Center, Office of Community Standards, Military and Veterans Services, Counseling Center, Student Success Center, International Student Center, Academy Advisement and, on the right-hand side of the hallway, just off the elevator, is CUNY EDGE.

CUNY EDGE is a partnership between the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the University. Enrolled CUNY undergraduates who receive cash assistance from HRA are eligible to participate in CUNY EDGE. 

“I work with an incredible team in the EDGE office. Our mission is to bolster student success through academic, personal and career planning support,” said Michele, who has worked in the program for 11 years. “There are many facets to our approach, equal to the many hats I proudly wear!”

“Michele is an invaluable asset to our department,” said Dr. Brian Mitra, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, who nominated Michele for the C.A.R.E.S. Award. “She also finds the time to volunteer at events to support our students, including the Welcome Week tables, Fuel up for Finals and commencement.”

Primarily, though, Michele helps students navigate the complexities of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), appeals which fall under financial aid. These appeals help students reinstate their federal aid if they have fallen below the satisfactory academic requirements. Financial aid handles 800 to 900 appeals a semester and in a week, Michele will speak to at least 30 students who need to submit their documents for the SAP appeal.

“That is where I come in. Students sometimes come to me in an emotional state because the reason for their appeal is personal, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or health problems.”

“I reassure them intimate details are unnecessary and that anything submitted to the committee is confidential and will not follow them to any school they may attend in the future.”

Hanging near Michele’s desk is a large bulletin board decorated with cheerful photos of former CUNY EDGE students –a testament to her empathic attitude and innate ability to instill trust in others. If a picture speaks a thousand words, then dozens of success stories are there in plain sight.

“We are part of the fabric that defines Queensborough — the culture of care and we want to extend this sentiment in our own way.”

Tucked behind Michele’s desk is a spacious cubicle. Cabinets filled with snacks, drawing paper with markers to help relieve stressors — a quiet space to study or just relax. Currently the staff and students are painting togetherness messages on square canvass patches that will be sewn together to create a banner for the office.

“We decide on a different theme every year.”

Michele is a fan of being busy. She throws herself into any event or activity where she can be useful, especially commencement which she “would not miss for the world.”

“For the weeks leading up to commencement, Michele works closely with Annette and Rey to create, organize and alphabetize the graduate cards for check-in and help set up the commencement tent,” added Brian. “She is instrumental in placing programs on seats, organizing seating charts, and helping direct the flow of our graduates and dignitaries.”

Mary Flohr

College Office Assistant
Business Department

The numbers are impressive.

Fifty-three full-time and adjunct faculty teach degree and certificate programs to 1600 students in the Department of Business. That equals a lot of potential foot traffic bustling through hallways, conference rooms, and reception areas. 

At the center of all this activity sits Mary Flohr, a College Office Assistant in the Business department for six years.

Mary’s office responsibilities all begin with adjectives. Organize P&B reappointment packets, assign faculty teaching observations, coordinate adjunct onboarding, enter schedules into CUNYfirst, take minutes at department meetings and other tasks. But, she says, “No matter how busy I am, I am always here for students. They feel comfortable asking me for help and sharing their feelings and frustrations. Maybe because I am a mother and have a son about their age.”

“Mary shows a remarkable commitment to ensuring the success and well-being of our students. She knows the right questions to ask, enabling her to identify and resolve challenges students are facing,” said Christina Manzo, Associate Professor and Chairperson, Business, who nominated Mary for the C.A.R.E.S. Award. “Whether it is navigating bureaucratic processes or providing emotional support, students express their gratitude for her assistance in navigating the complexities of the College’s services.”

Mary reflected on the time a student confided feelings of despair over family problems. “My heart went out to her, and I walked her over to counseling. The student received the attention she needed, and I was relieved when she stopped by a few weeks later to let me know she was OK.”

Additionally, Mary helps guide students on basic academic topics related to the business department.

“I am there to listen and offer practical advice, but I know when student support services need to step in— getting the right help can make the difference between a student giving up or staying the course.”

Mary’s professional history with Queensborough dates back nine years, beginning in March of 2015 as a part-time college assistant in the TigerCard Office. Approximately six months later,

she transferred as a part-time college assistant in the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. In September 2018, she applied and was hired as a full-time College Office Assistant in the Business Department.

“Working with my great colleagues makes it easy to smile.”

Dr. Manzo added that “Mary brings an infectious sense of humor that brightens the days of everyone around her. Her witty remarks and lighthearted banter never fail to bring a smile to the faces of students, faculty, and staff alike. Mary's ability to infuse joy into even the most mundane tasks is a testament to her warm personality and genuine care for others. Her humor creates a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere within the Business Department.”

Mary’s early years began in Queens. In 1972, she and her family moved to New Hyde Park, Long Island. In high school, she loved cheerleading, and it was during those years when she discovered her interest in business and took the first jobs that would further ignite her interest in decades to come. She worked simultaneously at Chase Bank in the Visa Authorization department and at Pathmark. In 1982, one year after she received her high school diploma from New Hyde Park Memorial, she was hired as a full-time employee at Lorenze Schneider-Yorkshire in charge of managing warehouses and truck routes.

She launched her professional career at Sammis Insurance Agency on Long Island where she specialized in customer service and sales from 1987-1999. That year she and her husband relocated to Chicago because of his job where she was hired by PLI Insurance Company. They returned to New York in October 2001 where she continued her job in the company’s Melville office. Shortly thereafter she went on maternity leave.

“My life was joyfully transformed with the birth of my son. I was a stay-at-home mom, active in the PTA and chaired many school events. I was a volunteer Faith Formation teacher at St. Anne’s Parish for seven years. When my son turned 14, I went back to the workforce and started my career at QCC shortly thereafter.” 

“One of the biggest joys of my life was becoming a mother. I was incredibly happy. And the students at QCC keep me young at heart and incredibly happy. Who could ask for more?”