Faces of CNM: Jennifer Sullivan

Jennifer Sullivan first started at CNM in 2005 as a groundskeeper. At the time, she didn’t have a GED or a high school diploma. Thankfully, all her supervisors and her co-workers were supportive of her finding a way to continue her education. By 2010 she’d gotten her GED and enrolled in CNM classes.

“My entire department and especially my supervisors were super supportive of me,” Jennifer says. 

As soon as Jennifer entered a college classroom she realized she loved learning. She pursued a General Studies degree but also took classes outside her degree path for fun. 

As a mother, she squeezed in time for school whenever she could. 

“I worked on classes after I put my kids to bed or early mornings before work and on the weekends as well” she says. “It was a lot of work while raising kids, but the experience was very fulfilling.” 

By 2012, Jennifer had her degree and started to apply for new jobs at CNM. It took a while, but she eventually got an interview with the Assessment Center. She was excited for the interview because she’d heard great things about that area of the college.

“I knew people who worked at the Assessment Center and they were happy and they loved working with the students,” she says. 

The Center hired Sullivan immediately after her interview. She started as a test proctor and helped ensure the integrity of the various tests that CNM offers. 

“I felt like it was too good to be true because I was really excited to work with students. I knew my life was going to be changed for the better,” Jennifer says. 

After several years as a proctor, Jennifer moved up to a supervisor position in the Assessment Center. As part of that job she has to wear a lot of hats.

“I help students, answer questions, give students directions, answer calls, proctor 40 different tests, train employees, and help student employees with their resumes,” she says.

While working in the Assessment Center, Jennifer has also continued taking classes. She recently got an associate degree in Liberal Arts and a certification in Child Development from CNM. She’s almost done with her associate degree in Communication and plans to go for a bachelor’s degree in that same field.

“I want to get  that degree to show myself I can do it. I didn’t do well in high school so it would be cool to say I have a bachelor’s degree,” she says.

Looking back, Jennifer says she’s proud of what she’s done and thankful that an education from CNM has changed her life. 

“I’m super supportive of education and now I get to help students take advantage of an education as well,” she says. “I have a sense of pride that I didn’t have before.”