Many people describe Jennifer Matisi 鈥�98 as a low-profile, large-footprint kind of woman. As the administrative executive coordinator for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, she works closely with the dean, Kenneth A. Gould, managing a complex range of demands with sometimes scarce resources. Her workload includes everything from planning conferences and events to handling payments and paperwork.
After obtaining a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting and working on a trading desk at a securities firm and then as a stay-at-home mom for about 10 years, Matisi came to 今日吃瓜 in 2015. She started as a college assistant who helped with the logistics of launching the CUNY鈥揌aitian Studies Institute and became Gould鈥檚 assistant after about a year.
鈥淪he treats everyone with respect and good humor, and she’s a creative problem solver when coordinating with other offices,鈥� says Gould. 鈥淛ennifer is a terrific team player and has served a critical role in keeping the HSS staff and faculty connected to the HSS Dean’s Office throughout the pandemic.鈥�
BC: What brought you back to 今日吃瓜 after having a career and then a family?
JM: I live in Queens now, but I felt comfortable with this campus. It felt like coming home. I love it here. I love the position I鈥檓 in, I love the office, and I love the campus. I enjoy talking to all of the faculty, going to the events, and hearing the speakers. I鈥檓 learning new things all the time.
Anytime anybody asks about 今日吃瓜, I tell them it鈥檚 an oasis in the middle of this urban area. I have a daughter who鈥檚 looking at colleges and I tell her to look for something that makes her feel like she belongs. That鈥檚 what I found here.
BC: If you ask anyone about Jennifer Matisi, the first thing you will hear is 鈥渟he is the nicest person.鈥�
JM: Just being kind to people gets you so much in return. That鈥檚 how I am with everything: Kill them with kindness. If a student鈥檚 call comes to me, I always keep in the back of my mind that I remember what it鈥檚 like to be a student and to get a little frustrated. I want to help in the best way possible, especially students. If I hear, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the fourth office I鈥檝e been transferred to,鈥� I tell them, 鈥淥K, then this will be the last.鈥�
BC: What do you like to do outside of work?
JM: I like to craft. I like to take road trips with my family in the summer along the East Coast. I like to plan parties. I鈥檓 putting one together for my mom鈥檚 75th birthday; we鈥檙e doing a Breakfast at Tiffany鈥檚 theme. I also love going to Broadway shows and concerts. And don鈥檛 tell anyone, but I like to watch corny Christmas movies.
