Program Staff
Dr. Evan Daniel
Faculty Director
Email: evan.daniel@qc.cuny.edu
Dr. Daniel started as faculty director for the First Year Experience Program in Fall 2023. He has been an instructor (CCE) affiliated with the Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program and the Department of History since 2010. His primary research interests are the social and intellectual history of working people in the United States and he is currently writing a historical monograph on cotton mill workers in Southern Appalachia. Prior to teaching, Dr. Daniel was an archivist with the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University and a researcher at the Emma Goldman History Papers Project at the University of California, Berkeley.
Professor Jorge Ivan Velez
Assistant Director
Email: jorge.velez@qc.cuny.edu
Professor Velez is an educator interested in promoting equity by making relevant the everyday lived experiences of students as to encourage self-advocacy. Especially for new students, teaching them how to advocate for themselves is a skill that will help them succeed not only in college, but in every walk of life. When not working at FYE, you can find them emphasizing the understated value of a pre-chorus or looking for zany instances of humor in the minutiae of everyday interactions.
Ms. Saarah Ahsan
Freshman Specialist
Email: saarah.ahsan@qc.cuny.edu
Saarah is a graduate of Queens College. She double majored in Psychology and Childhood Education (1-6). Saarah has been with the FYE Program for four years. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for students where they can speak to peers to gain new perspectives and knowledge. She hopes to give back to the community that gave her a wonderful college experience. Outside of FYE, she likes to practice rollerblading and watching Netflix.
Elisheva Conway
Peer Program Coordinator
Email: elisheva.conway@qc.cuny.edu
Elisheva is a recent graduate of Queens College, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is deeply passionate about providing support to individuals during times of transition, and she is dedicated to helping first-year students at Queens College navigate their academic journey and build community. In addition to her role at FYE, she serves as an Intern at Queens College Psychological Center and contributes to clinical psychology research. During her free time, Elisheva enjoys spending time with friends and watching documentaries.
Peer Coordinators
Simran Parkash
Simran Parkash is currently a senior in the Scholars Program, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Cities and Social Medicine. She enjoys helping people and learning new things in the process. Aside from FYE, she works in the NYCDOE as a paraprofessional. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, reading, and traveling.
Major: Computer Science Minor: Cities and Social Medicine
Kelisha Prophete
Kelisha is a junior majoring in English with an interest in media studies. She enjoys helping people succeed. Outside of FYE, Kelisha is an admin for the Student Film Production Team. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, doing self care, reading, writing, and art.
Major: English