Jessica is a native of St. Vincent and has been living in the Bronx since age nine.
In honor of CUNY Disability Awareness Month, we're delighted to introduce CUNY Unlimited Coordinator Jessica Sutherland.
Jessica's journey began under the warm sun of St. Vincent in the Caribbean, but her roots took hold in the urban landscape of the Bronx when she was eight. The daughter of a Vincentian electrical engineer and a Harlem-native mother, Jessica was the fifth of six children. The fabric of her family was woven with challenges and love, particularly shaped by her younger brother's Down syndrome diagnosis, which gently nudged her toward a future in disability services.
Her path crystallized at Bronx Community College (BCC), where a simple gesture — sharing her notes with a visually impaired classmate — unveiled her potential. This act of kindness blossomed into a role as a note-taker, a job she landed due to her impressive notes and excellent GPA, despite lacking formal work experience or a resume.
Throughout the years, Jessica has held multiple positions in disability services within CUNY.
Jessica's commitment to disability support deepened as she pursued her associate degree and later at Lehman College, where she majored in journalism and philosophy. Balancing her studies with work at the Student Disability Services office, she sharpened her advocacy skills to support and empower those she served.
Her career trajectory continued to ascend post-graduation; from note-taker, she grew into a Disability Services Specialist, and eventually, she became the coordinator for CUNY Unlimited at Hostos. This groundbreaking credential program allows intellectually disabled students to take on greater responsibilities in life by opening the doors to higher education. They attend classes, engage in social and vocational activities, follow an employment readiness curriculum, and receive personalized instruction tailored to their personal and professional goals.
Hostos was the first community college in the CUNY system to inaugurate this program. Students admitted at campuses recognized as Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary Programs (CTP) by the US Department of Education can earn a CUNY Unlimited Credential in Academic and Career Studies. This credential validates their college experience, benefiting the student, community, and potential employers.
Jessica with her CUNY Unlimited students, who participated in the Career Expo in March.
Jessica feels a profound satisfaction from watching them grow into more independent adults who are more fully integrated into society thanks to the program. "I help them with their social and vocational skills...I talk to them a lot about self-love, helping them understand that they're here to get to know themselves and I empower them to see their unlimited potential," Jessica shared. "I love seeing the milestones they reach and the excitement they feel when they accomplish something they never thought possible. Watching their growth as individuals and their eagerness to learn and become independent is truly inspiring."
“The world sees the disabled community as a group with needs to be met, having been underserved and unsupported during their formative years in ways that could have truly benefited them,” she explained. “I make sure that they learn as much as they can while they participate in this initiative, where they get to have a college experience, whether to pursue a degree or to simply try it out.”
Jessica's influence goes beyond the halls of Hostos. As a mother of a three-year-old and a graduate student in social work at Lehman, she balances her busy life with grace and unwavering commitment. Her weekends are spent imparting career skills to visually impaired teens, guiding them in soft skills and independent living.
“I enjoy what I do, so I don't wake up every morning mad to be doing this job.”
We’re proud of you and your students, Jessica!