Cynthia Smith becomes interim president of SSA

Until the end of the 2026, HFC Academic Advisor for Business Cynthia Smith will serve as the interim president of the HFC Support Staff Association (SSA).

Smith was elected as the vice president of SSA in early 2026. When HFC Special Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs Kim Kaier stepped down as president of SSA in May, Smith became the interim president.

“I was looking for leadership experience, which is why I ran for the vice president of SSA,” said Smith. “I’m excited to learn more about how leadership works. You have to collaborate with the people in Human Resources as a union leader, which is different from how you collaborate as an individual. That’s a pathway I’m learning. What I want to do is promote transparency, integrity, and build our union. We have 95 members, and I want to ensure every single SSA member is protected and supported.”

A career at HFC

The eldest of two, Smith was born in Detroit, where she lives with John, her husband of seven years. Smith graduated from Old Redford Academy in Detroit. She earned her associate degree in liberal arts and her certification as a Customer Service Professional from HFC. A two-time alumnus of Siena Heights University, Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and her master’s degree in higher education leadership.

“I enrolled at HFC for better opportunities and because it was a student-centered environment. I became a work-study student in the Welcome Center. It gave me an excellent educational experience of working in an academic environment. I also got help with my résumé and learning job interview skills through Career Services,” recalled Smith.

HFC Assistant Director of Enrollment Services, Assessment, and Orientation Nikole Ford-Kondraciuk encouraged Smith to apply to the College when she earned her degree. Within two months of graduation, Smith joined HFC as an Enrollment Associate.

“I really enjoyed working for Nikole. She was a great supervisor,” recalled Smith. “I knew I wanted to make my career at HFC. The College has really changed my life.”

Part of the solution

Smith joined the College in 2014. She earned promotions to higher levels as an Enrollment Associate. Since 2023, she has been an Academic Advisor for Business.

"One of Cynthia's greatest strengths is her student-centered approach,“ said HFC Assistant Director of Academic Advising Amal Qureshi. “She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure students feel supported and empowered to succeed. Her genuine compassion, dedication, and commitment to their success are reflected in the strong relationships she builds. It is no surprise that students speak so highly of her.”

Smith's duties include:

• Helping students register for classes.
• Discussing career plans and transfer options with students.
• Encouraging students to engage with HFC’s numerous student organizations and co-curricular opportunities.
• Providing support as students select (and sometimes change) their academic programs and career pathways.

“I want students to feel supported and heard. My goal is to build a genuine relationship with students so they know that I truly care about them. I want to give them a sense of belonging. I want students to know they can turn to me for help, and I’ll do whatever I can for them,” she said. “As an HFC alumna, I want them to know that you can graduate from HFC and have a great career with the possibility for advancement. You can move up to higher level roles and have leadership opportunities. I’m proof of that.”

Smith would eventually like to go into management.

“I want to improve our leadership’s relationships with our employees,” she said. “I want to create a better environment for everyone, which will only enrich our College. I want to be part of the solution.”