Meet the Leadership Team
Jennifer Hernandez-Khan, Program Manager
Email: jenhernandez@jjay.cuny.edu
Dr. Jennifer Hernandez-Khan serves as the founding Program Manager for the Academic Preparation Program (APPLE Corps) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She earned her EdD in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University. Although she completed her doctoral studies at a private institution, she proudly attributes her educational roots to the public school system. Since joining the APPLE Corps team in 2015, Jennifer has been honored to walk alongside students on their journeys, and remains inspired every day by their resilience, ambition, and dreams.
La Vaughn Emanis-Samuel, Student Success Specialist
Email: lemanis@jjay.cuny.edu
La Vaughn is dedicated to providing students in the APPLE Corps program with the support needed to adjust to college life, overcome obstacles and reach their goals. She served as the CUNY Justice Academy (CJA) Outreach Coordinator at John Jay for over six years where she helped students navigate the transfer process and transition to baccalaureate degrees. La Vaughn received her bachelor’s degree in Business Communication from Baruch College.
Muldy Flecher, Internship Specialist
Email: mflecher@jjay.cuny.edu
Muldy comes to us from the Young Adult Borough Center at Boys & Girls High School for Good Shepherd Services. For over five years, Muldy served as the Internship & Career Coordinator where he was responsible for placing students in different internship opportunities throughout New York City along with conducting workshops and work-readiness seminars. Muldy earned his Graduate and Undergraduate degrees from Stony Brook University.
Natalie Jordan, Senior Academic Advisor
Email: njordan@jjay.cuny.edu
Natalie holds a MS in Student Personnel Administration from SUNY Buffalo State, where she was a recipient of the SUNY Diversity Fellowship. She comes to John Jay with several years of experience within Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. Natalie had the opportunity to not just study and experience higher education domestically, but globally through the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea: Student Affairs at Sea program. Natalie traveled to Europe and Northern Africa to get a hands-on experience of higher education around the world.
Claire Sternberg, Service-Learning Specialist
Email: csternberg@jjay.cuny.edu
Claire has over ten years of experience in the City University of New York system and currently serves as the Service-Learning Specialist for the APPLE Corps program, where she fosters experiential learning opportunities that empower students. She is passionate about the impact of learning by doing—ask her about her college service-learning story! Claire earned an Advanced Certificate in Disability Services in Higher Education from the CUNY School for Professional Studies and a Master’s in the Sociology of Education from New York University.
Doménica Pérez, First-Year Transition Specialist
Email: dramireztola@jjay.cuny.edu
I’m a passionate higher education professional with nearly 10 years of experience within the CUNY system, dedicated to supporting and championing students throughout their academic journey. Born and raised in Ecuador, I bring a unique cultural lens and a deep commitment to empowering first-generation and underrepresented students to succeed in college and beyond. Currently, I’m pursuing an Advance Certificate in Management, as well a Master’s in Business Management and Leadership to further strengthen my skills in strategic planning, program development, and student-centered leadership. My experience spans across dual enrollment coordination, college readiness coaching, and student service project support. Whether I’m leading orientations, designing interventions, or creating collaborative opportunities for faculty and students, my mission is the same: to help students thrive. As APPLE Corps First Year Student Transition Specialist, I am excited to continue helping students feel supported, confident, and ready to succeed in their academic journey and beyond.