ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Elaina Ferguson, M.S. ’24 | U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Public Servant and MCNY Alumna

Elaina Ferguson knows what it means to serve her country. She also knows that for many veterans, the challenges don’t end when military service does.

A United States Marine Corps veteran, proud Queens native, and Metropolitan College of New York alumna, Elaina has built a career helping veterans access the benefits and services they have earned. Today, she serves as the Downstate Field Supervisor for the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, overseeing Veterans Service Officers throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County.

Her path to leadership began in 2011, when she joined the Marine Corps.

Stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, Elaina served as an Aviation Data Specialist in the Aviation Maintenance Department. She earned the rank of Corporal and was responsible for leading daily staff operations supporting aircraft readiness and flight safety. During her four years of service, she received several Certificates of Commendation recognizing her leadership and work ethic.

When she left the Marine Corps in 2015, Elaina carried those experiences into civilian life, but her desire to serve remained.

Purpose in Action

After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2017, Elaina worked with the New York City Department of Education and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, gaining experience in public administration and government programs.

In 2023, she became a Veterans Employment Specialist with Grant Associates, managing a caseload of over 1,000 veteran job seekers. Through that work, she saw firsthand how difficult the transition to civilian employment could be and how challenges involving housing, finances, and access to benefits often affected a veteran’s ability to move forward.

She wanted to be in a position to help address those challenges.

Elaina also wanted to continue her own education. As a working professional and mother, she knew graduate school would require sacrifice, but she was determined to keep growing.

She discovered Metropolitan College of New York while researching graduate programs and seeing the College’s advertisements on Facebook. MCNY’s Purpose-Centered Education model appealed to her because it connected academic learning to the work she was already doing.

In September 2024, Elaina earned her Master of Science in Project Management, completing her studies with a 3.91 GPA. She also became a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business and holds a certification in Agile Project Management.

Balancing work, motherhood, and graduate studies wasn’t always easy. There were long days followed by evenings of assignments and research. At times, she questioned whether she had taken on too much.

Her son was one of her greatest motivations. She wanted him to see that pursuing an education and setting new goals were possible, even when life was demanding.

For Elaina, earning her degree was a personal accomplishment and an opportunity to prepare for the next stage of her career.

In September 2024, Elaina joined the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services as a Veteran Benefits Advisor.

As a VA-accredited representative, she helped veterans and their families understand their benefits, prepare compensation and pension claims, and access services that could make a significant difference in their lives.

During her first year, her advocacy helped veterans secure a combined total of over $200,000 in retroactive VA benefits payments.

Behind that number were veterans and families who had been waiting for financial relief or assistance in navigating the benefits system.

Elaina also began mentoring newly accredited Veteran Benefits Advisors and expanding outreach to colleges and community organizations.

Her dedication earned her the Department’s 2025 Eastern Region Rookie of the Year Award, along with recognition from the New York State Assembly and Nassau County. She has also received recognition from the New York State Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and Suffolk County.

In August 2026, Elaina was promoted to Downstate Field Supervisor, taking on responsibility for Veterans Service Officers serving New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County.

Today, she leads a regional team, mentors fellow advocates, and works with community partners to improve veterans’ access to assistance.

Her MCNY education continues to play a role in how she approaches those responsibilities. The project management skills she developed through her graduate studies help her coordinate staff, manage competing priorities, and understand how different parts of an organization work together.

For Elaina, the work is personal. She understands the transition from military to civilian life because she has experienced it herself.

When asked what motivates her, Elaina returns to the veterans and families she serves. “Sometimes something that seems routine to us as advocates can be life-changing for the person sitting across the desk. I never want to lose sight of that.”

She also has a message for working adults, veterans, and parents who may be considering returning to college. “Your circumstances do not have to determine your future. You can be a parent, a working professional, a veteran, and a student while still pursuing something greater for yourself.”

For Elaina, her education at MCNY helped connect years of military and professional experience with the leadership skills she needed to advance her career.

And as she looks ahead, she hopes to continue advocating for veterans, mentoring others, and eventually pursuing a legal education to strengthen her ability to help people protect their rights.

Elaina Ferguson began her career serving her country in the United States Marine Corps. Today, she continues that service by helping fellow veterans receive the assistance they deserve.

From managing a caseload of over 1,000 veteran job seekers to leading Veterans Service Officers across the downstate region, her career has been shaped by the needs of the people she serves.

Her experience at MCNY helped prepare her for greater leadership responsibilities while reinforcing something she already believed: education should give people the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

And for Elaina, that work continues every day.