Amal Qureshi named Assistant Director of Academic Advising

Release Date
Amal Qureshi has long brown hair and dark eyes, wearing a black and white floral print blouse. She is sitting at her desk.

Originally, Amal Qureshi planned to go into psychology. Then, she discovered higher education careers.

“I didn’t know higher ed was a field people could choose as a program of study. When I was at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I got a student position in the Admissions Office as an orientation leader. That’s what sparked my interest in higher ed [as a career path]. When I graduated, I applied for a position as an admissions counselor. That’s where my professional experience started,” she said.

“Advising is an important aspect of the student educational journey”

Qureshi has spent eight years in higher education. She held several roles at UM-Dearborn, including Admissions Counselor, Orientation Lead, and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. She came to HFC in 2023 as a Program Advising Specialist in Academic Advising. She has recently been promoted to become the College's first Assistant Director of Academic Advising. She reports to Director of Academic Advising Jennifer Markin.

“This new position is an opportunity for me to continue to work on student success,” said Qureshi. “I wanted the opportunity to make sure that our students have a good experience at HFC. Advising is an important aspect of the student educational journey. I want to make sure policies and procedures are focused on student success at HFC.”

“A new position brings both uncertainty and opportunity, allowing someone to amplify the role’s purpose,” said Markin. “Amal’s commitment to student success and her support of advisors will help her navigate this new role. Her experience and skills are essential to the continued growth and transformation of Advising at HFC.”

Better, stronger relationships with students

The third of four children and the only daughter, Qureshi was born in Pakistan. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1999 and settled in Dearborn. She lives in Dearborn with Mazhar, her husband of nine years, and their two sons.

Qureshi graduated from the Michigan Health Academy in Dearborn. A two-time alumna of UM-Dearborn, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in public administration. She speaks fluent English and Urdu.

“I had been in admissions doing front-facing, larger events, and some marketing during my time at UM-Dearborn. I wanted to get into student affairs and have more one-on-one opportunities with students, which attracted me to HFC,” she explained.

A proactive approach to sharing resources and guiding students

In her new role, Qureshi is responsible for:

  • Overseeing 12 employees in the Advising Office.
  • Being responsible for the day-to-day functions of the Advising Office.
  • Ensuring that students get the proper help, and making sure staff members are available to assist them.
  • Implementing the new Advise Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, which provides a combination of practices, strategies, and technologies used to manage and analyze student interactions.

“I want our advisors to take a proactive approach, reaching out to students prior to their needing advising,” said Qureshi. “The goal is for our office to have better relationships with our students, communicate better with our students, and make sure our students are making positive progress toward their goals.”

Qureshi has been impressed by the community feel of the College.

“The people at HFC have been so welcoming, and everyone is so willing to assist,” she said. “I appreciate how all the different departments put student success at the forefront and provide services that focus on students’ needs. I enjoy the people I work with. It’s been a nice transition to come to HFC.”