Cayuga’s Indelicato Dedicated to Helping Adult Students

As a former adult student herself, Natalie Indelicato knows coming back to college and juggling classes with work and family can be a daunting but worthwhile task.

But as the Adult Learner Coach at Cayuga, she’s proud to be in the best possible role to make a difference in the lives of students who are now in the same position she was in 2012, when she came back to school. Her determination to re-enroll after starting a career and a family culminated in earning her first collegiate degree from Cayuga in 2014 and eventually earning a master’s degree from SUNY Brockport.

Now, 14 years after she resumed her college experience, she’s ready to help others do the same.

“Having the experience as an adult student with a family, I can understand the challenges that students manage,” said Indelicato. “I want to show students that earning their degree is achievable, and that I’m here to give them all my knowledge and support.”

As an Adult Learner Coach, Indelicato guides adult students through their time at Cayuga. That role includes everything from helping students navigate the registration process and complete financial aid forms to finding other support services and balancing being a student while also being a parent, spouse or employee.

Her role includes working with students in the SUNY Reconnect program, which helps adults ages 25-55 earn select degrees free at community colleges. Indelicato works with students in the program, but also other adult students at both Cayuga campuses and those who are taking courses online.

“My goals for adult learners are to help them advance their goals, learn about themselves and see them grow as individuals. I encourage students to check in with me, share the good and the bad, and offer them space to reflect, learn, and process,” she said.

Indelicato is no stranger to helping Cayuga students. Since graduating from Cayuga, she’s worked in the College’s Center for Academic Success (now the Resources for Learning), the Center for Student Engagement and Academic Advisement, Student Financial Services, and Admissions.

As a student, she appreciated the student-first approach at Cayuga and the shared determination among classmates to support each other. As an employee, she’s carrying that same spirit of teamwork forward.

“I love the family-style culture at Cayuga,” she said. “Building connections between staff and students makes college feel less overwhelming for students, and helps them earn their degree or access the career training they need. Ultimately, that’s what I’m here for — to see students succeed.”

Adult students or those interested in applying to Cayuga can email Indelicato at nindelic@cayuga-cc.edu.