2007 Orientation Leader Biographies

Kimberly Abbott Music Business

Kim is entering her junior year at NYU Steinhardt. She will be happy to tell

you all the ups and downs of living in various residence halls. She's not quite

sure what she does with her spare time, but she wants you to know that she

does plenty of things that are fun. She also enjoys working out after class

and shopping.

Ashley Arbuckle Communication Studies

Ashley is a junior from Houston, TX. She loves exploring the city and is looking

forward to being an orientation leader again this summer and getting to

know the incoming class. She enjoys going to new restaurants and going to

see shows on and off-Broadway. She has loved her time at NYU so far and

cannot wait to make it just as much fun for you!

Diane Castelucci Childhood Education/Special Education

Diane, a third-year orientation leader and Steinhardt senior, seems to be a

permanent presence on our campus. She is from Staten Island, NY, and is

always looking to show off some of the little-known treasures of

Manhattan. She loves living in a residence hall and the overall experience

of living in a city that is so rich in culture. When she's not out on the town or

student teaching, you might find her writing, drawing, or reading for

pleasure - she loves the arts. Diane is looking forward to showing the

incoming freshmen and transfers just how much awaits them at NYU - it's

gonna be great!

Carolyn Choo Communication Studies

Carolyn is a senior from San Diego, CA, and even though she misses year-

round sunshine and warm weather, she absolutely loves New York. She

hopes that this will one day lead her to a job in PR or advertising. Carolyn

will continue her Steinhardt Undergraduate Student Government

involvement as student senator this fall. This is her second year as an

orientation leader and she is really looking forward to meeting Steinhardt’s

new students.

Christina Collins Applied Psychology

Christina is entering her senior year and is a transfer student from Rockland

County, NY. She is excited about being an orientation leader and meeting

all of the new students. She loves exploring NY, especially visiting Times

Square and dining at new restaurants. She hails from the Upper East Side

and can tell you anything about it if you ask!

Elizabeth Cotter

Communication Studies

Elizabeth will be a senior this fall and is thrilled to spend her last summer at

NYU as an orientation leader. Elizabeth is originally from Staten Island, NY

but has finally made her move to Manhattan permanent. Living in the city

has been the most rewarding aspect of NYU. When she isn’t busy working,

she is attending concerts, games (Let’s go Mets!), and an occasional off-off

Broadway show. She’s just getting back from NYU in Prague and cannot

wait to introduce you to all her favorite places around campus that she

missed while she was abroad.

Natalia Daniel Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Natalia is entering her sophomore year at NYU Steinhardt. She loves NYU

thus far and hopes to show the incoming class just how much fun it is

around here. One of the things she likes to do is go to Barnes & Noble, sip

some coffee and just chill in one of those big comfy chairs. She also likes

movies, restaurants, and pretty much exploring the city. She can’t wait to

meet everyone and make them feel right at home here in the city.

Edward David

Instrumental Performance

Edward David is a rising senior in the classical piano performance program.

He studies piano with Seymour Bernstein and organ with Dr. William Entriken.

When not found at the keyboards, Edward teaches conversational English

to NYU international students or studies Latin. He claims that he has a

"Gallatin minor" -- meaning that he enjoys taking random classes with his

free credits. Don't hesitate to stop Ed for any questions regarding life, love

and Steinhardt.

Kari Edgens Communication Studies

Kari will be a senior this fall and this is her first year as an orientation leader.

She’s a southern girl from Nashville, TN, and loves it...but she needs the

excitement of the city to keep her entertained. You'll rarely find her without

a camera, book, and iPod because she loves photography, literature,

music, and movies (but that one's less transportable). She loves road trips,

and no distance is ever too far for her to go. She also enjoys traveling,

summer, fountain Coke, most foods, quoting Will Ferrell movies, and on rare

occasions, running. She can't wait to start the summer and is so excited to

be an OL and meet new people!

Beatrice Guo Studio Art

Beatrice is a 4th-year student who has learned to integrate herself into NYU

as well as the NYC community since she stepped foot into NY for the first

time at age 17 from Silicon Valley, California. Beatrice has found her New

York experience truly transformative after delving into the performance art

and artist-as-activist arena, joining a designer fashion boutique in SoHo,

studying in Madrid last semester, and backpacking to a biodynamic farm in

Andalusia. She hopes to spread this contagious adventure to other students

at NYU.

Jacob Harper Instrumental Performance (Jazz)

Jacob, a rising sophomore, hails from Potomac, MD. Since he moved to

New York, Jacob has immersed himself in the New York jazz community,

finding mentors and fellow musicians along the way. He looks forward to

sharing all his New York experiences with the incoming students this summer.

Alison Hines English Education

Alison graduated from NYU in May, but loved being an orientation leader

so much last summer, she just had to stick around for one more! She is from

Mahopac, NY, an hour north of the city, but has fallen so much in love with

Manhattan that she's adopted it as her hometown. She loves to shop,

watch movies, practice American Sign Language, and go out on the town

with friends. She hopes to share stories of student teaching, studying

abroad in Madrid, traveling to Brazil and Greece with Steinhardt Scholars,

and all the wonderful things she'll miss about NYU. Just ask! Alison can't

wait to meet you all!

Ross Iosefson English Education

Ross begins his sophomore year in the fall, and is beyond delighted to

spend his first NYU summer as an orientation leader. Besides pursuing a

minor in Anthropology, this eternal learner is an active member of NYU’s

residence hall community. Originally from Brooklyn, Ross spent most of his

time growing up on Long Island, a stone’s throw from the city he has come

to love. He is ready to answer each question thrown at him and excited to

meet a new group of students ready to take on New York!

Oren Margolis Music Business

Oren is entering his sophomore year and originally hails from Lawrenceville,

NJ. In his first summer as an orientation leader, he looks forward to letting

freshmen know what they can expect from their first year. In his spare time,

he enjoys going to Broadway shows and operas and, of course, taking

advantage of New York's amazing restaurants. He'll be glad to tell you

about the Scholars Program and how to score cheap Broadway and opera

tickets. Welcome to Steinhardt, the absolute best place to be at NYU!

Reyna McMahon Foreign Language Education

Reyna, entering her sophomore year as a French Education major, is super

excited to be an orientation leader. Originally from central Connecticut,

enjoys living in New York City, where there is always something to do. Reyna

is on the NYU Cheerleading team (she better see you at the games!) and

she loves carbs and black raspberry ice cream. When she’s not in Coles

Sports Center, she loves reading, exercising and shopping around the city.

Reyna is looking forward to welcoming all incoming students and is sure

they will love NYU as much as she does.

Emmanuel Moses English Education

Emmanuel Moses graduated from Steinhardt this May. He hails from Harlem,

but has been all around the country since he was five years old. He’s

moved from New York to Los Angeles, to Washington D.C., to Chicago, to

Cleveland, and finally back home to attend New York University. He is

looking forward to his plan to teach as well as live here in New York in the

years to come. He says, "I've been trying to get back here for fifteen years,

I'm home, I'm not going to leave any time soon.”

Michael Mullin Communication Studies

Mike is a die-hard fan of Steinhardt, where he is studying Communications

and general all-around awesomeness. He comes from the town of Blue Bell,

PA, and like any small town Pennsylvania boy, he enjoys nucleochemistry,

the Hayden dining hall, and long walks on the beach. He looks forward to

living and talking with some of you this fall at Third North Residence Hall,

where he will be working as a Sexual Health Advocate Peer Educator. Don't

hesitate to say hi to him during orientation - he can never have too many

friends!

Michelle Nabatian Nutrition & Dietetics

Michelle, an upcoming sophomore, has an everlasting obsession for peanut

butter, whether it is with bananas, celery, apples, ice cream, or just by itself.

She loves shopping but if you give her a credit card, do not expect

anything to be left over. Michelle is looking forward to meeting the

incoming students (Facebook her!) and hopes to help them get as excited

about NYU and New York City as she is!

Michael Nappi Childhood Education/Special Education

Mike is a recent graduate with a degree in Childhood/Special Education

and minors in both American Sign Language and Gender/Sexuality Studies.

He hails from Commack, Long Island and is looking forward to being an

orientation leader. Mike loves living in NYC and being able to take

advantage of all it has to offer. When Mike isn't roaming the streets of

Manhattan in search of new t-shirts to add to his extensive collection, you

can find him listening to music or enjoying a good Disney movie at home.

Mike is eager to meet all of you and wishes everyone a great summer.

Katie Pelkey Educational Theatre

Originally from Wisconsin, Katie is delighted to be living amongst the hustle

and bustle of New York City as she enters her senior year. When not in class,

Katie enjoys shopping, acting and using her NYU Declining Dollars to pay for

her Starbucks drinks. After graduating, she hopes to work in the

educational wing of a theatre or possibly stage managing in the

professional world. Her message to new students is, “Let’s get this party

started!”

Ian Riccaboni Communication Studies

Ian will begin his junior year this fall and loves all that New York and NYU

have to offer. Ian is excited to tell you about all his experiences as a

Steinhardt Undergraduate Student Government officer, NYU Dean’s Scholar,

and NYU baseball player. This is his first time as an orientation leader.

Sarah Rockney Music Education

Sarah, entering her sophomore year, is absolutely thrilled to be one of your

orientation leaders. She is from Pittsburgh, PA. Sarah enjoys singing opera,

laughing/making other people laugh, shopping, and eating candy. Sarah

was assistant director to the NYU children's choir, performed in Forbidden

NYU and Once on this Island, was a member of the NYU Women's Choir,

currently the Jazz Choir, and sang at Carnegie Music Hall with the Young

People's Chorus of New York City. She thinks if New York City was an apple,

it would definitely be a Red Delicious!

Amy Rosenfield Communication Studies

Amy is entering her junior year and is excited to be back for another

summer of orientation. She is from Old Lyme, CT and loves the contrast that

NYC offers to her hometown. When she is not practicing or “Writing the

Essay,” Amy spends much of her life people watching in Washington

Square Park. She is looking forward to exploring Greenwich Village with you

this summer.

Rachel Saxon Communication Studies

Rachel will be a senior this coming year and is excited to spend her third

summer living it up in the city. She traveled across country from California

to NYU, where she is thrilled to stay. Rachel loves complementing her

studies with internships and excursions around New York and can't wait to

show all of you a great time!

Tara Scanlon Communication Studies

Tara is entering her senior year and is extremely excited to tell everyone

about her semester abroad at NYU in Madrid, Spain. In her off time she likes

to obsess over her iPod, watch Grey’s Anatomy, and hang out in Central

Park. Originally hailing from Rehoboth, MA, Tara now considers herself a

“big-city” girl and is looking forward to being an RA and orientation leader

again. She is thrilled to meet everyone and hopes that Steinhardt’s newest

students will feel right at home in the Big Apple and at NYU.

Marita Schneider Communication Studies

Marita is going to be a sophomore at NYU this fall. She is from upstate New

York and is super excited to spend her summer in the city. She loves

studying at Starbucks, all day shopping trips in SOHO, and Sunday brunch in

the West Village. Marita had an amazing time at orientation and is thrilled

to help you all have a similar experience. She has loved everything about

NYU and can’t wait to spend the summer here making sure you are all

prepared for a fantastic first year!

Kristin Sheridan Social Studies Education

Kristin is here for her third summer as an orientation leader and graduated in

May. You may have already met her, as Kristin volunteered for various open

house events last fall. She hopes to share her stories about traveling to Brazil,

New Orleans and Greece with the Scholars and Dean’s Research Travel

Colloquium programs. Kristin is looking forward to spending her summer

working part-time, meeting new students, and hanging out with friends.

Abigail Slawik Studio Art

Abby is entering her fourth year as a studio art student. She had not taken

any formal art classes in high school, but loved painting, so she decided to

submit a portfolio. To her surprise, she was accepted into the program and

has taken it as a sign. She also enjoys canoeing, charcoal sketching,

reading the news compulsively, and walking along the Brooklyn Bridge. She

just arrived from studying abroad in Berlin, and will gladly tell you about the

art scene there.

Matthew Sortino Communication Studies

Matt is entering his sophomore year and is psyched to be part of your first

real experience at NYU. He made the free ferry trip from Staten Island, NY

to Manhattan to attend this university. In his spare time (what little he has of

it) Matt enjoys reading in the Washington Square Park fountain and having

anything to do with football and lacrosse. He hopes that you fall in love

with the city and squeeze as much out of the Big Apple as he has!

Kevin Subramany Secondary English Education

Kevin is recent graduate of the Secondary English Education program, with

a minor in Nutrition and Food Studies. He is from the Bronx and loves the

atmosphere of New York City, especially from the education stand

point. He is also a competitive athlete and can tell you about his

experience with NYU's Cross Country Team. Most of the time you can find

him attending a sporting event, going to comedy clubs, or concerts. Kevin

loves to go to the various parks in the city to get away from the hustle and

bustle, and he hopes to show the incoming students the little secrets NYC

has to offer!