NYU Association of Student Affairs Professionals

*Meet the HESA Class of 2021* Taylor Ann Winkler (she/her/hers) is from North Brunswick, NJ and works as an Administrative Aide in the Office of Student Engagement at NYU Stern and as a Graduate Fellow for Social Programs at OSE. After graduation, she is most looking forward to sleep and summer! One tip for incoming students: Look forward to the amazing person you will become!... Best self-care practices over the past year: Walking, running, being outside with nature, hanging out with my dog.

*Meet the HESA Class of 2021* Natasha McCombs (she/her/hers) is from Amityville, NY and works as at the LGBTQA Center at Pace University. After graduation, she is most looking forward to relaxation!! A shoutout to anyone involved in your success: Shout out to my mom and dad for their support and encouragement! HESA fam ofc!! Without ya’ll, none of this would have been possible. #ASAPEBOARD2020... One tip for incoming students: Be who you are and live your life wholeheartedly. You only have 2 years here, make them count! You are not your career, your career is just a portion of your overall journey!

*Meet the HESA Class of 2021* Rachel Choset (she/her/hers) is from Long Island, NY and works as a Student Engagement Assistant at The Juilliard School. Before coming to NYU to pursue her masters, Rachel attended undergrad at SUNY Geneseo. A ‘thank you’ to anyone involved in your success: Thank you to my parents and my sister for always supporting me through everything and the wonderful friends I have made during my time in the HESA program!... One top for incoming students: Take full advantage of what NYU has to offer you, especially if you do not work on NYU’s campus! Connect with your classmates by getting a meal in the area before/after class, meet at Bobst to work together, or spend a day in Washington Square Park.

*Meet the HESA Class of 2021* EricaJoy (EJ) Oliverio (she/her/hers) is from Purcellville, VA and works as a Graduate Fellow at the Office of Student Engagement at NYU Stern. During the HESA program, some of her favorite classes were College Student Learning & Development, Campus Communities & Student Subcultures, and Group Dynamics. EJ wanted to shout out Dr. Klein, Dr. Ripkey, and Dr. Moore for making these classes so engaging! A ‘thank you’ to anyone involved in your succe...ss: A major THANK YOU to my UVA mentors (now peers), for encouraging me to pursue a career in higher education; to Matt, for spoiling me with home-cooked dinners and a plethora of sweets; and - most of all - to my parents, for helping me making this dream a reality. One tip for incoming students: Dive into the HESA community! You never know who among our students, faculty, and alumni will become a future friend, colleague, or mentor.

*Meet the HESA Class of 2021* Irene Kate Patron (she/her/hers) is from Egg Harbor Township, NJ and works as a Student Affairs Administrator at NYU Liberal Studies. After graduation, Irene is most looking forward to reading for leisure again and connecting with her roots by learning her family’s local Filipino dialect A ‘thank you’ to anyone involved in your success: Shoutout to my family, friends, and colleagues for their endless support. I especially want to thank my paren...ts for helping me get to where I am today. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the sacrifices they have made through the years. Lastly, thank you to my late Lolo (grandfather) - he had passed away by the time I started grad school but still continues to serve as an inspiration; I hope I’ve made him proud. One tip for incoming students: Don’t feel pressured to have it all together as you start the HESA program. Everyone’s grad school journey (and in a broader context, life journey) is different - if you’re not sure which specific functional area you’re interested in yet, that’s totally fine! You’ll eventually realize through the lessons you learn and the people you meet in the HESA program.