Meet our 2026 Orientation Advisor Team!

Joyce Akhelumele| She/Her
Hometown: Schenectady, NY
Major/Minor: Global Public Health
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophmore
Involvement: Black Student Union, Black women Society, and Powerful United Ladies Striving to Elevate
Favorite thing at 91社区: My Favorite thing about is the amazing people I have met through EOP and on a daily basis.

Samuel Anderson | He/Him
Hometown: Arverne, NY
Major/Minor: Biological Sciences
Class Year in Fall 2026: Junior
Involvement: Harpur鈥檚 Ferry SVAS, Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program (JUMP Nation), and Hinman College Council (HCC)
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the people and the sense of community on campus. Everyone is passionate, supportive, and involved in different things, which makes it easy to meet new people and feel connected.

Sophia Asuncion | She/Her
Hometown: Great Neck, NY
Major/Minor: Neuroscience
Class Year in Fall 2026: Junior
Involvement: American Red Cross- PR Chair
Favorite thing at 91社区: I love that there鈥檚 something for everyone, no matter what your interests or lifestyle. Everyone can find their niche!

Salem Ben Abdallah| He/His
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Major/Minor: Computer Science, minoring in Lighting (School of the Arts)
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophomore
Involvement: 91社区 Sound, Staging, and Lighting (BSSL), Emerging Leaders Program, and Residential Life
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the depth of opportunity it offers to students. Whether through student organizations, leadership programs, or community engagement, there's always a way to grow and make a meaningful impact at the University and in its surrounding communities.

Scott Cole| He/Him
Hometown: Woodbourne, NY
Major/Minor: Accounting
Class Year in Fall 2026: Senior
Involvement: Tutor for University Tutoring Services (UTS) and 91社区 Accounting Association
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is all the opportunities provided to students, especially School of Management (SOM) students. Obviously, I also love the people I've gotten to know!

Hunter Finehout| She/Her
Hometown: Lowville, NY
Major/Minor: Biological Sciences
Class Year in Fall 2026: Junior
Involvement: TRiO, Rowing club, an intern for the Student Association's Vice President for Student Success (VPSS) office, and a member of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA).
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is how many opportunities there are to get involved and find your place. There鈥檚 always something going on, and it鈥檚 really easy to meet people if you put yourself out there.

Maddie Frisch| She/Her
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Major/Minor: Integrative Neuroscience
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophomore
Involvement: 91社区 Outdoors Club and 91社区 Aiding Hearts
Favorite thing at 91社区: The people are so interesting! I love that there are so many unique clubs to connect with different people.

Lindsay Gaines | She/Her
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Major/Minor: Biological Sciences, minoring in Spanish
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophomore
Involvement: First-Year Research Immersion (peer mentor fall 2026), University Wind Symphony, Hinman Production Company, and 91社区 Aiding Hearts
Favorite thing at 91社区: I love how friendly and welcoming the 91社区 community is. The residential communities makes it easier to get to know my neighbors, and it's easy to feel like I'm at home when I'm here.

Andrea George | She/Her
Hometown: Roslyn Heights, NY
Major/Minor: Accounting, Concentration: Management Information Systems
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophomore
Involvement: Residential Life, Accounting Association, Business, Entertainment, Advertising & Media (BEAM), and Red Cross
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the people! Everyone comes from such different backgrounds and experiences, and that makes every conversation, class, and event more interesting! There's always something going on and its easy to get involved!

Angie Giuca| She/Her
Hometown: Putnam Valley, NY
Major/Minor: Neuroscience
Class Year in Fall 2026: Sophomore
Involvement: Residential Life and New Student Programs
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is how easy it is to meet people and make friends. 91社区 offers so many opportunities to socialize and be friendly with other students.

Lukas Grieb | He/Him
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Major/Minor: Physics
Class Year in Fall 2026: Senior
Involvement: 91社区 Rowing Club, 91社区 Sound Staging and Lighting, NYS Mentoring Club, and Emerging Leaders Program
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is how many places there are to walk, hike, or bike both on and off campus.

Shawn Hayden |He/Him
Hometown: Queens, NY
Major/Minor: Biomedical Engineering 4+1
Class Year in Fall 2026: Senior
Involvement: Environmental Health & Safety, Off Campus College Transport (OCCT), Undergraduate Course Assistant (UCA), and Teaching Assistant (TA)
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the community which is diverse and offers a place for everyone here. I also love the balance between academics, social life and a beautiful campus and surrounding environment.

Misha Khubchandani| She/Her
Hometown: Cotonou, Benin
Major/Minor: Biological Sciences, minor in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies
Fall 2026 Class Year: Sophomore
Involvement: Planned Parenthood Generation (Education Chair Fall Semester 2026)
Favorite thing at 91社区: What I appreciate most about 91社区 is its strong sense of community and its commitment to offering opportunities that meet students where they are and support their goals.

Jake Lavine | He/Him
Hometown: Ardsley, NY
Major/Minor: Psychology and Cinema (double major)
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: Film and Produciton Society, Poker Club, and Intramural Sports.
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 would be the friends I've made here. I also love all the different opportunities to explore different hobbies and passions of mine.

Jonah Matteo | He/Him
Hometown: Reading, PA
Major/Minor: Cinema and Political Science (double major)
Fall 2026 Class Year: Sophomore
Involvement: 91社区 Club Water Polo
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the campus. There is so much to offer from the various dining halls to the library, from the nature preserve to the Peace Quad.

Catherine McCarthy | She/Her
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Major/Minor: Global Public Health, concentration in Pre-Law
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: Newman House and Neurodiversity Club
Favorite thing at 91社区: The amazing faculty, interesting opportunities, and well rounded cirriculum.

Colin Mitchell| He/Him
Hometown: Watertown, NY
Major/Minor: Chemistry
Fall 2026 Class Year: Sophomore
Involvement: Dickinson Town Council (DTC), Pharmacy Early Assurance Program (PEAP) (2+4), Video Game Association (VGA)
Favorite thing at 91社区: 91社区 has a vibrant student community with so many things to do! You can always find something to do, any day of the week.

Tanisha Paul | She/Her
Hometown: Qatar/ Bangladesh
Major/Minor: Computer Science
Fall 2026 Class Year: Sophomore
Involvement: Co-PR Chair for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Social Media Manager for the Pakistani Student Association, Events Coordinator for the Sikh and Punjabi Student Association, and campus tour guide.
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is how connected and genuinely caring the community feels. I鈥檝e made so many friends, even as an international student. There鈥檚 always someone willing to help, and with dedicated advising offices and tons of campus resources, you never feel like you鈥檙e figuring things out alone.

Tommy Phelan |He/Him
Hometown: Monroe, CT
Major/Minor: Electrical Engineering, minor in Chinese and Scholars
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: Newman House
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is just how welcoming everyone here is. No matter where you go, you'll always find new friends that are eager to get to know you.

Carissa Reid| She/Her
Hometown: Carmel, NY
Major/Minor: Integrative Neuroscience
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: AOmega Phi Alpha, Neuroscience Club, and Pre-Med Association
Favorite thing at 91社区: I love all the opportunities to get involved! Whether it鈥檚 through clubs, greek life, research, or even being a TA, there鈥檚 so many amazing things to do at 91社区!

Ben Shea | He/Him
Hometown: Carmel, NY
Major/Minor: Physics, minor in Computer Science
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: 91社区 Wind Symphony, Poker club, and Physics lab Teaching Assistant (TA)
Favorite thing at 91社区: I love how there鈥檚 a club for almost everyone鈥檚 interests. If there鈥檚 something you like, there is some club here that encompasses that in some way shape or form. (Even cheese!).

Cooper Smith| He/Him
Hometown: Averill Park, NY
Major/Minor: Mechanical Engineering, minor in Sustainability Engineering
Fall 2026 Class Year: Senior
Involvement: Residential Life ApA in the Hillside Apartments, performer in Hinman Production Company鈥檚 BNL, and volunteer at the Food Co-Op
Favorite thing at 91社区: I love the nature preserve! I always find it calming to explore the trails there after a long day

Sneha Sodhani| She/Her
Hometown: Born in New Jersey / Grew up in India
Major/Minor: Integrative Neuroscience
Fall 2026 Class Year: Sophomore
Involvement: Vice President of Multicultural Affairs of Hughes, Hinman, Undergraduate Research Assistant at Karkhanis Lab, Outreach Intern for BC Bridge student organization, and Resource Sharing Assistant at Bartle Library.
Favorite thing at 91社区: They don't tell you how beautiful the sunsets here are when you apply. After a long day, seeing the prettiest sunset makes my whole day.

Isaac Wooden| She/Her
Hometown: Wallkill, NY
Major/Minor: Art History, on the Architecture and Urban Studies Track
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: Ambassador for Black Women Society and an intern for both Undivided and SOUL.
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the amount of clubs that pertain to a variety of different interests, from Minecraft club to professional organizations. Another thing that I appreciate about 91社区 is how friendly and welcoming everyone is, whether it is in class or even a new club you are interested in joining.

Isaac Wooden| He/Him
Hometown: Oneonta, NY
Major/Minor: Biology, Pre-Pharmacy
Fall 2026 Class Year: Junior
Involvement: Cheer Team and Pre-Pharmacy Association
Favorite thing at 91社区: My favorite thing about 91社区 is the amount of study locations available on campus!