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Roxana Saravia ’20—also known as “x0roxy” or just “Roxy” to her followers—always knew she wanted to attend college in New York City. ���ҹ�����’s Lubin School of Business seemed a natural fit, especially since she’s been running her own personal brand for several years now. It’s no wonder she chose business management as a major. “I think management is so vital in any field you are in. If you can’t manage yourself, how can you manage others?” She said, going on to explain that, “I feel like I’ll be able to use what I learned in my business management courses [in] almost any field I go into.”

Saravia certainly has already. With a minor in fashion marketing, her skills in the industry are on full display over at her . One of her videos even to check out and ultimately apply to ���ҹ�����. “It’s taken me some time to reach this level of confidence,” Saravia said, explaining that she was timid when she first launched her brand. “One of the biggest tips I can give someone else is to be confident in whatever you’re doing (even if you don’t know what you’re doing). Work as hard as you can because although you might not see growth right away, it will eventually pay off.”

Not only is Saravia adept at creating all kinds of digital content, having on The Odyssey in addition to her YouTube channel, she also makes a point to boost the work of other creators in several collab videos. “As someone who is always looking forward to the next project, it’s hard for me to take a step back and see how far I’ve come,” she explained.

That kind of motivation can be difficult to keep up for some people, but not for Saravia. “I feel like living in NYC is truly what motivates me,” she told us. “Every person I meet here is trying to accomplish their goals, and everyone is so driven. It’s a blessing and a curse; it definitely helps me stay motivated, but [it can] sometimes become overwhelming.”

Setting up lights, putting together a tripod, filming and editing videos—Saravia does it all and much more, which is something the team working on The Wendy Williams Show saw instantly. She’s a wardrobe intern now, an experience she calls “surreal.” In particular: “Attending the grand opening of the Daniel Wellington store in Rockefeller Center was definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” Saravia enthused. “So far, working at the show has been everything I’ve ever wanted.”

As for the future? Saravia is hoping to one day launch her own business venture. But in the short term, she’d like to pick up sailing lessons again—something not many people know she’s actually quite experienced in. “I took a sailing summer camp for two years and I miss it a lot,” Saravia told us. “I would definitely love to do it again sometime.” We’re sure she’ll continue to be at the helm of a successful brand, just as she is now.

Marquise Steward ’20 is all about ambition and succeeding in a competitive environment. It’s part of the reason why he always knew he wanted to go to college in NYC. “It was a dream of mine to live and thrive in [this city] while interning and working at the top companies of the world,” Steward told us. Naturally, he found his way here. “���ҹ����� really wants me to succeed, and will use every resource it has to do so. I felt it was a wise choice to attend.”

It was that ambitious, sometimes ruthless nature of advertising that initially sparked Steward’s interest in pursuing a major in advertising and integrated marketing communications. “You have to really work in order to make it in advertising,” he said. “If you slack, your competitors will come in and knock you off the top. [That] matched my competitiveness.”

Steward’s keen eye for leadership is exemplified in his current positions at ���ҹ�����: President of the Residence Hall Association as well as President of the ���ҹ����� Marketing Association (PUMA). What keeps him motivated? “I am truly grateful to surround myself with many inspiring individuals who work for the same things I do. They motivate me to keep pushing boundaries and bringing the best ideas, events, and opportunities to ���ҹ�����,” he said.

His tenure in these positions has provided Steward with a unique perspective into what makes a good leader and, in his opinion, it all comes down to valuing your team. “You can define the success of a CEO by the success of the employees,” he explained. “I try my best to take care of my members and give them the opportunity to exercise their greatest power: their voices.”

Recently, Steward had the opportunity to meet top representatives at a number of influential companies like Coca-Cola European Partners, FedEx, and The New York Times—all abroad. “This was a class that could not be replicated or translated in a classroom setting,” he said when discussing the marketing faculty-led study abroad course he signed up for, which took him all the way to London and Brussels.

Led by Professor Dennis Sandler, PhD, and Clinical Professor Paul Kurnit, the class enabled students the singular opportunity to meet with representatives and visit advertising agencies on-site. “It left a great impact on me because it helped me develop as a citizen of the world and a distinctive candidate in the job market,” Steward continued.

For all his many accomplishments including marketing internships at Aflac and Statista, Steward still struggles with accepting praise. “I never do something for the applause of others, but rather the satisfaction of the accomplishment,” he told us, detailing a moment on the job when two of his supervisors pulled him aside to let him know just how much they appreciated his hard work.

His bosses had some advice, too. “[Because] I often underplay or overlook my accomplishments, I was advised to soak in the moment and smell the flowers,” Steward said. “They encouraged me to really value my worth as an asset to the team and to celebrate the wins when they come. I now make sure to celebrate my victories and praise my team members to continue the cycle.” Needless to say, Steward will make an incredible boss someday. We’re excited to see where he ends up next!

Julia Fatum ’20 is all about science. She’s the vice president of the Chemistry Club, head science tutor at the Learning Center, and has conducted research with two professors—all leadership positions that have cultivated her relationship with both professors and her fellow students in the Science Department here at ���ҹ�����.

Originally, she came to the NYC Campus with an eye on the forensic program, but it was the supportive environment she encountered here that really convinced her to put down roots. “I had peer leaders and tutors who mentored me. They helped me through my classes and were always there for anything I needed. I am grateful that I now get to do the same for others,” Fatum told us.

Fatum has always known she would be heading to medical school someday. “The human body is an extraordinary thing that we will never fully understand,” she enthused. “There will always be things to learn and medicine will never cease to advance.” Beyond her interest and skill in science, Fatum was also drawn to the medical field because it meant she would be helping people. “I have experienced a lot of trauma in my life, but I have always had people there to pick me up and help me through it. I want nothing more than to be that person for someone else. The best doctors are those that can comfort their patients and connect with them,” she said.

Professor of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, JaimeLee Rizzo, PhD, was one of Fatum’s many mentors who worked hard to connect with the students in her class. At first, however, Fatum was terrified to sign up for her two-semester organic chemistry course. “[It’s] feared by most science majors because it tends to be a ‘weed-out’ class. I was terrified to go, but when I was done, I was just sad that it was over,” she explained.

She did so well that Professor Rizzo invited Fatum to work on a research project with her—one that’s received quite a bit of attention. They’re experimenting with Manuka honey, aloe vera gel, and essential oils to create a natural and effective antibacterial remedy. “It was very interesting learning that these surfaces could be used for things such as enhancing wound healing and helping diabetes patients,” Fatum said.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, however. “When I began my research, the first problem I came across was that the honey would not mix with the essential oils,” she explained. “I had to consult the internet for a substance that would make the layer homogeneous, and that turned out to be aloe vera gel.” Fatum will be presenting her research along with Professor Rizzo at the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Orlando, Florida, this month.

If that wasn’t enough, Fatum is also currently raising money for a trip to Panama with Global Brigades. She wants to bring necessary medical care to underdeveloped communities who desperately need it, but also, to raise awareness about this very real issue. “Although it is extremely difficult to come up with the money to attend, I will do everything I can to raise the money for my part because their lives matter. I want to make sure they know there are people that care. I know that these trips greatly improve the quality of life and can help save someone’s life. I want nothing more than to be a part of this.” We’re so proud of everything she’s accomplished!

Student-athlete Jana Ciric ’20 has cultivated quite the broad range of interests and accomplishments. She’s an active member of ���ҹ�����’s swimming and diving team, as well as a computer science major with a passion for mathematics and programming. That was what initially drew her to Seidenberg. “I have been really influenced by the positive effect technology has had on humanity in the recent years,” she told us. “When it came to making a decision about what I [would] be majoring in, I knew I wanted to be a part of [that].”

On the athletics side, Ciric is in it to win it—literally. She’s earned the Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Sport Excellence Award two years running, and she broke six—count ‘em, six!—of ���ҹ�����’s swimming records. “Ever since I was a little kid, I loved being in the water,” Ciric explained. “Thanks to swimming, I met my best friends, visited many different places, and even came to the US. These reasons always remind me why I love being a swimmer and why I am always grateful to have chosen this sport. It has presented me with many great opportunities and taught me many valuable skills like time management, incredible work ethic, determination, and perseverance.” Ciric’s family, she says, who live 5,000 miles away in Niš, Serbia, “are always cheering me on and following all of my meets.”

As an international student, Ciric has cultivated a broad perspective that’s only strengthened by her impressive professional background. She’s interned at a number of different industries in a variety of different locations; from a mobile app developer in Serbia to a financial firm in Connecticut to working with EDI (electronic data interchange) in nearby Purchase, NY. Not to mention the fact that she’s also an intern at Seidenberg, as well as a tutor at ���ҹ�����’s Learning Assistance Center. “All of these experiences taught me different skills, embedded different values within me, and made me grow as a person,” Ciric explained.

She had some important advice for anyone looking to land a new opportunity, too. “Take on challenges. If I hadn’t gone out of my comfort zone and accepted that first internship, I am not sure I would have had two more after that.” Hear, hear!

In her work as a mathematics tutor, Ciric has shown a demonstrated interest in teaching—something that started at home. “Both of my parents are professors, so I guess [that] passion for teaching runs in my family. I love helping out other people and tutoring enables me to do that.” Her approach to assisting her peers with their work is a seemingly simple one, and yet, can be applied to any leadership role. “In order to adjust to the learning abilities of each student, I first try to get to know [them],” Ciric told us. “During the session, I like to create a motivating environment for learning and to be flexible. These strategies assist me and the student [in] having a great, mutually beneficial relationship! They also enable students to become independent learners.”

When asked about what fun facts most people might not know about her, Ciric said she writes her signature using the Cyrillic alphabet and, like all of us, is an avid binge-watcher. “I have [seen] The Officeseven times,” she explained. Big mood tho.

It’s clear Ciric’s dedication and passion for so many subject areas will serve her well in the future. We’re excited to hear about all the records she continues to break!

Like any experienced professional in the film industry, Will Giuseffi ’20 wears many hats. He’s a digital cinema and filmmaking major, having worked on last year’s award-winning ���ҹ�����Docs film, Hawaii: Living on the Edge in Paradise. That’s what initially drew him to the Pleasantville Campus. “I chose ���ҹ����� because not only does it have a spectacular film program, but also [for] the social environment. ���ҹ����� has many options such as school clubs, a close-knit community, and [access] to everything that’s around Pleasantville and White Plains.”

Originally, however, Giuseffi had his sights set on majoring in business. “Math was my strong suit,” he said, a strength that would help him a great deal when he switched to the arts. “The industry usually puts the priority of money in front of creative decisions, [and] that makes business a very important and knowledgeable skill for filmmaking.” But it was his passion for “creating something from the end of a whole process” that truly set him on the path toward a career in film. He has a love of assembling snippets of video and reshaping them into a cohesive whole—a very useful skill, and one that has served him well in his time at ���ҹ�����.

That passion came in handy when Giuseffi worked as an editor on ’ latest documentary film, Hawaii: Living on the Edge in Paradise. Led by Professor Maria Luskay, EdD, ���ҹ�����Docs is an award-winning Media, Communications, and Visual Arts production course that allows students to film and produce their own documentary on location. “The experience is mind-blowing,” Giuseffi enthused. “Every student had a part in almost every roll that went into this film.”

It was quite the demanding project, considering Giuseffi was also juggling a full load of 18 credits that semester. And yet, he had nothing but positive things to say about the experience. “[It] was an eye-opener into a completely different culture. [We] interacted not only with the land but the people as well, and it gave an emotional [depth] to the meaning of paradise in Hawaii.” He told us, “That experience has shaped my expectations for the hard work ahead in my field of study, including all the fun that it rewards.”

Not one to sit idle, Giuseffi also went on to land one of ���ҹ�����’s most coveted summer-funded internships at Arc Stages, a theater arts center in the Pleasantville area, and it brought up old memories of when he attended a theater camp as a child. “Coming back years later on the other side of things, I got to experience more of what actually goes into planning and staging a play,” Giuseffi explained. He assisted with the production of six different shows across six groups of actors—quite the feat for a summer season!

“Seeing how things are run from the administrative end of a theater camp has given me more respect for the craft as well as more insight [into] how plays are really put together,” he said. And his team certainly appreciated his help—they started calling him “Will-tern,” a fun little nickname that speaks to the home theaters can so often become.

It’s that sense of home and belonging that Giuseffi struggled to find in the early days of his college career, however. “I never really found a group of students at ���ҹ����� that I felt close to,” he confessed, speaking specifically about his sophomore year. Then he met Mitchell Lew ’19, the past president of Alpha Chi Epsilon (AXE). “I never wanted to join Greek Life when I entered college,” Giuseffi explained, and yet, he agreed to meet the fraternity at Lew’s urging. “I got to know all of the brothers and spent a few nights spending time with them. I pledged [that] same semester. My only regret is that I didn’t meet them sooner.”

Giuseffi also trains in martial arts, not to mention he’s an Eagle Scout—two activities that pair well, in his opinion. “[It] helps me grow my leadership abilities,” he said. We’re excited to see what he works on next!

Kamari Stewart ’19 has worked for some heavy-hitting companies. She’s interned for the likes of Viacom, the Brennan Center for Justice, and The New Food Economy; acted as the managing editor for ���ҹ�����’s Spoon University chapter; written for multiple digital publications; and most recently, landed a coveted internship at NBCUniversal for the TODAY show.

Before she began taking the Pleasantville Campus by storm, though, Stewart was unsure about whether she would attend ���ҹ�����. It took a conversation with then-Dean of the Pforzheimer Honors College Susan Dinan, PhD, at a ���ҹ�����Bound event to really solidify Stewart’s decision. “She told me, ‘You’re not going to make a bad decision, you just have to make the best one.’ That is something that has stood with me for the past four years. She wasn’t trying to convince me that all of these others schools were bad—just to do what was right for me.”

What’s right for Stewart is also, as it turns out, writing. “For as long as I can remember, writing has been something that I’d loved to do,” she told us, explaining that her involvement in her high school student newspaper was what initially sparked her interest in journalism. “I chose digital journalism [as a major] because I like that it targets the digital aspect. We are in a digital world and it’s important to know how to adjust to that.” Not one to miss an opportunity, Stewart also set her sights on double minoring in politics and public relations. “I’m a person who likes to have as many options as possible,” she said. She felt that both areas of study have helped her navigate spaces in both communications and the news cycle.

And Stewart is all about research. Her recent feature for The New Food Economy regarding the rate of Amazon reviews in relation to food that’s too sweet was particularly compelling—and not to mention timely. “[It] was my second summer with them and it was even better than the last,” Stewart enthused. As their editorial intern, she hand a hand in a variety of tasks; from social media to the newsletter to feature writing and editing. “It’s a small newsroom so there’s a lot of moving parts [and] several pieces in rotation to be produced. My favorite task [was] getting to write for them. The editor who I was working with, Karen Stabiner, [was] just amazing. I was so nervous to write anything for them at all, and she made sure I put out the best quality work possible.”

It was that incredible ambition and work ethic that caught the attention of the Emma Bowen Foundation, where Stewart was awarded a fellowship. Its mission, to provide students of color multi-year internships in media, aligns perfectly with her passions. “I think media and newsrooms should be reflective of the world we live in,” she told us. “There is so much talent out there and foundations like the Emma Bowen Foundation give everyone an opportunity to succeed.”

Her advice for students looking to follow in her footsteps? “Stay focused and keep working toward your goals. You might face a lot of nos before you get one yes—but that will make it all the more worthwhile. You deserve to be here.” Also, she adds: “Use your resources! There are so many people at ���ҹ����� who are here to help you. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now without the immense support I got from staff members, advisors, and faculty members.”

We can’t wait to catch Stewart’s next amazing project in the digital landscape. It’s sure to make waves!

Four innovative ���ҹ����� students just won IBM’s prestigious Call for Code 2020 challenge, which unites thousands of developers to create and deploy applications powered by open source technology that can tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Together, Ajinkya Datalkar ’20 (MS in Computer Science), Manoela Morais ’20 (MS in Financial Risk Management), Chimka Munkhbayar ’20 (MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies), and Helen Tsai ’21 (MS in Computer Science) worked on an app code with more than 3,000 lines including more than 11.252 million lines edited or inserted—quite the feat for only four people! But how did they get started?

“We were all students at ���ҹ����� when we met,” Morais told us. “[Datalkar] and I had already done other projects together, such as winning the 2019 ���ҹ����� Pitch Contest.” The two were eager for their next app development challenge, and when speaking to Munkhbayar about joining the group, their project idea was launched. “I was more interested in working in the project that solves the challenges that rural farmers in Mongolia face,” Munkhbayar explained. “We planned to create something for rural household farmers.” The group, which would become known as Agrolly, added on Tsai as their web developer to handle the logistics of the website. “I was so impressed with their work,” she enthused. “When [Datalkar] asked me to join, [...] I jumped into developing.”

Like all new projects, the Call for Code challenge seemed daunting at first. Team Agrolly was tackling a real-world issue, after all, and it was no small feat for a group of only four people, who all had other responsibilities as busy professionals. “Getting inside a competition such as Call for Code is a great push for us to do our best,” Morais said. “We [...] put together a team with different backgrounds and nationalities to fight for a common enemy, which is climate change.”

That wasn’t their only challenge, however. “I am located in Mongolia while [my] other team members are located in New York,” Munkhbayar said. That’s a 12-hour time difference, for anyone who might be wondering—a challenge that Tsai initially shared. “When I joined the group, I was in Taiwan working as an intern,” she told us. “They [would] throw me some information at night, which [was] my morning, and [I’d] work on it during the day and throw it back to them at night.” That’s basically 24 hours of coding! But Tsai insisted that, “Everyone is very supportive,” and Munkhbayar agreed, adding that they overcame the time difference challenge and coordinated well with each other.

When asked about what being named finalists meant to each of them, the consensus was clear: they’re grateful, but they’re also even more committed to furthering their work on this necessary project. “Our team is in an ongoing improvement process,” Tsai said, and Datalkar agreed, adding that, “Currently, we have pilots in Mongolia and we are soon launching in Brazil. I am really looking forward to registering as a company and making this into a global product.” Munkhbayar shared that enthusiasm with her teammates, and told us that, “I personally want to revolutionize the agricultural farming sector in my country and in [the] wider scale of the Asia region.”

Morais explained that team Agrolly has a three-year plan in place, including developments to assist families across the globe. They hope to add new functionalities to their app, and continue to develop it in the years to come. “I think Agrolly has the potential to truly make a difference in people’s lives—including ours,” Morais said.

On Tuesday, October 13, of the Call for Code 2020 challenge live—and Agrolly won! They will “receive $200,000, support from IBM Service Corps and technical experts, and ecosystem partners to incubate, test, and deploy their solution,” according to the IBM report. In addition, “Agrolly will also receive assistance from The Linux Foundation to open-source their application so developers across the world can improve and scale the technology.” We’re thrilled by this news, and we look forward to all the incredible innovation these ���ҹ����� Setters are set to make. Join us in congratulating them!

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$1 Million in Matching State Funding to add programming, modernize space and help address nursing shortage

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (March 23, 2021) – ���ҹ����� is poised to transform Lienhard Hall, home to its College of Health Professions on the Pleasantville campus, into a modernized Healthcare Hub with the help of $1 million in state funding.

With these critical funds, ���ҹ����� will add important programming for students preparing for careers in the region’s burgeoning healthcare and biotechnology sector while adding to, and modernizing, existing lab, classroom and simulation space -- all with the goal of meeting the ever-changing technology demands in the healthcare sector and preparing much needed nurses in New York State.

The grant, awarded as part of the New York State’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap), is intended to increase preparation, laboratories and facilities in health sciences throughout the state.

"The new Healthcare Hub on our Pleasantville campus will enable ���ҹ����� to continue our proud tradition of educating nurses and other health professionals in such high demand in our region," said ���ҹ����� President Marvin Krislov. "I congratulate ���ҹ�����'s College of Health Professions on its successful application for a HECap grant. I thank all our partners in the New York S​tate government for this crucial funding, and I'm excited for our future CHP students, who will benefit from the state-of-the-art labs and learning spaces in the new Healthcare Hub."

The goal is to help address a growing shortage of qualified nurses throughout the region, state, and country that was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic, and is expected to grow as demand only increases in the field. Additionally, it’s estimated that as many as 75,000 qualified students were turned away from undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S. in 2018 because of insufficient space, clinical sites, and faculty, according to an American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s report.

“We are profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to expand our state of the art Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation to accommodate more students to address the growing shortage of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing faculty,” said Dr. Harriet R. Feldman, dean and professor at the College of Health Professions and the Lienhard School of Nursing at ���ҹ�����. “The new Healthcare Hub will also provide educational space for active learning, vital to what today’s students need in nursing and allied health professions.”

Lienhard Hall is the heart of the College of Health Professions; it was constructed in 1968 and is home to CHP’s simulation labs, practical exam rooms, lecture hall and faculty and administrative offices. The new Healthcare Hub will allow ���ҹ����� to expand capacity to educate greater numbers of pre-licensure and advanced practice nurses, as well as future faculty and nursing leaders. The Hub will also allow CHP to develop additional simulation space with high fidelity equipment, telehealth simulation capability, and advanced information technology that will support and enhance the student learning experience.

For nursing student Brandon Joachim, the new Healthcare Hub will be a great asset and learning space for students at ���ҹ�����.

“I've learned and grown from the number of hands-on experiences ���ҹ����� has offered from so early in the curriculum,” said Joachim, a senior. “I believe the addition of the new Healthcare Hub will be a tremendous and safe place to encourage, facilitate and foster our growth. I’m truly excited to see it elevate the ���ҹ����� experience and the Nursing program to the next level.”

The state grant to ���ҹ����� is part of $57.2 million provided to 35 colleges and universities across New York State. All recipients must invest $3 for every $1 the state provides.

“These state investments in higher ed capital projects are smart growth job creating engines that will benefit our communities for years to come,” said Sen. Pete Harckham.

About ���ҹ�����

���ҹ����� has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. ���ҹ����� is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, ���ҹ����� has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. ���ҹ����� has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. or on the ���ҹ����� News website.

About the College of Health Professions

Established in 2010, the College of Health Professions at ���ҹ����� offers a broad range of programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. It is the College’s goal to create innovative and complex programs that reflect the changing landscape of the health care system. These programs are designed to prepare graduates for impactful careers in health care practice, health-related research, or as educators, and equip graduates to work in health policy and global health fields. Students in clinical programs receive hands-on training in the College’s interprofessional Center for Excellence in Healthcare Simulation and have the opportunity to apply their developing skills in real-world settings at many of the regions' leading clinical facilities. The College is currently comprised of several growing and important areas of study, which include Nursing, Physician Assistant, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, and Health Science. Our vision is to be recognized for our innovative leadership in education, practice, scholarship, and service to improve health and the health professions. Our mission is to educate and challenge diverse students for the health professions to be leaders, innovators and lifelong learners who will positively impact local, national, and global health. For more information, please visit the College of Health Professions website and the Lienhard School of Nursing website.