The Class of 2015 is ready. Focused on the future. Prepared.
Learn more about how Hofstra helped them get there.
At Hofstra University, students are dynamic, diverse and driven to succeed. They explore their interests both inside and outside the classroom, by getting involved in community service, professional internships or scholarly research. And when you ask them about the future, they’ll tell you: “I Got This.” Meet some the Class of 2015 and find out why.
Select one of the cards above to learn more about these Hofstra students.
Jasmina Ehab, Class of 2015
Jasmina Ehab was smitten with Hofstra from the moment she attended an Admitted Student Day. She was drawn to the beautiful, welcoming campus and sold on the University’s focus on medicine and health sciences.
“I was itching to learn about the factors that play into medicine in the United States , such as medical insurance , different options in health care , medical ethics , chronic and communicable diseases , and, most importantly , communication skills . [The BS in Health Science program in Hofstra’s School of Health Sciences and Human Services] embodies these important factors that are sometimes taken for granted in medicine , and I believe that having a background in health science will allow me to become a better medical student and an even better doctor.”
One of Jasmina’s professors owns a pediatric practice, which opened the door “to the best internship I could have ever asked for. ” Jasmina has been able to apply what she’s learned in her classes – such as International Classification of Diseases coding, electronic medical records, and how patients can obtain insurance – in a real-life setting.
“No one could imagine my excitement … the doctors are asking me for advice on their practice due to my knowledge of the subject matter, and I don’t even have a bachelor’s degree yet!”
On campus, Jasmina has taken advantage of Hofstra’s many leadership opportunities. She’s been a member of Phi Delta Epsilon (an international coed medical fraternity) for three years and has been the organization’s Relay For Life chairwoman for two years; she is the co-founder and co-president of Autism Speaks at HofU; and she is a peer teaching assistant for an Aging and Long-Term Care class. Jasmina is also an inductee in Gamma Pi, Hofstra’s chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, a national health education honorary.
Jasmina’s story isn’t unique – 100 percent of 2012-2013 School of Health Sciences and Human Services undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation .
×Jina Zablan, Class of 2015
For Queens, N.Y., native Jina Zablan, Hofstra offered the best of both worlds: proximity to her family and the independence that comes with living on campus. She was drawn to Hofstra's "big school" resources but felt at home in the University's "small school" atmosphere.
"I [like] the sense of community. The professors all seem like they truly want to help their students and further their education."
Hofstra's 145 undergraduate program options allowed Jina to pursue her diverse passions: biology and Japanese language.
"I like biology because it is not about memorizing random facts but piecing together what you know to figure why certain things happen." As for her minor in Japanese, "I feel like language is the window to truly understanding culture. With Japanese, especially, some of the differences are reflected in the language itself."
Jina applied what she's learned in her biology courses during a fellowship within the North Shore-LIJ Health System last summer, where she shadowed doctors in different subspecialties of cardiology. She's also gained valuable experience through a Howard Hughes Medical Institute internship she's held since spring of her freshman year that allows her to do research in one of Hofstra's animal physiology labs.
Jina belongs to the Association of Pre-Health Oriented Students, Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Pre-Health Scholars Program and Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society.
She plans to start medical school in the fall. "My classes … taught me how to be a better critical thinker, which [will be helpful] in medical school and as a doctor."
Jina's story isn't unique – 98 percent of 2012-2013 HCLAS undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×John Yostpille, Class of 2015
John Yostpille couldn't have scripted his college experience better if he tried. As a high school student, he knew he wanted to pursue either television or film in or near New York City.
"I attended a Fall Open House event, my first time ever at Hofstra, and fell in love with the campus. I remember speaking with a current student in the School of Communication and feeling so welcomed, before I had even applied. … I felt like I was part of a community who knew me, welcomed me, and accepted me. That sentiment has remained true all four years that I've been here."
Thanks to a friendship he made during freshman year with a fellow writer for Hofstra's Thursday Night Live, a live sketch comedy show, he landed an internship with The Colbert Report. That internship evolved into several turns as a freelance production assistant on the show. In the fall of 2014, he interned for HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Both internships encouraged him to apply for full-time production assistant positions once he graduates.
"I would never have gotten my internship at The Colbert Report, which really was what sent me down my professional path, without a connection I made at Hofstra."
On campus, John has worked his way from writer to producer of Thursday Night Live. He is also a Hofstra Pride Guide – a student ambassador to prospective students and their families.
John's story isn't unique – 96 percent of 2012-2013 Lawrence Herbert School of Communication undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Jackie Pierson, Class of 2015
In high school, Jackie Pierson discovered that her passion for math, science and technology, and her knack for taking complicated tasks and making them more efficient could be a career: industrial engineering.
"I was initially interested in Hofstra after discovering that it was one of only five universities in the continental United States with less than 12,000 undergraduate students that offered a major in industrial engineering and a minor in Chinese language. I was looking for small class sizes and a sense of community on campus. I also visited Hofstra during an Admitted Student Day and was very impressed. Hofstra was the friendliest campus I had visited as well as one of the most beautiful."
Jackie, an Honors College student, has had several internships while at Hofstra. She spent two summers at R.H. Sheppard Company Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of power steering gears. Last summer, she interned at Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe Inc., which has manufacturing facilities along the East Coast and where she'll start a full-time position as an industrial engineer after graduation. In the meantime, she's interning at United Parcel Service.
But it's not all work for Jackie. She's relished time spent with Hofstra's Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and she's a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers.
"Through my courses at [Hofstra's School of Engineering and Applied Science], I have learned a great deal of specific skills and gained general knowledge that has been invaluable in my internships. … My relationships with my professors are very valuable to me, as many of them continue to motivate, encourage and support me long after I completed their course. They are incredible resources with a wealth of knowledge to share – all you have to do is ask."
Jackie's story isn't unique – 94 percent of 2012-2013 School of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Ashley Balgobind, Class of 2015
Ashley Balgobind has always loved science, and she fell in love with teaching when she worked as a science tutor in high school. So when it came time to apply to college, Ashley wanted a school that has strong programs in science and secondary education.
"Hofstra has a very well-structured science program, with great faculty who are committed to their students. Also, the School of Education was very attractive because of the reputation it has" among school districts in the region.
Hofstra's School of Education Field Placement Office arranged for Ashley to student-teach general science at a middle school and biology at a high school this spring. Last fall, she benefited from 80 hours of in-school observations in science and special education.
And she even gained teaching experience on campus. Hofstra has a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Studio that offers a curriculum of math and science design challenges for elementary and middle school children from local schools, who regularly visit the lab. Prospective science teachers like Ashley have the opportunity to practice in this rich instructional setting.
"The professors have offered me immense guidance and support, whether helping me choose the right classes, offering exciting opportunities for me to gain science or teaching experience, or just listening when I get overwhelmed. They are friendly and devoted to their students. Hofstra is known for producing highly trained professional teachers, which is what I want to be."
Ashley's story isn't unique – 99 percent of 2012-2013 School of Education undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Patrick Burke, Class of 2015
Patrick Burke knew he wanted to attend a university not only known for its academic excellence but also one that offers a traditional campus experience.
"I was looking for a school in which I could grow and develop as a person as well as a student, and after looking closer at the University, I found that Hofstra had the right amount of extracurricular opportunities for me to do so."
Patrick, who has completed two dental internships and has shadowed a dentist throughout his time at Hofstra, also has taken advantage of activities outside the classroom, including serving as president of Delta Chi fraternity, vice president of Hofstra's Red Cross Club and co-founder of the Hofstra Association for Pre-Dental Studies.
Patrick says Hofstra University's School of Health Sciences and Human Services provides strong clinical education along with critical context on the changing health care landscape.
"My classes and professors have covered a broad range of the sciences, giving me a comprehensive view of the science behind dentistry and other health professions. My classes also exposed me to the manner in which health care is growing and developing at this time, which will allow me to understand what is occurring while I am practicing in the field. My professors have always been extremely open to any questions or concerns I have had."
Patrick's story isn't unique – 100 percent of 2012-2013 School of Health Sciences and Human Services undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Elisa Tang, Class of 2015
When she was in just sixth grade, Elisa Tang was inspired by Barbara Walters' trademark casual yet penetrating interview style. Elisa's passion for journalism blossomed through high school, when she produced a short documentary about her school district's controversial decision to cut funding for the art department. And when she was ready to apply to college, Elisa knew exactly where she wanted to be.
"Hofstra was my No. 1 choice for a college because it has a community like no other. I was drawn to the fact that I would live on a beautiful campus with Manhattan as my playground. Also, as an aspiring journalist, I knew that The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication is home to the best mentors in the industry … I couldn't be any prouder to attend the school that has been ranked second best in the nation for media professionals" based on 2014 LinkedIn rankings for alumni career outcomes.
Elisa's professors have helped her secure internships at some of the biggest names in broadcast television, including CNN, NBC, Fox 5 New York and MTV Digital, where she currently freelances as a production assistant.
On campus, Elisa has taken advantage of Hofstra's top-notch journalism extracurriculars. She has served as the assistant news director, anchor and producer of WRHU-88.7 FM, Hofstra's student-run radio station, which won the 2014 National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award and is ranked No. 1 in the nation by The Princeton Review. Elisa also works as an entertainment reporter and package producer at Hofstra Today, a weekly, live TV program.
Elisa's goal is to land a job as a production assistant or producer in digital news. "I plan on making the most of my internship at CNN this semester; I will continue absorbing all the new information I learn and continue networking to learn more about Time Warner (the company that owns CNN and HLN networks) and the industry as a whole. And I will continue to meet with my mentors both on and off campus."
Elisa's story isn't unique – 96 percent of 2012-2013 Lawrence Herbert School of Communication undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Stephen Spano, Class of 2015
When Stephen Spano interned at S&P Capital IQ as a software engineer last summer, it wasn't long before company officials recognized his talent, professionalism and preparation – and offered him a full-time position upon graduation.
"My classes have taught me the core fundamentals of my field and how to apply those fundamentals to many real-world problems. My professors have prepared me by helping me put together a resume, doing practice problems that I may be asked in an interview, and doing mock interviews with me."
Stephen, a Presidential Scholarship recipient and Provost's Scholar, has spent the last two years as a research assistant, working with one of his professors at the School of Engineering and Applied Science on malware analysis and an open source machine emulator called QEMU.
He's also worked as a computer science tutor at Hofstra and volunteered as a math tutor for elementary school children as part of a McGraw Hill Financial initiative.
Stephen's leadership skills caught the eye of the IEEE Computer Society, which awarded him the Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship. And his academic excellence earned him membership into Upsilon Pi Epsilon (an international honor society for the computing and information disciplines), and Phi Eta Sigma, the nation's oldest and largest honor society for first-year college students.
Stephen's story isn't unique – 94 percent of 2012-2013 School of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Nic Christopher, Class of 2015
For theater arts major Nic Christopher, moving nearly 2,000 miles from his home in Boulder, Colorado, to attend Hofstra was easy – because he knew he'd found a brand-new home just 25 miles east of New York City's Theater District.
"[My professors] do work outside of class for other people in the city, so they bring back experiences and connections to us all the time."
Since freshman year, Nic, whose concentration is in scenic design, has worked on Hofstra productions as a master carpenter, master electrician, lighting designer and scenic designer. He's also held two internships: one as a general production intern at Irondale Ensemble Project in Brooklyn, and the other as a design intern with award-winning theatrical designer David L. Arsenault and lighting designer Travis McHale in Midtown Manhattan.
Nic has taken advantage of the University's many leadership opportunities as well. He is president of Hofstra's chapter of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology and secretary of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theatre honor society.
"My professors have helped to push me as far as I can go. … They always encourage bringing in questions to class about what we experience in the real world, and we often end up changing the entire lesson for the day because people have real-world questions."
Nic has already landed his first "real-world" gig. This summer, he will be the scenic designer for the rock musical Rent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the largest arts festival in the world.
Nic's story isn't unique – 98 percent of 2012-2013 Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Andrew Marks, Class of 2015
Andrew Marks got hooked on the excitement of Wall Street as a high school student, when his father introduced him to the stock market. At the Andrew Marks got hooked on the excitement of Wall Street as a high school student, when his father introduced him to the stock market. At the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, he's turned that passion into a job as a financial analyst at Wells Fargo after he graduates.
As a finance major, Andrew gained real-world experience and applied what he learned in his classes at three internships. At a private equity firm, Sigma Capital Partners, he learned more about equity and debt financing; at Deloitte, he was part of the firm's Transactions and Business Analytics team; and at the trading firm Merus Capital Partners, he worked right in the heart of the financial district.
A Provost Scholar and Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society inductee, Andrew took full advantage of campus life, too, becoming captain of Hofstra's club baseball team and president of the Zarb School's Association of Professionals in Finance and Accounting. He also earned two scholarships: the Hofstra University Presidential Scholarship and Deloitte's Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship Award.
Off campus, Andrew volunteered as a financial literacy mentor for the Capital One Money and Me Program, teaching fourth graders the importance of saving, budgeting and being responsible with money.
"My classes and professors have given me a strong foundation for finance, accounting and business in general, which I have been able to use to understand projects during my internships. In addition, I believe my liberal arts courses have helped me learn about other interesting subjects."
Andrew's story isn't unique – 98 percent of 2012-2013 Frank G. Zarb School of Business undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Chris Wenz, Class of 2015
Chris Wenz knew from a young age that teaching was the path he wanted to take in life. At Hofstra, he was able combine that goal with his love of math and science, thanks to the School of Education's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program.
He enrolled in the Elementary Education: STEM dual-degree program, which allows him to earn a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than if he pursued them separately. He will receive the BA this May and the MA in May 2016.
"Not only was I able to start taking classes for my major in my first semester, but I was also able to work with the technology that you would find in most elementary classrooms right from the beginning."
This semester, Chris is student-teaching kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. He's also worked with local fourth- and fifth-grade classes in Hofstra's STEM Studio and with students at a local United Cerebral Palsy affiliate.
"All of these placements have taught me different aspects of education, and I would not feel as prepared to find a job without all of this exposure in different types of classrooms."
When he's not in the classroom, Chris is co-captain of Hofstra's Pep Band and works as an Office of Admission Pride Guide – a student ambassador to prospective students and their families. He is on the planning committee for Relay For Life; president of Kappa Delta Pi, an international education honor society; and a board member of ASCD, an international society focused on education.
"Besides academics, the opportunities for students are endless at Hofstra. … It is hard to be bored at Hofstra, and that was something that was important to me when looking for schools."
Chris' story isn't unique – 99 percent of 2012-2013 School of Education graduates who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
×Abby Singley, Class of 2015
Abby Singley knew she wanted a private, midsize suburban university that offers a variety of academic programs. She found that and so much more at Hofstra.
"On paper, Hofstra was exactly what I was looking for. … When I actually visited the campus, I really got a sense that Hofstra cares about its students, and the student body struck me as being quite friendly."
She was interested in accounting but unsure about pursuing it as a career. Her uncertainty didn't last long. "Once I took [Accounting 101], the material really clicked with me …. There's a big emphasis on interpersonal skills, and there also are many opportunities outside of accounting once you have your CPA."
For Abby, CPA certification is within arm's reach. She was accepted into Hofstra's Frank G. Zarb School of Business dual degree BBA/MS accounting program, which will give her the required 150 semester hours for certification. She will graduate with a BBA this May and an MS in May 2016.
Abby participated in two mentorship programs at major firms last summer. She was offered internships from both and will complete one this summer at the firm of her choice.
She's also been part of the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, helping low- to moderate-income Long Island residents and international students at Hofstra prepare their tax returns.
On campus, she is a teaching assistant in the Hofstra University Department of Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business and a peer tutor for various business courses, and she serves as vice president of Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting Honor Society).
"I honestly couldn't be happier with my school selection."
Abby's story isn't unique – 98 percent of 2012-2013 Frank G. Zarb School of Business undergraduate degree recipients who completed our graduation survey (or other reliable source) reported that they were employed or have started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation.
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