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ORIENTATION AND NEW STUDENT PROGRAMS

ORIENTATION STAFF

Meet Our Orientation Staff

Orientation Staff

Meet the 2026 Orientation Staff, a dedicated team committed to helping new students and their families feel welcomed, connected, and prepared for a successful start at Hofstra University. Our Orientation Leaders serve as peer mentors, sharing their experiences, answering questions, and guiding students through the transition to college life. Welcome Week Coordinators help create engaging programs and events that foster community, school spirit, and meaningful connections during students’ first days on campus. Supporting these efforts are our Graduate Interns, who provide leadership, mentorship, and behind-the-scenes coordination to ensure every new student has a positive and memorable introduction to the Hofstra community.

Maisa Ahmad

Maisa Ahmad

she/her
Head Orientation Leader

Major: Political Science and Public Policy & Public Service

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Philosophy of Law

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Spring, Texas

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Student Government
Association President (26-27), Pride Guide, Peer Advisor, Resident
Assistant, Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law Fraternity, Founder of National
Society of Leadership and Success , Orientation Leader (2025)

Stephen Albano

Stephen Albano

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Pre-Physician Assistant (BS/MS)

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Community Health Minor

School: Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

Hometown: Wantagh New York

Graduation Year: May 2029

On-Campus Involvement: Physician’s Assistant Club, Hofstra
Dutchmen

Nate Arscott

Nate Arscott

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Math Minor

School: Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Graduation Year: May 2029

On-Campus Involvement: HofBeats, Hofstra Dutchmen,
Engineers in Action, Resident Assistant, Student Government
Association – (Senator)

Nay-Htut Aung

Nay-Htut Aung

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Human Factors and Usability Studies

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School:Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science

Hometown: Queens, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Resident Assistant

Chloe Bessey

Chloe Bessey

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: English (Creative Writing) and Psychology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Sacramento, California

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Delta Phi Epsilon

Juliana Blain

Juliana Blain

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Nursing

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: School of Health Professions and Human Services, Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College

Hometown: Valley Stream, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Black Honors Student Committee, Resident Assistant, Student Government Association – Senator

Matthew Carpi

Matthew Carpio

he/him
Information Management and Customer Service
Graduate Intern

Program: Social Studies, MsED

Institution: Hofstra University

Hometown: Hempstead, New York

Sabely Chavez

Sabely Chavez

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Early/Childhood Education

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: School of Education

Hometown: Uniondale, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Delta Gamma, American Cancer Society, Future Educators, NOAH, Resident Assistant

Casey Curtis

Casey Curtis

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Theater Performance

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): History

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Improfstra (Ambiguity, Press the Button)

Ally Demarco

Allison “Ally” DeMarco

she/her
Parent and Family
Graduate Intern

Program: Literacy Studies (All Grades), MsED

Institution: Hofstra University

Hometown: Latham, New York

Bella Desroches

Bella Desroches

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Criminology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Forensic Science

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Pelham, New Hampshire

Graduation Year: Fall 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Clay Club

Mya Evans

Mya Evans

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: English

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Public Relations & Journalism

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Writing Center Tutor, Resident Assistant, Orientation Leader (2025), Font Magazine, Hofstra Literary Society, Hofstra English Society

Xavier Gonzalez

Xavier Gonzalez

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Geology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Hometown: Queens, New York

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Pride Guide, Alpha Phi Omega, Orientation Leader (2025)

Kourtney Jones

Kourtney Jones

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Marketing

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Psychology

School: Frank G. Zarb School of Business

Hometown: Queens, New York

Graduation Year: May 2029

On-Campus Involvement: Commuter Student Association, Dean’s Business Scholar

Nevaeh McDowell

Nevaeh McDowell

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Nursing

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

Hometown: Queens, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: DanceWorks, Orientation Leader (2025)

Laine Miller

Laine Miller

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Filmmaking

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Creative Writing

School: The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

Graduation Year: Spring 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Dark Room, Women in Film, Hofstra Asian Pacific Islander Association (HAPIA)

Gaby Monteiro

Gaby Monteiro

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Philosophy – LEAP Program

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College

Hometown: East Rutherford, New Jersey

Graduation Year: May 2029

On-Campus Involvement: Phi Alpha Delta , Ethics Bowl Moderator, American Cancer Society, First Gen Mentor

Nate Moore

Nate Moore

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Biology, Pre-Med

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Neuroscience

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College

Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey

Graduation Year: May 2029

On-Campus Involvement: American Medical Student Association, Neuroscience Club, Biology Club, American Cancer Society

Tommy Morelli

Tommy Morelli

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Political Science, Global Studies

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): LEAP Program

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Long Beach, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Phi Kappa Theta, Peer Tutor

Samantha Nadler

Samantha Nadler

she/her
Welcome Week Coordinator

Major: Computer Science and Mathematics

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science

Hometown: North Bellmore, New York

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Math Club, Tutor, Hofstra Chronicle, Pep Band

Sophia Ochsner

Sophia Ochsner

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Biology, Pre-Med

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Chemistry

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Phi Delta Epsilon, Biology Club, Peer Tutor

Adalia Rezki

Adalia Rezki

they/them
Welcome Week Coordinator

Major: Geology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Anthropology

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Oceanside, New York

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Clay Club, Bird Sanctuary

Isaac Sawyer

Isaac Sawyer

he/him
Residential Operations Intern

Program: Educational Policies and Leadership Studies, M.A.

Institution: University of Iowa

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Emmanuel Seidu

Emmanuel Seidu

he/him
Orientation Leader

Major: Biology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Exercise Science

School: Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, School of Health Professions and Human Services

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Club Volleyball, Orientation Leader (2025), Pride Guide, Resident Assistant

Gabby Sultan

Gabby Sultan

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Exercise Physiology

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): concentration in Pre Medical Studies

School: School of Health Professions and Human Services, Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College

Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia

Graduation Year: May 2027

On-Campus Involvement: Hofstra Softball, Exercise is Medicine, Orientation Leader (2025), Resident Assistant, Advisory Board for Exercise Physiology (Student Representative), Phi Epsilon Kappa

Mary Taale

Mary Taale

she/her
Staff Development and Logistics

Program: Doctorate of Philosophy in Higher Education

Institution: University of North Texas

Hometown: Ghana, Africa

Aubrie-Lynn Wilkonski

Aubrie-Lynn Wilkonski

she/her
Welcome Week Coordinator

Major: Psychology, Art History

Minor(s) / Concentration(s): Cognitive Science

Hometown: Lynbrook, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Writing Center Tutor, Peer Advisor; FORM Art Club, Psychology Club

Zeeza Zhangallimbay

Zeeza Zhangallimbay

she/her
Orientation Leader

Major: Nursing

Minor(s) / Concentration(s):

School: Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

Hometown: Queens, New York

Graduation Year: May 2028

On-Campus Involvement: Works at the Pride Pantry, American Cancer Society, Medical Students Association, Nursing Students Association, Hofstra’s Organization of Latin Americans (HOLA), Delta Phi Epsilon

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