Staff
The first year experience staff are here to provide support and guidance as students go through their first year at the university and beyond. The FYE office is located in 101A Dining Commons. Students may also contact the office by email.
Our Team
- Mathew Chetnik, assistant dean
- Carolyn Tracy, exploratory program coordinator
- Keli Howe, administrative assistant
- Elizabeth Blood, faculty fellow, first-year seminars and exploratory program
- Elizabeth Coughlan, exploratory faculty advisor
- Binneh Minteh, exploratory faculty advisor
- Jeffrey Garbutt, student success coach
- Anhar Obyat, student success coach
- Jill Sulfaro, student success coach
- Rashid Abuelmaali, emerging scholars student success coach
- Ediana Cruz, emerging scholars student success coach
- Maranda Smith, emerging scholars student success coach
- Rebecca Beukman, student success coordinator
- Sara Moore, exploratory faculty advisor
- Janet Neely, student success coach
O-Team
Always O-utstanding. Definitely O-utrageous. Truly O-riginal
O-Team (Opening Team) is a group of upper-class students who volunteer to help welcome the incoming class of first year students each year in August/September, ensuring that each student has an awesome start to the year. Any upper-class student can be a member of the O-Team as long as they bring a high level of enthusiasm and dedication to welcoming students to the university.
O-Team assists in coordinating and implementing the First Year Day of Service and Opening Day which includes Convocation, FYRE, and several other events. O-Team members are positive role-models for first year students and possess knowledge of campus resources, student organizations, processes, and university events/activities.
First Year Office Assistants
FYE office assistants support the first year experience office by staffing the reception desk, answering phones and referring students to appropriate resources. Office assistants provide support for a variety of projects including advertising events, scheduling appointments, keeping the office organized, and carrying out administrative tasks. FYE office assistants typically work between five and ten hours per week (depending on schedule and availability). Applicants for the office assistant position must have work-study through financial aid and possess strong customer service skills.
First Year Mentors
Mentors are undergraduate student staff who work out of the first year experience office, coordinate programs and events, serve as a resource for first year and transfer students with questions or concerns in addition to other position responsibilities. Mentors typically work five to ten hours a week (depending on schedule and availability).
Exploratory Peer Leaders
Peer Leaders are undergraduate student staff who work out of the first year experience office, and coordinate activities for Exploratory students (undeclared). They support students in their review of major options and the declaration process and help answer questions or concerns while directing students to appropriate resources. Peer Leaders typically work five to ten hours a week (depending on schedule and availability).