What is an Orientation Leader?

Orientation Leaders (OL’s) are role models as well as sources of support and information for new freshmen and transfer students. They play a major role in facilitating the adjustment of new students and their families to the Stony Brook community. They share accurate information about academic, personal, and social resources while working collaboratively with faculty, professional staff, and student staff from other areas on campus.

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What do Orientation Leaders do?

OLs assist with orientation events such as:

• Participate in all aspects of summer orientation (part I) and Experience Stony Brook (part II)
• Lead discussion groups with incoming students and family members
• Assist in the preparation of orientation activities and materials
• Acquaint new students and parents with campus services and building locations through campus tours and public speaking
• Aid in the development of class schedules
• Contact students before and after orientation
• Serve as a positive role model
• Represent Stony Brook University to all new students and their parents throughout their transition to campus

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What skills and qualifications do I need to be an Orientation Leader?

We are looking for a diverse group of students who possess the following qualifications:

• Good academic and disciplinary standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5)
• Campus or Community involvement (i.e. service, extra-curricular activities, etc.)
• Team player
• Positive attitude
• Public speaking skills
• Ability to work with diverse students, parents, faculty and staff
• Desire to be a leader and role-model, including on-campus, on-line and in the community

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How do I apply for the Orientation Leader position?

Applications for Orientation Leader positions beginning in the summer are available in late January and early February. Application screening and interviewing takes place during the month of March. The interview consists of an individual interview and a group interview. Offers are made in early April. Students who are offered and accept the OL position are required to sign the OL Contract and attend a meeting in early May. Orientation Leaders work from the end of May to the first day of classes. Training is provided and is mandatory for all OL’s. January OL’s are selected from those who worked during the summer. To download a copy of the Orientation Leader application, click here.

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What is it like to be an Orientation Leader?

Here is what other OL’s are saying about their Orientation experience:

The 2008 Orientation Leaders

Manny Alonzo

Major: History
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Washington Heights, NY
Favorite Class: Women’s Studies
Dream Vacation: Touring the world.

Ashley Aluko

Major: Political Science
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Homecoming
Favorite Class: Comparative Politics and Themes in Black Experience.

Marline Bellevue

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Favorite Class: Writing
If you could be a television or movie character, who would you be: Stewie (a girl version)

William Brown

Major: Political Science and Economics
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Baldwin, NY
Favorite Class: U.S. Class Structure and its Implications
Dream Job: Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Tony Cai

Major: Computer Science and Technological Systems Management
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Place on Campus: Academic Mall
Favorite Childhood Book: Wheels on the Bus

Megan Cartelli

Major: Political Science and Economics
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Class: Introduction to Nursing
Dream Vacation: Australia

Andrew Cheng

Major: Clinical Lab Science
Class Year: 2008
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Class: Immunology
Dream Job: Professional Poker Player

Kaitlyn Cozier

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Patchogue, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Pep Bad and Football games
Song you can’t get enough of: Wild Horses by Natasha Bedingfield

Krina Desai

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: New York, NY
Favorite place on campus: Library
Snack choice at the movies: Raisinets

Krupa Gohil

Major: Undeclared
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: East London, South Africa
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Earthstock
Favorite Place on Campus: The courtyard outside Harriman Hall

Giulianni Hardy-Gerena

Major: Music
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Favorite Class: Tonal Harmony
If the next meal was the last meal you ever ate, what would it be: Lasagna and cheesecake

Farzin Hossain

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Queens, NY
Favorite place on campus: Staller Center when it is warm
What is your dream vacation: A romantic get-away to Paris

Kadeem Hylton

Major: Athletic Training
Class Year: 2011

Natasha Jean-Louis

Major: Biology and Psychology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite place on campus: My room
Song you can’t get enough of: With you- Chris Brown

Diana Jean-Mary

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite childhood book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Favorite Weekend Activity: Eating brunch and hanging out with friends

Adnan Khan
Major: Biology
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Niskayuna, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Roth Pond Regatta
What is your dream vacation: A week in space

Monica Khan
Major: Biochemistry
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Queens Village, NY
Favorite class: Indian Classical Dance
Dream Job: Superwoman

Krystan Lenhard

Major: Psychology and Political Science
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Bellport, NY
Favorite Class: Psychology of Cognition and Perception
Favorite Weekend Activity: Concerts

Michelle Li

Major: Health Science
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: China and Queens, NY
Favorite place on campus: Humanities Atrium
If you could be a television or movie character, who would you be: Harry Potter

Lynne Lieberman

Major: Psychology

Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite place on campus: Starbucks
Song you can’t get enough of: Angel in the snow by Elliot Smith

Michael Liu

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2011

Erin Mallare

Major: Health Science
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Ozone Park, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Carnival
Dream Job: Physician Assistant/ Chef/ Artist

Christel Mathelier

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Favorite class: Introduction to Women’s Studies in the Social Sciences
Favorite Childhood Book: Dr. Seuss

Richard Mendez

Major: Cinema and Cultural Studies
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: South Huntington, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Stony Brook Film Festival
Favorite Class: Film Theory

Deborah Misir

Major: English
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Favorite place on campus: The Psychology Building
Snack choice at the movies: Nachos and cheese

Sarah Morales

Major: Psychology and Women’s Studies
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Class: Health Psychology
Dream Job: Industrial Psychologist

Noopur Motiyani

Major: Computer Science
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Sendhwa, India
Favorite place on campus: The benches in front of the Administration building
Favorite Class: Theater: Performing and Performance

Ayana Palmer

Major: Psychology and Sociology
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Place on Campus: Tabler Quad
Favorite Class: Sociology: Medicine and Society

Mawii Ralte

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Aizawl, Mizoram, India
Favorite weekend activity: Lounging outside in the warm weather
Favorite Class: Personality Psychology

Lakshmi Ramsoondar

Major: Political Science and Economics
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Class: Indian Classical Dance: Bharatanatyam
If you could be a television or movie character, who would you be: Hiro Nakamura

Adal Regis

Major: Philosophy and Pre-med
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Rockland County, NY
Favorite place on campus: Kelly Cafe
If the next meal was the last meal you ever ate, what would it be: Spaghetti and Black Rice

Ashley Reji

Major: Political Science
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: New Jersey
Favorite Place on Campus: Wang Center
Favorite Class: Understanding Theatre

Jeanie Romero

Major: Psychology and Women’s Studies
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Manhattan, NY
Favorite place on campus: Wolfies
Dream Job: Psychologist and famous women’s activist

Kelly Ross

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Wayne, NJ
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Wolfie
Favorite Weekend Activity: Football

Christina Russo

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2008
Hometown: Saint James, NY
Favorite Stony Brook Tradition: Stony Brook Day in Albany
Snack Choice at the Movies: Waldbums beforehand to buy loose candy

Trisha Sanon

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2009

Ruzan Sarwar

Major: Political Science
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Favorite Stony Brook tradition: Midnight Scream
Favorite class: Middle Eastern Literature

Stephanie Serrano

Major: Psychology and Pre-Dental
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Favorite Place on Campus: The Student Activities Center
Favorite Class: Psychology: Child Development

Parija Sharedalal

Major: Biology
Class Year: 2011
Hometown: New York
Favorite Class: Social Science Topics in Asian and Asian American Studies
Favorite Weekend Activity: Sleeping

Adnaan Sheriff

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Favorite Place on Campus: SBVAC (Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corp.) headquarters
Snack Class: Astronomy

Eddie Suarez

Major: Engineering Science
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Favorite Class: Philosophy: Moral Reasoning
Dream Job: President of a University

Reema Sultan

Major: Biology and Pre-med
Class Year: 2011

Ha Tang

Major: Health Science
Class Year: 2009
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Class: Anatomy
Dream Vacation: Lake Tahoe for Snowboarding

Keren Valerus

Major: Psychology
Class Year: 2009

Mike Waldrop

Major: Biochemistry
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Favorite Class: Stony Brook Chorale
If the next meal was the last meal you ever ate, what would it be: A delicious NY strip steak, rare

Jinni Yu

Major: English
Class Year: 2010

Wen Zheng

Major: Biochemistry
Class Year: 2010
Hometown: Flushing, NY
Favorite Class: Biology and Human Social and Sexual Behavior
Snack Choice at the Movies: Slushies