About GSLD

Anna is a first year MS student at TC studying to be a speech pathologist! She's from upstate NY, but has lived in 4 different countries, and 3 different states. She loves weightlifting, going on hikes, reading (especially sci-fi/fantasy,) cooking, line dancing, and taking care of her houseplants!

Sign-up to be paired with Anna or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link.

Brenda Payan Medina (she/her) is a MA student in Higher and Postsecondary Education with TC’s Department of Organization and Leadership. Brenda’s interest in education and student support stems from her experiences as an undergraduate at the University of Utah, where she graduated in Materials Science and Engineering. At the University of Utah, Brenda involved herself in multiple internships, jobs, and volunteer positions in order to expand her understanding of the student experience, which is something she hopes to continue learning about during her time at TC and in her career. In her free time, Brenda enjoys walks, cooking, and painting.

Primary Areas of Focus:

• Academic Readiness
• First-Gen Programming 
• New Student Orientation

Chéla (she/her) just graduated from Amherst College. She's in the Clinical Psych Masters program and is from suburban Maryland, so this is her first time living in a city. She worked in Res/Student Life for three years during college, and she's excited to welcome all the familiar and new challenges these next two years will bring!

Sign-up to be paired with Chéla or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link. 

Indigo is a first year student in the Communication Science & Disorders Bilingual Extension M.S. program. She is from Oakland, California and graduated with her B.A. in Political Science and Spanish & Linguistics from UCLA in 2023. She is thrilled to enter the field of Speech Language Pathology and study language acquisition and bilingualism at the grad school level. In her free time, Indigo enjoys cooking for loved ones, thrifting, and going on walks with friends.

Sign-up to be paired with Indigo or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link.

- She has a 16 month-old daughter named Quincy Rose
- She is a Binghamton University alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development
- She is currently in the Motor Learning program within the department of Biobehavioral Sciences
- Her career goal is to become a board certified Pediatric Occupational Therapist 

Sign-up to be paired with Kaitlynn or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link. 

Manasvini is:

- Getting her M.A. in psychology in education
- From Texas
- Loves arts and crafts
- Enjoys meeting new people
- Huge murder mystery fan 

Sign-up to be paired with Manasvini or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link.

Marwa is starting her Masters in Mental Health Counseling. She was born in Chicago, but was raised in The Bronx. She has a BFA in Studio Art with minors in Korean and Psychology. During undergraduate, she explored her passion for community involvement, through hands-on work and volunteering experiences with health initiatives and working with students in campus life. She loves to create - whether it's through painting, writing, or crocheting - and she enjoys reading and exploring New York. 

Sign-up to be paired with Marwa or any other Student Life Ambassador by using this link.

Emy

RJ, a first-year student from Carson, California, is pursuing a master’s in Education Policy. A recent graduate of Pepperdine University, RJ has found pleasure in organizing community programs with Student Government, Black Student Association, and Residential Life just to name a few. RJ is passionate about addressing systemic equity issues in education, tackling disparities in curriculum, resources, and access to quality education. RJ looks forward to working with various clubs and departments at TC. He enjoys playing the Nintendo Switch, trying new foods, and traveling— having visited 15 countries through study abroad programs!

Megan is a first-year masters student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. After completing her bachelor's degree majoring in social anthropology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Megan returned to the U.S. and worked as a Montessori educator at the upper elementary level in central Florida for five years, earning her Florida Educator Certificate and Montessori Upper Elementary Teaching Certificate. Megan is passionate about psychology, education, language and writing. In her spare time, Megan enjoys practicing yoga and sharing her passion for mindfulness and movement as a part-time yoga instructor. She also enjoys exploring the mind-body connection through practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu and archery, finding peace and focus in this ancient art. Megan's research interests include flow states and experiences, the healing power of movement, psychosomatic interventions for anxiety disorders, and resilience.

Joel (he/him) is studying an EdM in Language Use through the Applied Linguistics program at Teachers College. Before coming to TC he was a full-time proofreader for six years, specializing in technical language as part of a contract with the U.S. Patent Office. He has earned a BA from New York University in Linguistics, with minors in Music and Creative Writing, and an MA in Linguistics from the University of Hong Kong, writing a dissertation to document an endangered dialect of Cantonese. Overall he has lived overseas for 2 ½ years.

Joel is still defining his research interests and is usually happy to talk about working papers or presentations. He enjoys attending events through his department on conversation analysis and participating in the language and technology working group. He always recommends to work with the communities where you belong. On that note, he is also involved with planning events through QueerTC, the LGBTQ+ affinity group on campus. For fun, Joel plays video games, explores coffee shops around the city, and sings in local piano bars. His areas of specialization include technical aspects of writing like grammar and structure, voice, and style — plus he owns a copy of the APA manual!

Neha (she/her) is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. She works as a research assistant for the Bilingual & Bicultural Education program and for the D9 Bronx Project with University of Michigan.  Her professional experience includes drafting Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposals, conducting and editing literature reviews, and interviewing participants for research. Neha also developed skills in coding and analyzing qualitative data, which has enhanced her research capabilities. Teaching has been another significant part of her career; she taught over ten courses at both the master’s and undergraduate levels, contributing to curriculum development, facilitating classroom discussions, and guiding students through both traditional in-person settings and innovative remote and hybrid formats. With a passion for bilingual education and inclusive education, Neha is dedicated to working with students with disabilities and utilizing inclusive practices that ensure all learners receive the support needed to thrive. She is committed to advocating for accessible and equitable education for all students. In her free time, Neha likes to paint, try new recipes, and watch movies in different languages (with subtitles, of course!). 

Yaopeng (he/him) is a master’s student in Applied Statistics at Teachers College, Columbia University. He earned his bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from the University of Birmingham in the UK, where he cultivated interests in quantitative reasoning, modeling, and applied problem solving. His academic interests lie at the intersection of statistical methodology, machine learning, and education research, with a growing curiosity about algorithm design and AI. As a Statistics Fellow, Yaopeng supports fellow students in navigating data analysis tools, statistical software, and research methods. Outside of academics, he plays basketball, explores the city on foot, and works on personal coding projects. Yaopeng is passionate about making data approachable and empowering others through statistical support.

Alana Crosby has been working in Graduate Student Life and Development since 2018. Alana holds an M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from New York University. Before starting at TC, Alana had full-time positions and internships in student affairs at various schools within NYU as well as the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Baruch College. Alana grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Alana enjoys people-watching in Washington Square Park with her friends, reading fantasy novels, and eating the fluffiest croissants from the Hungarian Pastry Shop near TC's campus.

Primary areas of focus: 

• Student Organizations
• Student Senate
• Community Programs 

Meredith Schuman (she/her) has an MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College, where she studied Poetry with Allen Ginsberg and Lou Asekoff. Her work has been published in several small literary journals including Mudfish and B City.  She has a BA in Theater from Binghamton University and spent a semester at The Imperial College of London. She was an English Instructor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering for many years and served as Graduate ESL Program Director. Her experience includes teaching literature, expository and creative writing, and public speaking in various schools and centers, with a focus on adult ESL populations.  She is an avid photographer, enthusiastic theater-goer, BBC binger, and obsessive knitter.