Orientation Assistants

Adam
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Adolescent Education: Biology
Hometown: Sherburne, NY
Involved in: Ultimate Frisbee Club, rock climbing, Peer Tutoring program, College Community Orchestra, Honors Program

Fun Fact "I like fishing."

Advice "Manage your time. You can get good grades and have plenty of time for yourself, but you need to plan your time."

OA Instagram @cortland_oa_adam

Brady
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Physical Education
Hometown: Pine Valley, NY
Involved in: Football team, Resident Assistant

Fun Fact "I am a very big movie person."

Favorite thing about Cortland "The amazing atmosphere that is created by everyone on campus and also in the community."

Advice "Make every moment count and make the most of your time on campus because it goes by really fast."

OA Instagram @cortland_oabrady

Chelsea
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Involved in: Kinesiology club

Fun Fact "I love basketball and once got to play at the Barclays Center."

Favorite thing about Cortland "The campus is very beautiful."

Advice "Don't be afraid to ask for help."

OA Instagram @oa.chelsea_

Claire
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Human Services
Hometown: Stony Point, NY
Transferred from Tompkins Cortland Community College
Involved in: Nu Sigma Chi, Greek Peak Mountain Resort

Fun Fact “Sloths are my favorite animal."

Favorite thing about Cortland "Sense of community (and Hilltop!)."

Advice "Don;'t be afraid to put yourself out there.  There are a lot of opportunities around campus."

OA Instagram @oa.claire

Daniel
Pronouns: he/him/his
Majors: Political Science
Hometown: Newburgh, NY
Involved in: VP for Student Government, Young Democrats

Fun Fact “I bake a lot. Like at least one thing per week. It helps me relax and balance out stressors that come from academics and work."

Favorite thing about Cortland "There is so much support. During my time in the SGA this year, I have come to realize how much this school does, and how much many of the people you meet in your time here go out of their way to help you."

Advice "Get involved! It is super important, especially when it comes to making friends with similar interests. Join a club, go to events, play a club or intramural sport. There are so many valuable experiences."

OA Instagram @cortland_oadaniel

Deanna
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Archaeology
Hometown: New Egypt, NJ
Involved in: Creative Writing Assoc.

Fun Fact I went to a performing arts high school in the hanger that the Hindenburg was kept in.

Favorite thing about Cortland
"The atmosphere feels so welcoming and everyone is so willing to help you however they can."

Advice “Explore as much of the campus as you can and get involved in as much as possible! You'll find hidden gems everywhere and be able to familiarize yourself pretty quickly with your environment and resources. "

OA Instagram @oa_deanna

Emily
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Childhood/Early Childhood Education
Hometown: Angola, NY
Involved in: Education Club, Community Club

Fun Fact "I've traveled to Costa Rica!"

Favorite thing about Cortland
"I love how friendly everyone is! Students, professors, administrators and everyone in-between is always radiating good vibes! "

Advice "Everyone is in the same boat as you.  Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and out of your comfort zone - it'll pay off in the end!"

OA Instagram @cortlandoa.emily

Francesca
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Media Production
Hometown: Shelter Island, NY
Re-admitted after transferring from SUNY Farmingdale
Involved in: Admissions Tour Guide, Resident Assistant, Female Force Club, work in the communication department of Cortland Auxiliary

Fun Fact “I live on a very small island off of Long Island that you have to take a ferry to!"

Favorite think about Cortland
"THE LIVELINESS of the people and this campus!!! Also the school pride."

Advice "College will get a little better every. Single. Day."

OA Instagram @oa.francesca

Heather
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Social Studies Teaching: History
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Involved in: Work for Cortland Auxiliary

Fun Fact "I love to learn languages and over the summer of 2020 I taught myself Turkish."

Favorite thing about Cortland
"My favorite thing about SUNY Cortland is the gym and the professors."

Advice "Do not be afraid to take intellectual risks and ask for help. SUNY Cortland offers so many tutoring programs."

OA Instagram @heather_oa

Jennivie
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Recreation Management
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Involved in: Pan African Student Association (PASA), Curly Kinky Coily Hair (CKC), Know Your Roots, Caribbean Student Association, Cortland Fashion Show

Fun Facts "I love cereal!"

Favorite thing about Cortland
"The change of environment."

Advice “Don’t be afraid to make friends! And get involve in school activities. It’s a great way to meet new people and know your school better."

OA Instagram @oa.jennivie_

Lauren
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Musical Theatre
Hometown: Staten Island, NY

Fun Fact "Went to three high schools! I transferred my sophomore year then my junior year, the school I transferred to ~closed~ so instead of looking for colleges my junior year, I had to look for a new high school to go to! Wacky times"

Favorite thing about Cortland “MY FRIENDS AND THIS FACULTY!"

Advice "Take advantage of any opportunity to win free stuff! My collection of Cortland apparel is huge because of that!"

OA Instagram @cortland.oa.lauren

Marianne
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: French and Spanish Adolescent Education
Hometown: Smithtown, NY
Involved in: Resident Assistant, Community Orchestra, National Society for Leadership and Success, SCEMS (SUNY Cortland EMS), Ritmo Latino, Admissions Tour Guide, Trip Leader Apprentice

Fun Fact “I'm a polyglot!"

Favorite thing about Cortland "The community of people, everyone is so friendly and welcoming always!"

Advice "Enjoy every moment, your first year will go by so much faster than you'll expect it to."

OA Instagram @cortlandoa_marianne

Miranda
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Adolescent Education: Spanish
Hometown: Elma, NY
Involved in: Resident Assistant, Cortland's Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.), Education Club, Rock Climbing

Fun Fact "I know how to identify some wild edible plants, including wild carrots and a type of berry you can use to make foraged lemonade!"

Favorite thing about Cortland "I love the sense of community that we have at SUNY Cortland. Every time I'm walking to class I see and say hi to at least one person I know. The students care about each other and the faculty and staff care about the students too."

Advice “Get involved! Go to different club meetings and campus activities or join a sports club/team to meet other people and become part of the campus community. "

OA Instagram @cortland_miranda

Sophia
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Involved in: NASPA Undergraduate Fellow, Diversity Conference Committee Member, AAPISU

Fun Fact "I recently learned how to cook and it is now all that I do."

Favorite thing about Cortland “Everyone tries to help one another the campus is really friendly and welcoming."

Advice "Get to know everyone on campus! The campus is super friendly and people want to help."

OA Instagram @oa_sophiaa

Van
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Childhood and Early Childhood Education
Hometown: Ellenville, NY
Involved in: Taekwondo Club, Cortland SDA church, Resident Assistant, TA for Intro to Philosophy

Fun Fact "On July 5th 2021, I will have lived half of my life in Puerto Rico and the other half in the U.S!"

Favorite thing about Cortland “I really love all of the job opportunities available! You can work anywhere in the student life center, ranging from being a personal trainer to being a life guard, to working at the rock climbing wall! You can also become a residents assistant or a tour guide or work in any of the dining spots on campus!"

Advice "My advice to new Red Dragons would have to be to take advantage of the outdoor pursuits program! Cortland allows its students to rent anything they would like, like kayaks, bikes, camping gear, ski equipment, and a million other things for a super cheap price! There are so many opportunities for adventure, and they will be hard to find (or not as accessible) when we graduate, so take advantage and enjoy it now!"

OA Instagram @cortland_van