Meet the Student Orientation Leaders
Learn about past Student Orientation Leaders, get a sense of who they are, what they are majoring in, and why they chose UC Blue Ash College. Look forward to more profiles!
2025 Student Orientation Leaders
Seerat Anand
Major: Cybersecurity
Hometown: Delhi, India
Advice to New Students: Take the initiative and don’t miss opportunities that come along.
Katie Bauer
Major: Pre-Health Professions (Nursing)
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Do not be afraid to talk to other students. Chances are they will be excited to speak with you too!
Gurtaj Beesla
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: West Chester, OH
Advice to New Students: Stay patient and stay focused. Everything will work out for you.
Addie Brown
Major: Information Technology
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Use UCBA’s resources!
Anthony Brown
Major: Creative Writing/English Education
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Advice to New Students: Don’t feel so stressed/overwhelmed; this is such an amazing opportunity for you all!
Elle Chenault
Major: Applied Graphic Communication
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, IN
Advice to New Students: Failure is the first step to growth and an opportunity to come back stronger!
Siddhi Gurjar
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: It is okay to feel intimidated at first; you will slowly get used to college and all the joy that comes with it.
Nare Hakobyan
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: Liberty Township, OH
Advice to New Students: Try to be involved and get out of your comfort zone.
Madi Halcomb
Major: Pre-Health Professions (Radiologic Imaging Technology)
Hometown: Chillicothe, OH
Advice to New Students: Everything happens for a reason.
Kaeden Iyoha
Major: Pre-Engineering
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Deep breaths, spread love, have fun with it, and challenge yourself.
Nasma Jarabah
Major: Health Sciences
Hometown: Liberty Township, OH / Home Country: Palestine
Advice to New Students: Keep that schedule booked and busy! Take all the opportunities to learn and connect with new people!
Yawen Jiang
Major: Pre-Elementary Education
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Advice to New Students: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone is here to help you.
Lea Lukose
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Advice to New Students: Don’t skip classes!
Elizabeth Luong
Major: Pre-Health Professions
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Try to get involved as much as you can! Every campus event, club meeting, and class is a new opportunity to meet new people.
Paniah Mahakwa
Major: Applied Media Communication
Hometown: Chiredzi, Zimbabwe
Advice to New Students: Take it one step at a time so you can figure out what works best for you.
Dylan Nance
Major: Pre-Physical Therapy
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Get involved! Whether that be joining a group or club, attending an event or even getting a job, it’s the best experience ever!
Malik Phillips
Major: Communications
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Advice to New Students: Be yourself and don’t be afraid to take steps in unfamiliar directions. Blessings come in many forms.
Jensel Reyno
Major: Middle Childhood Education
Hometown: Mason, OH
Advice to New Students: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those around you.
Jeremiah Salmon
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: Middletown, OH
Advice to New Students: Stay positive and ask any questions you have.
Mariam Satigui
Major: Business Analytics
Hometown: West Chester, OH
Advice to New Students: Take every opportunity that comes your way!
Mariam Soumare
Major: Social Work and Political Science
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Advice to New Students: Say “yes” to every opportunity and chance because the worst anyone can say is “no”.
Troy Spitzmiller
Major: Media Production
Hometown: Maineville, OH
Advice to New Students: Sit up front and talk to your classmates!
James VanOsdol
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Advice to New Students: Make this your own experience. Get what you want out of it.
Brando Vasquez
Major: Pre-Engineering
Hometown: Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Advice to New Students: Step out of your comfort zone by trying new experiences, whether it is getting more involved, taking on a leadership role, or speaking in front of a class.
Student Orientation Coordinators
Bakhtiyor Butabekov
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: Khorog, Tajikistan
Advice to New Students: Fight through the hard part of involvement and relish the joys of student life.
Andrew Nixon II
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Cleves, OH
Advice to New Students: Don’t count yourself out.
Shriya Kolimi
Major: Pre-Business Administration
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Advice to New Students: Take initiative.
Ka’Breyah Thurmond-Hill
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Advice to New Students: Failure is not fatal. Success is not final. It’s the one who keeps pushing who wins!
Student Orientation Intern
Caitlyn Dubey
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Fairfield, OH
Advice to New Students: Don’t wait until the last minute to complete tasks as things can add up over time.
Resources
Contact Information
Chris Dziekan | Associate Director of Student Life, Orientation and Leadership Development
Muntz Hall | Room 112C
Phone: 513-558-9456
Email: dziekacr@uc.edu