The Most Influential Students Issue by Washington Square News

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 | Vol. 41, No. 106

presents

THE

MOST

INFLUENTIAL STUDENTS

10 2

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

NYU’S

There are over 50,000 students enrolled at NYU, each drawing their own track through the university. Selecting 10 to feature in WSN’s 2013 Most Influential issue was like sifting through a box of pencils trying to find the sharpest. And often, the definition of sharp changes with each selection committee.

In our issue this year, we again endeavored to name the students who have retraced NYU’s trajectory toward a new ideal. But we also searched through the nominations to find the people who have successfully empowered others. Instead of pencils, we looked for the sharpeners who honed new passions so others could sketch their marks on the community.

Each individual in this issue has not only inspired members of the community to succeed, but they also encouraged them to pass on the influence. Some are unintentional leaders who followed their instincts. Others have worked to actively reshape our university by strengthening the connections worldwide and across the East River. We would like to thank everyone who contributed their time and efforts to create this issue. Our talented writers, photographers and videographer worked diligently to capture the candidates in print and in images. This issue would not have reached stands without the help of our Editor-inChief Jonathon Dornbush, Web Managing Editor Hanqing Chen and Creative Director Lyanne Natividad, who were invaluable members of the selection committee and assisted in every step of the process. This beautiful issue was designed by our Special Issues Director, Kaleel Munroe, who wanted to shine light on the unsung heroes of the university. The committee sought to create a visual representation of some students who are overlooked, those who are deeply rooted in their beliefs and others who are naturally driven to act. We wanted to recognize the accomplishments of those who work thanklessly for the benefit of others. This year’s selection committee also decided to reduce the number of finalists from 15 so writers could dedicate more time to understanding and describing these individuals. Take the time to read their stories, and we are convinced you will find them and their actions inspiring. You might even rewrite your own definition of influential.

MOST INFLUENTIAL STUDENTS

JORDAN MELENDREZ M A N A G I N G

E D I TO R

AMY ZHANG B L O G

E D I TO R

S T U D I O P H O TO G R A P H Y AL E XIS

THE

SUPPORTER

ALAIN BALAN THE

GUIDE

CHELSEA CULBERT T HE

OPTIMIST

A N TO N I O D U R A N THE

CONNECTOR

T R I S H A G O YA L THE

COMMANDER

SHAFEKA HASHASH

B YN U M

THE

GIVER

ASMA IMAM THE

M O T I VATO R

DANIEL KAO T HE

BRIDGE

JOHN KESHECKI THE

INVENTOR

JOE LANDOLINA THE

CONDUCTOR

NISCHALA MENI

ALAIN BALAN T H E

SUPPORT E R

Toney, the BSU president at the time, told Balan that he needed to come out of his shell. “Alain was extremely quiet … he wouldn’t really say much,” Toney said. “Everyone knew who Alain was, but we didn’t know who Alain [really] was.” Toney noticed a change during Balan’s junior year — she said he “found his niche.” That year, Balan stopped commuting and began to live on campus. He no longer sat at the back of the room and became more involved in various organizations, eventually approaching Toney about wanting to run for BSU president. “I was nervous about leaving it in the hands of Alain … but I was certain in the fact that if Alain wanted to do it, and I knew if Alain was committed to something, that he would put his all into it,” Toney said. And he has. This year, BSU has seen an incredible retention rate, with approximately 80 percent of students returning after the first meeting. They’ve also planned more events than ever before — most notably, NYU’s first Black Homecoming, a major, weekend-long celebration meant to debut in 2012, but which was canceled because of Hurricane Sandy.

If you find yourself at the Height Lounge in the Waverly Building on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., CAS senior Alain Balan will politely approach you and hint that you might want to leave. You don’t have to leave, of course. Balan would actually love it if you stayed. But be prepared, as he’ll let you know, “It’s about to get really loud in here.” There’s possibly no occasion as consistently energetic and lively as Thursday afternoon Games Day meetings, of which Balan is chairperson. Held by the Academic Achievement Program, Games Day is a weekly space for AAP students, and anyone else interested, to unwind with activities as diverse as improvisation or a game that requires you to literally spit water all over yourself. Balan quietly watches over it all. At first, his soft demeanor may seem a stark contrast to the liveliness of Games Day. But when Balan speaks, he does so with meaning. “Some people just talk to talk, but I feel like he’s one of the few people who really chooses when to talk, when to say something,” AAP director Michael Funk said. Balan admits, when he first came to NYU, he was the shy kid who always sat at the back of the room. “I always liked being around a lot of people,” Balan said. “But I wasn’t the person to go up to someone and start a conversation and introduce myself.” At the end of Balan’s sophomore year, he worked to move outside his comfort zone and ran for various executive board positions. While he lost in the race for the Gentlemen of Quality eboard, he became the upperclassman representative at the Black Student Union. Even with this position, Balan had plenty to work on, as he still saw his quietness as a weakness. His peers recognized this need as well, and Alexis

“I THINK ANY IMPACT I’VE MADE IS SMALLSCALE … LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT I BELIEVE IN THEM.” “He definitely, as president, has taken that ball [from previous presidents] and just kept going with it,” Steinhardt senior and BSU vice president Asha Nelson-Williams said. “With the help of his leadership, the BSU has planned so many events, and we’ve done so much more than we’ve done in the past semesters.” Balan is still the same young man who arrived at NYU four years ago, but instead of letting his quiet nature hinder him, he’s found a way to use it to his full potential. “He leads often by actions and by mere presence,” Funk said. “I think it’s that level of commitment and thoughtfulness that really sets him apart from his peers.” Balan’s ability to lead by action over voice has already made a lasting mark on the next generation of his community. One such member of that generation is CAS freshman Chevaun Samuels, who recalls Balan’s leadership during a six-week summer Opportunity Program last summer. “Having a friend like Alain, and knowing that I can be with him and come to him for advice whenever I need, it’s just amazing,” Samuels said. “He talks to me on a real level. He doesn’t worry about what other people are saying or what anybody else is doing.” Balan works to connect with communities through

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2014 School — College of Arts & Science Major — English Black Student Union — President Academic Achievement Program’s Game Day — Chairperson Palladium Residence Hall — Resident Assistant Opportunity Program — Peer Leader

“small, one-on-one relationships.” “I think any impact I’ve made is small-scale … letting people know that I believe in them,” Balan said. “Letting people know I have faith in them, and know their potential, and just supporting them and helping them get there. I think that’s the biggest thing.” Balan hasn’t completely undergone a transformation. He’s still reserved, and he may not immediately come off as a leader in the traditional sense. But whether in his dedication to the BSU, Games Day or other endeavors, Balan demonstrates that it is not the level of noise that matters — it’s the quality of work that drives a leader and the people around him. Enough said. – JEREMY GROSSMAN

PORTRAITS BY JONATHAN TAN/WSN

TH E

G UIDE

CHELSEA CULBERT In a cramped classroom at East Side Community High School in Alphabet City, filled with bright signs and posters with phrases like “Keep your hands and objects to yourself” and “Hint: find the area of a trapezoid two different ways,” CAS senior Chelsea Culbert and other mentors walk high school students through Common App questionnaires. This is just another Friday for Culbert, who founded the NYU chapter of the national organization, Strive for College. Culbert lovingly referred to NYU Strive — a program where NYU students mentor low-income high school students on how to apply to college and pay for it — as her “baby.” Serving as the vice president of service in the Inter-Residence Hall Council for her third year in a row, Strive has been one of Culbert’s biggest projects. After being elected at the end of her freshman year, she began the position and found the duties were vague, the description was basically “docommunity service.” She began organizing the blood drives for each residence hall, as well as the Day of Service and Relay for Life fundraising events in which Culbert, an avid runner, participates. Culbert started NYU Strive after a representative from the nationwide program sent out a mass email trying to find a way to bring the program to the city. Initially, she worked with one high school, where there were about 30 mentors helping 30 kids. All 30 students were accepted to a college, with the necessary financial aid for four years. PORTRAITS BY JONATHAN TAN/WSN

“All of these kids were so eligible to apply to college, but since these high schools only have maybe one counselor for all of the high school, [that person] can’t focus all of [his or her] time on the students and helping them apply to college,” Culbert said. The program currently works in three high schools around the area, with about 80 NYU mentors aiding 80 students. Culbert decided to create an executive board just to manage the program’s endeavors. “When we start getting college acceptances, in April and May, that’s just the best time,” Culbert said. “Seeing all these mentees getting their acceptances and being so excited … they didn’t realize they could get into these schools. But they could.” Although the staff and students at East Side Community High School are receptive to NYU Strive and enjoy the work and benefits of the mentorship

program, it is slowly dying out at many other schools. “[The program] only works if the administration will work with us,” Culbert said, describing how the lack of assistance from can take a toll on the students. “They feel

“SHE REALLY CARES FOR THE PROGRAM AND BELIEVES IN THE STUDENTS.” like the school is giving up on them.” But regardless of what individual schools are doing, NYU Strive has no such plans to give up on New York City high schoolers. “Since the beginning, Chelsea has been a huge part of Strive, and if I ever had any questions, I’d go to her,” Steinhardt sophomore and student mentor Christina Parthena said. “She really cares for the program and believes in the students.” But Culbert, constantly busy, also finds other ways to serve her community. When she is not working with Strive, Culbert works in the lab of assistant professor of biology Esteban Mazzoni to help with his research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a degenerative illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year – 2014 School – College of Arts & Science Major – Chemistry Inter-Residence Hall Council — Vice President of Service Strive for College — Chapter Director NYU Biology Lab — Undergraduate researcher

“Chelsea really works toward her goals and is very generous with other students and researchers. We were lucky that her scientific journey crossed with ours,” Mazzoni said. “I was really pleased when she joined our team at NYU.” Her research consists of growing muscle cells and then putting motor neurons on top of them to see how they interact with one another, eventually creating what is called a “neuromuscular junction.” Soon, the researchers will be able to test drugs on it and use motor neurons infected with ALS. “I’ve been doing ALS research since high school,” Culbert said. “I was part of an organization that raises money for ALS through my high school because two of our teachers were diagnosed.” Progress has been slow but steady. Setbacks like Superstorm Sandy complicated the research — their lab became overcrowded by displaced researchers, contaminating their cells. But Culbert experimented with the protocols for turning stem cells into motor neurons and cut the amount of time required for experiments in half. But regardless of how much shorter the experiments are, Culbert is busy. It still takes about five days to turn stem cells into motor neurons, so each experiment lasts about a week. But with each successful experiment, Culbert, Mazzoni and company gain a slightly better understanding of how ALS works. Working in dorms, schools and even human cells, Culbert always strives to better the lives of those around her. – JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU

A N TO N I O DURAN T H E

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2014 School — College of Arts and Science Major — English & American Literature Goddard Residential College — Resident Assistant AnBryce Scholar Puzzled for Good — Club Founder & Co-President

“Hey sweetie,” he said, exclaiming. CAS senior Antonio Duran greeted every resident assistant with his catchphrase as they stepped through the double doors into a meeting for the National Residence Hall Honorary. With eyes focused and wide open, he stopped a resident to ask about the test he took last week. He greeted another girl with a question about her parent’s visit she mentioned the other day. “When you tell someone a story, they’ll listen,” said Brian Plaut, a fellow resident assistant at Founders residence hall. “But Antonio listens, cares, follows up. To some people it will come across as fake and condescending. But he genuinely cares, and it’s refreshing.” Raised in a poor neighborhood, Duran’s mother worked three jobs when he was little, including an early morning newspaper delivery route. While she worked, a beloved school teacher drove him to elementary school most mornings. He looked up to many mentors, and each wanted to help him because he was intelligent and hardworking. Later, Duran received a grant that allowed him to attend a distinguished high school in his hometown of Phoenix, Ariz. Then during his senior year, Duran received a full academic scholarship from the AnBryce Scholarship

O PTI M I ST

Program, which provides full tuition for first-generation college students and is granted to four students in the nation. With that opportunity, he decided to attend NYU. And when he arrived, he brought memories of family members, teachers and counselors who reached out their hands to bring him here. “It just follow[ed] that I should help other people find their place,” he said. With that philosophy in mind, as a sophomore Duran co-founded Puzzled for Good, an organization that recruits volunteers to spend time with senior citizens and disadvantaged community members by playing games and solving

of hours every other week mentoring seniors at Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School about the college admittance process. During his time with the high school kids, he was reminded of his own past — the little boy who could not have attended class without the help of others. Tom Ellett, senior associate vice president of Student Affairs at NYU and one of Duran’s closest mentors, said Duran knows that not every story has a happy ending. “He works to ensure that the stories of the people he hears have a better ending because he did intercede,” Ellett said. Of his numerous leadership positions

in clubs and committees, Duran said his favorite and most valued job was as a resident assistant at Goddard residence hall. It was, Duran said, the best chance he had to work closely with individuals he could directly affect. Duran’s Bridging Academic and Social Experience meetings with a resident often spill over into the next, lasting longer than the typical 30-minute BASE meeting RAs offer their residents. He never missed the opportunity to host another program, be it a simple floor dinner or a gift exchange. The gratitude from his residents is evident in the countless thank you notes decorating his room. “All of our friends who are RAs with us, they always say that he’s the perfect RA,” Plaut said. In all that Duran does, his end goal has been more than a desire to impact others. He wants to encourage each person to achieve their best in the hopes that they, too, become influential. To survive his constant workload, Duran has also lived by what he calls an “Antonio-ism” — to give energy, you must have energy yourself. It is easy to see how Duran’s philosophy can trickle to others, inspiring them to appreciate and remember the little things. The next time I see an acquaintance, I will remember to ask about their weekend. And make sure to follow up with energy. — FRANCISCO NAVAS

puzzles. He also began working with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, a program dedicated to improving student affairs at NYU, and tried to find any opportunity to work directly with students in various programs. He became a site leader for Alternative Breaks at the LGBTQ Student Center and an Undergraduate Mentor for the Violet Leadership Institute his senior year. With the other AnBryce students, Duran traveled abroad on programs to mentor boys in Trinidad and Tobago at the St. Michael Home for Boys. In New York, Duran spent a couple

“WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE A STORY, THEY’LL LISTEN. BUT ANTONIO LISTENS, CARES, FOLLOWS UP.”

PORTRAITS BY JOON LEE/WSN

When Trisha Goyal ran against 10 other freshmen for underclassmen liaison of the Stern Inter-Club Council, she was the only one not wearing a suit. The Stern junior didn’t see herself as a “Sternie,” she said, the stereotypical Stern student working toward their next banking offer, with dreams of becoming a CEO. At the lectern, she spoke about feeling lost and confused entering Stern, and how she wanted to create a community for the freshmen who didn’t feel they fit into the Stern mold. That year, she was the first freshman to hold a position on the board of a council that would shape her influence at NYU. “When I was young, I remember I wanted to be an

future leaders of the ICC. As the council’s director of External Affairs, Goyal keeps lineless sketchbooks full of ideas on improving the council’s influence on the clubs, from initiating a diversity series to encouraging cross-collaboration both in New York and across the globe. “Hopefully by the time I’m a senior, we will have a full-fledged club system between Shanghai and New York,” Goyal said. Goyal will likely remain the “ball of energy” her friends say make people so drawn to her. “She remains incredibly positive and upbeat even while under pressure,” said Stern senior A.J. Tus, a fellow ICC member and Goyal’s close friend. “In an environment where many of the most successful are

“EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING SOMEHOW, SOMEWHERE.”

TRISHA G O YA L

TH E C O NNECTO R astronaut … I wanted to reach new heights to make an impact on people,” Goyal said. “I think that childhood dream of doing things outside of the realm of possibilities has kept me inspired to create a community at Stern that spans beyond what has already been done.” Goyal saw a problem with the club system at Stern — it resembled a bureaucracy more than a community because only a limited number of students were involved. “The issue is that Stern is not a company. It’s not a corporation,” Goyal said. “It’s an institution to foster learning and growth. The point of the club system is … for students to find a place within Stern that’s like home.” It all came back to finding a niche. She was the first member of her family to be born in the United States, but she found her niche in various activities and clubs from a young age. “Everyone needs to have a sense of belonging somehow, somewhere,” she said. After her election to the council freshman year, Goyal began instituting small changes like publishing a club booklet and distributing it to students before the Stern club fair, vastly improving the efficiency of the event. She helped create a second club fair in the spring semester and mentored her underclassmen liaison successor, increasing the rate of freshmen students’ involvement. Once she gained momentum, Goyal carried the same mindset she applied in New York halfway across the world to NYU’s Shanghai study away site, where she spent her sophomore year. While there, she became president of the emerging Stern Political Economy Exchange branch — one of only a few clubs in Shanghai at the time. As president, Goyal realized Stern’s relations with alumni was lacking because of a disconnect between the alumni and the current seniors. “NYU and Stern, they just ask for money,” Goyal said. “They don’t build an attachment between students and alumni. [Alumni] don’t engage with our students and see how awesome we really are.” She decided to create a network by hosting speaking and networking events for students. The attendance of her meetings soon averaged 60 students, making the Political Exchange NYU Shanghai’s most popular club. Others followed her lead, and now there are 25 functioning clubs on-site. Back in New York City this semester, Goyal decided to step back and work on promoting and shaping

seen as artificial or self-serving, Trisha consistently comes across as an honest and genuine person.” Through it all, Goyal said, it’s important to find and hold close the “little things” — those other passions outside of academics and career that may seem trivial but make each person unique. “That’s what college is about. Undergraduate is meant for you to develop yourself and understand yourself,” Goyal said. “Being self-aware is the hardest trait to have, but it’s the best trait to have.” As far as big-picture and life plans are concerned, Goyal said she knows she will want to engage a community, as she’s doing now. “Developing things, ideas, people,” Goyal said. “That’s always been my drive.” — NICOLE BROWN PORTRAITS BY RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2015 School — Stern School of Business Major — Finance Stern Inter-Club Council — Director of External Affairs Shanghai Stern Political Economy Exchange — President

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2015 School — College of Arts and Science Major — Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Political Science Parents of Blind Children, and National Federation of the Blind — Lecturer New Jersey Association of Blind Students — President Students for Justice in Palestine — President

TH E

C O MMANDE R

SHAFEKA HASHASH

There is no such thing as a casual chat with Shafeka Hashash. The CAS junior is too intense for casual. Expect your conversation to last twice its allotted time. Expect to feel antsy. Expect to feel a heavy responsibility for aspects of the world that weren’t previously on your radar. “There is the oppressor, and there is the oppressed,” Hashash said as we began our conversation about Palestine and Israel. “And I think that’s what almost all issues can be boiled down to.” Hashash’s twin interests in politics and disability work are deeply rooted in her personal life. A Palestinian-American, Hashash currently serves as co-president of NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine. She has organized campaigns and events to promote

to deaf and blind high school students. “That’s my hometown project,” Hashash said. “So many kids are such regular kids, but their parents have never given them the ability to blossom socially. And that kills you in high school.” While these two interests might effectively describe her ambitions, they fall short in describing her character. Hashash, above all else, is an intense academic. There is no end, her friends say, to what she wants to learn and to what can be learned from her. She provides insight and perspective to the simplest conversation. “My favorite thing about Shafeka is that she does everything … all the way,” said Steinhardt junior Torrence Browne, a close friend of Hashash. “She puts 200 percent of herself into everything.” Hashash is a talker. Her friends say she has been known to spend hours on the phone, offering her notoriously frank opinions. She vocalizes her thoughts the moment they occur, acting on instinct. A conversation that begins about the New York City subway system will quickly become a discussion of human rights in Palestine. A rant about construction on La Guardia Place will somehow end with a lesson in feminism. “I get offtrack a lot, I’m sorry,” Hashash said, apologizing after breaking off on another tangent. Those who seek out her guidance say her sarcasm is paired with patience, compassion, and a remarkable ability to listen. Nothing about Hashash is scripted, and it is this rare transparency that makes her so impactful as a leader of the SJP and NJADB. “She is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me,” said Mark Colasurdo, a junior at Cornell University and one of her close friends. “I can rest assured knowing that she will always be there for me.” But as with all blatant honesty, Hashash’s unwillingness to compromise is both appreciated and rebuffed. During a meeting of SJP, members criticized her leadership of the group. In an argument with Browne, who lived on the same floor in Goddard residence hall, Hashash poured spoiled milk across his bed sheets. “She will let you know exactly what she thinks and

won’t sugarcoat it,” Browne said. To Hashash, uncensored honesty is the most effective approach to activism. She is not afraid to evaluate others, just as she is not afraid to criticize herself. “Only when you critique your efforts over and over again can you be helping out the cause to the best of your abilities,” Hashash said. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in political science. In the near future, she hopes to attend law school and work for a human and constitutional rights organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union or Legal Aid Society. For her, there is no such thing as neutrality. “Once you know things, you can’t un-know them,” Hashash said. “Whether that’s for the better, or for the worst.” — JOSEPHINE JABLONS

“SHE PUTS 200 PERCENT OF HERSELF INTO EVERYTHING.” the awareness of both the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international human rights. Although she might have her critics, expect her to present a rebuttal with passion. It’s not necessarily an orderly passion, but a gut-wrenching, visceral kind of passion that overthrows thought. When Hashash speaks, her whole body speaks. She captures your interest not only with her words, but also with her demeanor. “There are hundreds of people in Latin America who need the job building houses [there],” Hashash said as we veered toward social justice. “Not you, white kid from Long Island.” Born blind, Hashash’s second interest is disability work. This past summer, she took advantage of the Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights to organize a seminar about the legal use of sub-minimum wages for workers with disabilities. The seminar enabled 20 college students to come together, learn about the issue and then organize campaigns on their own campuses. As president of the New Jersey Association of Blind Students, Hashash acts as both a leader and a mentor

PORTRAITS BY JONATHAN TAN/WSN

15 PORTRAITS BY DAVID LIN/WSN

TH E

G I V E R

ASMA IMAM

In the breaking of bread, Asma Imam stumbled upon a community like she had never experienced before at the Islamic Center at NYU. Ramadan coincided with the start of her freshman year, and although it was the first time she was away from family during the holiday, she found a new, lasting family. “For the first time, [I] know so many other Muslims who are our age,” the CAS senior said. “So I think that’s what’s really special, is people can really relate to one another.” After a Welcome Week program, she learned of the iftars, or meals to break the

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year – 2014 School – College of Arts & Science Major – Economics & Politics Muslim Students Association — President NYU Model UN — Conference Chair

fast, that the Islamic Center was hosting. “I quickly saw how these Muslim students treated each other like family and the Islamic Center as their home away from home,” she said. Four years after her first dinner, Imam has transitioned from guest to hostess. Now, as the president of the Muslim Students Association, she helps organize weekly meals that cater to a broader range of students. “We try to host dinners on Mondays be-

cause people are encouraged to fast,” Imam said. “And regardless of whether or not you’re fasting, you can come have dinner with us.” Imam personally extends dinner invitations, especially to freshman, in a similar way to the Welcome Week advertisements that intrigued her. “Personal outreach I think makes a big difference,” Imam said. Imam grounds her positive disposition and easygoing smile with faith and service, intertwining her communities and interests. She continues to build community, one person at a time, promoting an MSA that uses spirituality, service and social programming to serve whatever interest a student is seeking. “We accept regardless of what stage they are at in their religious development,” Imam said. “So regardless of whether or not you’re Muslim or regardless of where you are, even if you are Muslim, it’s open to you and we try to make that very obvious.” Each week when the MSA gathers for their eboard meetings, member settle into the communal space on the fourth floor of the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, as children play and people pray nearby. Imam’s organizational skills make meetings run smoothly and guide the discussions while letting everyone’s voice be heard. “People trust her enough to seek her advice and counsel on many issues, and she has the ability to make a person feel more important than anything else at times when they are most in need,” said Khalid Latif, the university chaplain and executive director of NYU’s Islamic Center. “Her ability to comfort is further strengthened by her ability to listen.” Latif along with Bronfman Center Rabbi

Yehuda Sarna are two religious leaders on campus that have greatly affected Imam. She enrolled in two classes, Interfaith Dialogue, Leadership, and Public Service: Traditions of Engagement in the U.S. and Beyond and Multi-Faith Leadership in the 21st Century, which Latif and Sarna co-taught. It was in her Multi-Faith Leadership course that Imam first learned of the Interfaith Service Explorations Floor at Gramercy Green residence hall. This year, she became the floor’s resident assistant. She seeks to instill the same spirit of service in her residents and peers that her father instilled in her, through her participation in Project OutReach before

She finds connections to those she serves, even when the affected group isn’t in close proximity. At an MSA fundraiser for the Philippines, Imam was moved when a Filipino student extended his gratitude for the event. “It’s always nice to hear from people that you don’t know because you know you’re going outside your bubble, your community and affecting people who the issue really matters to,” Imam said. By engaging with others and answering questions from her residents, she hopes to foster a greater understanding about faith. “People are becoming more openminded and realizing that religion isn’t

“RELIGION ISN’T COOKIE-CUTTER. EVERYONE PRACTICES DIFFERENTLY.” freshman year, by planning community service and social programs for her 24 residents, as well as for MSA members, she extends this altruistic spirit. “[My dad] always made me conscious of the fact that there’s always going to be people in need,” she remembered. “You can feel more part of the community if you participate in service. I think it just brings people closer together.” Beyond her personal connections to her peers and residents, Imam wields a wide perspective, in part gained from her theoretical study of politics and economics.

cookie-cutter,” Imam said. “It’s not the same for everybody, and they are more accepting of the fact that everyone practices differently.” As she approaches her last semester at NYU, Imam’s future plans remain unclear. But for the next few months, Imam can still be found on the fourth floor of GCASL, happily surrounded by the ever-expanding community. Its members, though diverse, rally behind Imam’s guidance and constant service. — EMILY BELL

Some figures, however influential, are difficult to catch in their element — in those moments that set them apart from the rest. In the case of Stern senior Daniel Kao, there is no such difficulty. He is always in his element. At a Stern Student Council meeting, while engaged in an entirely separate conversation, a colleague addressing the assembled students shouted, “Daniel, do you want to say something about that?” After only a moment of mental reorientation, Kao shifted into public speaking mode, confidently holding the attention of the entire room with a marked and somewhat distressing lack of fumbling his words. Kao would answer with the same level of confidence if asked the classic query put to overachievers, “How do you manage it?” The answer, though Kao’s modesty may not let him explicitly state it, is that Kao is one of those few individuals for whom neither work nor maintaining multiple social relationships is a chore. He thrives on the opportunities to meet people and forge new connections his multiple positions afford him. Despite hints of a Type A personality, he defies all of its stereotypes. Rather than talk endlessly about his own endeavors, he tends to ask every acquaintance all about theirs. Rather than seeking acknowl-

“ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE NUDGE, AND YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.” edgement at every turn, he exercises patience until he feels he can contribute. It is difficult to think of Kao as anything but the consummate team player. The root of Kao’s industriousness and enthusiasm can be found in his priorities, as it must first be understood that for Kao, the work comes second and community comes first. For Kao, community is the word that crops up most often. From his position as a senator in the Stern Student Council to that of community service supervisor for the Admissions Ambassadors, Kao will gladly trace his roles back to the welcoming embrace of a community of fellow students who inspired him to take up these activities. “It was a mentorship that I very much tried to pass forward,” Kao said of these events. And passing it forward is the common denominator in Kao’s current efforts. From the aspects of mentorship in his position as a resident assistant at Broome Street residence hall to the mass mentorship inherent in the Admissions Ambassadors, the work Kao does reflects this drive and the sense of unity he hopes to create. Even the startup enterprise he founded with CAS senior Iris Yuan, Open Canal Inc., is essentially a system for mentorship on a wider scale. The website only launched in August, but the boundless enthusiasm Kao has for the project cannot be disguised. Founded with the aim of connecting ambitious young people with positions perfectly suited to their talents and dispositions, Open Canal delivers a per-

PORTRAITS BY JONATHAN TAN/WSN

TH E

M O T I VATO R

DANIEL KAO Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2014 School — Stern School of Buisness Major — Management, Social Entrepreneurship Open Canal Inc. — Co–CEO & founder Broome residence hall — Resident Assistant Student Senators Council — Undergraduate Stern Senator

sonal touch even as it expands. It is also what eats up most of the week for Kao. “He truly believes in the beauty of potential,” Yuan said. “I’ll stay up until 4 a.m. trying to fix a couple of things on the site … I’m [not] tired ... I’m ready to jump back in,” Kao said. Despite this enviable work ethic, Kao is quick to quash any suggestion he is exceptional, pointing out his past faults “When I was a sophomore I was so terrible at time management,” Kao said. “When I was in high school, I would visibly shake [when presenting].” In his mind, the gentle guidance of the groups he discovered at NYU allowed him to attain the positions he holds today. It is that type of guidance that he hopes to pass on to others he works with while at NYU, such as with Stern sophomore Megan Machado. She said Kao helped her to find a community at Stern while also helping her to embrace her potential. Machado’s sentiment is consistent with Kao’s broader principles of mentorship. “All it takes is a little nudge, and you can be part of that community,” Kao said. And he seems determined to prove it with his style of mentoring. But for Kao, mentorship is defined as helping others achieve what they want to accomplish. “If someone’s genuinely interested, I always try to find a way,” he said. — STEFAN MELNYK

JOHN KESHECKI T H E

Organic Chemistry means three things to NYU-Poly senior John Keshecki — it’s the study of the most basic structures of life, a class for which many students dread the workload and one of the best courses he has taken so far. Part of his love comes from the professor who taught it, Mark Green. Along with a few other individuals, Green has served as a major inspiration in Keshecki’s academic career because he simultaneously cultivates close relationships with his students and enjoys his work. Keshecki often assumes a similar role in his position as president of the Polytechnic Institute of NYU’s Student Council, as he loves creating personal relationships with the student body and creating events to unite these students. “You can’t just boss people around,” Keshecki said. “You’ve got to have general relationships with everyone, and you have to understand how they’re feeling and working every day.” For Keshecki, being a Boy Scout and ultimately an Eagle Scout spurred much of his growth as a leader. “I learned that it was making a community within a group

PORTRAITS BY RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

that was most important,” Keshecki said. “Making personal relationships and making sure everyone’s having a good time, while also progressing forward, is also a part of that.” Upperclassmen encouraged Keshecki to become a leader when he came to NYU. NYU-Poly alumnus Johnny Quinn, who was then Student Council president, encouraged Keshecki to join in the university’s activities, including becoming an orientation leader. Quinn also dragged him to fraternity events. “I never, ever planned on joining a fraternity,” Keshecki said. “I wasn’t interested in it, but then, getting to know them and seeing what they were actually all about, I noticed that Lambda Chi Alpha was a place where you could be a role model in this community.” Keshecki is still a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, and

B RI DGE

he continues to organize events on NYU-Poly’s campus with the fraternity. He even finds crossover between his work for the fraternity and Student Council. “You start reaching out to the Poly community. Being able to do that and then applying it to other organizations, like Student Council, has been the best part,” Keshecki said. With the Student Council, Keshecki has planned some of NYU-Poly’s most important events, leaving a lasting mark on his fellow students, including Halloween Week, which Poly freshman Chandrika Khanduri cites as one of her favorite events Keshecki has organized. “Being from India, this was my first Halloween ever,” Khanduri said. “I did not expect to celebrate it, but the Halloween Week event pulled not just me, but also many other students into celebrating the event.” Many other students have found Keshecki’s enthusiasm for community infectious. Udisa Chowdhury, also an NYUPoly freshman Student Council Committee volunteer, has even been inspired to work toward Keshecki’s determination to unite students. “As we are merging, John, a senior, encourages me, a freshman, to bring together both communities so that both can be influenced by each other,” Chowdhury said. And merging NYU-Poly with the main NYU campus is one of Keshecki’s primary goals as Student Council president. It is by no means an easy task considering NYU-Poly is at least six subway stops away from the Washington Square campus, but Keshecki brings students together with ease. NYU-Poly freshman Sidney Elie-Pierre, one of a few students who Keshecki mentors, Keshecki personally encourages students to visit Washington Square. “[Through his work], I am confident that I have developed a great sense of community on this campus by getting to know a lot of people,” Elie-Pierre said. Yet even despite all of his work planning events and his ease while working with others, Keshecki does not conscientiously seek acclaim for his work. What matters to him is the chance to work and grow closer to others. Even when Keshecki’s influence is visible, he remains out of the limelight. In October, Keshecki led a town hall with NYU President John Sexton. At that town hall, Keshecki heard some of the issues NYU-Poly students were facing during the merge — from financial aid, to communication between schools to transportation. Keshecki said

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2014 School — Polytechnic Institute of NYU Major — Chemical and Biological Engineering NYU-Poly Student Activities — Peer Educator NYU-Poly Student Council — President NYU Student Senators Council — NYU-Poly Student Senator Tau Beta Pi — Treasurer Lamda Chi Alpha — Director of Ceremonies & Executive Board Member

these issues were expected, but he will continue “making everything seem a little better for the student body.” The events Keshecki plans are one way of alleviating the anxieties of his fellow students. Keshecki highlighted Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a personal favorite event he has planned. For that event, Keshecki rallied the NYU-Poly community to raise funds, then led a well-attended walk. While Keshecki has inspired the Poly community, he also leads via the example of his own inspiration. Among such figures is professor Matthew Campisi, who led a presentation, as part of the event, on the early breast cancer detection technologies he engineered. Keshecki’s life has been full of similar role models. Green taught him the value of developing bonds with co-workers. Campisi, who attended NYU-Poly as an undergraduate student, complements what Keshecki learned from Green through his use of scientific work to ultimately help a larger community — and maybe that’s the exact reason why Keshecki admires him. “He does his research, but he does his research for a cause, and that affects his family, the community, and the world around him,” Keshecki said. With Keshecki inspiring so many NYU-Poly students to take up an active role in their academics and student community, it’s not hard to imagine someone saying that about Keshecki some day. – ALEX GREENBERGER

“YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY’RE FEELING AND WORKING EVERY DAY.”

PORTRAITS BY JOON LEE/WSN

JOE LANDOLINA TH E

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2014 School — Polytechnic Institute of NYU Major — Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Suneris, Inc. — Founder & CEO Veti-Gel — Creator NYU-Poly’s Freshman Innovation & Technology Forum — Teacher

Each morning, NYU-Poly senior Joe Landolina wakes up around 6 a.m. and checks his Android smartphone for his schedule. Every day is another balancing act, as every second is booked — from team meetings to investor conferences to class time. As a full-time student and a CEO, life can become a little complicated, but Landolina rarely shows any sign of stress. As a 17-year-old, Landolina invented a product called Veti-Gel. Simply put, his invention stops bleeding when applied to a wound by activating the body’s clotting process. To market the product, Landolina and Stern alumnus Isaac Miller created Suneris Inc. “Creating the product was a long process that involved a lot of luck and naivete,” Landolina said. “When I first got started, I had no idea that it would turn out this way, or even that it would get this far, but I’m extremely excited that it did.” Luck and naivete have gotten him far — all the way to Madrid, Spain. While in Spain, Landolina present a TEDx talk on science and entrepreneurship. He was also recently interviewed by the Madrid newspaper La Razón regarding his aspirations for the product and his company. Landolina has seen a steady uptick in those interested in the product and with no shortage of funding. In fact, he says “money is no object” to Suneris at this juncture — the company can essentially pick and choose between various investors. When not working on his own products, Landolina helps the next generation of inventors with theirs. Every Monday, Landolina teaches a section of Freshman Innovation and Technology Forum, which focuses on turning student

I NVE NTO R

innovations into plausible business models — a topic Landolina knows well. Landolina tells his students the most important thing to remember is “figuring out what resources are around you and not being afraid to share your ideas … you never know when someone will give you lab space or cut you a check.” Landolina’s inspiring message derives from experience — Landolina first presented Veti-Gel during an entrepreneurship competition in the Stern School of Business during his freshman year. Not only did Stern provide a platform to showcase his product, but he cites the university’s Entrepreneurial Institute Team executive director Frank Rimalovski and investment professional Marisa Tricarico as mentors in the growth of the firm and the marketing of his product. “Frank and Marisa have acted as our gateway

two skills — marketability and inventiveness. “I admire Joe for being a really creative scientist and a particularly savvy businessman,” Miller said. “It’s impressive to find an individual who excels at one or the other. Joe excels at both.” In addition to his innovative success, Landolina was also named a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, an award recognizing him for his research in biomaterials. “I wasn’t sure if I was a good candidate because I do industrial research rather than academic research,” Landolina said. Still, he said “it’s an awesome honor.” Although Landolina has received accolades for his work, the path there is not always an easy one. Veti-Gel currently faces day-to-day issues, including several FDA hurdles, and Landolina cites his reserved personality as one of his biggest challenges. In spite of his shyness, he actually exudes a quiet

“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD BY CREATING LIFE-CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES.” from NYU into the outside entrepreneurial community,” Landolina said. “I can always count on them for support, which is hard to find when you’re just starting out.” As a role model for budding inventors, Landolina has referred entrepreneuring students to the vast amount of resources he took advantage of himself, including the Stern competition that helped him find his start. “I hope that I’ve left a mark on the entrepreneurship community,” Landolina said. While scientific innovation is the crux of success for inventors, Landolina recognizes the need for scientists to market their discoveries to the world so they can take root and endure for years to come. Miller touted Landolina’s ability to balance these

confidence through the manner in which he communicated during our interview, especially when talking about his product. Veti-Gel’s success has forced him to overcome what he sees as a personal obstacle, and he has stepped up to become a voice for both his product and budding entrepreneurs. While he may be reserved, Landolina works against this nature each day to succeed as a CEO. If Suneris and Veti-Gel pan out according to Landolina’s plans, he and his team will be able to live out their dream and be at the center of the world of biomaterials. “I’ve always wanted to influence the world by creating life-changing technologies,” he said. “I really wouldn’t change this for anything.” — CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO

NISCHALA MENI TH E

PORTRAITS BY RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

C ONDU CTO R

“You have to take the first step,” CAS junior Nischala Meni said. “Making students take that first step is sometimes difficult, especially when [they] have to take a two-hour train ride home.” Meni uses her commute from Edison, N.J., to her advantage. Even with the constant back and forth, Meni has put down roots in the Kimmel Center for University Life, which she calls her favorite place in the city. Kimmel is her hub — it’s where Meni meets with other representatives in the Commuter Student Council, organizes events with the Class Activities Board of 2015, works as a commuter assistant for Stern commuters and is an office assistant in operations. Despite the added stress of relying on a train schedule, she values her family above any monotonous travel. “I like that comfort that I can go home every day, have my own room, be at home, see my mom, see my family every day,” Meni said. Even though Meni is now the epitome of commuter involvement, the transition into the lifestyle was not easy. “At first it was really hard to adjust,” she said. “In high school, I was really shy, so I thought, let me put myself out there. Let me take this risk and just step out, and I’ll see how things go, and I’ll work with it. I’ll build myself up.” Meni formed connections early on, and these bonds opened the door to on-campus involvement. The Student Resource Center helped her grow into her role as an advocate for commuter students. For the girl who dreamed of being a lawyer at a bank, Meni has reconsidered her career options because of her positive experiences interacting with other students. “I work with students so often, different types of students, and I started getting really into student affairs,” Meni said. “This is something I feel like I really want to do, but student affairs has never really been a career for me … It’s very new, and my family’s also very new to it.” Meni’s former Commuter Assistant Ksenija Mat, who graduated in 2012, noted Meni has been a leader since freshman year, when she helped organize events for her class. “Nischala always made sure that everyone was on track and she always went above and beyond her responsibilities to ensure that her freshman peers had the best possible experience their first year,” Mat said. As part of the Commuter Student Council, Meni has pushed for student artwork and new furniture in the Commuter Lounge, but one of her more recent focuses might impact commuter students the most — priority registration for commuters. “Being part of the advocacy board will help me express these ideas, and even give me a means of pursuing them,” Meni said. “Because I also know I’m not the only one.” With CAB, she has united students in different schools, and she serves as the only commuter for the class of 2015’s board. Meni said she knew she wanted to be involved in commuter student affairs, but her role in CAB has allowed her to connect to residential students as well. Meni’s role as the board’s vice president of administration has allowed her to focus on her favorite event of the year — the Fall Feast. Each year, hundreds of students flock to the event in search of food, friends

Q U I C K FA C T S

Graduation Year — 2015 School — College of Arts & Science Major — Economics Commuter Student Council — Vice President of Advocacy Commuter Assistant — Stern School of Business CA 2015 Class Activities Board — Vice President of Administration

and that often-elusive sense of community at NYU. “[Meni] always brings the commuter perspective to our roundtable and will use her experiences with working with commuters to frame her opinions and suggestions for events,” said Pilar Mendez, a Steinhardt junior and vice president of internal affairs for CAB. The evening of the feast, Meni organized other members of CAB and assigned tasks. She doled out fake leaves and lights, and projected a video of a large fireplace onto one of the walls, cementing a sense of home. For Meni, who spent the first nine years of her life living in Hyderabad, India, finding such a home is essential.

“LET ME TAKE THIS RISK AND JUST STEP OUT, AND I’LL SEE HOW THINGS GO, AND I’LL WORK WITH IT. I’LL BUILD MYSELF UP.” After joining her father in the United States, Meni and her family moved to New Jersey. He has been in India for work since Meni started NYU. But because of visa problems, he has been delayed in returning home. “One of the reasons [I commute] is so that I can be there for my mom and brother,” Meni said. “It is especially important for my mom that I come home every day.” Meni credits her mom with giving her the drive to succeed. With that influence in her life, Meni hopes she can inspire others to take a similar first, difficult step to become involved. “I want to be a leader, I want to make [my mom] proud of me,” she said. “I want to make my path to the future, and I want to help people see that and find their own path.” – MICHAEL DOMANICO

T HE

SELECTION

PROCESS

All influential candidates were nominated by their peers, faculty and staff at NYU. Members of the WSN Influential Selection Committee â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hanqing Chen, Jonathon Dornbush, Jordan Melendrez, Kaleel Munroe, Lyanne Natividad, Jonathan Tan and Amy Zhang â&#x20AC;&#x201D; deliberated and chose 10 candidates based on the scope and importance of their influence on NYU and the surrounding community. Even though some candidates were nominated more than once, the number of nominations was not a factor in the deliberations. Committee members who had personal relationships with the nominees were excused from the vote on that candidate. For questions on the nomination and selection process, email managing@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor

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news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,

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About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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