All incoming first-year, first-generation students in the College of Arts and Science have the opportunity to be paired with an upper-class Proud to Be First Mentor. You are a first-generation college student if you are in the first generation of your family to go to college. Proud Mentors serve as resources on academics, extracurricular and co-curricular programs, research, community, and more in the College of Arts and Science.
Proud Mentors
2021-2022 Proud to Be First Mentors

Ivy Zhu
Email: qz1031@nyu.edu
Major: Neural Science
Minor: Chemistry; Journalism
Career Aspiration: Dentist
Hometown: Houston, TX
Campus Involvement: Washington Square News; Pre-Dental Society

Saralika Barua
Email: sb6696@nyu.edu
Major: Sociology
Career Aspiration: Physician Assistant (PA-C)
Hometown: Queens, NY
Campus Involvement: Women in Science; DURF Grant Recipient; John G. Fleming Research Scholar

Zeynep Apkinar
Email: za637@nyu.edu
Major: Psychology
Minor: Chemistry; Pre-Dental
Career Aspiration: Dentist
Hometown: New York
Campus Involvement: NYU CAS Pre-Dental Student President, Coalition Against Cancer Club President, NYU Blood Initiative Vice President, Research Intern at the NYU Li Lab and Mount Sinai De Rubeis Lab

Mian Hua Zheng
Email: mhz264@nyu.edu
Major: Anthropology on Pre-Med Track
Minor: Business Studies
Career Aspiration: Physician/Medical Anthropologist
Hometown: Manhattan, NYC
Campus Involvement: Welcome Week Leader, Proud to be First Mentor, HR Student Intern at NYU Tandon

Emma Connolly
Email: etc310@nyu.edu
Major: Journalism and Politics
Career Aspiration: Journalist
Hometown: North Bellmore, NY
Campus Involvement: French Club at La Madison Française; NYU Local; FLIP; Commuter Student Council

Hannahmia Lauricella
Email: hml396@nyu.edu
Major: Political Science and Spanish on the Pre-Law track
Minor: Bioethics & Chemistry
Career Aspiration: To become a lawyer, then a judge, to help people obtain the justice they rightfully deserve!
Hometown: North Haledon, NJ
Campus Involvement: I am an active member and secretary of VivaPeru!, LUCHA, Academic Achievement Program, Cohort President, was a Proud to be First mentee and now mentor!

Daniel Soto
Email: mds845@nyu.edu
Major: Biology
Minor: Psychology; chemistry; history
Career Aspiration: Surgeon/Researcher
Hometown: Arizona
Campus Involvement: NYU Welcome, NYU Phonathon,

Gabriella Garcia
Email: geg310@nyu.edu
Major: Global Public Health with concentration in Anthropology
Career Aspiration: Epidemiologist
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Campus Involvement: Former Project Leader for Give Where You Live; hosted an Instagram takeover for the NYU Liberal Studies page; EcoRep for my dorm building, Greenwich Hall; chosen to participate in the Wasserman Center’s Diversity Internship and Career Preparation Program (DICP).

Willow Liu
Email: yl7394@nyu.edu
Major: Math
Minor: Economics
Career Aspiration: Banking
Hometown: Mount Vernon, NY
Campus Involvement: Go local program; Proud to be First Mentor

Kareem Mohamed
Email: km4554@nyu.edu
Major: Biochemistry
Career Aspiration: Medical Doctor
Hometown: Staten Island
Campus Involvement: Literacy Matters Club

Jenny Li
Email: jl10325@nyu.edu
Major: Biology
Career Aspiration: Obstetrician-gynecologist
Hometown: Clarksville, TN
Campus Involvement: Alpha Phi Omega; NYU Blood Initiative