Who are Discovery Advisors?
Discovery Advisors (DAs) are motivated, creative, and academically successful students whose primary responsibility is mentoring students to achieve academic success. These student workers are extensively trained and work in close contact with several offices on campus including each of the five schools’ undergraduate advising offices and Division of Student Affairs offices such as the Offices of International Programs and Residential Life. Discovery Advisors assist students in making informed choices about courses and class schedules. They encourage students to explore and utilize the services and resources of the Career Development Center early in their academic careers. Discovery Advisors also promote learning experientially outside the classroom by relaying information on internships, study abroad, the National Student Exchange (NSE) and volunteer opportunities. DAs hold evening and weekend office hours in their residential hall and their residential community's Discovery Center.
Discovery Advisors for 2008-2009
Hillside
Emory Davis
Hillside Community Graduate DA
E-mail: edavis1@binghamton.edu
Emory is back again as the Discovery Advisor for Hillside Community. This is his second year as a DA and was an RA for a year prior to that. His undergraduate work was in history and his graduate studies are in social studies education/students with disabilities. He likes history, reading, American Idol, the NY Mets and the Giants. He is also interested in acting, and swimming. Emory is currently the color commentator for Binghamton Women's Basketball and is a Teaching Assistant for Theatre 102. He looks forward to assisting students, giving advice on planning for their futures and general information about Binghamton University where he has attended for the past five years.
Susquehanna
Michael Ponticello
Susquehanna Community Graduate DA
E-mail: mpontic1@binghamton.edu
This is Michael's second year as the Graduate DA for Susquehanna community. Feel free to contact him for his office hours or to make an appointment.
Off-Campus
Casey VanKuren
Off-Campus DA
E-mail: cvankur1@binghamton.edu
I'm Casey VanKuren, Discovery Advisor for Off Campus College. I'm currently a junior, pursuing a double degree in English and Human Development. I plan to attend grad school at Binghamton to become a kindergarten teacher and a children's social worker. I participated in the JC Mentor program for two semesters, working with a sixth grade girl in Johnson City Middle School, assisting her academically and socially. I am currently participating in an internship at Franklin Elementary in a kindergarten classroom. Last semester I was an English Conversation Pairs partner. I am also the president and founder of Binghamton Gaming Group, a social club that plays RPG games and unusual card and board games. You may spot me around campus giving tours as I am a tour guide through the Admissions department. I'm very involved on and off campus and I think that helps me to get off campus students involved too. I love my job as a DA and I hope that, through my position, I can help off campus students both academically and socially!
Mountainview
Heather Hili
Cascade Hall DA
E-mail: hhili1@binghamton.edu
Hi! My name is Heather Hili and I am the Discovery Advisor for Cascade Hall. I am a junior English Literature and Rhetoric major with plans to go to law school. I am from Levittown, New York and this will be my third year living in Mountainview College. I am a member of the Women's Club Lacrosse team at Binghamton and I have been an active member of Mountainview College Council since my freshman year. I am here to help you with all of your academic concerns, so don't hesitate to stop by during my office hours with any questions you may have!
Deanna Scoca
Hunter Hall DA
E-mail: dscoca1@binghamton.edu
Hi, my name is Deanna Scoca, and I am the Discovery Advisor for Hunter Hall. I am happy to serve as your DA for the upcoming year. I look forward to meeting with you and will do my best to answer any questions you may have about academics, the university, or any other student concerns. Please feel free to come see me during any of my office hours and GOOD LUCK to all of you for the upcoming semester!
Brianna Riis
Marcy Hall DA
E-mail: briis1@binghamton.edu
Hi! I'm Brianna Riis. I am a Junior and a double-major in English and Spanish. I have lived in Marcy Hall for the past two years and I am very excited to spend my third year in the building as the Discovery Advisor. I love Binghamton University and I am so happy that I have the opportunity to help other students make the most out of their time here. Stop by my office in Marcy Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm-8:30 pm if you have any questions or just want to talk. You can also find me in the Mountainview Discovery Center in Appalachian on Mondays from 5pm-9pm. My email is briis1@binghamton.edu. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! See you soon!
Charles Ahn
Windham Hall DA
E-mail: cahn1@binghamton.edu
Hi! My name is Charles Ahn and I was born in Flushing, NY on February 20th, 1987. I was raised in Queens and currently reside in Bergen County, New Jersey. I'm a second year Discovery Advisor up in Mountainview College. I'm also bilingual in Korean and English. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing basketball, poker and doing Tae Kwon Do. I'm currently one of the instructors at the Tae Kwon Do club as well as the secretary of the club so if anyone's interested, please feel free to let me know. I also love to help people and I'm really looking forward to my last year at Binghamton University. Hope to see all of you soon!
Hinman
Danielle Drasser
Cleveland Hall DA
E-mail: ddrasse1@binghamton.edu
Danielle is currently in her junior year at Binghamton University. She is a double major studying Philosophy, Politics, and Law and History. When she graduates she plans to attend law school at New York University. Danielle is also involved in Binghamton's Kickline team as well as Mock Trial. She is looking forward to having another great year!
Andrew Ng
Hughes Hall DA
E-mail: ang1@binghamton.edu
My name is Andrew Ng. I am currently a Junior majoring in Philosophy, Politics,& Law and minoring in the School of management Business Adjunct program. My areas of interests are in law, business, and sports. My favorite sport to play is football and my favorite TV show would be Family Guy. My hobbies include football, baseball, and volleyball. My goal one day is to get into law school or to work for a very prestigious financial institution.
Sara Shechter
Lehman Hall DA
E-mail: sshecht1@binghamton.edu
Hello, my name is Sara Shechter and I am the Discovery Advisor for Lehman Hall in Hinman. I am a junior, double majoring in psychology and Spanish. I hope to become a teacher. In my free time, I like to volunteer and spend time with friends. I am very excited about the opportunity to reach out to students and help them make the most of their time both inside and outside of the classroom at Binghamton University.
Rocio Tavarez
Roosevelt Hall DA
E-mail: rtavare1@binghamton.edu
Hi! My name is Rocio Tavarez. This is my second year as a Discovery Advisor. I have lived in Roosevelt Hall for the past three years and I have been its DA for the past two. I'm really looking forward to helping all of you guys with any concerns you may have. So stop by my office, so we can have a chat or if you want to stop me randomly...I really don't mind. I wish you all the best academic year!
Lishan Jackson
Smith Hall DA
E-mail: ljackso2@binghamton.edu
Hey guys! My name is Lishan Jackson and I am the new DA for Smith Hall in Hinman College. This is my first year as a DA and I am so excited to meet all the incoming freshmen and upper-classmen of my hall; I also look forward to working with my staff. I was born in Jamaica but I now reside in a town on Long Island called Freeport. I enjoy playing tennis, but it's been a while, and I love listening to music and singing. In my spare time you can most likely find me in my friends' rooms cracking jokes and laughing about the most random things. If you have any questions for me, whether academic or social, feel free to contact me.
Dickinson
Daria Popescu
Champlain Hall DA
E-mail: dpopesc1@binghamton.edu
My name is Daria Popescu. I am 19 years old, from Queens, New York. This is my third year at Binghamton University and I plan on graduating in May 2009 with a BA in psychology. I am on the pre-health track because I want to continue my graduate studies at a medical school and someday become a neurologist. I enjoy science, especially biology and organic chemistry. Some of my other interests include history, art history, reading and the outdoors. I consider myself a social and extroverted person because I like meeting new people and being in large crowds. At the University, I volunteer for Harpur's Ferry, the Student Volunteer Ambulance Service, and as a pre-health peer advisor in the Harpur Advising Office. This is my first year as a Discovery Advisor and I am excited to help students explore the opportunities that Binghamton University has to offer.
Ezechiel B. Bly
Digman Hall DA
E-mail: ebly1@binghamton.edu
I am a junior Accounting Major who enjoys running, swimming, speaking other languages, traveling, and helping others. I plan to get a masters degree in accounting and move on to work for a big four for a few years and later work in the waste management industry. Sounds kind weird but I like garbage! Just kidding...hopefully my company will make the world a bit more environmentally responsible.
Ben Repak
Johnson Hall DA
E-mail: brepak1@binghamton.edu
Hi. My name is Ben Repak and I am the Discovery Advisor in Johnson Hall. I am a sophomore Management Major. Last year I was a resident of Hunter Hall in Mountainview, but I am very excited about my move to Dickinson. Though I am new to the job, I am very eager to work with other DAs, RAs, and especially residents. I am also looking forward to meeting new people. I am very approachable and am ready to help make your experience here at BU as great as mine has been thus far.
Adam Zahn
O'Connor Hall DA
E-mail: azahn1@binghamton.edu
Hi, I am Adam Zahn, Discovery Advisor in O'Connor Hall of Dickinson Community. I am a philosophy major with a track in social thought. I chose to become a Discovery Advisor because of the importance of the actual academic part of school. I want to be able to convince people that the course aspect of school can be as fun and memorable as the social aspect. I hope that Binghamton University lives up to the number one billing for law school admissions when I leave here to become an attorney.
Nina Horton
Rafuse Hall DA
E-mail: nhorton1@binghamton.edu
Hi, my name is Nina Horton. I am a senior nursing student and this is my third year being a Discovery Adviser. Please stop by to see me if you have any questions or concerns.
Laura Cohen
Whitney Hall DA
E-mail: lcohen3@binghamton.edu
This is Laura's first year as a Discovery Advisor. Feel free to contact her for her office hours or to make an appointment.
Newing
Jackie Owens
Bingham Hall DA
E-mail: jowens1@binghamton.edu
My name is Jackie Owens and I am the Discovery Advisor in Bingham Hall. I am currently a junior nursing major. This will be my second year as a DA. I love staying active and being outside. I even took a year off to work at Disney World in Orlando, Fl, so if anyone is considering an internship with Disney come talk to me! Feel free to come visit me to discuss anything else as well. I'm here to help and I love meeting new people.
Adriana Mora
Broome Hall DA
E-mail: amora1@binghamton.edu
Hello! My name is Adriana Mora and I am the Discovery Advisor in Broome Hall. I am currently a junior pursuing a major in Politics, Philosophy, and Law. This is my first year as a DA though I am trained to answer academic and career-related questions you may have. I enjoy meeting new people and helping you make the best out of your college experience. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Saintedym Wills
Chenango Hall DA
E-mail: swills1@binghamton.edu
Hi, I'm Saintedym (pronounced SAINT- DEEM) and I'm the Discovery Advisor of Chenango Hall. As the learning communities DA, I am responsible for creating a living/learning environment to assist freshman in their transition to college and to help create a more holistic experience. I am excited about my first semester as a DA and working as the Controller for the student run bus company ESCAPE. As a Pre-health, biochemistry major and music minor I have taken a variety of courses that the university has to offer. Through the biochemistry and organic chemistry courses I have taken, I have decided to go to medical school and then continue in anesthesiology. My music minor gives me the chance to improve in my piano playing and become a well-rounded musician. I hope to bring a fresh mind and new thoughts as a first year DA and I am excited about this semester.
James Zylstra
Delaware Hall DA
E-mail: jzylstr1@binghamton.edu
Hello! I'm James Zylstra, the Discovery Advisor of Delaware Hall. At present, I am a sophomore student in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences considering a BS in Chemistry. One of my favorite things to do is get to know the people around me. Everyone here at BU has a story, and I'm sure I'd like to hear yours! Mine is too long for a short bio but feel free to come and see me if you're interested. If you have any academic questions I will do everything I can to help get the answers.
Linford Leitch
Endicott Hall DA
E-mail: lleitch1@binghamton.edu
My name is Linford Leitch and I am currently the Discovery Advisor of Endicott Hall. I am easy to talk too, so feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! I am currently a junior Bioengineering major.
CIW
Myriam Cohen
Cayuga Hall DA
E-mail: mcohen4@binghamton.edu
Hi, My name is Myriam Cohen and I am the new Discovery Advisor for Cayuga Hall. I am originally from Casablanca, Morocco, but have lived in Queens for about 10 years. I am an English and Biology double major and plan to go to medical school. I have been involved with many organizations on campus such as BUSAP and Chabad. I enjoy reading, listening to music, and laughing with friends. I hope to be able to provide students in Cayuga and throughout campus with a well trained and easily approachable resource to doing well both academically and otherwise. Please feel free to contact me and visit me during my office hours. I hope to make this year a little easier and more fun for everyone with whom I come in contact!!!
David Byrnes
Mohawk Hall DA
E-mail: dbyrnes1@binghamton.edu
Hi, my name is David Byrnes and I am the Discovery Advisor in Mohawk Hall. I am a Senior Mathematical Sciences and English major. I also have a minor in Italian. This is my second year as a DA and I am really glad to be back in Mohawk. The thing I like best about the job is learning about all the resources the university has to offer and informing other students about how to utilize them. I look forward to meeting as many residents as possible. So if you have any questions please stop by my room or send me an email at dbyrnes1@binghamton.edu anytime. I am here to help.
Kerchelle McDowald
Oneida Hall DA
E-mail: kmcdowa1@binghamton.edu
Hi, my name is Kerchelle and I am the DA for Oneida in CIW. Currently, I am a nursing major with a goal of going to graduate school to become a pediatric nurse practioner. Also, I am an Xcel consultant whose job is to provide students with the materials necessary to becoming a leader. I love to help people, so if there is any way I can be helpful just let me know. I am a very friendly and talkative person so don't be shy to come talk to me, even if it's non-academically related. I am a DA because I realized just how helpful and how effective DAs are to people of all standings (freshman, etc.) and I wanted to be apart of that. Interacting with various people helps in broadening one's perspective, so I am here to learn from all of you and to broaden my perspective as well as to help you all in the best way I can. I look forward to meeting and having a good year with each of you!
Lili Wang
Onondaga Hall DA
E-mail: lwang5@binghamton.edu
Hello! My name is Lili Wang and I am the Discovery Advisor in Onondaga Hall. I am currently a junior biology major with a concentration in Cell/Molecular biology. One of the best things about being a DA is that I get to meet many interesting people. I have been described as a very nice person and I am here to help you make the best of your college experience at BU. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to come see me either in the Onondaga office or the CIW Discovery Center. If you come, I will tell you good jokes. I could not be more excited to getting to know everyone!
Gregory Hedger
Seneca Hall DA
E-mail: ghedger1@binghamton.edu
Hello Everyone! My name is Gregory Hedger and I am the Discovery Advisor for Seneca Hall. I am a sophomore at Binghamton and I am in the School of Management. This is my first semester being a DA and I am very excited to be able to help all students. You can find me in the discovery center on Tuesday nights from 5-9pm. I hope everyone has a great semester and remembers to never hesitate to ask for help.