Staff Advisors

Sharon Duffy, Associate Dean of Students

Advice to New Students: Ask questions, give yourself time to settle and experience all that Boston and Emerson have to offer, call home often: your family and friends miss you! Don't forget to breathe!
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Charles Street, the Public Garden, Chinatown, the Majestic Theatre, our Max Mutchnick Campus Center!
Favorite Thing about Orientation: Those amazing OLs and RAs with their endless supply of energy, our dedicated Core Staff, the amazing Student Affairs team, The Dating Doctor, and meeting our new students and their families!
Sharon in 3 Words: Positive, Approachable, Professional
Personal Motto: Find a silver lining in any situation!

Brittany Bailey, Staff Assistant, Office of Student Life

Advice to New Students: Be yourself and remember your classmates are going through the same experiences that you are so get to know your orientation leaders and the staff. We will help make your transition that much smoother!  And get involved, it makes all the difference, you won’t regret it!
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Sugar Heaven, Faneuil Hall, The New England Aquarium, Theater District
Favorite Thing about Orientation: The OLs with their boundless energy and meeting the new students.
Brittany in 3 words: Outgoing, Bubbly, Thoughtful
Personal Motto: "We are all fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance!" —Japanese Proverb

Aliya Ewing, Senior Administrative Associate, Office of the Dean of Students

Advice to New Students: College is a great time for self-discovery and reinvention. Take the leap into becoming more of your authentic self! Travel to one of the amazing study-abroad opportunities Emerson offers, get involved on campus, explore all the hidden gems Boston has to offer, have diverse friendships, and most importantly, let all your new experiences act as inspiration for your art.
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Newbury Street, Harvard Square, Wang Theater, Paradise Rock Club, Museum of Fine Arts
Favorite Thing about Orientation: I’m really looking forward to meeting the next wave of Emerson’s talent!
Aliya in 3 Words: Approachable, Thoughtful, Helpful
Personal Motto: "A solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities." —Maya Angelou

Yelena Galperina, Coordinator, International Student Affairs

Advice to New Students: Take it one day at a time. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Enjoy!
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Boston Garden, Chinatown
Favorite Thing about Orientation: I enjoy meeting new students and working with staff, and OL’s.
Yelena in 3 words: Patient, Friendly, Understanding  
Personal Motto: Life is one big learning experience. Learn something new every day.

Joshua Hamlin, Assistant Director, Max Mutchnick Campus Center

Advice to New Students: For the next 4+ years, you will be faced with many choices and possible directions to take your life into. Don’t be afraid to every so often step off the path you have chosen—there are new trails to be blazed, discoveries to be made, and life’s mysteries to be explored. Taking a new direction doesn’t always mean you are lost, as it could lead you to something completely unexpected and wonderful.
Emerson/Boston Favorites: The Max and the students and staff within. For Boston, the ability to walk anywhere in the city and find great culture, dining, entertainment, shopping, or just a place to enjoy the scenery—and of course the Red Sox and Patriots (I know, they aren’t technically in Boston).
Favorite Thing about Orientation: Meeting new students and seeing the hard work the staff put in come to fruition.
Josh in 3 Words: Dedicated, Energetic, Laid-Back
Personal Motto: Carpe Noctem (or Diem if you’re a morning person)

Steven Martin, Assistant Director, Off-Campus Student Services

Advice to New Students: Strive to learn from one another and take advantage of the many wonderful resources and opportunities Emerson has to offer.
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Cutler Majestic, Paramount Center, South End, Newbury Street
Favorite Thing about Orientation: The amazing OLs and the excitement that stems from meeting new students eager to join the Emerson community.
Steven in 3 words: Approachable, Hardworking, Dependable
Personal Motto: Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it’s heaven on Earth.

Jason Meier, Director, Student Activities

Advice to New Students: Be brave. Don’t wait until your sophomore or junior year to get involved. Don’t be one of the graduating students who says “I wish I would have gotten involved earlier.”
Emerson/Boston Favorites: The Majestic Theatre, Parish Café, South End, Newbury Street
Favorite Thing about Orientation: I love the energy and excitement surrounding the beginning of a new adventure!
Jason in 3 Words: Caffeinated, Benevolent, Trainwreck
Personal Motto: “When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.” —Futurama

Virga Mohsini, Director, International Student Affairs

Emerson/Boston Favorites: The Majestic Theatre and the Public Garden for long strolls
Favorite Thing about Orientation: The incredible energy/friendliness of ALL the OLs, RAs,etc. Watching all that energy on Move-In Day beats any need for coffee all week!
Virga in 3 words: Interculturalist, Mom, Eternal Student
Personal Motto: Hope for the best in any situation, but plan for anything in between.

Tikesha Morgan, Director, Multicultural Student Affairs

Advice to New Students: Do not be afraid to ask questions, be willing and open to get to know all of the Emerson community, be ready and willing to step outside of the box.
Emerson/Boston Favorites: Downtown Crossing, Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall shopping! There is always something to be positively involved in.
Favorite Thing about Orientation: Move-In Day!
Tikesha in 3 Words: Direct, Professional, Passionate
Personal Motto: Sometimes patience is overrated. Go after what you want.