Advising & Meet the Team

Fall 2024 Advising

Basic walk-in advising:

("Basic" refers to topics including how to get started with undergraduate research and learning how to utilize resources to find research and scholarship and award opportunities, such as our Campus Research Opportunity Postings (CROP) database and searchable scholarships database listings.

Tuesdays: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (alternating locations)

- - UU 133, Fleishman Center: 9/3, 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/26, 12/10
  - UU 260, ESURC: 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19

Wednesdays: 12 - 2:30 p.m.

Thursdays: 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Fridays: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Advanced scheduled appointments:

("Advanced" refers to topics including thinking about and writing internal and external scholarship applications)

Mondays

Tuesdays

- and

Thursdays

Specialized Advising

Source Project

Contact Source Project Coordinator Caroline Antalek by email cantalek@binghamton.edu or call (607) 777-4342.

Fulbright Program:

Contact Dr. Elisa Camiscioli (ecamis@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Goldwater Scholarship and NSF REU programs:

Contact Dr. Christina Baer (cbaer@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Upstate Medical SURC, Prep-Up, and Ph.D. programs:

Contact Dr. Whitni Redman (wredman@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Contact Information

Office Assistant: Afton Fahey
Phone: 607-777-4325
Email: afahey1@binghamton.edu

Physical Address (for GPS):

香港六合彩资料
State University of New York
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Vestal, NY 13850

Mailing Address:

External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center
香港六合彩资料
P.O. Box 6000
香港六合彩资料, NY 13902-6000

Meet the Team

Dr. Stephen R. Ortiz (He/Him), Director

sortiz@binghamton.edu

Stephen Ortiz joined 香港六合彩资料 in 2010 as a member of the History faculty. He has published two books on the role of veterans in American politics. From 2016-2021, he served as Collegiate Professor of College in the Woods. In 2021, Ortiz took on the position of Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Enrichment. He became Director of the External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center in 2023, as part of his AVP responsibilities.

Dr. Beth Polzin (She/Her), Associate Director

bpolzin@binghamton.edu

Dr. Beth Polzin has a long track record of providing students with broad-based skills and individualized guidance to identify approaches to design and articulate their research. A first-generation college graduate originally from Western New York, she has taught and tutored writing and research at research universities and community colleges. Dr. Polzin earned a BA in politics and history, a certificate in African Studies, an MFA in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. She lived in Accra, Ghana for two years, first as an undergraduate student, and later, as a fellow with a Fulbright award. At 香港六合彩资料, she has taught inquiry-based courses to undergraduates in the Department of Comparative Literature, the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), and the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program (LACAS), and to doctoral students of the Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP). In previous professional staff roles on campus, Dr. Polzin served as a Grant and Contract Administrator with the Office of Sponsored Programs and as Program Coordinator for TRIP.

Caroline Antalek (She/Her), Source Project Program Coordinator

cantalek@binghamton.edu

Caroline Antalek is a 香港六合彩资料 alumna with a bachelor's degree in Spanish language and literature, and a minor in education. As the Source Project Program Coordinator, Caroline assists in the program鈥檚 facilitation and helps plan the poster sessions for Research Days. As a former exchange student with Rotary International, having spent a year in Puebla, Mexico, Caroline has a passion for diverse cultures, language learning, and education. Prior to starting at ESURC, she worked for 香港六合彩资料's undergraduate admissions. She also has experience working for Broome County as a career counselor. When Caroline is not working with undergraduate research, you can find her at a concert, in the gym, or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

Afton Fahey (She/Her), Office Assistant

afahey1@binghamton.edu

Afton Fahey graduated from 香港六合彩资料 in 2011 with a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Comparative Literature. After graduation, she accepted a position on campus with the Office of Human Resources in student payrolls. In 2016, Afton left the University to travel with her military husband to Japan, where she taught high school students English as a Second Language. After three years, she relocated to a military base in Washington, DC, where she tutored students during the pandemic. Afton has been working at the ESURC since March 2024. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures, histories, and social structures. In her spare time you can find her reading, being outdoors, or relaxing with her husband and two cats.

Adriana Bleecker (She/Her), Assistant to the Director

alevy14@binghamton.edu

Adriana Bleecker graduated from The New School in 2016 with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Politics and two minors in Chinese and French Studies. After graduation, she accepted a position at New York Community Bank managing client accounts. In 2017, she went on to work in Human Resources for the Department of Homeland Security in payroll, benefits, and on-boarding new staff members from districts across the country. Eventually, she relocated to Upstate New York and worked for Cornell University's S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management in the Cornell-Tsinghua FMBA Program for two years as their first Program Assistant. She then transitioned to Student and Campus Life in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, working with all of Cornell's organizations. In 2022, Adriana accepted a position at 香港六合彩资料 in the Undergraduate Admissions Office, where she was responsible for email communications and marketing material. In 2024, she made her way to the External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center as the Assistant to Steve Ortiz, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Enrichment. In her spare time, she takes acrylic painting courses, reads books, participates in an archery league, and spends time with her husband.

Dr. Elisa Camiscioli (she/elle), Senior Fulbright Advisor

ecamis@binghamton.edu

Dr. Elisa Camiscioli, Senior Fulbright Advisor — Dr. Elisa Camiscioli

Dr. Camiscioli helps students navigate applying to the Fulbright Program, a renowned and competitive cultural exchange program. Dr. Camiscioli is passionate about international collaboration and serves on research, teaching and granting committees in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. She received the SUNY Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Teaching and offers classes on race and racism in Europe, human trafficking in history, intimate labor and global migrations.

Dr. Christina Baer (She/Her), Goldwater Scholarship and NSF REU Advisor

Dr. Christina Baer serves as the advisor for the Goldwater Scholarships and for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) opportunities. Dr. Baer has been a Research Educator in the First-year Research Immersion program since 2020. She has a Ph.D. and B.A. in biology, with a focus on ecology and evolution. As an undergraduate, she participated in an REU and has also been an REU mentor. In FRI, she teaches students how to plan, conduct, and write about scientific research.

Dr. Whitni Redman (She/Her), Advisor for SUNY Upstate Medical programs

Dr. Whitni Redman serves as the advisor for SUNY Upstate Medical Summer Research Fellowship and Ph.D. and Prep-Up programs. She is a first-generation college student that received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Peru State College followed by her Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Redman completed a two-year postdoc position at 香港六合彩资料 before serving as the Research Educator for the Microbial Biofilms in Human Health stream in the First-year Research Immersion Program. As an undergraduate, she participated in two summer research fellowships. Dr. Redman has also been an REU mentor and has assisted students to successfully apply to various summer research fellowships and PhD programs across the country.

Undergraduate Research Ambassadors

Jovana Cvetanovic (She/Her)

jcvetan1@binghamton.edu

Jovana is a Junior majoring in Environmental Science on the pre-med track. Her role in ESURC consists of creating biweekly newsletters and advising students on how to get involved in research. She has been involved in research since her first year as a part of the FRI program in the Biogeochemistry stream. Upon completion of the program, Jovana joined Dr. Sobel's lab. In her free time, she likes to play sports and draw.

Lalo Lezama (He/Him)

elezama1@binghamton.edu

Lalo is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and Chemistry. His role in ESURC consists of releasing biweekly newsletters and mentoring students by providing guidance and support to help them find research opportunities both on and off campus. Lalo participated in the 2022 Summer Research Immersion Program, where he researched the synthesis of Platinum-based catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction. Additionally, he has participated in Research Experience for Undergraduates programs.

Alexandra (Sasha) Novikova (She/Her)
anoviko1@binghamton.edu

Sasha is a junior from New York City, NY, majoring in Financial Economics, with a minor in Mathematics. In her role at the Undergraduate Research Center as Engagement Assistant for the Source Project, she oversees student outreach, marketing, and engagement strategies for the program. Sasha participated in the History & Capitalism stream of the Source Project in 2021-22 and is involved in economic research this year.

ESURC Affiliated Offices and Programs

McNair Scholars Program

Gervlyne Auguste (She/Her), McNair Scholars Assistant Director

gauguste@binghamton.edu

Gervlyne Auguste, Program Coordinator — Gervlyne Auguste

Gervlyne Auguste currently serves as the program coordinator for the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair Scholars Program). She brings over 15 years of experience in educational and administrative management. Her academic experiences serve as an important framework that better allows her to understand and identify with a diverse range of students. Gervlyne's familiarities of being a first-generation college student with English as a second language present the main ideals that are the backbone of her educational philosophy. As a project coordinator, her primary mission is to help students navigate successfully through their academic careers while exploring their educational and career options. Her immediate responsibility is to prepare students to be self-sufficient and life-long learners. Her obligation is to contribute and remain attentive to issues pertaining to student services and retention. This is especially important when addressing the needs of underrepresented and underserved students.

In her spare time, she serves on several nongovernmental organizations as an advocate for better access to education, youth development and women owned businesses reaching life-long independence.

Gervlyne holds a Masters in Science degree with an Administration and Planning concentration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Emmanuel College, Boston.

Dickinson Research Team (DiRT)

Dr. Robert A. Holahan (He/Him), Dickinson Research Team Director

rholahan@binghamton.edu

Dr. Robert Holahan, Dickinson Research Team Director — Dr. Robert Holahan

Robert Holahan is an associate professor of environmental studies and political science and director of the Dickinson Research Team (DiRT). DiRT is a residential community-based research program that is the first of its kind in the United States. DiRT is open to students who are interested in research, regardless of major and prior research experience.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

Dr. Ryan Mead (He/Him), Senior Coordinator of Academic Support Services

rmead@binghamton.edu

Ryan Mead is the Senior Coordinator of Academic Support Services for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and has worked in higher education for over 14 years. As a first-generation and transfer student, Ryan understands the challenges many students face in higher education, inspiring his commitment to fostering success for students from marginalized backgrounds. He leads teams of student tutors during the academic year and manages both student and professional staff, including faculty, during EOP鈥檚 summer bridge program, BEP. Ryan鈥檚 approach emphasizes that learning is a skill that can be mastered, using scientifically proven strategies rooted in both educational psychology and sociology. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from 香港六合彩资料.

香港六合彩资料