Wanted: Student Leaders

Share Your Knowledge and Passion with Incoming Students

Orientation Leaders say they get to share their love of UAlbany while honing their leadership skills. Above, the summer 2016 OLs.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2017) — The Office of Student Affairs is looking for 20 students to be orientation leaders this summer, working to help new students and their families learn about and adjust to campus life.

The orientation leaders (OLs) attend a leadership training course to get the skills and experience to assist new students with their transition to college life, learn about the programs UAlbany offers and serve as a resource to the students and their families.

Christian Ramos and Aubrey Salamone both learned valuable lessons being orientation leaders in the summer of 2016.

The office plans to hire 16 group leaders, who mentor students and lead walking tours and presentations, as well as four family leaders, who lead walking and bus tours and assist with the Family Orientation Program. OLs teach new students about campus resources, traditions and responsibilities, and help them plan for academic success by engaging with faculty, staff and current students, and setting personal and educational goals.

The summer OLs being hired will earn a stipend and get free housing for the summer. And in addition to sharing their love and knowledge of UAlbany, they gain valuable leadership skills.

“Working with OTP (Orientation and Transition Programs) has opened endless doors for me,” said Kayla James, who was an OL in 2015 and an orientation team leader in 2016. “You get the opportunity to find out more awesome things about UAlbany and tell new students and families about it.”

Two 2016 OLs had nothing but praise for the experience they gained by being student leaders.

“Being an orientation leader truly transformed my experience at UAlbany,” Christian Ramos said. “I was able to break out of my shell and meet tons of new people. I’ve become a major resource on campus and motivated many students to adjust to life on campus.”

Aubrey Salamone agreed: “Working as an OL was the greatest leadership position I have experienced at UAlbany,” she said. “And I also made great friends throughout.”

To find out more about becoming an OL, or to apply for the position, visit the Orientation Website. The application is available on Handshake and is due by March 1.

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