The Common Room

Jenn Sheridan, Residence Hall Director

Jennifer “Jenn” Sheridan is University Hall’s Residence Hall Director (RHD).

Jenn is originally from a small city called Farmington, NM and moved for the first time in 2000 to Albuquerque, NM. There she attended the University of New Mexico (UNM) where she majored in Political Science and minored in History.

At UNM Jenn joined the Chi Omega sorority, became an orientation leader, and remained heavily involved with the student government serving two consecutive terms as student body president. Jenn realized that her mentors in college helped to shape the person she became and she wanted to provide that same motivation and support for other college students. A year after graduating from UNM, Jenn moved to Oxford, OH to obtain a masters degree in College Student Personnel at Miami University.

During this time Jenn had a plethora of student affair’s experiences within residence life, academic advising, and student activities. After graduating in 2007 with her masters degree, Jenn spent time as an Educational Talent Search Advisor assisting 7th-12th grade first generation college bound students to prepare for college and educate them about the higher education subculture.

Jenn lives in U-Hall with her partner, Matt Sheridan, and her two cats Clover and Maximus.

Jamia Wilson, Residence Hall Assistant Director

Jamia Wilson is University Hall’s Residence Hall Assistant Director (RHAD).

After graduating from American University in 2002, Jamia worked for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and PAC and managed Planned Parenthood’s national campus outreach program Vox: Voices for Winning, Alternet’s Wiretap , Alternet’s Wiretap and Hampshire College’s Civil Liberties and Public Policy Project. Most recently, Jamia was selected to serve on the Ms. Foundation Advisory Committee and worked for Young People For (People For The American Way Foundation). She was honored as one of the “2006 Real Hot 100” by the Younger Women’s Taskforce and marched on the front line at the March for Women’s Lives. Jamia has also written for Webby award winning Teenwire.

Jamia recently received her M.A. in Humanities and Social Thought at NYU where she wrote her thesis Soul Intact: Black Feminist Consciousness and Disidentification about the highest priestess of soul, Nina Simone. When she isn’t working, you can usually find her blogging and bantering on www.prettypolitico.com, enjoying tea at Teaspot or Alice’s Teacup, listening to amazing live jazz throughout the city, devouring cupcakes at Babycakes NYC, getting her asana on at Yoga to the People, daydreaming of Paris, or shopping the vintage racks in Manhattan and Brooklyn. If you’re lucky, Jamia might let you be one of the lucky few that may call her Mia.

RA Spotlight 2009-10

Here are a few of the fabulous RAs who will be living with you this year in U-Hall. (Click on any image to enlarge it.)

Meredith Baker is thrilled to be return to the staff of U-Hall this year as the 13th Floor RA. Last year, she served as a Sexual Health Advocate Peer Educator in Residence.

She is currently studying Politics and French in CAS. Meredith enjoys trying new things, running around NYC, browsing designer stores in the West Village, shopping at the Union Square Green Market, sunbathing in Central Park, and generally enjoying New York City!

Tanya Butt is the 8th Floor RA. She is a senior in CAS double majoring in Neural Science and Psychology and minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. She currently is employed by the neuroscience laboratory of Joseph LeDoux. Her future plans include attending medical school and traveling abroad.

Allison Buysse is excited to join the UHall staff as the 16th, 17th, and 18th floor RA! To avoid studying for her pre-med and psychology classes she likes to color, pretend to be a rock star, dance very badly when no one is looking, and watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins. She enjoys eating mint chocolate chip ice cream, but only if it is green (she also questions why anybody would make white mint chocolate chip). If you see her running in the morning, don’t be too intimidated, you could probably walk as fast as she jogs (soft J).

Azaa’a Camp is the RA of the chillest floor in U-Hall, the 10th! Azaa’a says: “I’ve spend the last two years working for NYU’s Health Promotions Office as a Sexual Health Advocate and a Sexual Assault Educator bringing comprehensive info, awareness and open discussion to my peers. I am looking forward to making University Hall my new home filled with friends and a supportive staff. If you’ve got questions, are looking for someone to talk to, or interested in roaming the neighborhoods NYC on the weekends, please, stop by room 1005.”

Devin Ershow is pleased to be returning to U-Hall for his second year in residence. Last year he served as the building’s PEPS (Peers Educating Peers on Substances) Peer Educator, and this year he is the RA on the 5th floor. As a junior in Tisch studying film, he obviously enjoys talking about and going to movies. Look for some film oriented programming! Movies aren’t his only thing though. He enjoys listening to Coldplay, pretending to be good at guitar (he’s not), and doing stand up around the city. Keep it easy, keep it light, and welcome to U-Hall!

Jaime Figueroa is the RA on the 12th floor and is a Communications major in Steinhardt focusing his studies on video games and the internet. When not engrossed in one of those two things, he spends time watching some of his favorite TV shows like The Office or Mad Men. While not an official Pokemon trainer, he is still trying to catch ‘em all.

Mel King is the 6th Floor RA. Last year he served as the Outspoken PEIR for U-Hall. He says: “I’m a senior in Gallatin and my concentration revolves around my passions creative writing, gender and sexuality, activism, and social justice. I am also an Office Assistant at the LGBT Office in Kimmel and the president of T-Party - NYU’s group for transgender students and their allies. My other interests include reading, music, playing guitar, films, and making new friends!”

Jack Moore is excited to join the U-Hall family as the 7th floor RA. His major at Gallatin involves playwriting, creative writing, and musical theatre writing (with a focus on lyricism). Jack is an avid theatergoer (“Go see August Osage County”), sports fan (“Go Browns, Cavs, and Indians”), and television watcher (“Mad Men currently owns my life”). He would love to get to know you, and he thinks you should come by 705 sometime to say, “Hi.” He’s growing tired of writing in the third person. He’s stopping now.

Binata Ray s the 4th floor RA and excited to be part of this fabulous U-Hall staff. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, she is currently a junior in Stern studying Finance and Economics. Besides yoga and seeking out new neighborhoods to explore, Binata loves all types of cuisine, especially a good Dragon Roll at her favorite sushi restaurants. After spending the semester abroad in Shanghai, Binata encourages everyone to go abroad and welcomes any questions on the topic! Also make sure to stop by and give your thoughts to Binata at the weekly Voices of U-Hall table!

Max Sebela is the RA on the 2nd floor. He is a senior in CAS studying Journalism and Philosophy with a minor in Creative Writing. Max spent the first eighteen years of his life with his feet firmly planted in the great city of Chicago until uprooting for the bright lights of New York. He enjoys street food, street performers, street music, and ‘NBA Street’ for the Playstation 2. Someday he hopes to be a poet, a journalist, and a professor, but in actuality would probably take any job offering health care (sigh, universal health care … so close, yet so far). Honestly, he can’t wait to get to know all the residents and start a new year at NYU.

Shendi Xu is a student of English and American Literature in the College of Arts and Science and the RA for the 9th Floor. In her spare time, she enjoys movie-watching, clothes-shopping, and museum-hopping.

Mel Zahnd is the 14th Floor RA. Last year, he was U-Hall’s Peer Educator for Career Development. He tells us: “I am really into film and literature. Come see me if you have any questions about getting a part-time job, choosing a major, planning life after college or if you just want to talk to someone.”