Student Ambassadors

A transfer student from Tel Aviv University whose home state is Florida, Taire Brown says her favorite thing about SESP is the small class size and personable professors. “There are always events (e.g., ice cream socials and pizza parties) that SESP organizes so that students get to know each other better, so the sense of community is really great,” she adds. On campus, Taire enjoys being involved in the blood drive and volunteering with community members with disabilities.
taire-brown@northwestern.edu

“I love the community the SESP builds,” says Cincinnati native Jennifer Lien. “From the minute I stepped foot on Northwestern's campus, I felt completely at home in SESP. With dinner at Dean Penelope's house, the candy jar in the Student Affairs Office, pre-registration pizza parties and our awesome advisers, SESP truly ‘does things differently.’” She also admires her SESP peers: “Almost everyone I meet in SESP has this aura of happiness, dedication, and passion to change the world.” Jennifer herself is working hard to build global health equity by working with the nonprofit GlobeMed.
JenniferLien2007@u.northwestern.edu
Phone: 513/260-9674

Although he sees many pluses to SESP, Adrian Alexander especially likes “the family and community feeling.” He regards his advisor as his “mother away from home” -- they share laughs and stories, but he knows that she really cares about his academic well-being. He also loves the SESP student organization Promote 360, which focuses on minority student empowerment. Other important activities for Adrian, who comes from Joliet, Illinois, are the Northwestern University Marching Band and Northwestern Community Ensemble.
adrianalexander2007@u.northwestern.edu
Phone: 815/295-7892

Anneke Hoekstra, who's from New York City, enjoyed being a peer adviser for incoming freshmen. "Not only is SESP a fantastic community, but so is Wildcat Welcome, so I sort of was doubly lucky to participate in both. I love getting to know SESP faculty and building relationships with fellow SESP students. Welcoming in new SESP students is also a highlight of being a peer adviser," she says. Her main interests are soccer, singing, skiing, running and the New York Yankees. "I of course also love working with kids, and I love learning new languages. On campus, I am involved in an a cappella group, Harmony in Spirit, and Multiethnic Intervarsity," she adds.
annekehoekstra2013@u.northwestern.edu
Phone: 646/346-3297

“I love that SESP is a smaller, closer environment. Everyone knows everyone, and it is great to be able to walk into Annenberg and find help right away,” says Ravi Shah, who comes from Niles, Illinois. “My best experience is definitely developing a relationship with my advisor, Meg Kreuser!” On campus he enjoys volunteer tutoring and working with the Center for Talent Development, which offers enrichment classes for gifted students in grades K-12. He is also the captain of the Northwestern Hindi Film Dance Team.
ravi-shah@u.northwestern.edu

She has lived all over — North Carolina, China, Texas — but now Esther Wang just calls Evanston home. She says, "One of the best things about SESP is the staff. Not only are they open and helpful, but they also take a real personal interest in you. I always walk into my adviser's office just to chat and catch up on life. It's such a caring and nurturing environment. You're also surrounded by talented, motivated, passionate students who care. SESP challenges you to confront tough questions and issues of injustice, while also teaching you that your voice matters and you are equipped to make a difference in the world." On campus, she is involved in Promote 360, Multiethnic Intervarsity, Center for Talent Development and the Writing Place in the library. She loves Chicago, hearing other people's stories, living on campus and Flamin' Hots.
esther.wang@u.northwestern.edu
Phone: 224/260-1323

Erin Bishop, who comes from Denver, likes the practical and interdisciplinary nature of SESP. She especially appreciates the SESP practicum, “a really valuable real-world opportunity that not many undergrads get to integrate into their curriculum.” She adds, “What's great about SESP is that all theory is rooted in reality. I haven't been in a SESP class where I have wondered to myself how I will apply what I am learning to my daily life and my future career.” According to Erin, another great characteristic is the intimacy of SESP as well as the caring, dedicated and knowledgeable advisers.
ErinBishop2007@u.northwestern.edu

The flexibility that SESP students have to customize their major to fit their interests appeals to Jack Chen, who’s from Plano, Texas. He adds, “The combination of base classes in economics, political science, public policy, and professional studies provide a strong basis from which students can diversify. … Social Policy provides students with a strong general theoretical background and allows them to apply this theory to various topics.” On campus, Jack competes on the Northwestern Speech Team, conducts research with faculty, is a peer mentor and is in a fraternity.
jackchen2012@u.northwestern.edu
Phone: 469/767-1750