“Bellissimi.” Emilee describes her experiences as a PDO at Villa La Pietra (VLP) as “very beautiful” due to the splendor of the museum and its gardens. Emilee is grateful to have the opportunity to work in the Acton family’s celebrated collection, as it allows her to pursue her interests and career aims and even find connections to her heritage. Emilee is a freshman in the Liberal Studies Core program serving as a VLP PDO for her second semester. She has gained experience giving tours of the Villa, cataloging objects, conducting research on the collection and, most importantly, welcoming her new PDO teammates. With a passion for art, Emilee hopes to pursue a career in law and arbitration which would allow her to travel. She would be particularly interested in being part of efforts to recover works of art obtained unethically across the world. Before attending NYU, Emilee worked at a Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) clinic, where she felt empowered to discuss topics of health that the public would shy away from. She believes this has made her more comfortable speaking of the turbulent histories behind some of the pieces of art in the Acton Collection during tours. Her time working at the clinic’s reception desk helped Emilee practice skills, such as paying attention to detail, which she has applied in her PDO position. Even though she already knows the Villa well, she always hopes to learn more.  Emilee has helped translate museum exhibition descriptions into Chinese, one of her inherited languages. Emilee has found a way of making use of her international background living in Taiwan and China. Emilee feels a connection to the Chinese works of literature and art collected by Sir Harold Acton, the former owner and donor of the Villa, during his own stay in China in the 1930s. If she could work alongside anyone in her PDO position, Emilee would choose William Acton, the brother of Harold Acton, since she would like to learn more about his mysterious death and the secrets of the family that are lost to the passages of history.

“Collaborativo.” Given one Italian word, Ziqin Chiodi describes their* experience as a Digital Studio PDO as “collaborativo” or collaborative, because whether managing the student radio or promoting events around campus, Ziqin finds joy in fostering an environment where creativity, community, and collaboration thrive.  A freshman at NYU in the Liberal Studies Core Program, Ziqin navigates a path between fine arts and environmental management and policy. Before college, they spent two years as a costume designer, crafting dresses for their former school. Keeping fashion close to their heart, they continue to express their passion by volunteering at a Florence thrift store, an initiative through NYU Florence’s Community Engagement program. Throughout their time as a PDO, Ziqin’s principal focus is running Florence Underground, a student-led radio program at the local Florentine station, Novaradio. While students run the radio set, curating and broadcasting their playlists to the community, Ziqin provides support, using their music production expertise to keep the sessions running smoothly. In doing so, they ensure students have the tools and confidence to express themselves through music. For Ziqin, joining the digital studio and the radio wasn’t just about honing technical skills; it was about immersing themselves in a space where budding artists and passionate students come together. They love supporting their peers and feel truly connected to the creative process. Given the opportunity, Ziqin would love to step into the shoes of Jenny Beavan, the costume designer behind Disney’s Cruella. Inspired by Beavan’s bold, artistic flair, they aspire to channel that same rich creativity into their future endeavors.

*Ziqin uses they/them pronouns.

“Gratificante.” Chloe Chisholm uses "rewarding" to describe her creative PDO role in the Digital Studio because it‘s the first time she has professionally contributed to a project she truly cares about. Her education and past experiences helped her develop the skills for her work in the studio. Born and raised in New York, she studied in Switzerland before arriving in Florence, so she was excited to embrace fresh challenges. She’s planning to double major in literature and economics with a minor in Italian, and she credits her diverse educational and personal experiences for building her skills. In high school, she guided a resettled refugee family in her school’s village, helping them navigate unfamiliar languages and cultures. This effort shaped her commitment to meaningful and impactful work. Whether she ends up pursuing literature, economics, or music, Chloe insists that it must be intellectually rigorous, challenging, and purposeful. Now, Chloe and her colleague, Z, serve as student coordinators for Novaradio and perform their sets weekly on the Florence Underground program. They also oversee DJ sets, create graphics and posters, and raise awareness about volunteer opportunities. Chloe also assists classes that want to incorporate podcasting or audio production into their coursework. For instance, when a fashion course recently created a podcast, Chloe handled recording, mixing, and editing support for students who had never worked with this technology. She embraced her PDO opportunity to perform her set at Florence Underground Radio, build her technical abilities in digital media, and further explore digital art.  Chloe is inspired by Jim Morrison of the Doors for pushing musical and poetic boundaries. She hopes to help produce a zine on Florence’s underground music scene and push boundaries like him. Morrison’s rebellious spirit is similar to the artsy, welcoming atmosphere of the Digital Studio. Her team is supervised by faculty member, Scott,  who encourages them to imagine, experiment widely, and embrace the “punk ideology”. 

Given one word, Emre Erkaya would describe his position at the Office of Academic Support as “notevole,” or “remarkable”. Being a PDO has not only given him a new experience and meaningful work, but also a supportive environment that helps him feel at ease. Emre is a freshman at NYU in the Liberal Studies Program from Istanbul, Turkey. Planning on majoring in both Economics and Computer Science, he has set his sights on entrepreneurship as a future career path and strives to be assertive and confident in his day-to-day life. Emre has already completed an internship in a similar setting which involved group work. However, Emre realized that since he was the youngest person on the team, there was little equal communication and collaboration between him and the others, even though they were all given the same tasks to complete. In his current role, however, he understands that his fellow PDO’s encourage equal collaboration in all aspects of the project and give him a welcoming space to voice his own opinions. At the Office of Academic Support, Emre and the other PDOs have been interviewing both Italian interns and current PDOs and writing profiles for each of them to post on the NYU Florence website. He’s also collaborated with other OAS PDO’s to organize a Writing Circle where students can come, share, and discuss their writing. He wants to be a pillar of support for the NYU Florence student community and knows that helping others can in turn help in the process of self-discovery as well. When asked what influential figure he would like to work alongside, he chose U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt. He believes that due to FDR’s policies which drew America out of the Depression and into becoming a nationwide superpower, there would be much to learn from his thought process.              

“Stimolante” is how Erika would sum up her experience as a Digital Studio PDO. She feels that it is “stimulating” to nourish other’s and her own digital creativity at the intersection of event organization, photography, and web design across various digital platforms. Erika is a sophomore in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where she is pursuing a major in Integrated Design and Media and a minor in Business of Media and Entertainment. She hopes to build a career path that combines technology, entertainment, and graphic design, and has taken course work to provide her with a solid technical and creative foundation. Her experience as a production assistant for New York Target Fashion Week and as an assistant in the premier event on the TV series “Bridgerton”, where she had the opportunity to develop organizational and event planning skills, has sparked her passion for transferring ideas from “paper to real-life execution.” She has further developed these skills this semester in preparing on-campus activities through the Digital Studio. Her interests were aligned with her projects in the Digital Studio.  She helped fellow students learn how to  use  Adobe programs and also contributed her ideas to NYU Florence’s social media. She hopes to apply her knowledge of digital media to Florence Underground, a local radio station. She has developed potential updates for their website and upcoming radio sessions in which she would engage with its audience. She has also worked to raise awareness about the digital resources of her department, which are available to students to explore their creativity, such as the graphic design software Adobe Creative Cloud. Erika chooses Ariana Grande as her role model, as she appreciates Grande’s drive to expand her career towards new horizons beyond her previously established areas of success. Erika views Ariana Grande’s dynamic and versatile career as a model. Likewise, through stepping outside of her comfort zone, Erika aspires to combine art and technology in her future path.

“Pieno.” If Monique could describe her PDO position in one word, it would be “pieno”, or, “plentiful”, due to the variety of daily tasks that keep her engaged in something she finds meaningful. Monique is a freshman and PDO at the Office of Student Life for the 2025 spring semester. While currently a Liberal Studies student, she intends to transfer into sports management, which is at the intersection of multiple fields such as marketing and business. She feels like her work in the OSL is an opportunity for her to develop the  adaptability and communication skills that she will need going forward. Prior to the OSL, her past experiences included being a Well-Being Ambassador at her high school and volunteering in the Hope of the City Organization in Hong Kong. As a Well-Being Ambassador, she acted as a peer counselor for students facing bullying, anxiety, or trauma. In the Hope of the City Organization, she helped migrant workers and non-English speakers integrate into Hong Kong’s international environment. Both have fostered her ability to support her peers and communicate effectively in both a personal and professional manner, much like her current work supporting the students on campus. Now at the Office of Student Life, she works with other PDOs to coordinate and improve events such as the mask-making and fitness events held throughout the semester. One of her current projects is a “Well-Being Project” to spread awareness of mental, emotional, and social wellness, like writing appreciation cards to the NYU Florence staff. A big part of her role is connecting with and gathering the insights of her fellow students, so she can apply them to future OSL projects to truly demonstrate the inclusivity that the OSL strives for. When asked to choose a popular figure she’s inspired by, she describes Sir David Attenborough for his breadth of knowledge about the world. Despite his intelligence, he remains humble and constantly curious about that which he does not understand. That drive to learn and noticeable passion in his work inspires her in her professional development. 

“Piacere,” is the verb that comes to mind for Alyssa to describe her combined PDO position at the Digital Studio and Villa La Pietra where she finds it “pleasing” to have learned that there is a spectrum of innovative paths available instead of one “correct” path towards a final product when bridging technology and the arts.  Hailing from her home town of Los Angeles, Alyssa is a junior visiting student from Duke University pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Visual Media Studies. As a STEM student, she appreciates being immersed in an environment infused with the humanities. Alyssa has conducted research on photogrammetry – a system of digital model creation from physical objects – through the North Carolina Museum of Art, which encouraged her to apply for the PDO program, where she cultivates her past experiences. In her future, she sees herself in the field of creative technology encompassing video game design and interactive museum exhibits. Her PDO project  creating online digital exhibits of the artwork in Villa La Pietra through student-led narratives allows her to pursue her objective to help increase accessibility for in-person and virtual museum engagement. Additionally, she has worked to enhance the audio tour of the Villa La Pietra gardens and contribute towards creating a virtual tour of the villa rooms. Using a mix of the game engine Unity, maps and photos of the villa, and photogrammetry, she hopes to bring these projects to life. In her PDO position, she finds combining creativity and technology very fulfilling. She would love to apply the skills she has gained working with institutions and museums near Duke University, especially to improve their accessibility. If Alyssa could work alongside anyone, she would choose the video game developer Toby Fox, the creator of the game “Undertale.” For Alyssa, learning the intricacies of designing such games with those who think outside of the box, especially with an engaging and funny personality such as Toby Fox, would be a dream come true.

“Hands-on”--- is the word Chocoria Jiang chooses to describe her PDO experience, because for her, direct action is the truest show of passion and the only way to make an impact. A third-year student currently double majoring in Economics and Environmental Studies, Chocoria is the PDO for the Office of Sustainability. Growing up in Boston, she loved playing in nature and developed an interest in animal and environmental conservation in high school, which has grown into a passion for making sustainable changes to the world and helping the environment. Throughout her time at NYU, she has contributed to multiple projects centered around leadership and sustainability, including an NYC environmental nonprofit connecting environmental justice and art. The passion for animal and plant life she developed as a child has continued to be a key inspiration in her professional endeavors. As a Sustainability PDO, she works on information graphics which advocate for composting, saving energy, and other methods of keeping the campus environment green. She’s collaborated not only with the Garden PDO by working towards sustainability initiatives for both the campus gardens and farm, but also with the Digital Studio PDOs to create posts to raise the visibility of sustainability initiatives on campus. Collaborating with PDOs of other offices who share her love of the environment has strengthened her resolve to help build a flourishing and sustainable campus culture. Meeting other staff members passionate about the environment such as Nicholas, the head gardener, has motivated her to be a part of the effort to make the campus a beautiful and inspiring place. Given the choice, Chocoria would choose Hinata Shoyo–the main character of the popular volleyball anime Haikyuu–to work alongside her at Villa La Pietra. She admires his passion and resilience in the face of challenges, while never letting others’ opinions bring him down. Chocoria values that boundless enthusiasm when pursuing his dreams, just as she has pursued hers. 

“Appagagante.” Given one Italian word, Dalea Kattan describes her experience as an Office of Student Life PDO as “appagante,” or fulfilling, as she finds joy contributing to NYU’s vibrant and diverse community. A sophomore at NYU majoring in Communicative Sciences and Disorders on the pre-physician assistant track, Dalea’s passion for fostering interconnectivity is at the heart of everything she does. Whether supporting first-year students as a Welcome Leader in New York or founding a nonprofit that provided free academic resources to underprivileged high school students, her work aims to prioritize empathy, advocacy, and accessibility. Her time in Florence only deepens this commitment, reinforcing her belief in the power of community and interpersonal engagement. As a PDO, Dalea helps strengthen engagement at NYU Florence. After brainstorming ways to improve attendance at events, she proposed a tiered point-based system to incentivize engagement—an initiative she is currently helping to develop. Students can now earn points for attending events, completing surveys, or interacting with NYU Florence on social media in exchange for rewards ranging from Shake Café vouchers, snacks, meal vouchers, and NYU merchandise. This project reflects her drive to create an inclusive, community-centered space that acts as what Dalea calls “home away from home.”  Dalea is also working on a video project to help incoming students learn more about the homestay housing option. Excited to use digital tools creatively, she sees this initiative as an extension of her contributions to make NYU Florence more comfortable, especially for students navigating study abroad for the first time. Given the opportunity, Dalea would like to embody Katara from the television show Avatar: The Last Airbender in her future career self. Dalea admires Katara’s resilience, ambition, and deep commitment to growth through compassion. Just as Katara seeks to master her skills to heal others, Dalea strives to cultivate a life and career committed to uplifting others through service and empathy, whether it be on campus, in a clinic, or beyond.

In one word, Sophia would describe her role at Villa La Pietra as “collaborativo”, or, “collaborative”, because of her daily interaction with other passionate PDOs as well as professionals in the art history field. Sophia Meyer, a sophomore and Art History major, is one of three PDOs at Villa La Pietra. Currently majoring in Art History and hoping to minor in Media, Culture, and Communications, she has an appreciation for the arts and for exploring new interests. Her San Diego upbringing fostered a strong connection to the ocean and nature, which she finds reflected in the Italian environment. This calming atmosphere helps her stay present and focused on her interests, particularly contemporary and historical art. Sophia’s background in art history has provided her with research skills and an understanding of various art periods. Outside of the classroom, her experience as a volleyball coach has honed her ability to communicate effectively, making her both informative and engaging. While her major has provided her with a background in art history, Sophia is stepping out of her comfort zone by taking on new challenges, such as giving guided tours and engaging in public speaking. Her current tasks include leading tours at Villa La Pietra, adding to the online art collection database, and working on themed projects that explore the life of the museum’s founder, Harold Acton. She views this opportunity to expand her skillset in a museum environment as an excellent foundation to pursue her dream of becoming a museum curator. Given the option to work alongside a historical figure at Villa La Pietra, Sophia would work alongside Artemisia Gentileschi, a Renaissance Italian painter who pioneered the portrayal of women in a dynamic and expressive way, influencing modern-day feminism—an approach Sophia deeply admires.

“Interessante.” Given one Italian word, Tech Nix describes their* experience as a Villa La Pietra PDO as “interessante” —interesting because of the depth of historical engagement and cultural enrichment they have encountered learning about the Acton family and the La Pietra collections. A junior at NYU studying Art History and Studio Art, Tech embraces their role at La Pietra as an opportunity to bridge their academic and artistic passions. Having previously worked at the Grey Art Museum in New York and the Polish Museum of America in Chicago, they have engaged with museums in various capacities, from aiding curious guests to intaking and cataloging photo archives. However, their position at Villa La Pietra offers a unique experience, immersing them in a house museum environment, where they give guided tours to students and intimately engage with the museum. Tech also collaborates with fellow PDOs to curate an exhibition centered on Harold Acton’s life in 1920s Paris. Reading Acton’s memoirs as part of this project allows Tech to better understand this period, which saw the rise of fascism and Acton’s departure from his middle school, Eton College. For Tech, this experience was more than a professional opportunity; it was a chance to proactively broaden their historical knowledge and deepen their understanding of the Acton collection. Additionally, Tech crafts Instagram captions to promote the museum. This further contributes to Tech’s goal of helping students see the Villa and its unique art and history as a living, accessible part of their academic experience. Given the opportunity, Tech would love to work alongside Harold Acton, a British writer and patron of the arts, who was the last owner of Villa La Pietra. They are fascinated by his decision to donate the estate and its art collections to NYU and would love the opportunity to gain direct insight into the thought process that went into preserving La Pietra’s historical collections and artistic legacy. 

“Meraviglioso.” Given one Italian word, Junhee Oh describes her experience as an Office of Academic Support PDO as “meraviglioso,” or wonderful, because of the depth of reflective community-facing interactions she experiences and incorporates into her personal and professional skill set. A freshman at NYU in the Liberal Studies Core Program, June’s opportunity in Florence allows her to immerse herself in an unfamiliar culture—a skill she believes will prepare her for a prospective career in either psychology, neuroscience, or environmental science. As a PDO, June collaborated with her colleagues to interview other PDOs across different departments and create profiles that highlighted their stories and contributions. One of her first projects involved collaborating with her fellow OAS PDOs to interview former intern, Sara. Together, they crafted a profile that faithfully captured her journey. She also collaborates with PDO, Aurora, to organize an Italian Culture Immersion event, helping students navigate and appreciate local customs and traditions. For June, the PDO program is more than an opportunity to develop professional skills, like organizing resources and meaningfully engaging with diverse individuals; it is also a way to proactively give back to the NYU Florence community that supported her transition to life abroad. Through her PDO and her previous participation in the NYU Florence community engagement program, where she taught English to local Italian elementary school students, she has developed a profound appreciation for the power of community and the rich cross-cultural exchange it cultivates. Every day, June finds her passion for bridging cultures and fostering understanding reaffirmed, recognizing these as invaluable skills for any future career, whether in patient care, client-facing roles, or beyond. Given the opportunity, June would love to work alongside Kim Gu, a Korean political activist who fought to preserve Korean culture and language during Japanese colonization. Admiring his commitment to cultural preservation, Junhee hopes to embody his spirit to promote and protect her Korean cultural heritage and help others learn and celebrate their own. 

“Cooperativo.” Aurora Pinon describes her PDO role with the Office of Academic Support (OAS) at NYU Florence as “cooperative”, as everyone’s opinions contribute to her projects. She finds reassurance in tackling tasks with others, sharing ideas with teammates, and building on each other’s strengths. She is drawn to her role because it connects the NYU community to Italian culture, creating a place to collaborate, forge new friendships, and learn. Raised in Memphis and Miami, Aurora is currently a double major in international relations and economics. She spent the past year and a half at NYU in New York and is now experiencing life outside the US for the first time and being more independent. In high school, Aurora’s passion for collaboration first took shape when she served as a concertmaster in a music group, sharpening her sense of teamwork and leadership. Later, as a PDO tasked with writing profiles of  other PDOs, she devised a strategy to boost the team’s engagement with each other: each member would interview a PDO, record their observations, and then pass these notes to a different writer. This process allowed everyone to practice exchanging information effectively while developing an understanding of their colleagues’ unique working styles. Working together raised questions about cultural and linguistic differences within the team, especially when members spoke different native languages and had different perspectives. Aurora also collaboratively organized and facilitated a cultural roundtable, engaging in open dialogue with NYU staff with Italian heritage. Her time in a foreign country improved her adaptability. Being in an unfamiliar environment highlighted the need for empathy and respect when working with diverse views. Aurora likens her journey to the anime character Frieren, who gradually opens up to others. She, too, has moved past introversion by embracing new interactions and creative brainstorming. For anyone interested in a future PDO position, Aurora’s advice is to go with the flow. Having strong opinions is important, but she recommends staying flexible when working with people for the first time. This openness and her passion for intercultural exchange pushed her to grow personally and contribute to an inclusive campus environment. 

“Pizza.” Jack Power uses the word pizza to describe his PDO position for Digital Studio and Villa La Pietra. Just as a pizza can be topped with various ingredients to create a unique flavor, photography allows him creative choices; however, he is sophisticated enough to know when not to add the sacrilegious pineapple to Italian pizza. In his PDO work, Jack has been given the freedom to manage his projects and make creative choices. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he is majoring in photography at Montana State University, and has a particular interest in sports photography. Living in Florence for an extended period challenges him to understand and adapt to new cultural norms and perspectives, which is a part of connecting with the subjects he photographs. As part of his role, he focuses on capturing the finer details of the La Pietra gardens to complement a photo archive that has traditionally emphasized wide landscape shots. He also photographs campus events and has managed to connect with a local Florentine soccer team on his own time to keep his athletic-shooting skills sharp. He wants to refine his ability to tell stories through the lens of his camera. While it’s easy for him to convey narratives with sports photography, where the intensity of emotions and action is highly visible, his ambition is to create images that transcend the moment, no matter the subject. Whether people view them tomorrow or a century from now, he aspires for each photograph to retell stories on its own.  To continue his professional journey, Jack hopes to join a major sports team or work for a large photo agency like “Getty Images”.  When asked which TV character his professional self would embody, he answered with Indiana Jones, driven by the thrill of exploring new places and uncovering fresh angles for each shot. He sees himself as an explorer.  Given the opportunity, he would explore the world and take pictures of new places, but it depends on the jobs available to him. If he were offered a job in Australia, he would do it. He’s willing to take every opportunity there is. 

“Bellissimo.” Eduardo Silva describes his PDO experience as beautiful because his day-to-day work in the garden is lovely. So powerful is the garden’s effect on him, the day before our interview, he said, it was kind of gloomy outside, but when he got to the garden and began working with the volunteers, it felt sunny and warm. Eduardo has always loved cooking, eating, and sharing meals with others. As a child, he joined his family in the kitchen, helping out at events with his mother and bonding over smoothie nights. Eduardo pursued his passions throughout high school with a project to deliver nutritious, convenient meals to students who skipped breakfast in his hometown of Chicago. Around the same time, Eduardo grew interested in environmental systems and agriculture. Now he majors in international food business and agricultural studies at NYU Gallatin. His educational path allows him to combine his love for food with a commitment to responsible farming methods. His study abroad at NYU Florence allows him to experience a new culture and get practical experience at the La Pietra gardens.  Eduardo devotes his time to the lemon house, caring for the campus’s lemon trees. He pulls small weeds, monitors the watering schedule, and adapts his routine seasonally. In April, his team will host “Lemon Day,” a campus event showcasing their vibrant crop. Furthermore, Eduardo also weeds, plants, and helps to maintain a variety of produce: celery, peppers, parsley, black kale, lettuce, legumes, onions, and even oranges scattered around campus. To him, this hands-on work is also a chance to cultivate community, meet new people, and relieve stress. He believes visitors to the garden create deeper connections to the land and one another.  Looking ahead, Eduardo hopes to work with the “farm to fork” concept and grow local, fresh produce directly for a restaurant or cafe. In the future, he would love to embody the television character Sydney from The Bear,” a Chicagoan whose commitment to learning in the kitchen resonates with his own. Eduardo sees his journey unfolding in a similar spirit, blending foodie discovery, passion for learning, and dedication to perfection.

“Arricchente.” Riana Sirsi uses “enriching” to describe her Digital Studio PDO experience. There she develops her photography and storytelling skills and forms true emotional connections with the people and objects she photographs. As a junior at NYU from New York City majoring in public policy and minoring in social entrepreneurship, Riana arrived in Florence eager to build on her self-taught photography skills and to try something new. In Florence, she is excited to capture the city’s history and channel her passion to create cultural narratives.  Half of her time at the Digital Studio goes into the foundational tasks of photography: printing, scanning, and editing. The other half finds her walking across campus with a camera, looking for opportunities to create social media content. One of her projects is filming “Death Valley Interviews”  along the path between Villa Natalia and Villa Ulivi, notorious among students for its steepness and heat during the summer. Here, she chats with students to capture a snapshot of campus life, engaging in genuine conversations. She is truly captivated by the hidden personal depth people reveal when you learn their stories. For example, despite being a public policy major, Riana is taking a fashion photography course. She wants to explore and share students’ stories with peers to show them that you can explore your passions outside your major through small opportunities around campus and the city. Furthermore, she is creating virtual room tours for the dorms in Villa Natalia, Villa Colletta, and off-campus residences. She hopes these will contribute to providing better insight into what daily life in Florence is really like for current and future students. Riana draws inspiration from many sources, reflecting her commitment to meaningful storytelling. She admires Olivia Pope’s relentless drive and problem-solving skills, finding creative paths forward even when traditional routes fail. Above all, Riana stays open to documenting any story that comes her way, with a special focus on refugees and women, because she believes every person has a voice worth hearing and a narrative worth sharing. 

“Dinamico,” Trinity believes, is a word that encapsulates the experience of being a PDO at the Office of Academic Support, where a “dynamic” work environment is created by the blend of the talents brought together by its people. While teamwork can be challenging, Trinity  believes it is rewarding when creative collaboration arises. Trinity is a freshman in the Liberal Studies Core Program who plans to double major in International Relations and History with a minor in Italian. Trinity is considering pursuing International Law as a career and knows that honing her writing and communication skills while strengthening her ability to collaborate and work in a team are principal experiences. She believes in the importance of education and activism to empower young people.  With a past volunteering in libraries and aiding students in the college application process in her hometown of Perry, Georgia, she is looking forward to aligning her knowledge towards projects of writing and event organization. Furthermore, founding and leading the Youth National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Warner Robins instilled in her a passion for justice and advocacy that she hopes to embody in a future in law. Additionally, Trinity and her fellow PDOs conducted an interview and wrote a profile for Sara, a former Italian student intern at the OAS. She continues this project through the creation of a profile for each NYU Florence PDO. With tasks related to the NYU Florence INFO portal and academic environment, she appreciates the opportunities of creating bridges between the multicultural NYU community and Italian culture. As a freshman studying abroad, providing support academically resembles a fulfilling role for Trinity. If she could embody a character, Trinity would choose Michael from the sitcom The Office. Even though Michael might have a silly, carefree tone outside, he has a genuine and positive soul with the ability to nourish and knit together a community as the boss. If she were to lead a workplace, her lively and supportive character would allow for all, no matter their background, to flourish.

“Fantastica” —if Alejandra Zamora could describe her PDO experience in one word, it would be “fantastic”, because it allows her to use her passions to benefit her community and school. Her interest in entrepreneurship and social media marketing, align with her role in the Digital Studio, where her tasks allow her to develop relevant skills. A freshman in the Liberal Studies program, Alejandra was previously a PDO at the Office of Student Life for the fall semester. During that time, she was encouraged to apply to the Digital Studio after regularly collaborating with their office. Prior to being a PDO, she participated in a startup academy in high school, which cultivated her interest in startups and gave her many of the skills she uses daily at the Digital Studio. At the Digital Studio, she designs the “What’s Coming Up This Week” posts on Instagram every Monday which summarize upcoming events for the NYU Florence community. Additionally, she collaborates with other PDOs to help promote their projects, posting about features of campus such as the La Pietra Gardens. At the Digital Studio she is expanding her social media skill set, learning about consistent scheduling, proper branding, and the other complexities behind social media marketing. Her overall goal is to support student engagement and effectively feature the many clubs and events held at NYU Florence. Using her artistic eye and growing knowledge in media, she’s learning the best methods to raise awareness about campus events to her peers. Given the opportunity, Alejandra would like to work alongside Dolores Huerta. Huerta is a Mexican American activist who used social media and digital campaigns to spread her message and advocate for farm workers in California. Alejandra would like to draw on the empowerment and communication skills of such an effective public speaker.