Meet the PDOs

Alisia Houghtaling is a PDO at Villa La Pietra. She is a junior at NYU majoring in Art History on the pre-law track. Originally from Moscow and now based in New Orleans, her academic journey has taken her from applied psychology to business, before returning to her first passion: art history. At Villa La Pietra, she is working on restoration projects, exploring the historic photo collection and writing blog pieces that showcase the behind-the-scenes work of the museum. She hopes to learn museum management and communication skills as preparation for a career at the intersection of the arts and law. “I want to help get more younger people to the museums, to experience multiculturality,” she also explained. A self-described “classic car girl,” you could spot her researching old vintage cars or reading true crime novels. 

Ariel Lee is a PDO in the Digital Studio. She is a junior at NYU Gallatin pursuing a concentration in global media and fashion marketing. Growing up in Taipei, Taiwan, she has prior experience in graphic design. She will be working closely with the photography classes at NYU Florence, assisting with print production. She also designs the visuals for the Media, Trust and Democracy lecture series on campus. Ariel hopes to engage more students in campus events. An introvert by nature, she is excited to step out of her comfort zone and interact and collaborate with as many students as she can. Enthusiastic about digital storytelling, she explains, “I feel like every day I want to do something different. PDO gives me the basic skill sets and experience with different things I would potentially want to do, such as marketing and event planning.” You can find her with a matcha in hand, heading to the Odeon Cinema, or poring over U.S. reality TV shows.

Camilla Allen is a PDO in the Digital Studio. She is a freshman in NYU’s Liberal Studies program, planning to major in International Relations with a long-term goal of pursuing environmental law. Originally from Peru and raised in the U.S., Camilla is passionate about current affairs and the intersection of design, music, art, and technology. Working on the Florence Underground Radio, she is learning how to operate the soundboard and host radio shows. A theater enthusiast with experience in art production, Camilla shared, “I get to go out and talk to people who are from Florence, and it reminds me of the booth and theater. And so it kind of feels like home, you know?” She is thoroughly enjoying meeting new people through the PDO program. She also contributed to graphic design projects such as the Shake Café blackboard, and looks forward to applying her skills to promote student programs and events on campus. Find her chatting with locals or planning a visit to one of Seven Wonders of the World (Except Machu Picchu and the Colosseum. She’s already made it to those!)

Gillian Malany is a PDO at the Office of Sustainability. She is a junior at NYU Gallatin concentrating in Fashion, Media and Marketing with a minor in the Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she completed the Liberal Studies program with a first-year abroad in London, where she discovered her passion for fashion and sustainability. Through her position, she will focus on waste management and sustainability initiatives. Her responsibilities include improving recycling signage in the cafeteria and implementing a circular composting system through which waste produced on campus would return to the gardens. Gillian also looks forward to organising recycling and donation drives when students move out at the end of the semester. A creative with a strong interest in digital media, Gillian is eager to explore new approaches to design and marketing. Catch her in one of her handmade clothing pieces or planning the next stop on her 30-country travel goal.

Jeremy Lees is a PDO at Villa La Pietra. He is a freshman in the Liberal Studies Program at NYU. Growing up in Northern Virginia, Jeremy cultivated a love for history, inspired by his high school history teachers’ passion and knowledge. At the Villa, Jeremy is part of the museum team, where he is learning to give guided tours and will launch a blog that will highlight ongoing projects and conservation efforts on campus. He also contributes to social media content for the Villa’s official Instagram, documenting activities and exhibitions. “The museum is much more engaging than just looking at the paintings – it’s an interaction, walking through the rooms,” shares Jeremy. He hopes to impart his love for history to other students and combat the notion that museums are boring. With his range of interests such as swimming, reading, and exercising, all while balancing schoolwork, Jeremy is eager to learn time management and organisational skills this semester. An early bird, you could find Jeremy going for a morning run on Florence’s cobblestoned streets, training for his next biggest goal: a triathlon!

Kashvi Gupta is a PDO at the Office of Student Life. She is a junior at NYU majoring in Business and Technology Management at the Tandon School of Engineering. Originally from Chandigarh, India, her long term goal is to “slow travel”, immersing herself in different cities and cultures across the world, beginning in New York and now in Florence. She is driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, sharing, “When I have a project of my own, I need to learn how to showcase a vision and a mission through the work I do.” At the Office of Student Life, Kashvi is working on streamlining the Information Portal, particularly the LGBTQ+ section, and brainstorming ways to make campus activities more inclusive and connected to the local community. Kashvi hopes to build on her website design skills and is looking forward to collaborating with her peers in a multicultural work environment. You can find Kashvi laying down on the campus lawns, always with a book in hand– she’s currently alternating her reading between Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney.

Petra Welchans is a PDO at Villa La Pietra. She is a junior at NYU majoring in Art History, with a minor in Urban Design and Architecture Studies. A New Jersey native, she brings many different experiences to NYU Florence, from selling bikes to working at a camp for differently-abled children, and interning at an art gallery. Petra is an avid learner, “Having the ability to go to work and learn new things everyday is a privilege that’s really cool”, she says. At Villa La Pietra she will be working to help archive material in the collection database, give in-depth tours of the villa and garden, and document the Villa’s activities in collaboration with her fellow PDOs. A self-described people’s person, she hopes to cultivate a deeper interest for art in students at NYU Florence. “I want people to feel that art is accessible to them,” Petra shares. You can find her researching skydiving and taking meticulous notes for her art history classes.

Renata Guillorme Solonaya is a PDO in the Digital Studio. She is a senior at NYU pursuing a degree in Film and Television aspiring to assistant directing roles. She has her roots in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and has pursued storytelling and filmmaking since middle school. At NYU Florence, she is filming a promotional video for the Florence Underground Radio program on campus. She assists photography students with printing projects and will learn how to operate a drone for video production, expanding her technical skill set. She developed social media skills working for the Russian History Museum in New York. “I joined PDO in the hopes of reviving my editing self and to hold the camera again,” she shared. She is excited to make a short film on campus inspired by the archival footage shot at Villa La Pietra. Renata can be found taking long strolls in Florence or exploring supermarkets as part of her cultural adventures.

Rohan Venkatraman is a PDO at the Office of Student Life. He is a freshman in Liberal Studies at NYU on the pre-med track with a strong interest in neuroscience and biology. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up in New York, India and Africa. At NYU Florence, he is working to make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Student Information Portal. He is also developing the Villa Points program which rewards student participation in events. Driven by a passion for community service and inclusivity, Rohan hopes to plan and host events on campus. “My whole goal in life is just to make an impact, at least in one person’s life and change it for the better,” he shares. He looks forward to interacting with a diverse community and honing his communication skills this semester. You can find him sketching on a bench outside Villa Ulivi, or learning a new language (he’s fluent in 3 already).

Rossina Aquino is a PDO at the Office of Academic Support. She is a junior at NYU majoring in Media, Culture, and Communication with a minor in Film. Originally from Mexico, she now lives near Philadelphia. “I’ve always been really into consuming media,” she says. “So I thought the logical path for me was either making media or talking about media that already exists — but just in a professional lens.” At the Office of Academic Support, Rossina combines her interests in storytelling, media, and writing through creative and community-oriented projects. She wrote a feature on the UniCollege intern at the OAS. She is currently working on a long-form piece about the Tarquinia field trip, and on utilising the NYU Library film resources for an Italian short film compilation. She shared how one of the highlights of her PDO experience was collaborating with her fellow PDO on an infographic to improve student engagement and office outreach. She hopes to improve her time management skills and learn how to communicate effectively through PDO. You will probably find Rossina with headphones on, listening to her favourite Twenty One Pilots song while crocheting clothes. 

Shira Damari is a PDO in the Digital Studio. She is a sophomore in the Liberal Studies Core, with Computer Science and Mathematics as her planned majors. Growing up in Tel Aviv, Shira has called Madrid home for the past three years. Having built a strong foundation in math, she enjoys using analytical and logical thinking to solve problems. Shira is fascinated by the intersection of technology and creativity and seeks to explore how the two can complement each other. At the Digital Studio, she is using her knowledge of coding and web development to redesign the Information Portal. Passionate about music and photography, Shira is designing a website for the Florence Underground Radio station, and also working on the photo databases of Villa La Pietra. She hopes to interact with more of her peers and explore possible career paths through her PDO experience. Find her shuffling through her playlist or searching up concerts for her favourite bands, that include Wallows and the Runarounds.

Samiksha Kasyap is a PDO at the Office of Academic Support. She is a junior at NYU majoring in International Relations. Originally from Mumbai, India, she is interested in international political economy and how education and media shape global affairs. Through the Office of Academic Support, she interviewed her fellow PDOs to write the biographies you are reading now, and also took their photographs. She collaborated with her fellow PDO on an infographic to improve student engagement and office outreach. Passionate about storytelling and human connection, she is excited to interact with her fellow peers through working at the Office of Academic Support. Find her with her nose buried in a fantasy adventure novel, or sketching around campus.