Tour Guides

Abby Abrams hails from St. Louis, Missouri, where she graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School. A member of the class of 2015, she is majoring in English with a possible minor in history. Outside of class, she serves as a Deputy News Editor for the Columbia Daily Spectator and as Layout Editor for Echoes, Barnard’s literary magazine. She also helps plan Friday night dinners for the Columbia/Barnard Hillel and is an active member of the Jewish community on campus. When she’s not working as a BSAR or hanging out with friends in the beautiful Diana Center, Abby spends her free time exploring all the concerts, bookstores, food trucks, and film screenings New York City has to offer!

Mehwish Ansari, Class of 2013, is excited to be both a Barnard woman and a BSAR! She is an Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major minoring in classics. Completely enamored of the French language, Russian classical music, and British literature, she loves to spend free time with the likes of Gerard Depardieu, Tchaikovsky, and Jane Austen! Mehwish is an active member of the Organization of Pakistani Students, the Muslim Students Association and CIRCA, all very good things, considering her slightly unhealthy obsession with the United Nations.

Olivia Aylmer, Class of 2015, considers herself a city girl at heart, having grown up in Queens, but learned to love the south while attending high school in Richmond, Virginia. As an avid writer, reader, and performer, she plans to major in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, while also pursuing a double minor in Dance and French. A devoted reader of all publications focused on fashion and culture, she currently serves as Blog Director for Columbia's fashion magazine, Hoot, contributes arts pieces to The Columbia Daily Spectator, writes features for The Eye and The Barnard Bulletin, and maintains her own blog. She performs each semester with Columbia's dance ensemble, Orchesis, and considers her perfect evening seeing the New York City Ballet perform at Lincoln Center. Outside of the classroom, Olivia loves to explore Manhattan's endless array of quaint coffee shops, bookstores, and vintage boutiques with friends. Since coming to Barnard, she's taken Simone de Beauvoir's words to heart: "There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless."

Rebecca Baehr, Class of 2013, grew up in the small town of Old Lyme, CT, where she graduated from Lyme-Old Lyme High School. A Psychology major and a Music minor, Rebecca is a flutist currently enrolled in Barnard’s lesson exchange program at The Manhattan School of Music. She plays in the Columbia University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and various chamber groups around Barnard and Columbia. She also has a strong passion for women’s rights and domestic violence prevention, and has worked as a certified domestic violence and sexual assault counselor. In her free time, she loves teaching music to elementary school students at PS125 in Harlem, spending time with friends, and exploring everything that New York City has to offer!

Maame Yaa Buckman, Class of 2015, comes from the sunny city of Accra, Ghana. She is excited to serve as a BSAR and to help other strong beautiful and inspired women make that pivotal decision about attending Barnard College. She is a prospective Political Economy Major and enjoys kicking back with a good political book. She is very interested in exploring the various niches New York City has to offer. She likes to hang out with and make new friends, share experiences, eat good food, hairdressing, doodling and simply having a good time. She is a passionate member of the African Students Association and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Zoe Camp, Class of 2014, hails from Catonsville, Maryland, and attended Catonsville High School. She is majoring in English, with a minor in Environmental Science. When she isn't studying, she can be found in the basement of Reid Hall, playing music for her radio show on WBAR, Barnard College's underground radio station, where she also serves on staff. She also works as an Arts and Entertainment editor and writer for The Eye, The Columbia Spectator's arts magazine. On weekends, Zoe likes to venture out with friends to catch a show, find a cool new thrift store, or check out the local farmer's markets.

Jillian Cardona, Class of 2016, is from Chappaqua, New York, where she attended Horace Greeley High School.  Jillian is SO excited about being a BSAR! She is a very undecided major and is also part of the Athena Scholars Program. In addition to her studies and being a BSAR, Jillian is involved with the Relay For Life Committee and is a member of the sorority Sigma Delta Tau on campus. In her spare time, Jillian loves exploring yummy restaurants and bakeries throughout New York City, taking long walks along Broadway with friends, and doing yoga.

Elana Cohn was born and raised in San Francisco, CA.  A member of the class of 2014 studying Neuroscience and Behavior, she plans to hopefully go to medical school after college and someday become a neurosurgeon.  In addition to being a BSAR, Elana is very involved in Kesher (Reform Jews on Campus), her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and McAC community.  She loves to put on some of Barnard's biggest traditions such as Big Sub and Midnight Breakfast.  With a passion for traveling and exploration, Elana loves to get out and explore all the exciting aspects of New York City, whether it be an undiscovered museum, a new show on Broadway, or a great yummy restaurant.

Ama Debrah came to Barnard from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. A member of the class of 2014, she is majoring in Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In addition to being a Barnard Student Admissions Representative (BSAR), aka one of those overly enthusiastic tour guides you’ll meet on your next visit, she is also part of Barnard’s Bartending Agency and a sister of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. When she's not studying in the Diana, exploring the city, or looking up pictures of Grumpy Cat on Tumblr, she also participates in the Barnard Flute Choir and writes for the Nine Ways of Knowing blog. She absolutely loves Barnard and can’t wait to see some of you on campus in the upcoming weeks/months/years!

Chelbi Dickens, Class of 2015, is an Athena Scholar double majoring in Dance & French with a minor in Africana Studies. In addition to working for Barnard Admissions, Chelbi also works for Barnard Student Life and Residential Life & Housing. She is currently on the executive board of Sabor, Columbia’s finest Latin dance troupe, as Barnard Liaison. She is also a member of the Multicultural Admissions Advisory Committee and Take Back the Night. Chelbi is passionate about art of all mediums including dance, music, theatre, photography, and film. She indulges in the artistic scene of New York City regularly. Amongst her favorite events off-campus, are poetry and spoken word performances at the Nuyorican Cafe, art exhibits at the Met, musicals and plays on- and off-Broadway, and dance classes at Ailey. Chelbi loves to travel; she has toured all over Europe with her dance company from Scotland to Italy to the UK. She plans to return to France for a semester abroad and attend law school after Barnard. She loves Barnard because it is a place where intellectual stimulation and artistic expression coincide incredibly to promote curiosity, discovery, and innovation.

Emily Edwards, Class of 2016, was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She attended Corvallis High School in Oregon where she played varsity golf, usually in the rain. Emily is majoring in Economics and studying Arabic. She is involved with the Emerging Leaders Program, the Constellations program, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She also holds two on-campus jobs -- as a tour guide and as an assistant in the college's Development Office. On the weekends, Emily loves to discover new restaurants or coffee shops throughout the city, using Yelp recommendations as an excuse to explore! She hopes to study abroad in North Africa or the Middle East and would like to work for a non-profit or NGO that focuses on international economic development.

Cinneah El-Amin, Class of 2016, hails from the charming city of Baltimore, MD. A city girl at heart, she plans to major in Urban Studies with a minor in English. Cinneah can be found on the sidelines of Columbia football and basketball games as a Columbia University Cheerleader. She also serves as a peer educator for the Columbia/Barnard Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center and as a member of the SGA Committee on Diversity. Cinneah loves exploring the hidden gems of the city, from trendy boutiques in SoHo to fantastic restaurants on the Upper West Side. She cannot wait to share her immense love for Barnard as a BSAR!

Sarah Esser, Class of 2015, hails from San Francisco, CA, where she attended Lowell High School.  She is a Dance major and French minor, spending more hours in rehearsals than doing homework.  It was the book The Creative Habit, written by choreographer and Barnard alumna Twyla Tharp, that sparked her initial interest in Barnard’s dance program and subsequently Barnard itself.  Sarah choreographs for and dances with both the Columbia Ballet Collaborative and Raw Elementz, a hip hop team at Columbia.  Additionally, she started her own contemporary dance company, e r a Dance Collective, in January of 2012.  When not dancing or studying, she enjoys exploring the city, thrift shopping, and scrapbooking to document all of her college adventures.

Hilana Ezekiel is a proud member of the class of 2015. She is in the Double Degree program with the Jewish Theological Seminary. At Barnard she is an English major and Education minor and at JTS she is an Ancient Jewish Studies Major. Outside of class, Hilana works with Echoes, Barnard's literary magazine, and is involved in Hillel, the Jewish community on campus. Hilana also enjoys haunting New York's many independent book stores.

Lizzy Feldman, Class of 2014, is so excited about being a BSAR! She hails from Chevy Chase, Maryland, took a gap year in Israel, and is currently a sociology major with a religion minor. Lizzy is an active member in Columbia University Performing Arts League, which includes CU Players, and Columbia Musical Theater Society. She is also a proud member of the Columbia University Marching Band, where she plays the bass drum and the magic wand (as she is the Band Fairy). Her favorite things in New York include Strand's bookstore (which is 18 miles worth of books), eating Junior's Cheesecake downtown, and general exploring. Lizzy could not be happier here at Barnard, and cannot wait to meet all the prospective students, and hopefully share her love of Barnard with them!

Chinue Foreman, Class of 2015, grew up in Atlanta, GA. She has also lived in Brookline, MA, right outside of Boston for three years during her adolescence. Exploring these two cities gave her the incentive and courage to explore New York City for college. Though still undecided, she hopes to major in Film and minor in French. She hopes to use these degrees to produce award winning movies or create critically acclaimed television shows. But for now, she'll stick with becoming a full member of The Philolexian Society of Columbia University and more clubs on campus.

Molly Forgang, Class of 2015, hails from Larchmont, New York (Westchester County), where she attended Mamaroneck High School. She has not yet solidified her major, but is seriously considering American Studies with a Theatre/Arts Concentration, and pursuing the Elementary Education Certificate Program as a minor. Outside of the classroom, Molly is a Barnard Babysitter, and a proud member of Artists Reaching Out, where she teaches weekly theatre classes to students at PS 125. Molly is a member of three theatre groups on campus: Columbia Musical Theatre Society, Columbia University Players, and King's Crown Shakespeare Troupe. While not on stage or in rehearsal, Molly can be found exploring New York's amazing culinary scene, and taking advantage of all the student discounts that Barnard and NYC have to offer!

Carly Ginsberg, Class of 2015, grew up in Los Angeles, CA, where she graduated from Viewpoint School.  She’s studying English with a Theatre concentration and Philosophy. In addition to guiding prospective students around this beautiful school, Carly does a lot of theatre on campus, and is a member of the NOMADS student theatre group. She also coaches high school students through The Future Project, a new initiative aiming to turn young students’ passions into action.  Carly loves yoga, babysitting, getting lost on long walks in this sensational city, and smiling.

Rayna Gittelman, Class of 2015, is from Chappaqua, New York, where she graduated from Horace Greeley High School. She has an interest in government and public policy, which has been strengthened through Congressional internships she has done both in Washington D.C. and in her local District Office. As such, Rayna plans to major in Political Science with a possible minor in Economics. Formerly, a competitive synchronized ice-skater and figure skating coach, she enjoys spending her time on the ice, with her sorority, seeing movies and shows, getting coffee in Liz’s Place, and exploring New York City with friends.

Christie Grimm, Class of 2014, was born in Long Island, New York and raised in the quaint, tucked away town of Milford, Pennsylvania. She is an English Literature major, with a special interest in the works of the Romantic Era yet loves dabbling in Art History and History courses as well. She enjoys traveling and hopes to study abroad in England. At home she enjoys all the delights of the country, and at school is able to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities of the city.

*Christie is currently studying abroad in St. Andrews, Scotland!*

Amarelle Hamo, Class of 2014, grew up in Great Neck, NY where she graduated from Great Neck South High School. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies and hopes to go on to graduate school for Clinical Psychology. When she is not studying in the Diana Center, Amarelle enjoys spending time with her sorority, exploring the wide variety of restaurants in the city, and going to movies with friends.

Qingqing (Hilary) He, Class of 2014, was born in Chengdu, China, the home of the lovely pandas. She grew up in the historical capital city Beijing, where she graduated from Beijing (IB) Huijia Private School. She considers family, travels, cuisine, music and animals as the most important elements in life. She came all the way to New York to engage herself in a challenging academic and social setting that is culturally diverse and has chosen to major in Anthropology. She is fluent in English, Mandarin and Sichuanese Chinese, is currently learning Korean and plans to study French during her years at Barnard. She hopes to pursue a career in either journalism or international relations and work for more effective cross-cultural communication.

*Hilary is currently studying abroad in Oxford, England!*

Linden Hill, Class of 2013, is from Highland Park, IL and graduated from Highland Park High School. She is studying Art History, Dance, and English. Linden loves being involved in Barnard’s incredible dance program. She is an active member of Barnard’s Emerging Leaders Program and McAC’s Time Out Committee. Linden enjoys traveling and hopes to study abroad in Paris. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, explore New York City, shop, and visit museums. Linden absolutely loves Barnard and is so excited to be a BSAR to share her enthusiasm with prospective students!

Lisa Huang, Class of 2016, is everywhere! She was born in the cold land of Toronto, Ontario, before quickly relocating to the tropical Hong Kong, where she grew up. She went to the Cate School in Carpinteria, California, where she discovered her passion for Art History, her major. Lisa can't imagine herself attending college anywhere else; Barnard and all that New York City offers is her Wee Bear's bed--just perfect. When she's not making videos for the Columbia Spectator's Multimedia department, you can find her wandering through the MET, DJ-ing in the WBAR radio station, or eating in East Village (she likes to eat, a lot).

Aisling Hunt, Class of 2013, is a class act, hailing from Cambridge, MA, with a second home in Paraguay where she lived for one summer. This strong, beautiful Barnard woman graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School with a lot of aspiration, gusto, as well as serious confusion about what she wanted to do with her life. A future Sociology or Russian Studies major, Aisling has found a way to incorporate her love of Russian history, people watching, and fashion design through her studies and through being a member of Hoot, Columbia University’s first fashion magazine. An active member of the Barnard Activities Council (McAC), Aisling is always thrilled to talk about the exciting things that will make you fall in love with Barnard the way that she did.

Triana Kalmanoff, Class of 2016, grew up in Berkeley, CA where she graduated from Berkeley High School. She's planning on a psychology major with a minor in Italian. In addition to being a BSAR, she is a member of the CU Dems with whom she went to Ohio to canvass for the 2012 election. She's a photographer for Barnard's magazine "The Barnard Bulletin" and SGA's diversity initiative "The Faces of Barnard" and has participated in the CU intramural soccer tournaments. The child of a true California hippy, she has submitted a policy proposal for Columbia to implement composting in dining and residence halls. She can be found exploring new neighborhoods in this endless city, walking through the parks (because they remind her of home), visiting museums (The Met and AMNH being her favorites), rushing Broadway tickets, thrifting and in the basement practice rooms writing music. Triana is so excited to be a BSAR and share her Barnard experience!

Julia Kennedy, Class of 2013, grew up in Bethesda, MD, and graduated from Sidwell Friends School and is a French major at Barnard. She loves to travel, and is planning on studying abroad in Paris as a junior. At Barnard, she is a member of First-Year Class Council and is also involved with McAC and Columbia's Public Health Club. Julia has found many reasons to love Barnard (such as wonderful classes, professors, and New York City at our fingertips!), and these activities make her love Barnard even more than she thought possible. Julia is very excited to work as a BSAR and to share her enthusiasm for Barnard!

Kelsey Kephart, Class of 2014, grew up in Kent, Connecticut where she graduated from The Kent School. Currently, she is an Anthropology major also pursuing Art History, which was influenced by her visits to the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, New York as a child. She is a change-ringer and served as a tower captain, and now rings bells down at Trinity Church on Wall Street. For Kelsey, attending Barnard was a life-altering experience and she hopes to inspire prospective students to feel the same way about Barnard.

Kavisha Khanuja comes from all the way across the Hudson River, from the town of Rutherford, New Jersey. She attended Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, New Jersey for high school and her time there allowed her to develop a passion for the sciences. A member of the class of 2014, She is currently a declared biochemistry major and is looking forward to spending the next two years in labs. Outside of class, she is part of Barnard’s Speaking Fellows Program and involved with Health Leads (Community Impact Group at Columbia). In her free time, Kavisha enjoys spending her time going to performances at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and concerts throughout the city. Attending Barnard has been a worthwhile experience for Kavisha and she’s excited to share her enthusiasm with others.

Shelby Layne, Class of 2013, is from Los Angeles, CA, where she attended Harvard-Westlake School. She is majoring in Spanish and Latin American Cultures. She is involved in the Athena Scholar Program and is on their Student Advisory Board. In addition to taking classes in Spanish, she is also on her way to mastering French! She loves the Barnard language departments so much she might just have to learn a few more. Previously the Photo News Deputy of the Columbia Daily Spectator, she enjoys the photographic opportunities of New York City. She currently serves as an executive board member for the Columbia-Harlem Business Connection, is a member of the Entrepreneur Club, and is a part of the sorority Sigma Delta Tau. She is interested in pursuing a career in the field of human rights, business, and international relations. With her international interest, she spends her time raising funds for a solar-cooker rape-prevention project in Darfur, Sudan. In her free time, she enjoys dance, yoga, and running through the parks of New York.

Rebecca Lieberman, Class of 2016, hails from Dobbs Ferry, New York (Westchester County), where she graduated from Dobbs Ferry High School.  She has not yet solidified her major, but is seriously considering Urban Studies and has a passion for all things involving New York City.  When she’s not studying or obsessing over Barnard, Rebecca can most likely be found kayaking in Columbia’s Uris Pool with the Columbia Whitewater Kayaking Club, of which she is the Vice President.  Rebecca is also interested in the fashion industry and has had internships at Harper’s BAZAAR, Women’s Wear Daily, and New York Fashion Week.  Formerly a second-degree black belt and karate instructor, Rebecca enjoys exploring the City, late night trips to Pinkberry, and running in Riverside Park.

Lauren Lipsyc, Class of 2016, grew up in Beachwood, Ohio, where she graduated from Beachwood High School in 2012. She is interested in studying Economics and Psychology with a strong interest in pursuing a career in law. In her free time, Lauren loves playing tennis, listening to music, exploring NYC, volunteering at an animal shelter, and spending time with friends and family. She is so excited to be a BSAR and can’t wait to show you all of the incredible opportunities that Barnard has to offer.

Becca Litvin, Class of 2014, grew up in Rumson, NJ but attended boarding school at Blair Academy, where she spent her high school years rowing and playing soccer.  She is an English major who particularly enjoys creative writing.  Becca has many hobbies including cooking, distance running, photography, holding a position in her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, and drinking entirely too much coffee.  On campus, Becca can usually be found having lunch with friends in the Diana or at the Dodge fitness center across the street at Columbia.  Becca is so excited to be a BSAR and help represent the college she has come to appreciate and love so much!

Claudia Mack, Class of 2015, grew up in Houston, Texas, Paris, France, and Moscow, Russia, but nonetheless calls Texas home, having spent most of her life there. She is an Environmental Science major and loves animals and ballet. She has also studied Arabic for two years. She is a Visiting International Students Ambassador, on the board of the French Cultural Society, and a volunteer at a local women's shelter. She loves walking through Barnard's gates each day and considers herself incredibly fortunate to be able to study at such an amazing place in New York City. She can be found drinking green tea lattes at Starbucks or wandering aimlessly through Central Park on a sunny day.

Kassidy Meck, Class of 2014, is from North Potomac, Maryland where she graduated from Thomas S. Wootton High School.  She is majoring in Physics and hopes to apply her research to materials science and engineering fields.  On campus, she is involved in Orchesis, a student run dance organization, Columbia's InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group, and is a Barnard Babysitter.  Kassidy also loves to explore the city and often can be found volunteering at the All Stars Project, watching a Broadway show, or just simply taking a walk through central park.

Alisha Mehta, Class of 2014, grew up in Austin, Texas, where she attended Cedar Park High School. She is pursuing the 3-2 Combined Program with Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering. On campus, she is a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta, the Society of Women Engineers and the Feed Club. She also occasionally plays intramural soccer. In Alisha's free time, she can be found eating ice cream, hanging out with friends, or walking around Central Park.

Alexandra F. Mitchell, Class of 2015, is from New York City and is so excited to be a BSAR! At Barnard, she is pursuing her interests in the Spanish language as well as in Latin American prose and poetry. Outside of the classroom, she is the Head of Soliciting for Barnard and Columbia's fashion publication, Hoot Magazine, and has volunteered as a staffer for CMUNCE, Columbia's Model United Nations conference for high school students. Even though Alexandra has lived in New York City her entire life, she loves exploring different neighborhoods of the city on weekends, discovering great coffee and tea places downtown, and spending time with friends.

Adriana Moore, Class of 2015, after having spent most of her life in Sacramento, California, moved to São Paulo, Brazil at the beginning of high school. Despite the warm Latin American tropical climates, she has fallen in love with New York City. What's her major? Get ready... it's a mouthful - Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and Human Rights, with a concentration in Race & Ethnicity Studies. Adriana is passionate for the empowerment of women, especially in developing countries. On campus she has been involved in the Black Heritage Month Committee for the past two years and Barnard's Global Symposium 2013 which took place in Brazil. She enjoys: being a First-Year Focus Resident Assistant, Diana's flatbread white pizzas, and collecting new items from the Barnard Store where she also is employed.

Shaterra Overton, Class of 2014, comes from the great, shiny state of Texas where she graduated from Georgetown High School (not the Georgetown you’re thinking of). She is studying Economics and Mathematics because, in addition to silent films and 90’s television shows, they’re her two favorite things. After graduation, she’d like to become a fabulous accountant. In addition to being a BSAR, Shaterra works in the Barnard library, is a member of the Barnard Organization of Soul Sisters, plays trombone in the Columbia Marching Band, and dances in Orchesis, Columbia’s student run dance organization. She loves Barnard with all her heart and believes that here, you can be whatever you are and whatever you want to be.

*Shaterra is currently studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France!*

Laura Petschek, Class of 2014, graduated from Scarsdale High School and is former college athlete who transferred to Barnard.  She is an Art History major and is thrilled to be able to take advantage of the many world-class museums found throughout the city. She’s an enthusiastic orientation leader, who loves welcoming new students to the campus! She is a contributing writer for Her Campus Barnard and is a member of the Athena Scholars Program. She’s excited to be a BSAR, and hopes to master the skill of walking backwards while giving tours.

Sally Phillips, Class of 2015, grew up in Charleston, SC, where she developed an interest in history. Her passion for cities developed in her time at Barnard and she has since become an Urban History major. Sally attended Porter Gaud School and has been figure skating since she was twelve. She now serves as the treasurer of the Columbia University Figure Skating Club. On campus, Sally enjoys showing her school spirit as a BSAR and is a proud member of Alpha Chi Omega.

Abigail Pope-Brooks, Class of 2015, is from Brooklyn, New York, and is a graduate of Millennium High School. She is majoring in Anthropology and is an Athena Scholar. In addition to her studies, she is interning with WNET (Thirteen) helping with the wildlife documentary series Nature. She is an active member of the Asian American Alliance club and enjoys writing and spending time with friends and family. Abby is thrilled to be a BSAR and to share her knowledge of all that Barnard College and New York City have to offer!

Bella Pori, Class of 2015, is majoring in History and Human Rights because it turns out you can't literally major in Unafraid. She is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico (yes, of Breaking Bad and High School Musical fame). In addition to being a BSAR, she works in the Office of Financial Aid. She also tutors middle and high school boys through the African American Male Initiative, a job she initially got through America Reads. When not working or studying, Bella kayaks (poorly) with the Kayaking Club and is a member of the Philolexian Society, Columbia's oldest literary and debate society. She does theater with Columbia's performing arts groups whenever she can and loves to take advantage of everything New York has to offer. She loves talking about Barnard, and loves to be a BSAR!

Stefani Priskos, Class of 2016, comes to Barnard from the Heart of Dixie as a happy representative of Huntsville, AL. She is delighted to be a BSAR, as little pleases her more than sharing with others the school that she calls home! She is currently majoring in Unafraid with a concentration in Undecided. With academic interests ranging from linguistics to religion, anthropology, and beyond, she enjoys experiencing those amazing moments when all of her interests seem to collide. When she's not studying or in class, Stefani enjoys volunteering as a Visiting International Student Amabassador, innovating with Barnard-Columbia Design for America, hiking with the CU Hiking Club, knitting, and attending every single Uptown Vocal performance.

Abigail Rapoport, Class of 2013, grew up in Teaneck, NJ, graduated from The Frisch School, and then spent a gap year studying in Israel. She loves studying Art History (her major) and Psychology (her minor). Her Art History experience has been happily enhanced by the wonderful museums that New York City has to offer, and, of course, by the exceptional Art History department at Barnard. When not running Columbia/Barnard Hillel events on campus or studying in Butler Library, Abigail can be found exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reading a novel by a Barnard alumna (and they seem to write so many!), playing tennis, and spending time with her family and friends.

Zoe Schein, Class of 2013, was born in sunny Sarasota FL, and moved at age eleven to rural Peacham, VT, where cows outnumber people. After graduating from Saint Johnsbury Academy in 2009 and falling in love with everything Barnard, Zoe took a big bite of the Big Apple and found it was just what she needed. An English major, Zoe loves all things literature, and, in addition to being a BSAR, works as a Barnard College Writing Fellow. In accordance with her love for extra-curricular life on campus, Zoe also serves as the Social Justice Coordinator on the Executive Board of Columbia / Barnard Hillel, in addition to serving as the President of the McIntosh Activities Council, Barnard's Activities Board. Zoe is the proud older sister of a First-Year Barnardian, and can't wait to share her Barnard love with prospective students!

Gila Schwarzschild, Class of 2013, grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan just 44 blocks away from Barnard on 72nd street. She graduated from the Ramaz Upper School in June 2009. Gila is an economics major and is currently working on her senior thesis. Throughout her time at Barnard, Gila has been involved in the Student Government Association, McAC, and Smart Women Lead. She has written for the Columbia Daily Spectator and Inside New York. In her free time, Gila loves to test out a new recipe or go for a swim. She is always excited to share her enthusiasm about Barnard with prospective students!

Danah Screen, Class of 2015, traveled far and wide from Queens, New York. Ever since Spring '12 she has yearned for a yellow BSAR t-shirt and to be a key player in what makes Barnard amazing, in a way that goes beyond comprehension. A Biological Sciences major by day (and a handful of nights) she spends her time in lab working with top of the line professors and is so excited to start on her independent project as a junior until the day she receives her diploma. She makes it her mission in life to experience one new arts performance at either Barnard and Columbia each month with her equally art-driven friends. She loves to cook, draw, play violin, study (because she loves all her classes), attempt water-kayaking (in the fall of '13), and decorate her room with her beloved suitemates.

Lauren Seaman, Class of 2013, grew up in Easton, CT where she graduated from Joel Barlow High School in 2009. Coming from such a small town, Lauren is incredibly excited to be at Barnard, experiencing big-city life. While she is an English major, she still loves exploring other disciplines like Economics and Italian studies. Lauren is a staff writer for Columbia Spectator and a member of Peace by Peace, where she regularly teaches at an elementary school in Harlem. Since coming to New York, Lauren has advanced her interests in gospel singing and stand-up comedy, but is light-years away from any sort of super-stardom. In her spare time, Lauren can be found cheering wildly at Columbia sporting events, trekking to comedy clubs around the city, and running in Riverside Park. Lauren is a huge fan of Millie the dancing Barnard bear, the dining hall staff at Hewitt, and all things Barnard!

Kenzy Seifert, Class of 2016, was born in Portland, Oregon and graduated from Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Oregon. She plans to major in English with a minor in French and hopes to one day work in publishing. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, you'll probably find her at the movies or exploring the city. She is very excited to be working as a BSAR so she can share her experience at Barnard with others.

Rohini Sengupta, Class of 2016, is from South Brunswick, NJ, where she attended South Brunswick High School. She is really excited about being a BSAR and sharing her Barnard pride with prospective students! She is a definite Spanish & Latin American Cultures minor and considering majoring in Political Economy. On campus, she is a dancer on Columbia University's Indian classical fusion dance team, Columbia Taal, and also a member of Club Zamana, Columbia's South Asian student's association. Outside of campus, she is a passionate FC Barcelona fan and when she isn't in class you can probably find her hudled over her computer screen watching highlights of the most recent game.

Aria Sharma, Class of 2015, hails from McLean, Virginia and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology. She is a prospective Biology major, with a strong interest in pursuing a health-related career. On campus, she is involved in the McAC Time Out! Committee and the Peer Health Exchange. She loves to travel and can’t wait to study abroad.

Melanie Silverman, Class of 2015, is from the small town of San Anselmo, California. She attended high school in San Francisco at Drew School and also spent her junior year of high school in Spain with School Year Abroad. Her love of exploring new places and the lure of all Barnard has to offer brought her to Manhattan and she couldn’t be happier. She plans to major in Neuroscience and Behavior and minor in either Spanish or History. When not studying, she loves to take advantage of Barnard’s strong dance program, knit with the Barnard Knitting Club, play piano, and make New York City her home. She also loves spending time with her floor mates whom have truly become her family. She is very excited about being a BSAR and talking with prospective students about Barnard and its strong women.

Rachel Silvern, Class of 2014, grew up in Santa Monica, California and graduated from Santa Monica High School. She is happily majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Dance. In addition to running from class to class, Rachel dances in a student led dance group, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, is a member of the Library Learning Task Force, and works as a research assistant in an environmental science laboratory on campus. In her rare moments of free time, Rachel has enjoyed exploring New York City through its food and incredible concert venues, as well as all of the unique quirks the five boroughs have to offer. Barnard has provided her with an incredible opportunity to connect her academics to the larger New York City.

Sabrina Singer, Class of 2015, is pursuing a major in History with a double minor in Spanish and Political Science. Born and raised in Miami Beach, FL, she attended Ransom Everglades School. Sabrina has no free time. In addition to being a BSAR, she is the Managing Editor of The Federalist (Columbia’s satirical newspaper), the Publicity Director of the Barnard Bulletin, the program assistant for the Reacting to the Past Summer Institute, a Crisis Analyst for CIRCA (Columbia’s Model UN club), and Alumnae Chairwoman for her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. Sabrina drinks a lot of coffee. When not in club meetings or in class, she may be found loitering around the History Department seeking out a professor with whom to discuss the American Revolution.

Amrita Singh, Class of 2015, was born in India, raised in Kuwait, and resides in Chicago where she attended the University of Chicago Laboratory High Schools. She plans to major in film studies and pursue filmmaking. Interested in the arts, Amrita also enjoys discrete mathematics, calculus, and microbiology. In addition to writing and directing with Columbia University Film Productions, Amrita is a contributing artist for the Barnard Bulletin, and does media coverage for the Columbia Spectator. In her spare time, Amrita can be found reading, doodling, watching a movie, listening to music, and exploring the city with her friends. Secretly hoping for the nickname DJ Singh to catch on, she also loves crafting mixtape CDs for others! She is thrilled to attend Barnard in New York City, where she has the support from her inspiring peers to cultivate her passion, and to tackle new challenges!

Olivia Sirianni, Class of 2015, cherishes growing up in Maplewood, New Jersey and attending Mount Saint Mary High School. She has loved Barnard since her first tour back when she was a junior in high school. She only wishes she could major in the Nine Ways of Knowing because she has loved talking classes in many different disciplines. Her concentrations reflect this interest in diversity, she is a Psychology major, English minor, and Athena scholar. Olivia is also a First Year Focus Resident Assistant who could not imagine life without her enthusiastic, talented, and inspiring residents. Now that she is a BSAR she is thrilled to think that she is giving tours to women who could become her residents next year!

Leah Sodowick, Class of 2016, grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where she attended Council Rock High School North. Leah is incredibly excited to be living in the big city and attending her dream school. At Barnard, she is pursuing her interests in Psychology and French. Outside of the classroom, Leah is a volunteer for Peace by Peace, a Barnard Babysitter, and member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. In her free time, Leah enjoys traveling, listening to music, exploring local shops and restaurants, and sharing laughs with friends!

Hannah Steinhardt, Class of 2015, hails from the foggy city of San Francisco, CA and she grew up in the nearby suburb of San Mateo, CA. She is beyond excited to be serving as a BSAR and to help spread the Barnard love to all of the prospective students and families. She is a political economy major and a psychology minor. Beyond being a BSAR, Hannah is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, co-chair of Camp Kesem Columbia University, and serves on two SGA appointed committees. During her first year at Barnard, she made it a goal to explore somewhere new in the city every weekend so it's basically impossible to choose a favorite spot in NYC!

Charlene Thrope, Class of 2014, grew up in Arlington, MA and graduated from Gann Academy — the New Jewish High School of Greater Boston.  She is majoring in Economics and Mathematics and is also in the Double Degree program with the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she is majoring in Talmud and Rabbinics.  Charlene is an active member of the Columbia/Barnard Hillel and the McAC Multicultural Committee.  From running in Riverside Park to teaching at a local synagogue, Charlene loves taking advantage of the many opportunities New York City has to offer.  She is so excited to share her love of Barnard with prospective students!

Amanda Thum, Class of 2014, transferred to Barnard in the Spring of 2012. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and is majoring in Religion with a concentration in Judaism. Having spent a significant amount of time in Israel (both prior to and since coming to Barnard), Amanda's academic interests tend to revolve around faith, religious conflict, and Israel. While still in her freshman year at Stony Brook University, Amanda decided that she wanted to go into the military, and is currently a Cadet 3rd Class in United States Air Force ROTC, which takes up much of her free time! She hopes to commission into the US Air Force in Fall 2015. Amanda absolutely loves anything acrobatic--trapeze, gymnastics, dance, all of it. She hopes to become a licensed Skydiving Instructor one day, and loves to fly. On breaks, she can usually be found traveling, eating excessive amounts of Thai food, and enjoying Brooklyn.

Dhvani Tombush, Class of 2015, is a citizen of Nigeria, born and raised, though her mother is Indian and her father Nigerian. She loves both my countries passionately. Before she came to Barnard, she moved from Nigeria to South Africa to study A-Levels at the African Leadership Academy for two years. Dhvani loves being at Barnard and if she had the choice to be admitted again, it would be a higher pick on her list, probably first, than it was when she chose to come here. Dhvani will probably major in political science with a minor in economics and African history. She is a tutor at America Reads, and a member of the African students Association. She is very interested in politics and plan to go to law school someday.

Sarah Tully, Class of 2013, was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she attended University of Chicago Laboratory High School. She is a Linguistics major studying Arabic and Spanish. At Barnard, Sarah is a peer educator for the Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Center and a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. At home in Chicago she is dedicated to her Irish dance school, the Trinity Academy, where she is a performer, competitor and instructor. Here in New York you will most likely find her at an Equinox fitness center kick boxing class, or hanging with friends in the Diana Center.

Sarah Vallancourt, Class of 2015 is from Middletown, New Jersey and graduated from Middletown High School South. She plans to double major in Art History and Religion and hopes to study abroad during her time at Barnard in either France or Italy. In her free time, Sarah loves going to museums, plays, and tasting all of the wonderful types of food that New York City has to offer. She loves Barnard and can't wait to share her love with prospective students!

Olivia Vehslage, Class of 2016, is from Hartford, Connecticut, although she attended the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor. She’s planning on a double major in English with a concentration in creative writing and Italian. She is also on the pre-law track.  In addition to being a BSAR, Olivia has a steady job as a Barnard Babysitter, which mainly involves chasing little children all over Manhattan. She is also a member of the Columbia Democrats and the Columbia Political Union. When she’s not working, she can be found avidly working on her novel in some outdoor area, cheering on a favorite sports team or finding a way to lug her golf clubs up to Van Cortland Park.  Barnard has been a dream come true for her and she is immensely grateful for all of the opportunities that have come her way as a result.

Jess Whitlum-Cooper, Class of 2014, grew up in London, England, and moved to New York with her family four years ago. She is thrilled to have found Manhattan and, most importantly, Barnard. She loves writing for the Columbia Spectator and Barnard Bulletin, as well as participating in Athena Leadership Labs. She also served on the board of 85 Broads. She is a Comparative Literature with a concentration in Hispanic Studies. When she isn’t madly running from one side of campus to the other, Jess is generally to be found in coffee shops, art museums and theaters, or just hanging out with her friends.

*Jess is currently studying abroad in Madrid, Spain!*

Elizabeth (Ellie) Williams, Class of 2016, was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. Despite having attended the Latin School of Chicago on the city’s north side, she is a committed White Sox fan. Elizabeth recently joined the Athena Scholars Program and is a prospective Women, Gender and Sexuality major with Pre-law. In addition to working as a BSAR, Ellie is involved in Columbia’s Club Water Polo team, the Barnard/Columbia Choir, the Emerging Leaders Program, and is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In her free time, Ellie loves to travel with her family, sing, and play with her dog.

Gia Yannekis, Class of 2013, grew up in Brookline, MA, where she attended Brookline High School. A Biology major and Athena Scholar, Gia hopes to someday combine her interests in biology and sociology through work in public health. Until then, Gia is busy photographing for the Barnard Bulletin, volunteering at St. Luke’s Hospital and working as a lab assistant for the Biology Department. On Saturdays, she can be found exploring the City with children from Harlem as a coordinator for Columbia Kids. Gia has also been known to talk a lot and enjoys sharing her love for Barnard as an Orientation Leader. In her free time, she enjoys eating Magnolia cupcakes with her best friend (and co-author of this bio), attempting to rush Wicked on Broadway, and people watching on the 1 train.

Hye-Jin Yun, Class of 2015, hails from San Francisco, CA, where she graduated from Lowell High School. She is part of the Athena Scholar Program and is a potential Neuroscience & Behavior major. At Barnard, she loves serving as a member of the First-Year Class Council, working at Barnard’s Communications Department, and being part of the Emerging Leaders Program. In her spare time, she enjoys running at Central Park (everyday!), dancing, exploring NYC, indulging in Greek yogurt and fruits, and rushing for Broadway tickets! She is ecstatic to be a BSAR and cannot wait to share her love for Barnard with the prospective students!