Laila Shishineh,

Assistant Director of FYE

lailas@umbc.edu | (410) 455-3737

With more than seven years of experience in the higher education field working with orientation and programs for first year students, Laila will provide the CSI students with leadership and guidance throughout the six week summer bridge program and beyond. Laila has served as the Program Coordinator for the CSI program since May 2010 and looks forward to getting to know all of the new students coming to UMBC. In addition to planning the summer bridge program, Laila will continue to meet with and advise all the students that go through CSI during their first year at UMBC. Laila’s passion is to help all new students have a great experience at UMBC and serve as a resource for them along the way!

Graduate Student Intern and Peer Mentors

A graduate student intern and two to three peer mentors will also work with CSI students throughout the six-week experience. The graduate student intern is hired from the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) and comes from another college or university to help our new students with their transition to campus. The two to three peer mentors are current UMBC students who are selected to tutor and supervise the CSI students. These current students can give CSI students the inside scoop about what it means to be an undergraduate at UMBC. The peers will attend classes with the CSI students, provide academic support, live in the residence halls with the CSI students, and attend all workshops and field trips. They will stay in touch with the CSI students even after the summer is over.

CSI 2013 Student Staff

2012 Student Staff | CSI Alumni

Liz Pack, NODA Graduate Intern
Undergrad Major: Psychology and Music
Grad Program: Higher Education Administration
epack11@gmail.com

Hi I'm Liz,

I currently live in Texas but grew up in Maryland (my brother is a UMBC alum!) and I plan on being a professional flutist my entire life (but working with college students is way more fun!) I am also attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Tar Heels! Michael Jordan and I are buds!)

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April Berardi
Major: Modern Language and Linguistics
Minor: Psychology
Sophomore
aberard1@umbc.edu

Hi I'm April

My favorite part of the CSI 2012 Program was making a group of friends who still hang out and keep in touch. Meeting people was one of the things I worried about most with coming to college and CSI helped with that. Also, the trips were pretty awesome. We went to Six Flags, Baltimore Aquarium, and on service trips..

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Geraldine Ezeka
Major: Biochemistry
Freshmen
gezeka1@umbc.edu

Hi I'm Geraldine,

I am a CSI student staffer. Being a part of the CSI Program is a great way to start of college. You get the advantage to come into the school meeting new people, as well as coming in with credits. It’s quite beneficial. You also get the advantage to “not seem like a freshman.” Since you’ve been on campus for 6 weeks, you know where everything is already.

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Jalen Sanders
Major: English Communications Technology Track
Junior
jalens1@umbc.edu

Hi I am Jalen,

I enjoy dance, sports, the Nets, and I am also a very social person. I am from Baltimore but I enjoy the Pennsylvania life from time to time.

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