Meet Your Orientation Team

Congratulations! We are so excited that you will be joining us this fall! As Orientation Leaders, in addition to helping plan for Orientation, we will also assist you with move-in and getting settled, answer your questions, provide you with academic and social experiences and most importantly help you make a connection with the UHCL Community! Scroll down to meet your Orientation Staff and Orientaion Leaders.

Orientation Staff

Name: Kara Kurczeski Coordinator of Women's and LGBT Services Advice to new students: Although it might be difficult, my advice to new students is always to get out there and meet new people! I know it can be scary at times to go up to someone you don’t know and introduce yourself, especially if you are uncomfortable with the language. But, the nervousness will be worth it when you can look back on your experiences at UHCL and think about all the friends you’ve made. Friends always make hard times better and good times great!!!

Orientation Leaders

	Name: Mai Pham Major: Accounting and Healthcare Administration My Experience:International Orientation, to me, is essential and helpful for International student, 'cuz that was what I was first looking forward to when I came to UHCL. As a foreign new student, I needed some kind of resources from the Uni that specifically fitted with MY situation, NOT with other American students' in general ....Meeting old international students is also a good chance to ask questions and learn experiences that only international students could understand the best...
	Name: Aniruddha Barapatre Major: Computer Information Systems My Experience: Coming to USA from a far away different country was an overwhelming experience, not to say I was very excited to reach out to new avenues. But the new world has its effects on me, might be the same way as Columbus must have felt the first time. This is where I was helped by the Orientation program of Intercultural and International Student Services (IISS) Office. Not only the office and its staff helped me overcome the initial culture shock, they made sure that I would be subject to all the precise information through guided orientation. The information given to us was correct to the latest detail. The orientation helped us to gel with students from various other countries and get acclimatized to university and its conventions in day to day life.
	Name: Minh Nguyen Major: MBA My Experience: I like the warm and hospitable atmosphere at the orientation. The volunteers were very friendly and helpful. I feel no space between current and new students. Attendants were served kindly with food, drinks and lunch.It could be better if people speak not too fast because there are a lot of new international students and they need time to get familiar with American voice. It would help new comers understand and absorb essential info more easily. The info we got was useful and consise, especially with brouchers/flyers with info and contacts. We know whom we need to ask for help with a specific issue (also where and when).
	Name: Ravi Vanjani Major:Computer Science My Experience: I believe that for every international student, coming to United States would have been a dream at one or other stage of their life. It was the same in my case. At first, when i came here, life seemed so difficult. As soon as i attended the orientation, all those fears evaporated. Everybody present at the orientation made me feel at home. Dr. Pande and Mrs. Bullock were very warm and friendly with all the students guiding them very well. All the ambassadors and orientation leaders helped us acclimatize to the university environment. Attending the orientation is something all new students should do to reduce their allayed fears and settle down into something wonderful.