The heartbeat of the Speaking Center is the student staff. Through their roles as
consultants, senior consultants and program assistants, these students provide campus-wide
support to help peers prepare for, practice and polish their public speaking. Learn
more about the Speaking Center student team here!
The Speaking Center recruits and trains selected undergraduate students to serve as
peer consultants in the center every fall and spring semester. Consultants hold regular
office hours staffing the Speaking Center and take part in a weekly seminar class
on public speaking, communication skills development, facilitation and consulting.
Speaking Center consultants receive academic internship credit for their time commitment.
Applications for fall '25 consultants will open mid-semester!!!
Details and a link to the application are posted on the Internship Opportunity webpage.
We welcome inquiries about the position! Talk with a current consultant or send an
email if you have any questions.
Senior Consultants
Senior Consultants are undergraduates who serve in a variety of roles that incorporate
oral communication skills development. They support first-semester consultants and
help staff the Speaking Center while also providing outreach to the campus community.
When available, senior consultants facilitate workshops about oral communication and
presentation skills to a variety of audiences including student organizations, student
leader groups, classrooms and others.
The Speaking Center senior consultants have all served at least one semester as a
consultant and have successfully completed the Speaking Center consultant seminar.
Program Assistants
Students who have successfully completed both the consultant and senior consultant
roles have the opportunity to serve as Speaking Center program assistants. These students
support senior consultants and also facilitate a variety of outreach and programming
initiatives to assist in the Speaking Center's support of students' public speaking
success.
Meet the Fall 2024 Speaking Center student staff team!
Consultants:
Jenna Allen, Consultant
Jenna Allen
Consultant
Year: Junior
Major(s)/minor(s): Environmental Science and Biology with a Geology minor
Hometown: Sodus, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? Learning more about public speaking in classes was a really fun and meaningful experience
for me. It was something I struggled with in the past and I thought I'd never be good
at it. So, I want to keep improving while helping others do the same. Also, I love
power point nights!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The best way to improve public speaking is to practice and the speaking center is
a low stakes place to learn and do that.
Public speaking advice: At the beginning of a presentation give a clear outline of what you're talking about
to help your audience follow along and organize the wonderful information you're telling
them!
Joshua Arnold, Consultant
Joshua Arnold
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Business and Sociology
Hometown: Westchester, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I genuinely enjoy public speaking and want others to have the confidence and skills
to enjoy it too.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit the Speaking Center whether or not they have aspects of public
speaking that they are actively trying to work on. Everybody has room for improvement,
so everybody will benefit from a session with the Speaking Center.
Public speaking advice: Don't think of it as a speech, think of it as a well-researched conversation. You
know what you are talking about. You deserve to feel confident about that.
Irene Cui, Consultant
Irene Cui
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Business Administration
Hometown: Queens, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I want about helping others overcome challenges in public speaking.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is a great way to prepare beforehand for a presentation and improve
your own public speaking skills.
Public speaking advice: Trust yourself and be sure to practice your speech beforehand.
Alexis Galant, Consultant
Alexis Galant
Consultant
Year: Junior
Major(s)/minor(s): English Literature and Creative Writing with an Education and Scholars Minor
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I want to gain more public speaking experience in preparation for becoming a teacher.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is a great tool to receive non-judgmental, second-hand feedback
from other students.
Public speaking advice: Get to know your topic well, and try to enjoy talking about it! If you're confident
about what you're speaking on, the quality of your presentations will naturally improve.
Elise Harshbarger, Consultant
Elise Harshbarger
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): English with a minor in Biology
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? Communication is a fundamental skill, one that I am looking forward to improving
myself, as well as helping others.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is a resource to help students build confidence and each meeting
can be tailored to fit a student's needs.
Public speaking advice: A good presentation isn't a memorized one. Sometimes it's best to leave room for
spontaneity.
Sophia Herrick, Consultant
Sophia Herrick
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Integrative Neuroscience
Hometown: Elmira, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I want to create a safe space where other students can feel comfortable practicing
their public speaking/presentations and expressing their concerns regarding these
while receiving constructive and instructive feedback from someone who has struggled
with these challenges themselves. Additionally, I view this role as an opportunity
for personal growth, where I can further improve my own public speaking/presentation
skills.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is a great resource for students to improve their public speaking
and presentation skills. Having confidence in public speaking, along with effective
communication, is a skill that is beneficial far beyond the classroom.
Public speaking advice: Remember to pace your speaking, be knowledgeable on your topic, and enjoy yourself.
Additionally having confidence in yourself is very helpful and goes a long way!
Rachel Hodorov, Consultant
Rachel Hodorov
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Philosophy, Politics, and Law
Hometown: Manhattan, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I want to have a positive impact on my community, and help myself and others improve
oral communication, visual presentation, and overall speech-giving presence in a supportive
environment.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is like your secret weapon for nailing presentations. Here, you
can practice and polish your skills in a relaxed setting. Plus, you'll get helpful
feedback from your peers to boost your confidence and make your presentations even
better!
Public speaking advice: Don't forget to take a deep breath before you start speaking. It's a simple trick,
but it really helps you stay calm and focused. And remember, we're all here to cheer
each other on!
Saloni Mahyavanshi, Consultant
Saloni Mahyavanshi
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Computer Science
Hometown: Dubai, UAE
Why are you working as a consultant? I am interested in helping people get over the fear of presenting in public and also
help myself better my communication skills. I would like to help the students have
better and effective communication with people.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Visiting the Speaking Center is a great help for students as they prepare for situations
where being fluent in communication is mandatory.
Santiago Perez, Consultant
Santiago Perez
Consultant
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/minor(s): Business Administration
Hometown: °®¶¹´«Ã½, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? Communication skills are some of the most important skills in every day life and it
seems like a great opportunity to improve my own, and help others with their skill
as well!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit the speaking center because it's a valuable tool for feedback
and help with presenting which is something practically everyone has to do.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Practice can help make you more comfortable once you start presenting, making you
appear more confident and knowledgeable. Some good hype up music is also crucial prior
to any big presentation.
Lillian Thorne, Consultant
Lillian Thorne
Consultant
Year: Junior
Major(s)/minor(s): Computer Science
Hometown: Cicero, NY
Why are you working as a consultant? I want to help others get more comfortable with public speaking and I want to improve
upon my skills. I have always been a performer but I want to be more comfortable speaking
as myself rather than as a character.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center is so helpful. It provides useful feedback in a kind and respectful
manner and is such a good resource for students.
Public speaking advice: Take a deep breath! Public speaking is only as scary as you make it. If you prepare
and be confident in yourself, you will be fine.
Why are you working as a senior consultant? I want to share what I've learned over the years and help individuals grow their
public speaking skills, all the while further developing my own public voice and communication
skills. I thrive when working with and meeting new people, so I'm excited to meet
the students who work at, as well as visit, the Speaking Center.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center at °®¶¹´«Ã½ serves as a valuable resource for students,
catering to individuals at all points of the public speaking spectrum and provides
a safe place for students to practice and refine their public speaking abilities.
Public speaking advice: Really try to know your material well, that way you won't have to worry about referring
to your notes and your confidence and personality and really shine through.
Brooke Burke, consultant
Brooke Burke
Senior Consultant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Integrative Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Why are you working as a senior consultant? I want to help students at °®¶¹´«Ã½ feel more confident about their public speaking
and oral communication skills, as well as promote the Speaking Center's resources
as it can be of extreme help to students of any major!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center provides personalized advice on anything from a presentation for
a class to your overall public speaking skills. Almost every career path and major
involves some form of oral communication, and the Speaking Center can supply the tools
necessary to improve upon yourself regardless of the experience you have with presenting.
Public speaking advice: Confidence is key: Even if you aren't feeling too confident in your abilities to
present to an audience or are feeling nervous, acting as if you are sure of your self
will cultivate real confidence and allow you to connect with your audience!
Carl Zou, consultant
Carl Zou
Senior Consultant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Finance and MIS
Hometown: Lynbrook, NY
Why are you working as a senior consultant? I want to develop my own speaking skills as well as assist others in their public
speaking journey.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit the speaking center to build confidence and improve their presentation
skills.
Public speaking advice: Body language is a very important and overlooked aspect of communication. When presenting
or speaking in public, always be sure to stand up straight, chest out, standing in
a shoulder-width stance. Make eye contact and be sure to smile!
Program Assistants:
Brynn Nelsen, program assistant
Brynn Nelsen
Intern
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Human Development with minors in History and Education
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Why are you working as an intern? I think the Speaking Center is an amazing resource, and I want to help it thrive for
as long as I can!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center helps you grow your confidence with speaking in front of people,
professionally. Everyone can use practice with that!
Public speaking advice: Let your personality shine through - don't pretend to be something you are not!
Gino DeLeone, program assistant
Gino DeLeone
Program Assistant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Elmira, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? Program Assistants get to promote the Speaking Center to the student body directly,
bringing greater awareness about the Center's existence and benefits!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center helps make presenting far less daunting - it gives you confidence
in your presentation and helps you improve your delivery, giving you skills you can
use in the rest of your academic career and beyond!
Public speaking advice: Finding a way to have fun with your presentation makes it far less intimidating, and
far more enjoyable!
Jared Richman, consultant
Jared Richman
Program Assistant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Biology
Hometown: Plainview, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? I enjoyed working as a senior consultant last semester and wanted to keep spreading
the word on a larger scale about the benefits of the Speaking Center.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Everybody struggles with public speaking in some capacity, so the Speaking Center
is there to help alleviate those fears and build new strengths.
Public speaking advice: If you maintain eye contact with the audience, your body language will adjust, and
you will appear more confident.
Madelyn Hoskins, program assistant
Madelyn Hoskins
Program Assistant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/minor(s): Biology with a minor in Forensic Health
Hometown: Endwell, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? I wanted to be a program assistant because I overall love the Speaking Center environment.
I also want to further support and bring new ideas to the Speaking Center!
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit the Speaking Center because it is a safe and comfortable environment
for them to further develop their public speaking skills!
Public speaking advice: Turn your fears of public speaking into confidence!
Michelle Boateng, consultant
Michelle Boateng
Program Assistant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Human Development
Hometown: Ghana but live in the Bronx, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? I am working as a program assistant to connect with others and improve in my speaking
skills.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit if they need help with a presentation or need some writing tips
for presenting.
Public speaking advice: Connecting with the audience - making the audience feel included in the speech can
keep the group engaged and help them connect with the information you are presenting.
Make sure you are making eye contact with the audience and ask questions to encourage
input from them.
Olivia Taverni, senior consultant
Olivia Taverni
Program Assistant
Year: Junior
Major(s)/minor(s): Art History, with a minor in Studio Arts (Drawing)
Hometown: Queens, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? I want to help others feel confident about their public speaking skills.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? Students should visit the Speaking Center for useful advice on public speaking and
presentions from students just like you!
Public speaking advice: Eye contact is crucial to keep an audience engaged while you speak to them.
Samuel Ehrlinger, program assistantSamuel Ehrlinger
Program Assistant
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): History and Philosophy double major with a minor in Education
Hometown: Farmington, New York
Why are you working as a program assistant? Public speaking is something that I have had many opportunities to improve upon. I
believe that the best way to improve is to give presentations, and that many classes
to not give opportunities to do so. The Speaking Center provides one with many opportunities
to do this. I hope to continue to assist students in improving while focusing more
of my attention to outreach and make the great services that the speaking center offers
known to more people around campus.
Why should students visit the Speaking Center? The Speaking Center provides a wonderful opportunity to get feedback on how to improve
a presentation that you have to give. Not only that, though; the Speaking Center gives
plenty of advice to improve your presentation skills at large. If you plan to go into
a career that involves presenting or communication (and all careers do to some degree),
a visit to the Speaking Center is a must.
Public speaking advice: The best advice I could give is to incorporate humor into your presentation. Humor
is a wonderful tool that can add so much to a presentation, and I find it unfortunate
it is not utilized more.
