Reorganization splits SOPPS admission and student support services
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences enhances recruitment and student support
With change comes opportunity, and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) took advantage of an opportunity when filling a vacancy recently.
“Both admissions and student affairs are crucial to the school,” said Dean Kanneboyina Nagaraju. “It made sense to divide these areas to enable us to focus on recruiting quality students into our PharmD program, and then to provide them the best support possible after they arrive here.”
The reorganization included hiring a director of admissions and a director of student affairs, as well as a student success advisor, bringing the total staff for the two areas from four to six. The offices, which work closely with each other, each also have an administrative assistant.
Erica Folli, a recent hire as the student success advisor in the Office of Student Affairs, works with PharmD students to help them determine their educational goals, identify how to achieve them and track their progress.
In the Office of Admissions, Christianna Friedrichsen serves as the admissions and student services specialist. She assists the director in recruiting students through various communications, visits and interviews, and also makes presentations about SOPPS to potential students.
The new director of student affairs, James “JJ” Brice, came on board in September 2022, after working in Residential Life for Binghamton University for several years. In his role, he provides support to students on a day-to-day basis. His duties run the gamut from assisting with student organizations and activities to ensuring students have appropriate academic and mental health support.
“Our goal in student affairs is to help all of our students be successful here,” Brice said. “We’re able to get to know each of them as individuals, while we also help with the many student organizations we have at SOPPS.”
Maja Szostak began her duties as director of admissions in January 2023, after working in the same role for SUNY Broome Community College for seven years.
“The recruiting environment for Doctor of Pharmacy programs in New York state and nationwide is extremely competitive, so I’m working with my staff to reach as many potential PharmD students as possible,” said Szostak. “When we get them to visit us in person, the chance of them enrolling is excellent!”