RBA Overview

• Building Community


• Roles and Responsibilities


• McCormick Hall


• Next House


• Chocolate City


• Spanish House

RAA

Bio

Ana Chen

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD.
Course: 15.
Activities/Hobbies: ATS, UROP, reading, cooking.

Why I became an RAA: to help freshmen have an awesome first year at Next and MIT!

Ellen McIsaac

I'm Ellen, from Avon, CT.  I'm a Course III sophomore with a really cool UROP on nanowires.  By the end of the year I'll probably have a double major or minor, but there are so many things I'm interested in, I'm not sure what it will be yet. I have a lot of diverse interests and hobbies.  I've been making and selling jewelry for nearly ten years, and I've been knitting for even longer.  I was a ballerina for fourteen years. I love to bake, and I have a penchant for tea.  I write poetry, I speak French, and my favorite color is purple. I collect teddy bears and giant microbes. I've been heavily involved in math/science outreach programs for the past six years, including starting some of my own.  I have a love of all things nerdy, and I own five graphing calculators.  I especially love robots (FIRST robotics anyone?)  At MIT, a lot of the things that I'm involved in seem to revolve around event planning.  I really like organization. I was on the Class of 2012 Council last year, I'm one of the SWE Outreach Chairs, and I'm one of the Career Fair Directors (you definitely should go to that).  I also love Next House.  Besides being one of your RAAs, I'm also on Next Exec, and I was the 2009 CPW Chair.  If you came to CPW, you might have met me already. I'm really friendly, and I'm excited to meet all the 2013s!  I'd be happy to answer any questions you have... and as you've seen from the range of my interests, I probably can. Welcome to MIT!

Shion An

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: music, singing, reading, rock climbing, cooking, photography, trying out new restaurants in Boston/Cambridge.
Activities: Cross Products, Asian Christian Fellowship, UROP, Kappa Alpha Theta, Next RA, Leadership Training Institute
Course: 5 with minor in 20

Why I became an RAA: I had an amazing RAA for my freshman year! Not only did she help me choose classes and majors, she was a friend and a mentor to me. I want to be like who my RAA was to me to the new freshmen class and get to know the freshmen well!

Ginger Yang

Class of 2012 is a current Nextie hailing from San Jose, California majoring in Course 20 (Bioengineering) and minoring in Course 9 (Brain and Cognitive Sciences). When she first stepped onto MIT grounds as a little hyperactive freshman she became awed by its awesomeness and intimidated by its formidable psets, exams, and building numbers. Thankfully, she had support from her adviser and RAA, which made her want to become a RAA and help incoming freshmen make the adjustment to MIT life. Now, she is still hyperactive, and still little, but has gained a year of wisdom to boot. When she is not running around Next House, she enjoys playing the pipa, reading, and taking pictures.

Emily Jackson

Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Course: 10B
Hobbies: Playing flute and piano, reading, photography, woodworking.

Why I became an RAA: I had a great experience with my RAA and advising group last year. I wanted the opportunity to get to know the class of 2013 and to use the knowledge and experience I have gained thus far to help them to have an exciting, successful first year.

My favorite things to do in Boston: Hear the Boston Symphony play; eat at Mike's Pastries in North End

Jenny Zhou

Hometown: Skokie, IL
Hobbies: Arts & Crafts, Cooking, Board Games, and Exploring
Course: 20

I became a RAA because I want to serve as a supportive role model, like the RAAs who have been there for me in the past. I loved the RBA program my freshmen year! I went to as many events as I could and I met a lot of people this way. It made advising so much more special. It was also great just chatting with all the RAAs on random occasions. Be sure to come say hi to me! 

Anton(y) Nguyen

Hometown: Malden, MA.
Hobbies: Attempting to play the piano, blogging (4 years and I'm still going! Just like the Energizer bunny!), learning about languages, riding the money-sucking entity that is the MBTA, doing computer-y things, watching anime, and collecting bracelets on my left wrist until I lose blood circulation (just kidding).

Course: 24-2, Linguistics and Philosophy

Why RAA? In my freshman year, I had a wonderful time with RBA, an amusing adviser (Dave!), a remarkable RAA (Amanda!), and a great group of friends I still stay in contact with. Now, I'm getting a chance to be a part of that, but this time, I'll be guiding  new Nexties into the experience that is MIT.

Lindsey Shi

Hometown: Germantown, MD
Hobbies: Next Act! Syncopasian! Children's Card Games!
Course: X

I decided to become an RAA because: I had a really good experience being in RBA and I want to pass that on, if I can.

Gloria Yang

I am originally from New York City. I plan on double majoring in management (course 15) and mathematics with computer science (course 18c). I really like to organize events and I like to sing, so I have been involved in various extracurriculars related to that. Other than that, I really love to meet people which is why I became an RAA!

Jose Villa-Uribe

Hey everyone.  I'll be one of your RAA's next year. I'm originally from Colombia but have now lived in Houston for 7 years. I'm a rising junior in Course 7 and 5 (Biology and Chemistry). Outside of class you can find me UROPing in HST, working in the MIT ambulance, or playing ping-pong and tennis”.

William Morejón

'Hey Everyone! I’m very excited for all of you to make Next House your homes for the '09-'10 school year. I come from beautiful Southern California (and coming to Boston for 2 years has only further reassured me of that fact...you'll see) where the sun always shines. Speaking of California weather, it's also the perfect weather for my sport of choice: TENNIS! I'm basically a tennis freak, every time a major tournament is on, I drop everything and just sit and watch. I am pretty involved in IM Tennis on campus, so if you ever have any questions about that feel free to drop me a line.

So what do I do here at MIT? Thank you for asking, I am what we call 'Course 20', short for biological engineering and so far, it's been great! I am also pretty involved in a program that teaches high school students in the area and have definitely enjoyed every second of that.

I love being an RAA (Residential Associate Advisor)! I remember being a freshman and having infinite questions regarding life at MIT and luckily I had a great RAA. I think the people in the program are amazing and really strive to make the transition to college as easy as possible for everyone. This would be my second year as an RAA and let me tell you that I had a BLAST with my kids last year. I couldn't say no to a second shot. Don't be shy if you run into me, I
promise to say hi back! :D'

Thilani Bogoda

Hi!! (or should I say "Ayubowan" in the Sri Lankan way) My name is Thilani and I'm from Sri Lanka (a beautiful island with plenty of sunshine. Maybe Boston would like to borrow some?). I'm a junior in Electrical Engineering. I'm passionate about circuit designing (you probably wouldn't want me to get started on this subject unless you got about 60 minutes of patience to spare). Other than circuit designing I love reading, traveling and my newly found interest kayaking.

This is my second year as a RAA. Its great to be a RAA at Next House because we get to plan cool events with lots of free food for you guys and be a part of your freshman year at MIT.  I’m very excited to meet all of you in August!!!

Amanda Fried

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY!
Hobbies: Sewing, making costumes, reading, taking over the world via my computer, languages, singing 70s/80s/90s music constantly, My sorority!
Course: X

Why I wanted to be an RAA: I love to advise incoming freshman about how awesome MIT is and the best way to navigate through some of the challenges freshman face.  I know I had a little trouble beginning here, and hopefully I can use that experience to ease freshmen ways into MIT and help them have more fun!  Plus I love to meet incoming freshman, and RBA is one of the best ways to do so!

Patrick Wu

Hometown: Acton, MA
Hobbies: piano (sight reading), table tennis (recreational-ish), hanging out (with friends), eating (food), sleeping (when I get the chance)
Course: 20, 15 minor

Why you became RAA: freshmen are awesome!!

Stephanie Senna

I am a course 20 pre-med from Jakarta, Indonesia. In my spare hours not psetting or getting lost in equations, I like to sing, watch movies, write some random semi-poetic stuff, or go and talk to people. It's my deepest joy to help and connect with people, so you are more than welcome to come to me with questions, updates, or even random topics! Especially you, freshmen, because I would be very happy if my own experiences in adapting to MIT could benefit you. Hope to see you around Next House and Campus!

Rebecca Reed

Hometown: Newtown, CT
Hobbies: Juggling, unicycling, diablo, reading fantasy/sci-fi books, rock/tree climbing, poetry, linguistics, playing with Photoshop, crocheting, reading web comics, making/wearing ridiculous costumes
Course: ??? (Undeclared, but possibly 3, 6, 8, or 16)

Why I became an RAA: I had a lot of fun being in RBA as a freshman this past year and I also wanted to meet freshmen and be there to help out if I can.

Kevin Hu

Mallika Randeria