Student Mentor Squad (SMS)

The Student Mentor Squad (SMS) is a group of fifth-year architecture students who have been peer advisors, maintained strong GPAs, and studied abroad. They are dedicated to extending the peer advisor-advisee relationship beyond the first year in order to foster relationships between upperclassmen and underclassmen.

Mentors will host forums and discussion groups, as well as generate publications. Architecture students will have the opportunity to engage with mentors about electives, study abroad opportunities, off-campus housing, and a host of other subjects. The SMS is a vital resource for younger students as they navigate their way through the architecture program.

2026-2027 Squad

	Aaron ’27 Aaron is a 5th year student from Princeton, NJ pursuing a B.Arch and minor in Business. He has been actively involved in several different roles within organizations such as Architecture Student Organization, AIAS, and Honors Architecture, and is also a member of the Renee Crown Honors Program. In 2025, he studied in London and participated in the VC studio at Syracuse. Currently, he is an RA of the first-year Arch LLC and works at the fabrication lab in Slocum. Outside of architecture, he enjoys watching horror movies and cooking.  Reach out at @aaron_xis or axi101@syr.edu
	Lauren ’27 Lauren Martinez is a fifth-year architecture student from San Diego, California, minoring in Project Management. At Syracuse, she is involved in the School of Architecture as an Architecture Ambassador and Undergraduate Program Assistant for ARC 141 with Professor Joseph Godlewski. Outside of architecture, she is a member of the Panhellenic sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma and is involved in Club Soccer and Club Spike ball. Lauren has taken advantage of Syracuse’s study abroad opportunities, spending semesters in London and Florence and participating in the Japan Summer Program. Professionally, Lauren has interned at HMC Architects, Brian Church Architecture, and Gensler, where she spent two summers working on higher education projects. Following graduation, she will return to Gensler as a Technical Designer in the San Diego office. Lauren lives by the idea that you can’t design for people without being one. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, ask questions, meet new people, and find your own balance in architecture school.
	Bruno ’27 Bruno Yeh is a fifth-year architecture student from Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to Student Mentor Squad (SMS), Bruno is an Architecture Ambassador, a previous Peer Advisor, and currently an Undergraduate Program Associate (UPA) for the ARC207 Studio: Cultivating Deep Ground. He is also a member of Alpha Rho Chi (APX), the co-ed professional fraternity for architecture and design. Bruno has interned at both construction and design firms. He spent last summer working on the O’Hare International Airport - Concourse D expansion at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Chicago office. Academically, he has studied in both Florence and London and is working towards his undergraduate thesis as a SOURCE Research Fellow. Outside of architecture, Bruno loves to travel, try new restaurants, throw ceramics, play soccer, and is currently training for his first half-marathon.
	Adam ’27 Adam Wingert is a fifth-year architecture student from London, Ontario. During his previous four years at the School of Architecture, he has been involved in Architecture Ambassadors and Peer Advising, coordinating the creative team this fall. During third and fourth year, he studied globally first in New York City and then in Florence. Outside of the SoA, Adam is the president of the Curling Club and a member of the Orange Robotics E-board as a design lead. He also enjoys cooking, travelling, watching films, and spending time with friends. Professionally, Adam works part time for C&S Companies here in Syracuse after completing a summer internship with the group this year. He has also completed internships with FreelandBuck in New York City and the construction management department of Goodwill over previous summers where he has worked on retail, residential, renovations, and competition entries.
	Gavin ’27 Gavin is a fifth-year architecture student from Kingston, Massachusetts. During his time at Syracuse, he has participated in ASO and AIAS, served as a Peer Advisor for 3 years, and was an active member of the Architecture Ambassadors program. During his third year, he had an incredible spring semester studying abroad in London. He is also pursuing a minor in Strategic Management at the Whitman School. Professionally, Gavin has gained experience working for a design build firm with locations in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Boston, and at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. In his role, he has contributed to documentation and design development, as well as transforming their Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows with a focus on automation. Beyond architecture, he is an avid baker and self-proclaimed cookie connoisseur. He also loves hiking and exploring new cities.
	Jackson ’27 Jackson is a fifth-year student from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has been actively involved in several organizations on campus, including Architecture Student Organization, Syracuse University Outdoors Club, and founded Stoneys Cuse. In spring of 2025, he studied abroad in Florence where he furthered his interest in architectural history. At Syracuse, Jackson works as an outdoor recreation leader for the Barnes center, a community assistant for his apartment complex, and a line dancing instructor in the time he has left over. Professionally, he has worked in commercial, residential, and hospitality in Las Vegas and New Hampshire. He has come to love hospitality architecture and aims to pursue a career in the field upon graduation. Whether through architecture or daily life, Jackson loves to create spaces that bring people together in exceptional environments!
	Sterling ’27 Sterling Fitzgerald is a fifth-year architecture student from Las Vegas, Nevada, minoring in Environment and Society. Over the past four years, he has been actively involved in several campus organizations, including NOMAS, Black Student Union, AIAS, Citrus Racing, and now SMS. He studied abroad in London in Spring 2025 and Florence in Fall 2025, where he explored different approaches to architectural design, history, and the built environment. Within NOMAS, he has held multiple leadership roles, including Community Outreach Chair, Vice President, President, and currently Senior Advisor. Through these roles, he has worked to foster engagement among students and community members from a variety of backgrounds while organizing panels, workshops, exhibitions, and other programming. Professionally, Sterling most recently completed an internship with Lamar Johnson Collaborative in its Phoenix office, where he contributed to a diverse range of projects spanning healthcare and hospitality. He also explored product design through the development of a sustainability-tracking-focused app. Across previous summers, he has gained additional experience at Smithgroup, SMMA, Cuningham, Rock Solid Project Solutions, and Gensler, garnering knowledge across different industries and project types. If you are looking for advice or support with internships, applications, or navigating architecture school, please feel free to reach out. Outside of architecture, Sterling enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, going to the gym, reading, and exploring all things automotive.
	Kady ’27 Wenfei, who also goes by Kady, is a fifth year architecture student and is minoring in Real Estate. She is also an international student, born in Xi’an, China, and grew up in Manila, Philippines. Congratulations and welcome to Syracuse Architecture! Kady is part of the Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity, and she used to live in the LLC back in Freshman year. Outside of architecture, she loves to play table tennis and is part of the Syracuse table tennis club. She also had the opportunity to live and study in NYC and Florence for a few months with the Syracuse SOA study abroad program, and she made some of the best memories when she was abroad!
	Gianna ’27 Gianna is a fifth-year student from Binghamton, NY, pursuing a B.Arch degree through the School of Architecture with a minor in Construction Management at SUNY ESF. During her time at Syracuse, she has been an active member of the community as a Resident Assistant for the Architecture MORE LLC, a Research Assistant, a brother of the Alpha Rho Chi professional fraternity, and a member of the SoA Social Media Team - particularly while studying abroad in Florence. On top of this, Gianna especially enjoys her time as an Undergraduate Program Assistant for ARC 107 Studio, ARC 181 and 182 Representation, as well as ARC 211 Structures I. Beyond the School of Architecture, Gianna is involved in Club Tennis, the Renée Crown University Honors Program, and holds a leader position in the Beta Epsilon Chapter of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity with her friend, and fellow Student Mentor, Megan Ryan! In her free time, Gianna loves spending time with others, weightlifting, eating, cooking, sewing, thrifting, and going on adventures! The past 4 summers, Gianna has interned with Ashley McGraw Architects - a national leader in early education design and local to Syracuse. One of her favorite moments was supporting Syracuse University through participating in construction management and site meetings for renovations of Watson Hall on campus! Gianna is extremely grateful for the invaluable professional experience.
	Emily ’27 Emily Segal is a fifth year from Portland, Maine. She has the joy of being the Social Media Coordinator for Peer Advising! Within the walls of Slocum, Emily is an architecture ambassador and the Social Media chair for AIAS. Outside of architecture, she is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and joined Danceworks. She had the privilege of studying abroad in both London and Florence, both amazing programs and the reason she chose Syracuse. Please feel free to reach out to her emily_segal4.
	Selina ’27 Selina is a fifth-year architecture student from Singapore, pursing minors in civil engineering and sustainable construction at SUNY ESF. Within the school of architecture, she is involved with AIAS and FDS, also serving as an architecture ambassador and peer advisor for incoming freshmen. She is also part of the Honors program and professional service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Professionally, she has interned in Singapore and during her semester abroad in Florence, gaining experience in both architecture and construction fields. In her free time, Selina enjoys visiting museums, learning to cook and bake, and picking up different crafts!
	Chelsea ’27 Chelsea, from Suzhou, China, and Hayward, California, is a fifth-year architecture student with a minor in Dance Appreciation and Practice. She is one of the 2026–27 Pan Am 101 Remembrance Scholars, recognized for her commitment to community impact, leadership, creativity, and academic inquiry. Throughout her time at Syracuse, she has been actively involved in the School of Architecture as an Ambassador, Peer Advisor, and Plot Monitor. She also volunteered with Professor Bess Krietemeyer on the Advanced Building Construction research project on South Campus. During her study-abroad experiences in New York City and Florence, she worked as a Program Assistant and Model Making Assistant. Outside of architecture, she has served as a FYS Peer Leader, JMA Wireless Dome Crew, and a member of Xcuse Dance Club. Her choreography has been featured at the International Festival, on the university’s central admissions page, and on Broadway Dance Center’s members’ page. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, surfing, and badminton. Professionally, she has gained experience through internships with OKS Architetti in Italy, Lea Architecture in New York City, and Ware Malcomb in New Jersey. She is currently pursuing her NCARB architectural licensure.
	Ella ’27 Ella Robertson is a fifth-year architecture student from Camillus, New York, pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship. Throughout her time at Syracuse University, she has been actively involved in the School of Architecture. She has participated in the Peer Advising Program, served as an Architecture Ambassador, and is a member of the Student Mentor Squad. She is also a member of Women In Design, where she is serving her second term as president. Outside of architecture, Ella was previously a member of the Syracuse club gymnastics team. Since her second year, Ella has worked on campus at Hendricks Chapel as a hospitality associate. She was recently promoted to hospitality lead, allowing her to further develop her leadership skills. Ella has also taken advantage of the study abroad opportunities offered. In 2025, she participated in two programs, studying in Florence during her third year and London during her fourth. Most recently, Ella spent her summer gaining professional experience as an intern at King & King Architects. Through this opportunity, she was able to apply the skills and knowledge developed throughout her education to a professional setting and gain valuable insight into the field she hopes to pursue after graduation.
	Megan ’27 Megan Ryan is a fifth-year architecture student from Long Island, New York. She is part of the Renee Crown Honors Program and is pursuing a minor in geography. Within the school of architecture, she has been involved in several organizations, including the Peer Advising Program, which helps new students adjust; Architecture Ambassadors, which gives tours to prospective and incoming students; and the Architecture Honors Club, which she helped start. She has also worked as a teaching assistant for the summer pre-college program. Through the architecture program, she was able to study abroad in three locations: Ecuador, through a Maymester program; Florence, Italy, for a semester at the Syracuse Florence campus; and Seoul, South Korea, through the school’s global partners program at Ewha Women’s University. Outside of the School of Architecture, Megan has been involved in organizations on campus to explore other interests. She is part of OttoTHON, a danceathon group on campus that every year has raised over $100,000 for Upstate Golisanos Children’s Hospital located next to campus. Growing up dancing, she is part of the Orange Pulse Dance Troupe where she taught ballet and was a teaching assistant for the Intro to Ballroom Dance course on campus. Part of Phi Sigma Pi the National Honors Fraternity for the past 4 years, she has held numerous executive roles and most recently has been elected president of the chapter. Absolutely loving history and research, Megan will be pursuing a masters in Historic Preservation after graduating. In her free time, she likes to read, spend time outside and with friends, and travel as much as she can!
	Kaitlyn ’27 Kaitlyn is a fifth-year architecture student from Carbondale, Pennsylvania. She has participated in AIAS, Architecture Ambassadors, and Peer Advising. On campus, she has worked as a Peer Leader for the FYS101 and is currently a Technician for the Digital Fabrication Lab and an Undergraduate Program Assistant for ARC311. She studied in NYC and Florence during her semesters abroad. Over the past three summers, she has interned at 3 firms in Philadelphia and Scranton, PA as well as participating in practicum though the NYC Program with Robert A.M. Stern Architects working on and visiting diverse project types and scales. Outside of architecture, Kaitlyn enjoys biking, painting, crafting, baking, cake decorating, and crocheting, but you can usually find her in Smith Hall!
	Calvin ’27 Aung Htet Khant Paing, who also goes by Calvin, is a fifth-year architecture student at Syracuse University pursuing a minor in Sustainable Construction Management at SUNY-ESF. Originally from Yangon, Myanmar, he moved to the United States for college. During his time at Syracuse Architecture, he has been involved with NOMAS, the NOMAS Design Team, AIAS, and Peer Advising, and has also served as a Resident Advisor for the second-year Architecture Living Learning Community. Professionally, Calvin has gained experience at architecture and design firms throughout the Northeast, from New Haven to New York City. His work has ranged from high-end residential developments to campus master planning and urban design projects. These experiences have strengthened his interest in urbanism and in understanding how design can operate across different scales—from individual buildings to larger systems and communities—to address the complex challenges facing cities today. Outside of architecture, Calvin enjoys both watching and playing soccer and is a dedicated Liverpool supporter. He also enjoys rock climbing and is an enthusiastic foodie, with a particular interest in exploring different cuisines and learning how to cook them himself.
	Catie ’27 Catie is a fifth-year architecture student from Chicago, IL with a minor in Strategic Management at the Whitman School of Management. In addition to SMS, she is currently president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), an organization that emphasizes networking opportunities and professional development. She studied away in Florence in Spring 2025 and New York City in Fall 2025. Professionally, Catie interned in Miami, FL with HNTB last summer working on Transit Architecture. She also has had two other previous internships: one in Los Angeles for NardiHaus & The Altadena Collective helping with post-fire rebuilds for single family homes and the other in Chicago for The Onni Group with a focus on Interior Architecture of commercial spaces. Outside of architecture, Catie has been previously involved in University Girl Magazine, Club Water Polo, and the SU Wellness Society, but you can also find her working at the desk at Ernie Davis Gym! In her free time, Catie loves traveling and exploring other cultures, she has been learning how to DJ and enjoys staying active.
	Katie ’27 Katie is a fifth-year Architecture student with a minor in Sociology at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She has been a member of Alpha Rho Chi, the national professional co-ed fraternity for architecture and the allied arts, since her freshman year. During her time in APX, she served a term as president, and she is currently serving as Professional and Academic Co-Chair. Outside of her schoolwork, Katie works multiple jobs on and off campus. She works for SU Residential Living as a main desk assistant, and she assists as a UPA for the SoA’s BIM electives. She has also extended a summer internship with Whiting-Turner, working with them as they construct one of SU’s newest dorms. Katie has always found a deep appreciation for study abroad opportunities. During her gap year after High School, she participated in a program called Semester at Sea which allowed her to visit 13 countries and study with people from all over the world. In the Spring semester of her 3rd year, here at SU, she took the opportunity to study abroad in London, where she also worked as a Social Media Coordinator for SoA London. Both trips had major impacts on how she interacts with the world, and she plans to continue traveling as much as she can post-grad!
	Samantha ’27 Samantha is a fifth-year architecture students minoring in political science. Over the past 4 years, she has been involved in and out of the School of Architecture through AIAS, Architecture Peer Advising, Architecture Ambassadors, University 100, and Club Curling. Samantha studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where she participated in the selected seminar to Bosnia Herzegovina at the end of the semester. She also did the Visiting Critic studio the following semester. Professionally, Samantha has two summers of experience interning in marketing, urban planning, and landscape architecture. Outside of classes, Samantha enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and travelling.
	Jason ’27 Jason Prasetyono is a fifth-year architecture student from Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Syracuse University School of Architecture. Throughout his time at Syracuse, he has been named to the Dean’s List and has received awards and scholarships including the Connie Caldwell Summer Internship Award, the Robert W. Cutler Scholarship, recognition as a Success Scholar, and the School of Architecture Abroad Travel Grant. His studies have also taken him to London and Florence, where he spent two semesters studying architecture abroad. Within school, Jason is heavily involved in visual communication and student life. He currently serves as a social media manager for the School of Architecture and previously managed the school’s social media accounts in London and Florence. He has also served as a teaching assistant, peer advisor, and student ambassador, helping incoming students transition into university life. Professionally, Jason has gained architectural experience across Indonesia, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Most recently, he worked as an architectural design intern at Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) in New York City, contributing to schematic design, physical and digital modelmaking, 3D printing, and architectural documentation. Outside of school, Jason runs @thehandsofthelord, an independent architecture and design platform he started to document his drawings, models, recommendations, and everyday life as an architecture student. The platform has since grown into a global community of more than 67,000 followers and has led to collaborations with companies, publishers, and cultural organizations including Meta, Ray-Ban, ELLE Decor Italia, the Paul Rudolph Institute, Birkhäuser, Park Books, and others across architecture, design, technology, and creative culture. Through the platform, he explores how architecture can be communicated beyond traditional drawings and presentations, using storytelling, photography, modelmaking, and digital media to make design more accessible to a wider audience. Beyond architecture, Jason is an avid collector of die-cast cars, watches, and architectural books, reflecting his interest in design at both the scale of buildings and everyday objects. A piece of advice: Be patient & believe.