Student Mentor Squad (SMS)

The Student Mentor Squad (SMS) is a group of fourth- and 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.

2020-2021 Squad

	Anusha ’22   Anusha is a fifth-year architecture student and is from Mumbai, India. In her years at Syracuse University, she has been involved in NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students), and in activities of SASA (South Asian Student Association), and other peer advising programs. She studied with the NYC and London (online) programs. Over the past few summers, she has interned at IBI in Los Angeles and at SSA Architects in Mumbai. Outside of Architecture, some of her passions include reading (especially Harry Potter), swimming, and fashion!
	Ben ’22 Ben is a fifth-year student from the northern Virginia region. At Syracuse University, Ben is an Honors student who enjoys his time away from Slocum Hall. This includes his time sleeping and hanging out with friends. However, Ben understands the importance of his education, which has given him the opportunity to study in Florence and London (online). In 2019, Ben collaborated with SUNY ESF students competing in the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge where they placed first in their division. During summers, Ben has interned at Shalom Baranes Associates in Washington D.C., MDSzerbaty Assocates Architecture in NYC, and FR-EE / Fernando Romero Enterprise in NYC. Ben has been with the Syracuse family since participating in the summer college program in 2014.
	Brendan ’23   Brendan is a fourth-year student from Westchester, New York. Brendan has been a Peer Advisor, Architecture Ambassador, a tutor for the School of Architecture, and a member of the architecture and design fraternity APX. Outside of architecture, Brendan takes part in as many intramural sports as possible, goes to every home basketball and football game, and is a member of the school Running Club. He is currently taking part in the Visiting Critic studio and virtually participated in London abroad. Brendan enjoys learning outside of Slocum and is working towards a minor in Real Estate.
	Erik ’22 Erik is a fifth-year student from Caledonia, Wisconsin. Outside of architecture, he spends most of his time as the president of Orange Appeal, the original tenor-bass a capella group at Syracuse! He also enjoys being part of, and a TA in, the Renee Crown Honors Program and being an Architecture Ambassador. Erik loves hiking and exploring Central New York; so he’s a great resource if you’re looking for recommendations on parks or hikes. He has studied in Florence and participated in Visiting Critic studio. Over the past few summers, Erik has worked designing Usonian- and Prairie-style homes with Genesis Architecture. Fun fact: Erik is colorblind.
	Jasmine ’22 Jasmine is a fifth-year student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In her time at Syracuse, she has been involved in many clubs within the School of Architecture. As a Peer Advisor, a member and former president of the Architecture Student Organization (ASO), an Architecture Ambassador, and a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, she enjoys getting to know her classmates. For global campus, Jasmine participated in the NYC program and the online Florence program. She has interned for Ballinger in Philadelphia and took part in research over the summer in DEI by co-hosting conversations with faculty groups on diversity, equity, and inclusion and creating a new, diverse entourage library. When she’s not working, Jasmine likes to spend time with her cat, Fleur, and cook.
	Junzhi (DJ) ’22   DJ is a fifth-year student from Beijing, China. In his years at Syracuse University, DJ has been a Peer Advisor in the SOA Peer Advising Program. He has studied in the Florence and London (online) programs. Due to the pandemic, DJ stayed in China for a year and half and was fortunate to participate in the Beijing Visiting Critic studio. Also, he interned at MAD Architects during the summer. He had the opportunity to do Chinese village research with students and professors at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Outside of Architecture, DJ enjoys spending time with his dog and cat, as well as traveling around to take photographs.
	Katie ’22 Katie is a fifth-year student from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At Syracuse, they have been involved in the School of Architecture and surrounding campus activities, participating in marching & pep band, Greek life, and the Peer Advising Program. They are the vice president and co-founder of Future Designers for Syracuse, an architecture outreach and assistance program called that serves high school students in the Syracuse area. Katie intended to participate in the NYC and London global campus programs, the later cancelled and the former was done mostly in person and partially online. They have interned at Dwyer Architectural in Syracuse, Spillman Farmer Architects in Bethlehem, PA, Selldorf Architects in NYC, and Miner Feinstein Architects in Fredrick, MD. In addition, they have worked for Professor Nina Sharifi as a Research Assistant at the Center of Excellence. In their free time, Katie loves to bake, paint, cross-stich, and play with their cat Mickey and guinea pigs, Coffee and Carmel.
	Lauren ’23   Lauren is a fourth-year student from Westchester, New York. In the School, Lauren has been a Peer Advisor, Architecture Ambassador, co-chair of the Social Media Committee, and an employee of the Slocum fabrication labs and wood shop. On campus, outside of architecture, Lauren is president of the SU Habitat for Humanity Club and is involved in Greek Life. Lauren is currently studying abroad in-person in Florence, Italy, and had the opportunity to study abroad (online) in the London program last spring. Throughout college, Lauren has interned at Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC), and most recently at KG+D Architects. Outside of school, Lauren enjoys running, reading, baking, and watching horror movies.
	Nahall ’22   Nahall is a fifth-year architecture student from New York City, who spent time living in the Middle East during her childhood. Since being enrolled in the Syracuse Architecture program, she has been an Architecture Ambassador and a member of NOMAS and IMS. Nahall minors in Philosophy and partakes in extracurricular activities such as painting and cycling. She hopes to continue her architectural studies in graduate school to eventually become a professor herself.
	Shelby ’22   Shelby is a fifth-year student from Houston, Texas. During her time at Syracuse University, she has enjoyed taking part in abroad programs and learning more about preservation and history. Shelby is minoring in Art History and is pursuing a master’s degree in conservation after graduation. She spent a semester abroad in London and is now a Global Ambassador at SU. She also participated in the NYC studio and internship program (virtual). Over the past summer, she interned in London at a firm that specializes in reuse and urban planning. In her free time, she loves to draw, paint, run, cook, and spend time with family and friends.
	Shiori ’22   Shiori is a fifth-year architecture student from Honolulu, Hawaii. Outside of architecture, Shiori works as a Student Fellow with the Lender Center of Social Justice to create a more equitable food system in Syracuse and works as an Assistant Planner with the Otsego County Conservation Association. Shiori has participated in the NYC Urban Studio as well as the Visiting Critic Studios. Within the School of Architecture, Shiori has participated in Peer Advising, the Architecture Ambassador team, as well as a series of research projects with the Campus as A Lab for Sustainability team and Net Zero at Winding Ridge Lab. In her free time, Shiori enjoys visiting new cities and spending time with friends.
	Sneha ’22 Sneha is a fifth-year architecture student from India but grew up in Nigeria and India. Since enrolling at Syracuse University, she has been an Architecture Ambassador and Peer Advisor. She is also one of the founding members of the International Mentor Squad (IMS) and a member of the AIAS. Sneha was part of the online Florence program in Fall 2020. Over the past few years, she has interned in Lagos, Nigeria and has done a research internship with a Syracuse University architecture professor. In her free time, Sneha likes dancing, hiking, and painting.