Welcome to YOUR Gap Semester!Your gap semester is a chance to chart your own course! Will you explore a commitment by volunteering your time? Take a college course? Pursue a resume-building work experience? Let us know!
Meanwhile, you'll be preparing for your arrival in NYC next semester, and we're here to help. Check out this Spring into Liberal Studies Newsletter for important academic deadlines and upcoming opportunities to connect with us. Look for it on the first Friday of each month! You can continue to refer to the NYU Dates & Deadlines (for Spring Starts) Page for reminders from other NYU offices, such as Housing and Residence Life. Feel free to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions Document as well and to follow up with your advisor if you have more questions.
For international students, please be sure to connect with the Office of Global Services (OGS) to review your visa requirements. Click this link to schedule an appointment with an OGS Advisor.
However you choose to spend your gap semester, we hope it will be a productive and fulfilling experience. Contact your advisor if you have any questions along the way!
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Spring Start Spotlight!For each newsletter this semester, we'd like to spotlight a different former LS Spring Start student, starting with Student Leader and Spring Start superstar, Franklin Dong! See below:
"Hi fellow Spring Starts! My name is Franklin Dong, a rising senior at CAS majoring in English and Psychology. I was a spring start myself a few years ago, beginning my journey at NYU in the spring of 2023; it's quite unreal that I'm starting my very last year here this semester.
I wanted to offer some quick tips as someone who was in your position not so long ago. I know that some of you might be a bit nervous about beginning school later than some of your peers - I was certainly worried about lagging behind when all of my friends had started college already in the fall while I had my gap semester - but don't stress too much about it. Having the gap semester was very helpful for me to have some work experience which ultimately helped me decide on a major and even career path that I wanted to pursue. Being in a smaller spring start cohort also ensured that I was part of a very tight knit community; I had the chance to meet some amazing people in my LS classes during that first spring semester who ultimately became my best friends.
Additionally, something I wish someone would've told me before starting in the spring is to look forward to the summer semester. It not only ensures that you will graduate alongside the other fall starts, but also gives you the unique and magical experience of summer in New York City, something that was incredibly enjoyable for my friends and me. It's definitely a time worthy of anticipation and a great finish to your freshman year.
Please reach out to me at sd5120@nyu.edu if you have any questions or concerns! Until then, I'm wishing you all a great end to your summer and a wonderful gap semester."
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Upcoming Optional Event: Conversation Hours with LS Student Leaders Looking to get some advice from current NYU students and to meet some of your peers? Sign up for one of the optional Conversation Hours with LS Student Leaders being held on Zoom on Tuesday, September 23 at 9am EDT & Wednesday, September 24 at 6pm EDT. You'll have the chance to chat in small groups with your peers, as well as ask an LS Student Leader questions about student life and engagement. Many of the Student Leaders who will be present were Spring Start students themselves! We hope to see you there! Please click the buttons below to register:
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September:
- Sign up for and attend the optional Conversation Hours with Student Leaders!
October:
- Stay tuned for info about upcoming themed Zoom hangouts, discussion boards, and more!
- Submit scores for any advanced standing credit you earned in high school to NYU, if you haven't already.
- Apply for housing on or around 10/15. More information to come from the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services, so make sure to check your emails!
- Receive our Spring 2026 Registration Guide via email from your advisor. This guide will provide detailed information on registration, including enrollment time, program instructions, required courses, suggested elective courses, placement exams and so much more.
- Attend the registration webinar in late October or early November. Details and registration information will be linked in the October newsletter.
November:
- Register for classes the week of November 17. Look out for more detail in the Registration Guide.
- Sign up for December Advising Workshops.
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Get to Know Your Advisor!
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Melina Cary
Welcome to Liberal Studies! As an alumna of Liberal Studies myself, I am passionate about our curriculum and the Liberal Studies experience. After studying abroad in Shanghai, I completed a major in East Asian Studies and a minor in French Studies at NYU. My study abroad experience through LS inspired me to return to China after graduation, where I worked for two years as a high school English teacher in Hunan Province, and two years as a Global Writing & Speaking Fellow at NYU Shanghai. Following my time working in China, I completed a Master's degree in Teaching at Clark University. After teaching for a couple of years, I decided to return to NYU as an Academic Advisor to share my passion for the power of Liberal Studies! In my spare time I love to sing, hike, write, and play with my mischievous cats, Carmela and Killian. I look forward to meeting you and learning about your interests!
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Lacey Campbell
Hi there! As a recent graduate of NYU Global Public Health and a scholar of interdisciplinary work, I am passionate about all that LS has to offer. I completed my Masters at NYU in Bioethics, and I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Philosophy at Emory University. In addition to my degrees, I have served in a variety of capacities within academia, including as an academic program assistant, an administrative aide, a tutor, and a substitute teacher. External to my studies and career, I enjoy painting, running, reading, and exploring New York City. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you soon!
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Mateo Díaz
Hey, I am excited to meet you all come January! I grew up across the river in the lovely Garden State of New Jersey where the best bagels exist! I received my B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies and Sociology at William Paterson University and received my Master’s in Education for College Student Affairs at Rutgers University. I made my first big move out of state to New Hampshire to work as an Education and Outreach Coordinator in The Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice and Freedom at the University of New Hampshire. Before joining NYU Liberal Studies, I returned to NYC to serve as a Residence Hall Director at Columbia University. I am passionate about Fat Liberation and Social Justice advocacy. In my personal life, I enjoy supporting local drag shows, reading science fiction & fantasy novels, and playing Mario Kart with friends on my switch.
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Ray Dutta
Hi there! I recently earned my master's as a Clarendon Scholar at the University of Oxford, diving into the fascinating world of Modern South Asian Studies through the lens of anthropology and international relations. Before that, I earned a B.A. in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University, where my studies centered on political theory, global governance, as well as how formal education systems shape knowledge production. When I'm not advising students, you'll find me on a long walk, enjoying an eclectic Spotify playlist (think everything from Bach to Bollywood!), geeking out over a good podcast or talk, or sharing a delicious home-cooked meal with friends! .
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Leah Guarino
Hi LS Spring 2026 Students! I'm Leah Guarino (she/her), the Director of Advising and Student Affairs at Liberal Studies. I have worked at NYU since 1998, dedicating my career to supporting students. Beyond my daily professional role, I am committed to community service work. I have served as a mental health consultant at Gay Men's Health Crisis, a Victim Services Advocate at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and as a College Mentor for Latino U College Access. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, I moved to Queens in 1997 where I raised my two children. I currently live in Dutchess County, NY with my partner, and two senior dogs - Duke and Nina. I earned my M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from NYU Steinhardt and my B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.
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Michael Healy
Hi! I'm very much looking forward to meeting you in January! I'm originally from the South Shore of Massachusetts. I earned my undergraduate and first graduate degrees in English Education from the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development at Boston University and am currently finishing my PhD in Comparative Literature at The Graduate Center, CUNY. My dissertation focuses on modernism in English, French, and Spanish. I've taught world literature and writing at Baruch College since 2014, and I previously taught Arts and Cultures: Crossroads in Liberal Studies. I'm passionate about expanding access to the humanities, liberal arts education, and experiential education opportunities. My hobbies include learning foreign languages, running, studying visual art, music, film, and television.
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John Medina I cannot wait for you to join the LS community at NYU! I’m a native New Yorker from the Bronx. Before joining the LS Core team, I served as the Assistant Director of First-Year Success at Boston University, a Student Conduct Educator at MIT, and a high school math teacher. I earned my B.A. in Chemistry and Romance Languages & Literatures from Bowdoin College, and my M.Ed. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During undergrad, I studied abroad, participated in research, and explored a variety of academic interests—something I strongly encourage you to do as well! Outside of work, I enjoy shopping, cooking, hiking, traveling, thrifting, watching reality TV, and taking long walks around the city.
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Sophia RizzoloHello Spring 2026 LS Students! Prior to working at LS, I earned my BA in International & Intercultural Studies from a small consortium-based school in Southern California, called Pitzer College. While at the Claremont Colleges, I studied post-Genocide Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Rwanda for a semester. After college I completed a fellowship at NYU Shanghai. Last year, I earned my MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from NYU's Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement program. My award winning research (winner of the Hirschhorn Master's Project Award in Experimental Humanities/XE) lies at the intersections of environmental humanities, critical theory, science and technology studies, and cultural studies. Outside of work, I run marathons, attend mycological forays, and enjoy eating a good meal with friends. I'm excited to collaborate with you over the next two years!
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Danny Velardo
Hey! I’m excited to help you achieve academic success here at NYU Liberal Studies! I have undergrad and graduate degrees in history from Stony Brook University and King’s College London, respectively. I’m a native New Yorker, passionate football fan (Come on, Chelsea!), music lover, and food adventurer. Whether it's a question about what’s north of 14th street or what classes to take, I’m here to guide you.
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