Welcome Week Staff

It takes a lot of people to make the hundreds of events run smoothly during Welcome Week! Our staff is composed of a number of professional staff and two groups of student leaders who work in planning and implementing programs to ensure that our students feel welcome at Hofstra University.

Welcome Week Coordinators (WWC) are the heart and soul of our program. They are students who have had prior leadership experience and help plan and implement the program. WWCs serve in conjunction with the Orientation staff. The WWC role mirrors the overall New Student Orientation program in that it has two parts: Summer Orientation and Welcome Week. During Summer Orientation, WWCs have overlapping responsibilities with Orientation Leaders. In addition to planning the Welcome Week program, WWCs provide support and serve as a resource to incoming students. WWCs are also expected to facilitate evening programs and morning check-ins during Summer Orientation, and to interact with our new incoming students.

Welcome Week Coordinators Summer 2023

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From left to right: Athina Petkanas, Medinah Arthur, Margaret Sykes.

Athina Petkanas is a rising junior from Westbury, New York, who is majoring in Music Education with a minor in Business. Athina has enjoyed getting to know new students throughout the summer at New Student Orientation, and is excited to see them enjoy Welcome Week. Athina will be working with the Welcome Week Leaders to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for new Hofstra students. She is committed to ensuring that the class of 2028 enjoys Welcome Week just as much as she did. Athina is most looking forward to preparing Welcome Week Leaders to be a guide for the new students when they arrive on Hofstra’s campus and creating an informative and fun experience for the incoming class.

Medinah Arthur is a rising sophomore from Queens, New York, majoring in Public Policies and Public Service with a minor in philosophy of law. She will be serving as WWC in charge of Explore Next Door trips as well as social programming during Welcome Week. As someone who is from the city, Medinah is excited to plan fun, inclusive, and exciting trips to show students how beautiful, resourceful, and accessible the city is. With Hofstra being right next door, she is excited to make students feel comfortable traveling into the city, as it presents many opportunities for them to explore and socialize with one another.

Margaret Sykes is a rising senior from Falmouth, Massachusetts, who majors in Filmmaking and minors in Fine Arts. She anticipates working with her fellow WWCs in scheduling and managing the finances for a fun, exciting, educational, and diverse Welcome Week for the new incoming students as the Welcome Week Logistics Coordinator. All of the skills she has gained from her years in the workforce will help her perform her duties as the Welcome Week Logistics Coordinator. She looks forward to working with her fellow WWCs to hail in the new incoming students.

Welcome Week Leaders

Welcome Week Leaders (WWL) are student volunteers who run our planned events and programs, provide tours, and ensure that students feel comfortable at their new home away from home. You'll meet your WWLs in person at Welcome Week check-in and at most events throughout the five-day program. They will be your guide to all things Hofstra before classes begin. Some of them will also be traveling with you during our Explore Next Door trips into New York City and the surrounding areas.