It’s hard to quantify such a claim, but students these days seem busier than ever.
Maybe it has something to do with the type of education that Wagner provides. To use a bit of higher-education jargon, Wagner is a leader when it comes to “high-impact practices” — i.e., educational features, strongly associated with student learning and retention, that demand considerable time and effort, facilitate learning outside of the classroom, require meaningful interactions with faculty and fellow students, encourage collaboration with diverse people, and provide frequent and substantive feedback.
Yes, it sounds exhausting, but it also produces life-changing results; and in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Wagner students report participating in high-impact practices at significantly higher levels than students at comparable colleges.
To reveal the faces and stories behind the numbers, we decided to profile a few outstanding examples of students who are thriving at Wagner while also juggling numerous ways of contributing their energy and leadership to Wagner, Staten Island, and New York City.
Hadeel Mishal ’17
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
History major
English minor
Economics minor
Pre-Law Society: Chair for civic engagement; interested in human rights and immigration law.
Bonner Leader: She runs a tutoring program for elementary school children at an immigrant resource center.
IMPACT Scholar: As a Leadership Council member for this network of students committed to community service and civic engagement, she is planning their annual summit with a full day of workshops and presentations.
Social Justice Dialogue Committee: She hosts bi-monthly lunchtime discussions on controversial news topics.
Generation Citizen: As the advocacy director, she’s training other students to be democracy coaches who help teens become involved in the democratic process.
Port Richmond Partnership Leadership Academy: As a lead mentor in this program for high school students, she meets weekly with them.
Eyeopeners: Youth Against Violence: For this antiviolence youth program, she facilitates weekly meetings and hosts workshops on current events and leadership skills.
Kendle Bramble ’17
Hometown: Freeport, New York
Psychology major
Football: A defensive lineman, he spends 4–5 hours in training and meetings per day.
“Football is a challenge, and I love a challenge. Football is a huge metaphor for life, and it can change you for the better if you reflect on what you do.”
Port Richmond Partnership Leadership Academy: It’s his second year as a PRPLA mentor, and this year he’s serving as a lead mentor with Hadeel.
Black Student Union: He loves this organization and is planning to run for president next year. He wants it to become more integrated with other campus groups. “We’re not just a frat that throws parties!”
IMPACT Scholar: Along with Hadeel, he is also on the Leadership Council, preparing for the annual summit and organizing other activities to build campus spirit, like a game night and open mic night.
Jenny Loh ’16
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
Sociology major
Accounting minor
“I’ve been involved in everything since I was a little girl. I like getting myself in those positions where I work with people and push and challenge myself.”
Student Government Association: Vice president. Oversees the work of the class senators, makes proposals for the campus. Spends 6–7 hours per week in meetings and working in the SGA office.
Resident Assistant: RA for the 9th floor of Harborview. She serves as an RA on duty, holds office hours, and cultivates good relationships with her residents.
Tau Kappa Sigma: She joined this sorority — the only one at Wagner that’s strictly local — during her freshman year, looking for new family and friends far from home. She has held many leadership positions with the group, and this year she is TKS’s Songfest Queen candidate!
ODK: She’s vice president of this national leadership honor society’s Wagner chapter.
Dean’s Leadership Corps: Meets regularly to advise and learn from the dean of campus life.
Will Albach ’17
Hometown: River Edge, New Jersey
Arts Administration Major
Wagner Campus Activities Board (WagCAB): As president, he leads this organization that generates lots of fun on campus: slam poetry night, stand-up comedy competition, and Halloween pumpkin decorating are a few examples from the fall. He’s also the VP of campus events for SGA.
Bassic: He’s president of this all-male a cappella singing group. They rehearse three times per week, arrange their own music, put on one or two concerts per semester, and also sing at campus events. They took orders for Bassic Love Grams for Valentine’s Day — they will harmonize a serenade for the person you want to treat!
Resident Assistant: He’s the RA for the Honors Floor in Guild Hall. He usually spends 2–3 hours a day following up on emails and doing floor programming — but also just providing a listening ear.
TKE Fraternity: He joined last fall and is enjoying the brotherhood.
