We are a group of annually elected Firsts students representatives committed to enhancing your experience at Williams through thoughtful programming and advocacy. We welcome your feedback and would love to connect with you!
Orientation Co-Directors
Name: Gaby Quizhpi
Class year: 2026
Pronouns: she/her/hers, they/them/theirs
Major: American Studies with a concentration in Latina/o/x Studies
Hometown: Queens, NY
Campus activities: Firsts Student Union (FSU), Ritmo (Latinx and Afro-Latinx dance team), Asian Dance Troupe (ADT), Latino/a/x Studies Student Advisory Committee.
Most memorable Williams experience: I watched 2 astronomical events at Williams! I sat on Sawyer lawn with my friends as we watched the eclipse at 95% coverage and then stepped out at night to catch a glimpse of the Northern lights in Williamstown. They were both so beautiful and I could not ask for better people to witness these events with.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Do not be afraid to ask for help! Whether it’s Dean Garcia, your friends, professors, or even acquaintances, you’ll be surprised by the outpour of love and support you’ll find at Williams through its people. I’ve always had a hard time asking for help, but once I overcome that step, the rest is easy and I immediately feel supported.
Name: Bishesh Subba
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: He/HIm
Major: Chemistry, Public Health
Hometown: Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Campus activities: HSA, EOS, Research Assistant, Library Services, Gym monitor, SSP
Most memorable Williams experience: Holi Celebration. It was really fun to celebrate Holi with my friends, and it reminded me of home. As a Hindu, it is a very important festival to me and I was happy to be able to participate with my friends.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Be your own competition. Meaning, don’t try to compare your success or limitations to someone else. Everyone is different, so your competition should be yourself and becoming a better version of yourself every day.
Orientation Co-Leaders
Name: Abed Togas
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: English and American Studies/ Asian American Studies concentration
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Campus activities: Asian American Students in Action (AASiA), ADT (Asian Dance Troupe), Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (humanities research), SEAS (Southeast Asian Society)
Most memorable Williams experience: Seeing ADT grow from five members my freshman year to having two show nights and around 40 active members at the end of my junior year!!
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: There will be times when this institution and the Williams environment won’t be good to you. It’s so important, then, to realize who or what brings you strength/comfort and to recognize when some things aren’t worth your time, care, and/or energy. Take it easy—you and your health (both physically and mentally) comes first, always!!
Name: Kunal Pal
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Major: Math & Computer Science
Hometown: Tewksbury, MA
Campus activities: South Asian Students Association (SASA), Asian Dance Troupe (ADT), Junior Advisor (JA), QuestBridge, Math Teaching/Research Assistant, Asian American Students in Action (AASIA)
Most memorable Williams experience: There are a lot of these, but one that comes to mind is being the groom for the SASA Shaadi. I was fake-married in a mock wedding SASA held as a sophomore, and it meant a lot to me to see lots of people come to celebrate South Asian culture through performances, fun traditions, great food, and much more. A lot of the best pictures I have of me and friends are from this event.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Find little moments of happiness throughout your time here. Williams is a hard place. Something I’ve done to help with that is to find those moments of joy throughout your day. For me, these have been late nights in Goodrich and Paresky with friends, cultural events, dance practices, late-night parties, hangouts in each other’s rooms, little trips and walks around campus, and much more. Your time here goes by fast, so treasure these little moments as much as you can.
Name: Frances Lu
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Economics and Computer Science
Hometown: Queens, New York
Campus activities: Women in Business, Peer Advisor at the Career Center, CASO, Questbridge, Sawyer Library Circulation Desk, Margins Finance
Most memorable Williams experience: The beauty of nature – seeing a solar eclipse for the first time ever, snowboarding for the first time ever, and seeing stars for the first time ever!
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: In case no one has told you this yet, I’m so incredibly proud of you for getting where you are today. Being the first in your family to come to college is quite an accomplishment and you should recognize that. Now that you are part of this Firsts community, remember to step outside of your comfort zone. Meet new people, talk to the person sitting next to you in class, and be willing to put yourself out there in office hours with professors. Never be afraid to be your true authentic self as you should always give yourself the time and space to grow!
Name: Sebastian Espinal
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Prospective Economics & Sociology w/ LATS Concentration
Hometown: Woodbridge, NJ
Campus activities: Ritmo, WUFO, Tour Guide, Writing Center, Williams Catholic
Most memorable Williams experience: Going to D3 Nationals with WUFO and placing 2nd in the country
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Believe in yourself and the things you love, but also be ready to change and grow. It will often be a scary and uncomfortable process, but your friends and Firsts community will be there to support you every step of the way!
Name: Daniela Corona
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: History; French
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Campus activities: Head Tour Guide, Special Collections Student Curator, History Department Senior Advisory Group (SAG)
Most memorable Williams experience: Thanks to Williams, I was able to study abroad in Paris for my junior year. While I was there, there just so happened to be a Williams community event, and so I went and talked to Williams students and alumni. It was so remarkable to me because I remember being struck and overjoyed about the fact that you could find pockets of Williams with you in different places.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Inevitably, there will come a time when things at Williams may feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remind yourself that the resilience that got you here is the same resilience that will see you out of your challenges. Just as importantly, you don’t have to figure it all out alone; there’s a whole community invested in you, your success, and your overall well-being. Lean on it. Lastly, I’ve given this piece of advice to frosh before, but I stand by it: the beauty of our community is that you’ll have much to learn here, but never forget that you have something to teach us here, too.
Name: Jason Lu
Class year: 2026
Pronouns: he/him
Major: Physics and Mathematics
Hometown: Homosassa, FL
Campus activities: Ephraise, physics research in the Giovanetti lab, Coalition for Immigrant Student Advancement (CISA), Mt. Greylock Regional High School tutoring, Dining Hall worker, SSP, WRAPS, Club Badminton
Most memorable Williams experience: Leading the creation of a 100 person meal in the Zilkha Center kitchen during the weekend for Ephraise
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Don’t compare yourself to others at Williams. Williams is full of those whose parents could afford to send them to wealthy prep schools with consulting internships and opportunities we probably never had. Props to them, but not everyone’s dad can donate a dorm building. Don’t be intimidated by those people and their backgrounds. Live with pride in your life, and strive to be better than you were yesterday.
Name: Johnathan Martir
Class year: 2026
Pronouns: He/Him
Major: Political Economy, Concentrating in Latina/o/x Studies
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Campus activities: Co-Chair of the Minority Coalition, Ritmo, Firsts Student Union (FSU), Central Americans for Empowerment (CAFE), Representing Identities of Students in ECON/POEC (RISE), VISTA, PILAS (Pre-Professional Latinx Society), Davis Center Community Engagement Fellow, Latino/a/x Studies Student Advisory Committee, SHSS,
Most memorable Williams experience: Choreographing cumbia for the Ritmo 2024 Spring Show with my Pre-O Orientation Leader Lucia!!!
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Aim to try out something new every month! Your first year is a great time to experiment with different hobbies and interests on campus and it’s where you’ll make long-lasting friendships at Williams. Also, to be grateful for what you have!
Name: Gabriela Hilario
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Prospective Political Science and Global Studies
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Campus activities: Firsts Student Union (FSU), Sankofa, VISTA, Brazilian Student Union (BRASA), CLiA Community Summer Outreach Fellow
My most memorable Williams experience: My first Sankofa performance was last fall’s NBCxKofa show. Although tech week was pretty stressful, I created the best memories with my teammates and cracked many jokes. The energy of the audience during the actual shows was insane, and it felt great that I was a part of something that students at Williams could look forward to watching.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Always ask for help when you need it. It is extremely easy to start comparing yourself to everyone, thats just bound to happen when you go to a school like Williams. So, when you feel like you’re struggling and need some support from faculty and the school, its always ok to ask for it and the worst thing they can say is no. As first generation students, it can feel terrible to admit to falling behind but it is one form of grace and kindness that you can give yourself when studying here. The reality is that everyone asks for help all the time and being vulnerable with trusted faculty and students on campus can help you form strong systems of support while youre here! 🙂
Name: Karl Aleman-Valencia
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: she/they
Major: Comparative Literature & Art History with French Concentration
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Campus activities: Ritmo, CenterSeries Committee, & Visual Resources Center
Most memorable Williams experience: Mountain Day my first semester. Stone Hill is so beautiful.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Make Williams your home. Find communities that bring you comfort and curate your connections.
Name: Michelle Ametekpor
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: they/them
Major: Political Science & Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Irvington, NJ
Campus activities: Quare Collective (QC), Chaplains’ Office, Williams College Rugby, Williams College Special Collections,
Most memorable Williams experience: Winning a ballroom category during Quare Collective’s heritage week.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Take advantage of the opportunities to speak in class, apply to fellowships, learn to ski, hike, learn to play a sport. Williams will be your home for the next four years, so make the most out of it.
Name: Elizette Santana-Caraballo
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: she/her
Major: American Studies and Psychology
Hometown: Newark, NJ
Campus activities: Ritmo, ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance, SoCA (Students of Caribbean Ancestry), BSU, Sisterhood
Most memorable Williams experience: My most memorable Williams experience has been being a part of Ritmo! I have been on the team since my freshman year and it has been absolutely amazing finding a community on campus and a home away from home.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: It’s okay to be homesick. Everyone experiences homesickness at one point or another and it can feel overwhelming and disencouraging when everyone seems to be adjusting perfectly, however, it is okay to miss your family and miss home. It is important, however, to find ways to cope with homesickness like calling home frequently or bringing things from home to decorate your dorm with! Do not let homesickness overpower the amazing time you could have on campus!
Name: Jaskaran Singh
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: he/him
Major: Mathematics, Computer Science
Hometown: Carteret, NJ
Campus activities: Junior Advisor, SASA (South Asian Student Association), WCFM Radio, SSP (Summer Science Program), SSA (Sikh Student Association)
Most memorable Williams experience: Organizing a bake sale for my entry AP1 and tabling right outside of Paresky Student Center. We baked brownie cookies, rice krispies, and cookies to raise money for our entry to get better snacks, throw formal parties, and entry merch. It was such a goofy way to poke fun at the administration for cutting funds to entry budgets and a great way to build community among our frosh. It was done on my birthday and we had a Williams Record article about it.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Stay true to yourself and remember to stay grounded in the moment. It is so easy to become depressed or anxious when you have looming deadlines for classes or become isolated from others due to work or personal issues. Once you allow yourself to be present in the moment and be your most goofy self, you start to realize how much other people around you are just like you. It can be so easy to forget that there is community around you at Williams especially among the Firsts, so it’s important to get out of your head and reach out.
Name: Nadia Joseph
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: she/her
Major: History and Africana Studies
Hometown: East Hartford, Connecticut
Campus activities: Black Student Union (BSU), Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SoCA), Sisterhood, History Department Senior Advisory Group, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
Most memorable Williams experience: Spending the summer after my sophomore year on campus researching unde the Mellon Mays Fellowship is a time I hold dear to my heart. Being able to research my interests was fun, but the best part was getting to know my classmates in the cohort. We all meshed so well, and it was fun embarking on something new together. Summer in Williamstown is super fun with the right company!
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Try a little bit of everything! You don’t realize how special some experiences and moments are until those opportunities are gone. Williams can be a very special experience if we give it a chance. So, take a chance on the mountain days and homecoming, you’ll look back and be glad.
Name: Tenzin Tselha
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Biology, Computer Science
Hometown: Queens, NY
Campus activities: Club Volleyball, Matriculate, Senior Tech Tutoring, Williams Firsts, Science Fellow, Biology Lab TA
Most memorable Williams experience: Me and my friends during pre-orientation would go stargazing and stay up late. It was really fun to have moments where there weren’t many people on campus and led me to form very dear friendships.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: There is someone for everyone. Making new friends and adjusting to a new community will be difficult and you’ll see that some of your peers make friends quickly. Don’t let how many friends you have made define your first year experience. Put yourself out there and meet new people, introduce friends to one another and enjoy the people you meet and the lessons you learn!
Name: Grace Rivera
Class year: 2026
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Psychology, Public Health
Hometown: New York, NY
Campus activities: Ritmo, Vive, Club Volleyball, SUBE, VISTA, Admissions Ambassador, SSP
Most memorable Williams experience: Never took myself as an outdoorsy person, but going through that hike on Mountain day was a really nice experience, especially doing it with good friends. Along with this, skiing was also so memorable, I never thought I would’ve gotten the opportunity to do that. It was scary, but I learned and it was fun!
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Don’t put yourself in a box. We come in thinking we are a certain way and can’t or shouldn’t try new things. Do them! Even if you have the slightest interest in something, go try it. Williams provides many opportunities to try new things without additional stressors, go for it! Over the next years, you’ll grow as not only a student, but as a person and it’s important to remember that you play many different roles outside of academia. Be open to that process and make sure to nurture that person in whatever way that may be.
Name: Evelyn Qi
Class year: 2025
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Campus activities: Club Waterpolo, Science Fellow/Classroom Support/Recess Buddy at the local elementary schools, Williams Recovery of All Perishable Surplus (WRAPS), Biochemistry Lab Research Assistant, Junior Advisor, WOOLF Leader, Summer Science Program (SSP)
Most memorable Williams experience: There was one day I was at Stone Hill with a friend and saw shooting stars… multiple of them! I thought it was rare to see shooting stars before that.
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things! Take a class because it sounds interesting, take a PE you’ve always wanted to learn (I took beginner golf twice!), and don’t let your future plans dictate your present. Learn at your own pace and don’t feel pressured to have things all figured out.
Name: Yoheidy Feliz (Yoyo)
Class year: 2026
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Sociology and Latinx Studies
Hometown: New York City
Campus activities:
Most memorable Williams experience:
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts:
Name: Doralynn Ventura Lopez
Class year: 2027
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Prospective Chemistry or Biology Major
Hometown: Georgetown, Delaware
Campus activities: Questbridge (QB), Williams Christian Fellowship (WCF), Gospel Choir (GC), WRAPS, CLiA, Research Assistant
Most memorable Williams experience: Watching fireworks during winter carnival
Words of wisdom for incoming Firsts:
Amidst the challenges you’re facing, remember to embrace resilience and self-care. It’s understandable to feel scared and drained, especially navigating college as a first-generation student. However, recognize that these struggles are building blocks for your future success. Each obstacle you overcome strengthens your resilience and prepares you for the journey ahead. Know that you are not alone; you have a supportive community back home rooting for you. Lean on their encouragement and draw strength from their unwavering support.