When students return to campus this fall, a sense of excitement will fill the air as many new faces join the Hilltop. Three of these new faces arrived on campus this summer as the college welcomed new staff in the Division of Student Affairs. Two Assistant Directors in Residence Life and a Coordinator for Civic Engagement have started their roles in shaping a positive experience for Cornellians.
 Krista Kronstein will debut her passion for Residence Life as the Assistant Director of Residence Life (AD) of the largely first-year student community in the Tri-Hall area—Pfeiffer, Dows, and Tarr. Originally from Steubenville, Ohio, Kronstein completed her bachelor’s degree in communication with a concentration in electronic media and minors in film and psychology from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in student affairs administration with a concentration in leadership development from Michigan State University.
“I really enjoyed the small, residential campus experience I had as an undergraduate,” remarked Kronstein, adding, “After working in the residence halls and completing my master’s at a large, research intensive institution I realized that I wanted to start my career at a small, residential campus.”
Working with the First Year Experience programs is the perfect opportunity for Kronstein to become involved with the campus and to develop strong relationships with students across the Hilltop. She is a strong advocate for small colleges and feels that places like Cornell really support the success of its students and involvement in the campus community.
 A recent transplant from Ames, Iowa, Mandi McReynolds is the new AD working with Clock Tower, Pauley-Rorem, and New Hall. She received her master’s degree in interdisciplinary graduate studies—higher education, speech communication, and women’s studies—from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.
“I am extremely excited to be living in Clock Tower and working with a new hall and dynamic of students,” McReynolds said, “It will be fun to see how the building’s personality and hall identity formulates throughout the school year.”
McReynolds is also excited to utilize the community room in Clock Tower Hall for new programs that can enhance life on campus. In addition to her oversight of the halls, McReynolds will also be coordinating the college’s new leadership program, the IDEA Institute. Throughout each of these activities, McReynolds hopes to really get involved in the lives of students at Cornell and learn each student’s “full story” so she can identify the best way to support them.
 Also new to the Hilltop this fall is Namita Arora, Coordinator for Civic Engagement. Formerly the Civic Engagement Office, Arora will be responsible for the Office of Civic Engagement’s service programs and other opportunities to enable student involvement in the civic fabric of their communities.
“I’m really excited about moving leadership and service to the next level,” said Arora, adding, “I am really looking forward to creating programs that allow students to fully engage in their community and stay engaged after they leave Cornell.”
Arora is committed to guiding students through the ins and outs of what it means to be involved in the community. She recently finished a term of service with the AmeriCorps program in Denver, Colorado after finishing her master’s degree in higher education from the University of Michigan. Previous to that, she was at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where she completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I came to Cornell because I really appreciate the progressive nature and close connections the campus has to offer,” she said.
Many new opportunities that enhance the student experience through personal growth, leadership, and professional development are being made available for Cornellians to take advantage of this academic year. After having been on campus for only a few short weeks, the new student affairs staff members are ready and willing to act as catalysts for on-going change and improvements that benefit all students.
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