Campus is buzzing.
It is an early morning for new freshmen at Seton Hall. Inside Jubilee Hall’s auditorium, groups begin filing in. Chatter and laughter echo through the room as students settle into their seats, ready to begin a new chapter.
But before the semester begins, there is plenty to learn.
SHU hosted New Student Welcome Weekend during the last weekend of August, featuring a three-day schedule filled with activities, presentations and bonding—a time of celebration and warm welcomes for the class of 2030.
Leading these groups of new Pirates are SHU’s Peer Advisors (PAs), clad in blue shirts and khakis. They are a community of student leaders dedicated to making the transition to college life as seamless as possible.
Shane Stevenson, a junior psychology major, took on the role because of his own first-year experience.
“A big part of it was my PA, Joseph Gangi,” he said.
Stevenson recalled how Gangi supported him during his freshman year.
“He was always there for me, always encouraged me, and also gave me all the resources that I needed, and just like, being that safety, in a way,” he said. “I wanted to exemplify that with students of my own.”
Now, Stevenson aims to provide the same support to a new class of students. This fall, he is leading a class of 28 new students through their first semester at SHU.
The role of a PA requires something vital: the drive to be a leader.
Throughout the day, students approach PAs with questions and concerns. Whether they need directions to a building on campus or are searching for their designated group, PAs need to be prepared for it all.
For incoming students, PAs serve as a source of knowledge and guidance.
Stevenson said PAs had been preparing for three to five weeks, including public safety training, learning about campus resources and practicing how to communicate effectively.
“We also went over how to interact with our students regardless of their personality, because everyone comes in a little bit different,” Stevenson said. “Some people are more shy than others, some people are more social than others.”
Stevenson had conversations with students about campus events and clarified schedule questions, helping create a group where freshmen felt welcome and comfortable.
First-year students notice their PAs’ efforts, from the way they interact with their groups to the energy they bring to the day.
“Communication was really easy,” Maria Ahmed, a freshman psychology major, said.
PAs focus on making themselves accessible to new students, aiming to create a comfortable environment for everyone. Before each event, Stevenson made sure everyone was present and helped direct students to their PA if they fell behind.
“It’s very easy to feel lost and alone, and we try to just make sure that everyone has some sort of group to lean on,” Stevenson said.
Throughout the day, students moved from an informative presentation about university resources titled “The Pirate Way,” which emphasized the importance of a safe campus community, to a talk from guest speaker Dr. Matt Bellace on resilience and positive choices.
The schedule also included outdoor activities on the Green, giving freshmen a chance to meet other new Pirates. Stevenson said this is an important part of fostering connections.
“I definitely want the students to get an understanding about how close-knit our community can be,” he said. “Obviously, our campus is a lot smaller than others, but in my opinion, I feel like that gives us sort of an advantage because it allows us to get to know each other on a deeper level.”
Stevenson said community and connection are vital during these first days on campus. The goal is for students to feel comfortable exploring new opportunities.
“The most helpful advice was to get out of my comfort zone, because that’s the whole point of college,” Aisha McClearn, a freshman psychology major, said. “You get to socialize, meet new people and meet people you’ll probably know for the rest of your life.”
As the day's main events wound down, groups dispersed for free time and lunch. New friends walked toward the dining hall, while others sat talking on the Green.
Stevenson said the most rewarding part of the job is watching students break out of their shells and grow.
“I view it as a caterpillar sprouting into a butterfly,” he said. “It’s just really nice to see.”
Being a PA is grounded in encouragement and creating a strong support system. PAs help build the foundation new students need to thrive socially and academically. They also help create lively student experiences at SHU.
“My favorite part of being a PA is just being able to create transformation with these students,” Stevenson said, “and knowing at the end of the day that I played a big role in that.”
Hailey Castro is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at hailey.castro@student.shu.edu.
