Welcome from the Student Dean’s Hosts President
To the Boston University College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2030, welcome and congratulations on your admission!
My name is Collin Leong, and I’m a senior serving as the president of the College of Arts and Science Dean’s Hosts. I have the pleasure of pursuing a B.A in. Earth & Environmental Science and double minors in Environmental Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems and Urban Studies. At Boston University, exploring my passion for creating meaningful changes in the real world was made possible through getting involved in experiential learning opportunities in the MetroBridge program with BU’s Initiative on Cities (IOC) and support from the CAS Experiential Learning (EL) connector.
When I first arrived at BU, I came with very little to no expectations, but with a heart full of excitement of what college might bring. I flew from my home in Singapore and had never been to Boston before or knew much about Boston University. But first semester, leaving our doors open at our Rich Hall dorm or meeting people in passing, making friends felt easy like a warm hug.
Weekends were filled with fun excursions like watching the Red Sox play at Fenway Park with friends from taking FY101 – First Gen or picnicking with my new friends on the “BU Beach”. These little moments exploring Boston and forming lifelong friendships from all over the world, made the distance away from home a little smaller, over time, and Boston University became a home away from home.
At my core, my love for the outdoors and nerdy passion for collecting rocks came together through taking Prof. Lawford Anderson’s EE300 – Earth Rocky Materials. Field trips to Blue Hills Reservation, breaking into granite with a pickaxe, and hunting fossils along rocky coastlines in Rhode Island with Prof. Richard Becker, took theory off the books and made learning feel alive and tangible in my hands. Taking classes at Boston University showed me that there is a vastness of knowledge that is not confined to classroom walls.
College will undoubtedly bring nights of hard work and moments of uncertainty, but it will also be filled with nights of laughter with friends in dining halls and a Terrier family that will support you every step of the way.
As I reflect on my time at BU, it is the people, the community, and the terrier spirit that makes it feel alive, and gives me hope for the future.
I can’t wait for you to experience the same warmth that I feel at Boston University. Even if home may be far, I am certain that in time, Boston University will become a place you can call home, just as it will always be for me.
Collin Leong
President, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Hosts
Class of 2026
Connect with a Student Dean’s Host
Lizzie Ferrera | Class of 2027 | Biology on Pre-Health Track
Hi! My name is Lizzie Ferrera, and I’m a sophomore at BU majoring in biology on the pre-med track with a minor in applied human development and public health. On campus, I’m an active member of OPHiA, our community service sorority, and Alianza Latina. I’m also working toward my EMT certification and I’m a research assistant in Sargent’s Communication and Neurodevelopment Lab. Beyond BU, I volunteer every Thursday at Boston Children’s Hospital in an inpatient surgical unit, gaining firsthand experience in patient care.Prerna Shankar | Class of 2026 | Neuroscience on Pre-Health Track
On campus, I’m Music Director for Suno, BU’s Premier South Asian Fusion A Cappella team! I also do research at the Center for Autism Research Excellence (CARE), where I investigate language development patterns in neurotypical and autistic children. In addition, I’m an EMS instructor at FitRec, teaching at BU’s EMT school. Of course, I’m involved with Dean’s Hosts, and I’m a Peer Mentor and Admissions Ambassador with the Kilachand Honors College. I’m also involved with the Mind and Brain Society on campus.Ava Vu | Class of 2029 | Biology with a specialization in Behavioral Biology
Deja Ford | Class of 2026 | Psychology & Public Health
Along with being a Dean’s Host, I am the Founder and President of BU’s first DJ collective, BU on Beat! I also serve as the Protocol Chair for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Additionally, I am a member of the Undergraduate Psychology Association. In addition, I am a former FY101 Peer Mentor and I serve as a volunteer at the Haley House Soup Kitchen and at the Office of Student Programs and Leadership.Isabella Madrigal | Class of 2027 | International Relations & Political Science
As part of BU’s community, I am an ESL instructor with Potencia’s chapter on campus, where I have the opportunity to empower and provide accessible English lessons to adult immigrants in the greater Boston area. Additionally, I am an active member of Alianza Latina’s Hermanos Committee, where I offer guidance and support to underrepresented Latinx students. On top of being a Dean’s Host, I also lead as a Student Supervisor at the Student Philanthropy Center since I encourage students to become more involved in BU through fundraising for different organizations, scholarships, and groups at BU. Outside of class, I like to dance with the help of BU’s Hip-Hop PDP class!Helen Lallos-Harrell | Class of 2027 | Political Science & Economics
Kavya Subramanian | Class of 2027 | Mathematics & Computer Science
Willa Norvell | Class of 2028 | Philosophy, Political Science, & English
