Meet the Team

About Approaching Stanford &
New Student Orientation

The Approaching Stanford/New Student Orientation team is made up of both student and professional staff, all within the office of Academic Advising. The Approaching Stanford program is required for all new undergraduate students. It is the process that will guide you in your preparation for Stanford.

Beginning in May for first-years and June for transfers, new students will receive weekly communications with information that will help transition you to the Farm. In the months leading up to the fall, you will learn more about academics and course enrollment, housing assignments, health requirements, student communities, opportunities, and resources. The information provided will culminate in your attendance at New Student Orientation (NSO), which will run in the days leading up to the start of Autumn Quarter.

2022 Orientation Coordinators

Orientation Coordinators (OCs) are the Stanford student staff in Academic Advising who serve on the Approaching Stanford/New Student Orientation team. The OCs dedicate their summer to help incoming students prepare for Stanford and to plan New Student Orientation (NSO). Watch the 2022 OC Intro Video, read their OC Blog, and follow @approachingstanford on Instagram!

Zoë Barley '23

Zoe Barley (OC) smiling in Stanford shirt, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Major/Academic Interests: Psychology with a double minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Dance
Favorite Stanford Memory: All the wonderful afternoons I have spent laying in the sun, studying, and laughing with my friends :)
Favorite Class at Stanford: Beauty and Power (FEMGEN137)

Emily Huang '25

Emily Huang (OC) smiling in Stanford sweatshirt, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Andover, MA
Major/Academic Interests: Symbolic Systems, English
Favorite Stanford Memory: Performing with Stanford Taiko in First Performance 2022 (our first official performance of the year)
Favorite Class at Stanford: Intro to Psych (Psych 1)

Anh Huynh '25

Anh Huynh (OC) smiling in Stanford shirt, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Sioux City, IA
Major/Academic Interests: Bioengineering with a double minor in Mathematics and Computer Science
Favorite Stanford Memory: San Francisco Scavenger Hunt and going on a cruise around the Golden Gate Bridge
Favorite Class at Stanford: Korean Language and/or Math 21

Diego Kagurabadza '25

Diego Kagurabadza (OC) smiling in Stanford sweatshirt, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Major/Academic Interests: Political Science & American Studies
Favorite Stanford Memory: Watching Gaieties with my dorm during Big Game Week!
Favorite Class at Stanford: Introduction to American Politics and Policy: Democracy Under Siege? (POLISCI 102) A great introductory course for anybody interested in politics. Really engaging lectures and readings; plus, the discussion sections go even more in-depth. Definitely recommend!

Jason Lin '25

Jason Lin (OC) smiling in Stanford shirt, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Pikeville, KY
Major/Academic Interests: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Stanford Memory: Making pasta from scratch with my friends in the dorm kitchenette on a Friday night
Favorite Class at Stanford: Hip Hop 2 (DANCE 59) This class was phenomenal; it helped me explore a new interest in dance and improved my confidence a ton. And of course, the music and vibes were always good.

Olivia Ziegler '25

Olivia Ziegler (OC) smiling in Stanford tank top, in front of green shrub background

Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Portland, OR
Major/Academic Interests: Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Favorite Stanford Memory: My dorm throwing a prom for all our residents and +1s
Favorite Class at Stanford: One in Five: The Law, Politics, and Policy of Campus Sexual Assault (FEMGEN 143)

Professional Staff

Kylee Beck wearing jean jacket and smiling; cloudy backdrop.

Kylee Beck (she/her), Senior Program Coordinator in the office of Academic Advising, supports the various programs implemented to welcome first-year and transfer students into the Stanford community. She is a recent graduate from Stanford, with a degree in Human Biology. Kylee was involved in various student organizations during her time as an undergrad, such as the Stanford Powwow, in addition to serving as an upper-class RA and peer advisor in the Office of Student Engagement.

Diana Suedbeck (she/her), New Student Programs Manager, is responsible for implementing the Approaching Stanford program, which provides support to first-year and transfer students as they transition to life at Stanford. Being one of the first points of contact for these incoming students, Diana is focused on making sure they feel well-equipped to begin their academic experience at the university. Receiving her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, Diana's passion for higher education grew as she coached women's lacrosse for her alma mater.

Edith Wu-Nguyen (she/her), Associate Dean and Director of New Student Programs in Academic Advising, oversees the preparation, welcome, and transition of new first-year students and transfers to Stanford through the Approaching Stanford process and New Student Orientation. She is also the Resident Fellow (RF) for Okada House, the four-class Asian American ethnic theme house located in Wilbur Hall. Edith earned her Master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford where she studied Human Biology and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. Prior to returning to Stanford in 2006, she worked in community-based programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, including Head Start/Early Head Start, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, and Public Allies-Silicon Valley.