Advising & Meet the Team | External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center

Spring 2025 Advising

Basic walk-in advising:

("Basic" refers to topics including how to get started with undergraduate research and learning how to utilize resources to find research and scholarship and award opportunities, such as our Campus Research Opportunity Postings (CROP) database and searchable scholarships database listings.

Mondays: 12:15 - 2:15 p.m.

Tuesdays: 1 - 2:30 and 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.

Wednesdays: 1 - 3 p.m.

Thursdays: 11 - 1 p.m.

Fridays: 2 - 4 p.m.

Advanced scheduled appointments:

("Advanced" refers to topics including thinking about and writing internal and external scholarship applications)

Tuesdays

- 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. with Director Stephen Ortiz (UU 260), and by appointment

Thursdays

- 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. with Director Stephen Ortiz (UU 260), and by appointment

Specialized Advising

Source Project

Walk-in times are Tuesdays 1 - 2:30 p.m., or by appointment.

Contact Source Project Coordinator Caroline Antalek by email cantalek@binghamton.edu or call (607) 777-4342.

Fulbright Program:

Contact Dr. Elisa Camiscioli (ecamis@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Goldwater Scholarship and NSF REU programs:

Contact Dr. Christina Baer (cbaer@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Upstate Medical SURF, Prep-Up, and Ph.D. programs:

Contact Dr. Whitni Redman (wredman@binghamton.edu) to schedule a meeting.

Contact Information

Office Assistant: Afton Fahey
Phone: 607-777-4325
Email: afahey1@binghamton.edu

Physical Address (for GPS):

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State University of New York
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Vestal, NY 13850

Mailing Address:

External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center
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P.O. Box 6000
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Meet the Team

Dr. Stephen R. Ortiz (He/Him), Director

sortiz@binghamton.edu

Stephen Ortiz joined ��ñ�� in 2010 as a member of the History faculty. He has published two books on the role of veterans in American politics. From 2016-2021, he served as Collegiate Professor of College in the Woods. In 2021, Ortiz took on the position of Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Enrichment. He became Director of the External Scholarships and Undergraduate Research Center in 2023, as part of his AVP responsibilities.

Dr. Beth Polzin (She/Her), Associate Director

bpolzin@binghamton.edu

Dr. Beth Polzin has a long track record of providing students with broad-based skills and individualized guidance to identify approaches to design and articulate their research. A first-generation college graduate originally from Western New York, she has taught and tutored writing and research at universities and community colleges. Dr. Polzin earned a BA in politics and history, a certificate in African Studies, an MFA in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. She lived in Accra, Ghana for two years, first as an undergraduate student, and later, as a fellow with a Fulbright award. At ��ñ��, she has taught inquiry-based courses to undergraduates in the Department of Comparative Literature, the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), and the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program (LACAS), and to doctoral students of the Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP). In previous professional staff roles on campus, Dr. Polzin served as a Grant and Contract Administrator with the Office of Sponsored Programs and as Program Coordinator for TRIP.

Caroline Antalek (She/Her), Source Project Program Coordinator

cantalek@binghamton.edu

Caroline Antalek is a ��ñ�� alumna with a bachelor's degree in Spanish language and literature, and a minor in education. As the Source Project Program Coordinator, Caroline assists in the program’s facilitation and helps plan the poster sessions for Research Days. As a former exchange student with Rotary International, having spent a year in Puebla, Mexico, Caroline has a passion for diverse cultures, language learning, and education. Prior to starting at ESURC, she worked for ��ñ��'s undergraduate admissions. She also has experience working for Broome County as a career counselor. When Caroline is not working with undergraduate research, you can find her at a concert, in the gym, or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

Afton Fahey (She/Her), Office Assistant

afahey1@binghamton.edu

Afton Fahey graduated from ��ñ�� in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature. After graduation, she accepted a position on campus with the Office of Human Resources in student payrolls. In 2016, Afton left the University to travel with her military husband to Japan, where she taught high school students English as a Second Language. After three years, she relocated to a military base in Washington, DC, where she tutored students during the pandemic. Afton has been working at the ESURC since March 2024. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures, histories, and social structures. In her spare time you can find her reading, being outdoors, or relaxing with her husband and two cats.

Dr. Elisa Camiscioli (she/elle), Senior Fulbright Advisor

ecamis@binghamton.edu

Dr. Elisa Camiscioli, Senior Fulbright Advisor — Dr. Elisa Camiscioli

Dr. Camiscioli helps students navigate applying to the Fulbright Program, a renowned and competitive cultural exchange program. Dr. Camiscioli is passionate about international collaboration and serves on research, teaching and granting committees in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. She received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and offers classes on race and racism in Europe, human trafficking in history, intimate labor and global migrations.

Dr. Christina Baer (She/Her), Goldwater Scholarship and NSF REU Advisor

Dr. Christina Baer serves as the advisor for the Goldwater Scholarships and for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU) opportunities. Dr. Baer has been a Research Educator in the First-year Research Immersion program since 2020. She has a Ph.D. and B.A. in biology, with a focus on ecology and evolution. As an undergraduate, she participated in an REU and has also been an REU mentor. In FRI, she teaches students how to plan, conduct, and write about scientific research.

Dr. Whitni Redman (She/Her), Advisor for SUNY Upstate Medical programs

Dr. Whitni Redman serves as the advisor for SUNY Upstate Medical Summer Research Fellowship and Ph.D. and Prep-Up programs. She is a first-generation college student that received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Peru State College followed by her Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Redman completed a two-year postdoc position at ��ñ�� before serving as the Research Educator for the Microbial Biofilms in Human Health stream in the First-year Research Immersion Program. As an undergraduate, she participated in two summer research fellowships. Dr. Redman has also been an REU mentor and has assisted students to successfully apply to various summer research fellowships and PhD programs across the country.

Undergraduate Research Ambassadors

Jovana Cvetanovic (She/Her)

jcvetan1@binghamton.edu

Jovana is a Junior majoring in Environmental Science on the pre-med track. Her role in ESURC consists of creating biweekly newsletters and advising students on how to get involved in research. She has been involved in research since her first year as a part of the FRI program in the Biogeochemistry stream. Upon completion of the program, Jovana joined Dr. Sobel's lab. In her free time, she likes to play sports and draw.

Kristen Li (She/Her)

kli7@binghamton.edu

Kristen is a sophomore who recently joined ESURC as an undergraduate research ambassador. She participated in the Source Project during 2023-2024 in the Mapping American Prejudice stream. Her research consisted of working in a team to uncover more about historical residential discrimination in Broome County.

Lia Richter (She/Her)

lrichte1@binghamton.edu

Lia is a senior double-majoring in History and Economics. She acts as the current Managing Editor of the ��ñ�� Undergraduate Journal. Her role consists of reviewing submitted papers, coordinating communications between authors, reviewers, and the editorial board, and publishing the new volumes. She has been involved in research throughout her time in undergrad, through both the Disinformation and Naivete stream in the Source Project and the Summer Scholars and Artist Program.

ESURC Affiliated Offices and Programs

McNair Scholars Program

Gervlyne Auguste (She/Her), McNair Scholars Assistant Director

gauguste@binghamton.edu

Gervlyne Auguste, Program Coordinator — Gervlyne Auguste

Gervlyne Auguste currently serves as the program coordinator for the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair Scholars Program). She brings over 15 years of experience in educational and administrative management. Her academic experiences serve as an important framework that better allows her to understand and identify with a diverse range of students. Gervlyne's familiarities of being a first-generation college student with English as a second language present the main ideals that are the backbone of her educational philosophy. As a project coordinator, her primary mission is to help students navigate successfully through their academic careers while exploring their educational and career options. Her immediate responsibility is to prepare students to be self-sufficient and life-long learners. Her obligation is to contribute and remain attentive to issues pertaining to student services and retention. This is especially important when addressing the needs of underrepresented and underserved students.

In her spare time, she serves on several nongovernmental organizations as an advocate for better access to education, youth development and women owned businesses reaching life-long independence.

Gervlyne holds a Masters in Science degree with an Administration and Planning concentration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Emmanuel College, Boston.

Dickinson Research Team (DiRT)

Dr. Robert A. Holahan (He/Him), Dickinson Research Team Director

rholahan@binghamton.edu

Dr. Robert Holahan, Dickinson Research Team Director — Dr. Robert Holahan

Robert Holahan is an associate professor of environmental studies and political science and director of the Dickinson Research Team (DiRT). DiRT is a residential community-based research program that is the first of its kind in the United States. DiRT is open to students who are interested in research, regardless of major and prior research experience.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

Dr. Ryan Mead (He/Him), Assistant Director of Academic Support Services and Programming

rmead@binghamton.edu

Ryan Mead is the Assistant Director of Academic Support Services and Programming for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and has worked in higher education for over 14 years. As a first-generation and transfer student, Ryan understands the challenges many students face in higher education, inspiring his commitment to fostering success for students from marginalized backgrounds. He leads teams of student tutors during the academic year and manages both student and professional staff, including faculty, during EOP’s summer bridge program, BEP. Ryan’s approach emphasizes that learning is a skill that can be mastered, using scientifically proven strategies rooted in both educational psychology and sociology. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from ��ñ��.