Nicole Zinerco
Photo Credit: Nicole Zinerco
SUNY Old Westbury’s Honors College welcomed the new Honors College Coordinator, Nicole Zinerco for the fall 2019 semester.
A former academic advisor, Zinerco earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Stony Brook University where she double majored in Studio Art and Art History and earning her master’s in Higher Education Administration.
Zinerco expressed her passion for art which made her apply to many art schools and was eventually accepted to Stony Brook University. “I applied to a lot of art programs and I got into some of them, and then I decided to leave the door open for something else. So at the last minute, I applied to Stony Brook and I got in,” she said.
Besides art, she had a vision that she wanted to become a marine scientist which led her to take some classes in not only art, but chemistry as well. She quickly realized that she didn’t enjoy the chemistry classes as much as her art classes, and switched to solely focusing on majoring in art: in which she decided to double majored in Studio Art and Art History. “I was someone who maybe wasn’t sure what I want to do, and then I found an idea and I kind of ran with it,” said Zinerco.
During her last years as an undergraduate student, Zinerco wanted to work with students after being involved in peer learning programs. She decided to go for her master’s in Higher Education. While a graduate student, Zinerco became an academic advisor for five years.
Zinerco wanted to search for other jobs at Stony Brook University or another SUNY school. While she was searching for jobs on the web, she saw an Honors College Coordinator job opening. “I was looking at positions [in not only] Stony Brook but also Farmingdale or Old Westbury, and it was just by chance that I saw this position came up and I was really excited because it sounded like exactly what I wanted to do,” she explained.
Since her new role as an Honors College Coordinator, she not only interacts and help students, but also is able to plan and hold events which is something that she wasn’t able to do as an academic advisor at Stony Brook University.
Her day to day duties include working with staff to plan events and represent the Honors College, assist in running the E-Council, teaching an internship seminar, helping and guiding students as well as recruiting students to join the Honors College. Zinerco enjoys being able to get to know the students and see them on a regular basis.
What she admired most about SUNY OW is the small environment where she not only gets to know the staff at the Honors College but also at other departments. “Old Westbury has this small town vibe that Stony Brook definitely does not have. “It’s really nice to see other people who work here,” said Zinerco. “Here, you walk around and it feels like you know everybody.”
Zinerco has big hopes for the Honors College in the future. She and Honors College Director, Dr. Anthony DeLuca spoke about expanding the Honors College curriculum. She wants to do more outreach by speaking to students and informing them on their eligibility to join the Honors College and revamping the Peer Mentor Program, which currently serves to help students at OW with questions they have about the college. Her hopes and expectations for the students are feeling like a community. “I want [students] to be able to leave the Honors College and graduate, knowing that it was something valuable to you. Knowing that you learn something or it was an experience that added value to your life and to your college degree,” she said. “I also want [students] to articulate how awesome [they] are.”
Zinerco’s philosophy in higher education is the importance of everybody doing their best.
