Mayra Garces | she/her/ella
SES Associate Director, SAW Director
SAW Staff & Faculty
SAW Leadership Team
The SAW Leadership Team collaborates to ensure that academic and co-curricular experiences during SAW are meaningful and interconnected.
SAW Student Leadership Team
The SAW Student Leadership Team assist the SAW Director in major components of SAW co-curricular programming and serve as a knowledgeable support to the SAW Counselors. The SAW GA and Counselor Coordinators also live in the residence hall with SAW participants.
SAW Counselors
The SAW Counselors are upper-class FGLI students trained to support incoming first year FGLI students. They have a wealth of knowledge and are excited to welcome incoming students to the Northwestern Community. SAW participants can expect to be matched with a SAW Counselor at the program's start. SAW counselors also live in the residence hall with participants.
SAW Faculty
There are 2 academic components to SAW, a Cook Family Writing Program and School of Communication course. All SAW students are enrolled in these credit bearing courses, and they are taught by passionate and dedicated faculty and Graduate Assistants invested in FGLI student success.
Elizabeth Lenaghan | she/her/hers
Cook Family Writing Program, SAW Academic Director
Rick Incorvati | he/him/his
School of Communication SAW Liaison & Facilitator
Marcia Maxson | she/ella/هي
SAW Graduate Assistant
Cydney Brown | she/her/hers
SAW Counselor Coordinator
Gavin Yi | he/him/his
SAW Counselor Coordinator
Gaby Pesantez | she/her/ella
SAW Counselor
Quote: "Stay true to yourself, hold onto your values and what you're passionate about, but also allow yourself to explore different interests and try new things! It can lead to amazing memories, experiences, and opportunities!"
Isa Candal | she/her
SAW Counselor
Quote: "Learn to let go of the little things and focus on what matters to you. Remember, we are all here to grow. Mistakes are bound to happen, but we can always try to learn from them."
Jeremiah Alonzo | he/him
SAW Counselor
Quote: "The impossible is possible for trailblazers like you, so never forget how much you've accomplished up until now."
Moriah Pettway | she/her
SAW Counselor
Quote: "Getting to Northwestern is half the battle, rediscover the strength that got you here and lean on your support system!"
Elebetel Negusse | she/her
SAW Counselor
Quote: "Go where you are loved"
Rafael Contreras | any
SAW Counselor
Quote: "It's okay to ask for help and make your own path! Your lives have made you smart and capable enough to achieve your goals."
Elizabeth Lenaghan | she/ her/ hers
SAW Academic Director & Instructor | Cook Family Writing Program
Charles Yarnoff | he/ him/ his
Instructor | Cook Family Writing Program
Leslie Fischer | she/ her/ hers
Instructor | Cook Family Writing Program