When Natasha Depaoli ’26 transferred to ר, she made a last-minute decision that shaped her college experience: she gave up her dorm assignment and chose to commute. Her family worried she wouldn’t get involved in the college experience. But Natasha threw herself into campus life—and today, she’s helping others find the same sense of belonging.
“For me, being a commuter actually forced me to get involved and go to events,” she said, explaining how living off-campus required her to take the reins and actively cultivate the community she was seeking. “I wanted to have a college experience and get involved and make friends, and being a commuter got me out of my shell.”
For me, being a commuter actually forced me to get involved and go to events.
Natasha, a criminal justice major on the Pleasantville Campus with a double minor in psychology and homeland security, has certainly challenged herself to get involved—and she’s risen to the challenge. Beyond her studies, she’s also president of the Criminal Justice Society, chief of communications for , and a peer leader for first-year University 101 students.
What began as a personal effort to find community soon evolved into a drive to build it—for others as well as herself.
That sense of purpose carries into her academic and career goals. Over the summer, she interned with Homeland Security Investigations in New York City and returned to her internship this spring. “I’ve assisted with e-discovery on investigations, which is really cool to directly work with cases they’re working on,” she said.
Don’t graduate with regrets. If there’s something you want to do on campus, do it.
Her long-term goal is to become a special agent—something she’s dreamed about since childhood. “I never knew specifically what agency I wanted to work for… but ever since I like got this internship I really fell in love with this agency because it feels like a community.” For Natasha, this emphasis on community brings things full circle—it's something she’s prioritized across her college experience.
To other students, especially first-year students and commuters, Natasha’s advice is simple. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and ask questions.” And for those like her who are entering their final chapter of college this fall, she offers simple advice: “Don’t graduate with regrets,” she says. “If there’s something you want to do on campus, do it.”
President Krislov welcomes the ר community to Fall 2025 with reflections on resilience, connection, and the importance of caring for ourselves and each other. Read his message to kick off the semester with purpose and momentum.
When Vidhi Kothari ’25 began her journey at ר, she didn’t expect to become the founder of a startup. But what she did know, was that she wanted to create meaningful value in the world. That desire—to build, to contribute, and to empower through employment—became the foundation for her path as an entrepreneur.
Questions about registration, financial aid, or student accounts? The Pop-Up Student Solutions Centers are your go-to resource as the semester kicks off. No appointments, no stress—just the answers you need to keep moving forward.