What’s your name?
Andrea Muraca
What’s your job title?
Director, Student & Alumni Affairs
Where's your hometown?
I am from Cortale, a little town (we are talking no more than 2000 people!) in Calabria, Italy. I grew up in Torino until I was 13 years old, then lived in Calabria for five years, in Bologna for another five, and four years in Milan.
What kind of projects do you work on at GPH?
I assist students during a very important and critical time in their lives: graduate school. I advise PHPM and EPI students and international students, I strategize and develop career events and activities (Public Health Post, workshops, panels), and engage with the alumni community. I am also the liaison with several partners: NYU Registration, Wasserman, OGS, Bobst Library. I collaborate with the PHPM & EPI department heads and deans to further the promotion of each program. I also create content and direction for the Student Affairs website, social networking sites such as GPH Roommate,s and the alumni LinkedIn group, and other communications for students and alumni.
How long have you been at NYU?
Eight years! Two as an MPH student (2014-2016) and six as a staff member (2016-now).
Why NYU?
The reputation, the location in Washington Square Park — the heart of NYC — and the colleagues and students make NYU an exceptional place to work. NYU also counts many international students among its extensive student community. Additionally, NYU is the home to the biggest international academic community in the United States — over 17,000 international students and scholars from over 140 different countries! This makes me very proud of working here.
What does a normal day look like for you?
Every day is different! In general, on a day-to-day basis it involves advising students, meetings, coordinating events, and working with a range of students, staff, and faculty. Oh, and engaging with my amazing colleagues in Student Affairs: singing with Angel, eating an acai bowl with Alicia, reviewing movies of Denzel Washington with Chris, speaking Italian with Angelica, and planning outdoors activities with Julie. We are really like a family. Working in student affairs continually offers new challenges and requires new strategies and ideas to deal with these challenges. In the corner of my office, I have two seats and a table referred to as the “student stress-free corner,” which has stress balls, a mini zen garden, a screaming goat and sweets. While I work, many students come, sit and de-stress by using these stress busters. I rarely have a boring day at the office and, on top of that, working with students generates its own kind of energy and excitement!
Is there an NYU benefit or perk that you use or think everyone should know about?
The all-mighty NYU Card! The NYU Card is not only useful for getting into buildings but it will also get you a ton of discounts around the city (JCrew!) and into many of the most important NYC museums.
What are you reading right now?
I am reading "La Calda Estate del Commissario Casablanca" (The Hot Summer of Commissioner Casablanca), an Italian thriller-romance written by a very close and dear friend of mine, Paolo Maggioni, a journalist who lives in Milan. The romance touches on and explores the refugee crisis in Italy from recent years and the challenges that refugees have to face, often alone, scared and traumatized in a new country.
Favorite movie of all time?
I can't pick between these three: Jaws (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), Kill Bill vol. 1 (2003)
What is your favorite purchase from this past year? Why?
A ring light for zoom meetings; it makes you look so good even when you are having a rough day...
If you were going to sail around the world, what would be the name of your boat?
T-Rex Express or Boat-a-Saurus — I do love dinosaurs!
Coffee or Tea?
This is not even a question: Coffee! Italian espresso!
Favorite travel destination:
Anywhere sunny and hot with a beach! Any Mediterranean coasts.
Favorite comfort food:
Tiramisu, which translates to ‘pick-me-up.’ Did you know that this amazing Italian dessert was created in honor of a count to lift his spirits after he had been severely tested in his attempts to unify Italy? A few years later he really did it!
Favorite season:
Summer with no doubt! Warm temperatures and longer days begin the season of summer. In Summer, everyone is happier and more carefree. Waking up to the sunlight sparkling through the elm trees or streaming in the window instantly energizes you for the day ahead. The day trips to the beach, the warming summer breeze, and the chance to spend time with family and friends are just a few reasons I am in love with this season.
Describe yourself in only three words:
Approachable, caring and funny
What inspires you?
My parents! Love is an amazing thing: the support and respect and magic that it provides never fails. The love, support and hard work of my parents to raise, educate and nurture me are commendable and I know I am lucky to have them. Their love for me inspires me to keep pushing in life.
Adventures: To me, adventures are an exciting and remarkable experience. I love visiting new places that I have never been to before, exploring new countries and learning from different cultures. It inspires me.
Nature: What gives me inspiration is also enjoying the calmness of nature, oceans, hills, green vegetation and mountains; it opens my heart to my inner creativity
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