Graduate Convocation Student Speaker Roksolana Maria Sheverack, who will earn an MS in Management and Systems (MASY) from the NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business, has always embraced challenges with optimism, curiosity, and a growth mindset—qualities that have served her well in her life and her academic pursuits. The Ukraine native immigrated with her family to the US in 2000, speaking little English. She entered the fourth grade as an ESL student, an experience that shaped her aspirations to help other language learners.
Since 2014, she has worked as an admissions counselor at the City University of New York (CUNY) - Welcome Center, where she engages with students from countries around the world. She often shares her personal experiences and memories as a way to connect with them, encouraging them to reach beyond their comfort zones and immerse themselves in the English language through the plethora of media that surrounds them.
Sheverack completed her undergraduate studies at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University (LIU), where she was part of the Honors program. She graduated with a BA in English and political science. While there, she was actively involved in the LIU community, serving as a mentor and a student ambassador. That’s also where she fell in love with higher education as a future career path. Interested in pursuing institutional research as a means to help colleges and universities make data-driven decisions to benefit students, she enrolled in the Division of Programs in Business MS in Management and Systems, which provided her with leadership, management, and technical skills.
Coming from a liberal arts background, she described her experience in the program as challenging but “beyond amazing,” touting the deep industry experience of her professors. “The case studies were incredibly relevant to what I was learning, and the projects mirror many of the same issues that companies face on a regular basis,” she said.
While earning her degree, Sheverack has been actively involved in the SPS community. A Dean’s Graduate Scholar, she has served as public relations chair of the Management and Systems Student Association, an orientation leader, and a student mentor for the NYU SPS High School Aspire Program. As a mentor, she has met regularly with three high school seniors over the course of 10 months, helping them to navigate the college admissions process, by researching schools and academic programs, reviewing their college essays, and encouraging them to apply for scholarships.
Upon graduation, Sheverack hopes to pursue a career in the field of research oversight and data integrity, and further continue her studies to attain a doctorate.
