Tatkon Center for New Students Staff

We are dedicated to supporting first-year and transfer students throughout their first year, as well as upper-level students involved in Orientation and the Tatkon Center. We work together with our colleagues throughout Student & Campus Life to support the student experience.

Meet the Tatkon Center for New Students Staff

Kevin Perry

Director, Tatkon Center for New Students
kp459@cornell.edu
(607) 254-2252

Joining in 2022, Kevin Perry has over nine years of experience in student affairs, the last five years in first-year experience and orientation. Prior to Cornell, Kevin served as the inaugural Associate Director of New Student and Transition Programs at Ithaca College, where he led the transition of the college's Orientation program from several summer sessions to a single fall session. Kevin is an active member of the NODA professional organization (Association for Orientation, Transition, & Retention) and currently serves on the Regional Leadership Team and as the 2023 Regional Conference Co-Host. He attended The State University of New York, Brockport where he earned a B.A. in English and Political Science, and went on to earn an M. Ed in Higher Education Administration from The State University of New York at Stony Brook.

When not working, Kevin likes to spend his time with his dog Cocoa, a 10 year old lab-pointer. He enjoys cooking and whenever possible, spending his time outdoors; camping, kayaking, and can often be seen biking the Ithaca waterfront trail. Kevin is most excited about building strong relationships with students, staff, and faculty as he learns more about campus and to provide strategic direction as we align the first-year and orientation programming under the Tatkon Center for New Students. 

Taylor Bouraad

Assistant Director for First-Year Experience, Tatkon Center for New Students
tb533@cornell.edu

Joining in March 2022, Taylor Bouraad has over six years of experience in student affairs, with the past four years working at Cornell University as a residence hall director for the Mews & Loving House community. Taylor has a passion for supporting new students as they navigate the ambiguity of their first year at Cornell while encouraging them to explore the multi-dimensional pieces of their identity. Taylor is currently a Master of Public Health candidate here at Cornell and attended Stony Brook University where she earned her B.S. in Marine Vertebrate Biology and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration.

Emilee Saigh

Assistant Director of New Student Orientation, Tatkon Center for New Students
es925@cornell.edu

Emilee joined the Tatkon Center for New Students in June 2022 after earning her M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. Her experiences at Georgia Southern University (B.S. Public Relations) in housing, admissions, and orientation programs empowered her to seek a career in student affairs. Emilee’s student support and supervision philosophies are informed by her work with the UGA Pride Center, serving on NODA Region VI and NODA Annual Conference planning committees, and working with and training three orientation teams. Aside from her professional interests, Emilee is an avid coffee-drinker, loves spending time outside, and has an affinity for plants.

Sara Boschwitz

Summer Program Assistant, Tatkon Center for New Students
sb3488@cornell.edu
(607) 254-5590

Joining the Tatkon team for the summer is Sara Boschwitz! Sara just graduated from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Exercise Science. She hopes to attend medical school after taking some time off from academics to work and explore. Alongside her role in the Tatkon Center, she also works as a Nursing Assistant at Cayuga Medical Center on the medical/surgical unit. From working as a TA for Anatomy & Physiology, to working as a fall and spring Orientation Leader under Kevin Perry while they were both still at IC, Sara has always loved working with new and returning students to help ease their ongoing transition throughout their college career. When she's not working, Sara has been learning to sew and play the ukulele. She also loves to sing and watch some of her favorite TV shows such as New Girl, The Magicians, Grey's Anatomy, and many more. Sara is most excited to help new students make meaningful connections with their peers, faculty members, and of course, the Tatkon Center staff! 

Larissa Hensley

Program Assistant, Tatkon Center for New Students
dlh227@cornell.edu
(607) 255-5808

In Larissa's current role at the Tatkon Center for New Students, her work includes administrative support, event planning, and communications to support New Student Orientation and the first-year experience. Currently Larissa spearheads responding to email and phone inquiries from students and families. She enjoys helping students and families feel comfortable planning their arrival for New Student Orientation and helping new students with any questions or directing them to the correct office as they plan for their first semester at Cornell. Larissa holds a B.A. in Psychology from Creighton University, a B.F.A. in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design, and an A.M. in Studio Arts from Harvard Extension School. Larissa enjoys ornamental gardening and ensures the Tatkon Center's office plants are thriving.