Resident Assistants (RA)
Alana Dong
Junior - Communication
Once upon a time a little Chexican was born on August 26th, 1986. Alana Dong, was born and raised in the sweltering desert of Arizona. Her two lovely parents, 12 year old brother, and over 60 aunts, uncles, and cousins remain there. Through many awkward growing stages and a miracle, she came to Stanford to become a part of the studly class of ’08. She enjoys making videos, reporting, dancing, card games, beatboxing, stupid movies, eating cookies (and everything else), playing old school video games, and singing poorly to herself. At Stanford, her activities include acting as executive producer at SCBN Channel 5 and producing the “Stanford Spotlight” program and website. During the day she works at the Haas Center for Public Service, and at night is a crime-fighting superhero. This year she is taking time off from her night job to distract innocent freshman.
Alex Mallory
Junior - Drama
Alex is a junior majoring in drama, but after reading Mountains Beyond Mountains this summer she has been inspired to begin a double major in sociology this year. Alex was born on November 5th, 1986 in Massachusetts but her parents predicted that if she grew up next to Stanford she would eventually want to go there (which did not happen until senior year) so they moved out to Palo Alto when she was five. She enjoys directing, acting, singing, dancing, playing piano and gelato from Gelato Classico on University Avenue. At Stanford, Alex is on the Ram’s Head Board of Directors and is starting an as-yet-unnamed political theatre group on campus this year. When not doing anything theatrical, Alex takes the occasional computer science class, plays pick-up ultimate and camps out for basketball games. She is still getting over a huge crush on ex-Stanfordite Dan Grunfeld, and hopes you will join her in the tent or at least courtside come basketball season.
Alexis Smith
Junior - History
A California girl at heart, Alexis was born in the Stanford hospital and then moved to Portola Valley, a little town only ten minutes away from campus. You can call her Lexi or Alexis, either is fine! During her years here on the Farm, she’s been involved in lots of fun activities including campus tour guiding, undergraduate research, and the oral communication program. She loves playing tennis and golf, dressing up in costumes for any and all occasions, and watching Stanford beat Cal. She apologizes ahead of time for quoting Anchorman and Happy Gilmore all the time. Right now she’s going through an awesomely bad techno phase, but any song by James Brown is also bound to put a smile on her face. She’s thrilled to call Branner home!
Antardeb Guharay
Junior - Mathmatical and Computational Science
On August 25, 1986, the world witnessed a new phenomenon. On a night when the skies inexplicably turned green and the earth shook in tremors and the theme song from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles blared throughout the streets of the world, Antardeb Guharay was born in a hospital in Washington, DC. From that day forth, the world was never the same. Approximately 20 years later, Antardeb has found his way to Stanford, dodging the pitfalls of childhood, the ack-wardness of adolescence, and the rigors of growing up as the fifth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. At Stanford, Antardeb blends into the general student population, keeping his heightened ninja senses to himself. He is majoring in Mathematical and Computational Science with a minor in Creative Writing. His interests, aside from black magic and jujitsu, include sports, writing (creative and journalistic), movies, and singing. Be sure to pass the showers near his hall at random times during the day to hear numerous renditions of Disney songs. Although at most times when you encounter his sense of humor you will groan, hopefully at some point this year, he will be able to exclaim, in the timeless words of Splinter, “I made a funny!”
Betsy Congdon
Junior - Mechanical Engineering
Betsy Congdon is a Mechanical Engineering major in her junior year at Stanford who loves to watch Law and Order, West Wing, and Grey’s Anatomy in her free time. Her fellow staff members always thought that she had certain diva-like qualities, so they were not surprised to learn that Betsy and Cher share the birthday of May 20th. Betsy’s interests include the New York Yankees (she dearly misses the YES channel), poetry, politics, reading and espresso. While at Stanford, she has done a variety of activities that include being an editor and writer at The Stanford Daily, working at Residential Computing, participating in intramurals, attending as many sporting events as possible, and tutoring for Upward Bound and the Society of Women Engineers. This year, in addition to being an RA in BRANNER!, she will be a Managing Editor of Intermission, the arts, entertainment, and style section of The Stanford Daily, and an Alternative Spring Break Trip Leader to New Orleans. Most of all, Betsy is looking forward to going fountain hopping, having late night conversations, and feeling at home with all 175 brannerites!
Desiree Cormier
Senior - Political Science and Psychology
On one warm spring morning in April of 1985 in Inglewood, CA, two lucky parents welcomed a little princess into the world. That princess, whom befittingly was given the name Desiree, would blossom into a lovely young woman full of energy, musical talent, joy and a great fashion sense determined to make this world a better place. Although the little princess learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - especially shopping and good food - she also grew to becomseriously dedicated to more serious matters, including civil and human rights as well as social progress for disadvantaged groups. Desiree hopes to use her political science and psychology degrees to get her into a fancy grad school so she can gain the knowledge (and connections, of course!) to save the world, starting in developing African countries. Desiree is involved in numerous activities on and off-campus, including the NAACP, the Black Psychology Students Association, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, as well as several community service organizations in East Palo Alto. She is so very excited for her senior year and to be the Mother of all RAs, and hopes to have the frosh calling her "Mama Dez" by the end of fall quarter.
Hershey Avula
Junior - Political Science (premed)
Hershey is one of the sexiest and coolest staff members in all of Stanford,and Branner is very lucky to have him this year. Jokes aside, though, Hershey is a very outgoing and funny boy (he's only 19). He lived in Larkin his freshman year but is so glad to finally be a part of the BEST dorm on campus. He plays pretty much every sport except for golf, and is especially talented in Tennis. He loves TV and claims to be the best TV show critic in the dorm. Some of his favorite shows are Scrubs, Entourage, Desperate Housewives, Lost, and of course, Seinfeld. At Stanford Hershey is heavily involved in the ASSU, and is the current ASSU Undergraduate Senate Chair. He is from Fresno, California and has loving parents, a grandmother, and one older sister. Overall, Hershey looks forward to meeting each and every one of you (on the Facebook at least).
Sureel Sheth
Junior - Economics, HumBio
Sureel Sheth returns for his second year in the Brannimal House, this time as an RA. Sureel hails from Mission Viejo, CA, a city in southern Orange County. Here at Stanford, he is majoring in Economics with a minor in Human Biology. He is slowly trudging along the pre-med path so if you’re confused, disillusioned, or frustrated by the pre-med process, stop by room 294 anytime to talk. In his free time, Sureel loves to play basketball, volleyball and ping-pong, chill with friends, and, most importantly, eat good food. His favorites include chocolate chip cookies WITH nuts, pudding, and the entire genre of Mexican food. He is involved with peer counseling at The Bridge, student government through the ASSU, and volunteering through the Arbor Free Clinic. In addition to his love for Seinfeld, Weezer’s Blue Album, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Sureel has an almost uncanny affinity for trashy TV so join him for episodes of Laguna Beach, Celebrity Fit Club, andFlavor of Love. Oh yeah, he likes Sixth Man. A lot. Go Stanford Basketball!!! Freshman year was one of the best years of his life, and he hopes to help create another fun and memorable year for Branner Hall.
Resident Computer Coordinators (RCC)
Tim Chang
Senior - Biomedical Computation
Tim, like all Stanford students, is trying to save the world. He grew up with his younger brother in the Waterford, CT. At Stanford, he has been a part of the Polo team, Lambda Phi Epsilon, Symphony Orchestra,and Stanford Student Biodesign to name a few. He loves tennis, basketball, going to the gym, Jason Mraz, hip hop and secretly listens to classical music and npr. Hopefully before the school year ends, he will know where he is going to medical/graduate school. Tim can do much more than get your internet to work so you should get know him to at least extract some of his advice on life.
Nicole Hartfield
Sophomore - HumBio
Nicole was born and raised outside Portland, OR. She is majoring in Human Biology. Her interests include sports, photography, computers, music (especially that from Portland), playing the guitar, sewing, carpentry, DIY, and general hanging out and chatting. She also is the Visibility Coordinator for the LGBT-CRC. She is currently pursuing a profession in public health. Nicole always welcomes visitors in room 244 so stop by!
Head Peer Academic Coordinator (HPAC)
Eric Boromisa
Junior - Symbolic Systems and International Relations
Eric Boromisa is a Midwestern boy with high aspirations. Born in Kalamazoo, MI (yes it does exist) Eric moved to Queretaro, Mexico when he was two and stayed there for two years, at which point he returned to his hometown. Upon applying for college, Eric wanted to try something exotic and attend a school in a different region. Being such the fan of multidisciplinary education as he is, Eric chose to major in International Relations and Symbolic Systems. In his spare time, Eric likes to cook as often as he can, play antiquated card games, travel and look at maps. Eric is also part of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, the LGBT-CRC Safe and Open Spaces Special Programs Coordinator, Model UN and the Society for International Affairs at Stanford (SIAS) Financial Director. You can find him down the hall in Room 147 or elsewhere in the dorm since he is a nightowl. He is also developing an interest in coffee and tea if you¹d like to stop by for a cup.
Peer Health Educator (PHE)
Shiv Verma
Senior - Economics
Shiv Verma, the Peer Health Educator (PHE), was the PHE in Branner last year and is coming back for another rocking good time, and is also a former Branner resident himself (yay Branner). Shiv grew up and spent his days as a lad in the town of Tracy, CA, and is about to embark upon his Senior year in school. He is an Economics major, and is considering everything from postgraduate work, to obtaining a real job, to becoming a fighter pilot after he graduates. Shiv has been known to create his own words/sayings (known as ism’s), so be on the look out during the year. Shiv’s friends (or gente as they have sometimes been called), tell him that he as a bueno sense of humor towards la vida, and an inherent ability to “fluff.” Shiv is also a sports junkie, and enjoys all manners of sports, activities, and general muck-running, with his favorite of the bunch including, but not limited to, basketball, tennis, and golf. Random fun cosas about Shiv are that he absolutely loves to read, he is a superman junkie, he enjoys the color green, and, he can flick orange Gatorade caps farther than one can possibly imagine…. Looking forward to meeting all of you amazing freshman he be, and the final parting words of wisdom he wishes to send to all of you – Woo Hoo!
Resident Tutor (RT)
Soumo De
Junior - Mechanical Engineering
Soumo is the Resident Tutor (RT) for Branner. He comes from Mississippi although he now lives in Arizona. Soumo swam competitively for nine years and still swims regularly at Stanford. He enjoys going to the Dish and the gym too. Soumo also loves cars and talking about them; this explains why he is a Mechanical Engineer. He watches shows like Scrubs and House MD which is indicative of his premed nature. He watches Battle Star Galactica and other sci-fi simply because it's awesome. When he is not tinkering with his computers, he is actually doing work on them for his research in Biomechanical Engineering. Soumo enjoys learning and doing new things such as meeting all the fantastic new Brannerites.