Anthony Adessa

Biography

I am the current Pre-Professional Representative seeking to be elected for another term. I am a Political Science major and Computer Science concentrator from San Diego, California. At Columbia, I am an Operating Committee Leader of the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs (CORE) and do work-study for Undergraduate Admissions. I also serve as Chair of Social on the University Life Events Council, facilitating social events for all students. I am invested in supporting LGBT pre-professional efforts as a member of that group. Outside of class, I am an active photographer and have experience working in the financial services industry.

Platform

Do you have an idea for a career path but no idea how to get there? Many students, particularly first-years and sophomores, have experienced a primarily online education at Columbia. This includes missing out on important access to classmates and student groups that would help you build networks and guide you through the process of pursuing a pre-professional track (pre-law, pre-business, pre-med, tech, etc.). This is why we need LionLaunch.

The LionLaunch platform will assemble a collection of opportunities sourced from clubs and student groups that are often inaccessible to most students on campus. The selectiveness of pre-professional clubs at Columbia means students lack access to the crucial opportunities and skills they provide. LionLaunch will work to bridge this gap and make pre-professional tracks a pursuable option for all students in Columbia College. I began developing the infrastructure for LionLaunch in February with CCE, and another term on CCSC will allow me to materialize this vision.

LionLaunch

• Online platform available to all Columbia College students

• Access to a collection of timelines from upperclassmen based on track o Provides a great indicator for where students should be at any given time in their college career

o i.e., applying for exploratory programs as a first-year

• Collection of opportunities sourced from student groups based on track and identity

o i.e., LGBT+ diversity programs in finance o Collaboration with student groups including the Black Pre-Professional Society and Queer Business Society to ensure marginalized students are provided with the tools to succeed

Additionally, students of all class years would benefit greatly from a coffee chat program to learn from their peers and make friends pursuing similar career paths.

Mentorship Program

• Match students with peers pursuing the same track rather than major

• Monthly coffee chats for students funded by CCSC (i.e., Starbucks)

• In-person and virtual options