BCQArchives
Student Leaders

Student leaders are the individuals that BCQ students interact with most, so they are largely responsible for defining the BCQ experience to students. Student leaders manage a small group of students by planning their own individual small group field trips, collecting & evaluating students' journals, and taking attendance.

If you are a current or past Colloquium student interested in becoming a student leader, find out about the application process at the bottom of the page.

 

Wednesday Student Leaders
Thursday Student Leaders
Matt Pietruszka
Hi, my name is Matt Pietruszka, and I am a Junior here at UIC. My major is Biological Sciences, and I'm also Pre-Optometry. I took BCQ last Fall semester and loved it. BCQ showed me that there are a lot of different things you can do with your Biology degree. One thing you should know about me is that I'm a huge sports fan. I can talk about the Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks and Sox forever. Sorry no Cubs. I love working out and staying active. I play basketball and a lot of tennis, and I'm also a member of the UIC tennis club. The best way to start a conversation with me is to give me a fun fact about anything. I'm all about pop culture and useless information. I hope I can make BCQ a fun and exciting experience for everyone!
Seyed Mirzamani
If I was to describe myself in one word, it would be 'Leadership'. Over the past few years I've held many positions in many different organizations. Many people simply take such responsibilities just for the title and a line in their resume. I do it because I know that I can do a good job for what I have promised to do and in result, I'd be helping many people. That is simply what I love, besides getting into Dental School, I love to help people. That's why I became a tutor for Chemistry and Biology along with becoming a teacher's assistant for Honors 101, which is basically an introduction to UIC course. Besides college life, I am simply an outgoing person. I believe in the term, 'time is gold' and take advantage of it every day. If there isn't school work, then I will not be home. I take some of the time I have available to give back to the community, the rest, I simply like to seat back and relax. Also, I love road trips. If I have nothing to do in Chicago, I will be on the road heading somewhere. This is me, love college, don't want to turn twenty one, and simply love to help others.
   
Justin Vlaovic
Hello, my name is Justin Vlaovic and I am an Anthropology major with Spanish and Russian minors. I hope to either do Law School or Grad in Political Science after my undergraduate is done. My goal is do governmental work that allows me to travel international. Question of why I am a BCQ leader without any Biology focus. This is what is great about BCQ. I was a Pre-Med Kinesiology major for my freshman and sophomore years. I took BCQ as an opportunity to search out careers and I was doing my own research as well. This is the rest of your life that you are talking about. So, BCQ opened my horizons and allowed to search and experience different fields while earning credit. I found out that I did not want to pursue medical because of numerous reasons. Some them I found out right there in class. BCQ motivated me to explore other fields and I did immediately during the length of the semester and now I am on a new route. My goal and hope is to be able to help those who are struggling to find a major or a field that they want to pursue. If you have a path that you are pursuing, then my goal and hope is that I can help you discovered things that you did not know or reinforce your drive towards. Also, I want to have lots of fun getting to know you and have fun exploring some real cool dreams.
Daniel Reyes
Hello, my name is Daniel Reyes. I'm a senior Biochemistry major, considering going to pharmacy school. When not hitting the books, I enjoy watching sports, notably association football (soccer) and ice hockey. I'm a huge fan of horror and sci-fi movies. I also play the bass guitar. I took this class Spring 2011 and it was a great experience. I hope that everyone who is in this class this semester enjoys it as well. It'll give you a different perspective on science careers and you'll get to meet a lot of cool people.
   
Anthony Viloria
Hey! My name is Anthony Viloria and I am a senior at UIC. I am majoring in biology while doing pre-nursing. After taking BCQ in spring 2011, it felt like I needed more BCQ in my life so here I am! In my free time, I like playing the piano, listening to music, eating new foods, and exploring new places. I especially love eating Korean food, sleeping, and photography. BCQ is a fun class to take and I look forward to a new semester of BCQ along with new faces and friends it brings.
Marta Khakhlova
Hi guys! My name is Marta Khakhlova, I am a junior at UIC majoring in Biological Science and planning to major in Psychology as well, I am also Pre-Optometry. I am a member of Pre- Optometry club and I hope to become an optometrist one day to help people see the beauty of the world. I moved to the United States 4.5 years ago and I totally love it!!! I am very outgoing and responsible person, I like outdoors, skiing, biking, swimming, bowling, movies, walking, spending time with my friends and family and a lot more. I took BCQ in the Fall 2011 semester and I totally love it and I just could not imagine to leave this organization, so I came back to be a student leader. BCQ is an awesome class that you will fall in love with, so come join us!!!
   
Maggie Tulowiecka
Hey Guys! My name is Margaret Tulowiecka. I’m a Pre-dental student at junior standing, majoring in Biological Sciences. I was born in Poland and my family took the wonderful opportunity to move to America when I was six. I’m a goof ball, but I know when to be serious. I absolutely love animals- I have two crested geckos at home as well as a red ear slider. I enjoy the outdoors, walking through forest preserves by my suburbs and beyond. I enjoy music especially heavy metal, rock, and reggae and I like drawing in my free time. I am a very busy person at all times because I hate sitting at home without anything to do. I work at Menards (Save big money at Menards :p), and I also spend a lot of time on research. I work at the College of Dentistry with Dr. Watanabe in the Periodontics Department where we’re working on periodontitis and diabetes relations. I’m also a part of the Pre-dental Club here at UIC. I took BCQ the semester of Fall 2011, and loved my experience! I am glad to be your BCQ leader for this semester, and I’m excited to meeting you all.
Purvi Patel
My name is Purvi Patel. This is my second semester being a student leader. I am senior and working towards my bachelors in Biological Sciences with a Pre-medicine attentiveness. I am also a psychology miner. I am a part of National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Indian Student Association, and Alternative Spring Break. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, dancing, riding bike, and reading. I love to hang out with friends, play badminton, work out, and talk on the phone. I volunteer at Lutheran General Hospital in pediatrics care unit. I love working with kids hence I want to be pediatrician. I know this upcoming semester will be filled with many experiences and adventures in BCQ as I have experienced previously. I can not wait to meet everyone this semester and be your student leader. I know this is going to be a great semester.
   
Rochelle Washington
Hi, my name is Rochelle Washington and I am a senior here at UIC. My major is Biological Sciences, and I hope to take a path in either Dentistry or Forensic Science after graduation. I am 22, and am an only child. I am from a south suburb of Chicago, Flossmoor, where I live with my mom, dad, and my dog Misty. I love sports, playing music on the flute and piano, and dancing. I danced in a dance school for 12 years, and was a part of a dance team earlier in college. I work as a secretary for Chicago Public Schools, and also shadow at a dental office in Hyde Park. At UIC, I am in the Concert Band, where I play the flute. I have also been on and involved with the executive board of the UIC Fashion Show for the past three years. I took BCQ in the spring of 2010 and loved it, and now I am hoping to be a great student leader for you all!
Quratulain Sabir
Hello! My name is Quratulain Sabir and I know it is very long, therefore; my nick name is Ann or Annie, either one works. I am majoring in Biological Sciences with the goal of becoming a Pharmacist one day. Since coming to UIC I have been involved in the pharmacy club, New Life Volunteering Society, and recently I have researched at UIC medical center in the radiology department. I am very friendly and talkative and am the least shy person. I tend to be loud at times whenever I am excited; I guess I get that loud side of me from New York, since I was raised there. My interests include going shopping (YES I am a shopaholic), music, going to theater, traveling and exploring the world, and helping out people. I took this class in fall 2011 and I absolutely fell in love with BCQ so had to come back. BCQ is definitely a fun class where you get to interact with other people and get the opportunity to explore the Biology field. I look forward to meeting every one and have an exciting spring semester with all.
   
Salwa Quadri
Hi! My name is Salwa Quadri and I am a junior majoring in biology. I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, I am a southern girl. :) I started at UIC as a transfer student from an engineering college, where I was a Civil Engineering major. After a few semesters there, I wanted to change my major and here I am now. First off, I am an avid animal lover. I love birds, cats, dogs, you name it! I also love reading, photography, sketching designs, origami, and horseback riding for fun. I love trying new things and I am always open to suggestions, please do not be shy with me! I am the eldest sibling of 5, so I would say I know a thing or two about guiding others, which I hope to do with you. During my first semester at UIC, I took BCQ and was thrilled that there was such a fun and exciting way to learn about the biology field. It showed me the many areas a bio major could go into while loving what they do. I hope, as your student leader, I can do the same for you.
Akshita Patel
Hello everyone, this is Akshita Patel. You can call me Akshi. I was born and brought up in India in a city called Ahmedabad. I moved to the US few years ago and I enjoy this place although I miss my India. I went to high school here and then I came here in UIC. I enjoyed the education system here. My dream is to become an oncologist and I am trying my best to achieve it. Out of all the classes I have ever taken, BCQ was the best one. It literally opened my eyes on what I really need to become an oncologist. I hope you guys get a chance to find out what you really need to get into the field that has been your dream or if you have not decided what you need to do then at least find something that you can do in this awesome field of Biology. I love Biology and if you need any help in any Bio classes, I would do my best to help you out. I hope we all have a wonderful semester.
   
Grace Seuffert
Hello! My name is Grace Seuffert. I am majoring in Biological Sciences with the goal of becoming a Pediatric Dentist. I come from a very large family consisting of 7 sisters and 4 brothers. I was home schooled my whole life so college was my first real classroom experience. I have been a Pediatric/Orthodontic dental assistant since I was 14 so 8 years. My interests include baseball (GO CUBBIES), dentistry, music, theater, traveling, exploring this amazing city that we are lucky enough to go to school in; the list goes on and on. I am the least shy person you will ever meet and have a great sense of humor. I look for good/positive things in every situation because life is too short to be unhappy even for a single minute. This is my second time being a student leader. I love BCQ and am so happy that I discovered UIC’s best kept secret!
Gajanan Kulkarni
Hello! This is Gajanan Kulkarni or simply GK or whatever you would like to call me. The short form of my name came from one of my teachers in English who first called me by letter G. The letter K was added later by me. I am Biochemistry major with senior standing. This is just my third year at UIC. I am excited about graduating in fall but at the same time nervous about my future endeavors. I am planning on going into a graduate program for public health or health management. I am an international student. I am sure it is obvious - from India. I like this place a lot and love the education system here. I enjoy playing cricket (a sport not an insect) and any other sport for that matter. I love listening to songs. I commute all the way from Aurora since last three years and I think the songs are extremely essential for me. I have taken a lot of classes but one of my favorite classes was this one. I loved BCQ a lot and I am sure most of you would love it too. I loved how this class is divided into two parts - lectures and field trips. I thought that this format does not make you bored and in fact acts as a stress reliever. I hope you enjoy the semester with BCQ.
   
Shahzaib Khan
I feel that there are three words that describe me and my current life: hard-working, passionate, and time-management. As students and adults, we all have various responsibilities. To be able to manage so many tasks in and out of school requires one to work diligently. I feel as though I have become a very hard-working individual to maintain the various aspects of my life, whether it be maintaining grades, keeping up with work, or being able to manage personal projects apart from both. What goes hand-in-hand with the devotion to work hard is passion. If I did not have the passion for what I am doing, I do not believe I would be able to keep up with the strenuous nature of college and work. I am a Pre-med student, like so many other Biology majors, and it need not be reiterated that it is a difficult and stressing professional goal. However, having a true passion for wanting to help others and the sciences makes the undertaking all the more worthwhile and burden capable. The most important and prominent factor about myself is my ability to manage my time efficiently. We all procrastinate; it is a given. However, being able to manage your time regardless is an extremely difficult skill - one that I have improved for myself. I can manage my time efficiently - completing personal assignments and tasks to be able to make the BCQ experience all the more enjoyable for myself and the other students. A constantly absent or over- worked student leader can have a negative effect on the experience of the other students, but one who can manage their time and be able to devote themselves properly could make the experience all the more worthwhile.
Yemi Ajayi
Hi!!! My name is Yemi Ajayi I am a senior at UIC and I am a biological science major, my professional goal is to become a dentist. I learned about BCQ from a friend, throughout my college experience I have not found any class like BCQ that keeps me interested but at the same time I get a chance to learn from people who can help me in reaching my career goals. I took BCQ last semester and I had such an awesome time I just had to come back as a student leader to be part of the fun once again! I hope the next set of people that are a part of BCQ will enjoy it as much as I do!!
   

 

Becoming A Student Leader

If you are a current or past Colloquium student, we invite you to apply for a student leader position. There are many perks to being a student leader. When you become a student leader, you'll be able to earn 2 biology 200-level credits (BioS 296). In addition to helping you graduate, the Biology Colloquium has a great office with many useful facilities for student leaders to use. The office has a nice, almost too comfortable sofa; 3 computers for e-mailing, writing papers, and playing games; a refrigerator and microwave for storing and heating food; and an almost constant supply of snacks. Furthermore, several times a semester, student leaders are treated to dinner when the Colloquium holds a staff meeting.

To apply, simply click one of the links below to download the relatively short Student Leader Application as a Microsoft Word file. Print out the document, read the directions, and hand it in to the Colloquium office or email it to the student coordinators before the end of finals week once you have finished filling it out. After receiving the applications, the student coordinators will then contact you to set up a brief interview.

 

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