Peer Career Advisors

Meet the PCAs

Allie Eisenberg

Hi! My name is Allie Eisenberg and I'm a sophomore at Barnard. I'm pursuing a major in Information Science and considering a concentration in Statistics. I am from Glen Rock, New Jersey, just 25 minutes away from campus. I'm passionate about pursuing a career in technology and have gained valuable experience through interning at a Fortune 500 technology company this past summer. Beyond Barnard has been instrumental in providing me with incredible resources to explore and secure these opportunities. In addition to being a PCA, I am highly involved with the Columbia Women's Business Society and Kappa Alpha Theta. I'm thrilled to collaborate with my peers and make the most of the invaluable support offered by the organization.

Paloma LaValley

Hi! My name is Paloma La Valley and I’m a junior majoring in Political Science with minors in Economics and Spanish & Latin American Cultures. Outside of my role as a PCA, I’m involved with CIRCA as an Under Secretary-General of Committees for CMUNCE XXII and CMUNNY XVII, Executive Board and founding member of Barnard Investment Group (BIG), Columbia Women’s Business Society, ALPFA@Columbia, and Alpha Chi Omega. I’m currently working with VC Lab in their Venture Institute program, but next summer I will be working at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a Corporate & Investment Banking Summer Analyst. I was also the inaugural recipient of the PIMCO Future Leaders Scholarship for Barnard, and am beyond excited to help future applicants navigate the process! In Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, I was a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). I love to travel in my free time and explore NYC on foot, searching for fun establishments, especially for bubble tea and unique lattes!

Victoria Le

Hello! I’m Victoria, a junior majoring in Economics and minoring in Biology. Beyond being a PCA, on campus I am a part of the Vietnamese Students Association. Off campus, I intern at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and volunteer at the Manhattan Community Boathouse. Beyond Barnard has supported me from day one, and PCAs were my helping hand throughout my journey of navigating my professional aspirations. In my second year as a PCA, I look forward to hearing about the numerous passions and paths of my peers and how we can support your professional goals.

 

Emily Lo

Hello! My name is Emily and I am a senior majoring in computer science with a minor in chemistry. On campus, I have been involved in the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs and worked as a teaching assistant for various computer science courses. From the very beginning, Beyond Barnard has consistently provided me with invaluable resources and guidance for my career development and personal growth. As I enter my third year as a PCA, I am thrilled to meet with more fellow students, listen to their experiences, and assist them in reaching their career aspirations!

Alicia Lopez-Guerra

Hi! My name is Alicia Lopez-Guerra (she/her) and I'm a sophomore from San Francisco, California. I'm in the process of combining the sustainable development and political science majors and will additionally be minoring in French. I spent this past summer abroad in France completing a course at Columbia's Reid Hall for my French minor. I worked  as an assistant program manager for the High School Diplomate Program in D.C., and participated in a self-directed research project for the Earth Law Center. While I've been at Barnard for fewer than two years, Beyond Barnard has been one of the most helpful tools on campus. The office and website have provided me with so much useful information and assistance and I can't wait to support my peers as a PCA. Besides being a PCA, I'm the treasurer for the Columbia Policy Institute and member of the Energy & Environment Center, a writer and editor for CULR, and a volunteer teacher for both Artists Reaching Out and Sprout Up.

Elodia Lunn

Hi! I'm Elodia and I'm a sophomore exploring education and ethnic studies. I've learned a lot from the Barnard community and being a PCA is another way to connect with so many amazing people from different backgrounds. Beyond Barnard is a phenomenal resource here on campus and I'm so glad to be a part of it. Beyond academics, I spend my time performing with Columbia's dance group ONYX. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

Suhani Sharma

Hello! I am Suhani Sharma, a junior majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in English Literature. Beyond Barnard and the PCAs have been a central part of my Barnard experience from the very start. Every major application I’ve submitted over the last two years has first passed through the hands of people at the Beyond Barnard office. The office helped me secure a position as a member in the first cohort of the Bridgewater Associates New Pathways Scholars program, an experience which has truly formed my career interests. As a PCA, I am excited to meet with my peers and  aid them in finding experiences through Beyond Barnard that can help them find their passions as well!

Bianca Spataro

Hello! My name is Bianca (she/her/hers), and I am a senior from Connecticut double majoring in Human Rights and Political Science. I’m passionate about gender equality and I’m involved in several human rights related organizations on campus, including Columbia University Students for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and She’s the First. I plan to one day attend law school and specialize in international human rights law. As a PCA, I hope to play a part in helping Barnard students figure out how to best navigate their futures and reach their personal career goals. I believe college can be an instrumental time to learn more about yourself, your passions, and aspirations. As a result, I look forward to engaging with students in one-on-one sessions.

When I’m not working or in one of Columbia’s many libraries, you can find me taking a long walk in Central Park, exploring the endless array of bookstores and museums in NYC, or dancing (in the studio or out with friends)!

I look forward to meeting and working with you!

 

Maya Varkey

Hi, my name is Maya. I’m a sophomore majoring in Economics. Every interaction with advisors at the Beyond Barnard office always leaves me  feeling so relieved and excited. Now I can’t wait to share that feeling with others this year. As a PCA, I look forward to encouraging and helping my peers navigate their career search process, which can often feel very daunting and overwhelming. If I’m not in class, you can find me spamming my food instagram with new content or performing in Columbia’s sketch comedy troupe "Chowdah."

Hello! My name is Ananya Pal and I am a junior majoring in urban studies with a concentration in environmental science-sustainable development, and a minor in architecture (a mouthful, I know). Beyond Barnard has provided me with wonderful advice on various steps of the opportunity discovery journey. As a PCA, I look forward to supporting my peers, hearing your stories, and demystifying this nuanced, but rewarding process. Beyond PCA-ing, I am a dancer in Dhoom, a Laidlaw Scholar,  president of Design for America, a writer for CULR, an editor/photographer for BCUR, and an independent photographer for students on campus! See you in the BB Library!