Meet Your NGSO Coordinators
A Warm Welcome From Your 2026 NGSO Coordinators
Dear New Graduate Students,
Get ready to be introduced to our sunny, gorgeous campus during the New Graduate Student Orientation (NGSO). As you embark on this journey, Stanford will support you in making a difference, fulfilling your potential, defining what success means to you, and reaching your personal goals. Our theme, “Launch Into Grad School” welcomes new students to a journey of discovery, resilience, and purpose. Launch Into Grad School with the energy and spirit of the Stanford community.
We're Thrilled to Welcome You to Our Stanford Family!
We cannot wait to meet you at Grad 101, where we will introduce you to life on campus as a graduate student and answer all your questions. And for a fun change of pace, join Ashley’s yoga class during NGSO to stretch, relax, and meet other grad students. NGSO marks the exciting beginning of your Stanford experience. We have curated an all-encompassing schedule of events and resources that reflect the richness of our campus life. From athletics to cultural centers, trivia nights to graduate school strategies, the options are limitless. At each of these events, you will be warmly welcomed by our event organizers, graduate life deans, student volunteers, and campus staff. They are here to help you build connections and discover new opportunities. Remember to stay updated on the latest NGSO events and information by visiting ngso.stanford.edu. Your journey at Stanford is just beginning, and we can't wait to see how you shape this new chapter of your life.
Your NGSO Coordinators rooting for you,
Yash Shah, Ashley David, and Natalia Avina
Your NGSO Coordinators
Ashley David
- Where are you from? I am from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
- What do you study? I am getting my PhD in Materials Science and engineering.
- What's your favorite thing to do on (or around) campus? My favorite things to do are play soccer, go to the gym, and get matcha from Voyager.
- What are you looking forward to at NGSO? I am looking forward to meeting all of the incoming students, and to teach the NGSO yoga class!
- One piece of advice you wish to share with incoming grads? Talk and get to know as many people as you can!
Natalia Avina
- Where are you from? Mexico
- What do you study? PhD in Cancer Biology
- What's your favorite thing to do on (or around) campus? Find the best restaurants in Palo Alto
- What are you looking forward to at NGSO? Meeting all the new grad student and GOALIE
- One piece of advice you wish to share with incoming grads? Palo Alto has so many cool things - Stanford, hikes, food, etc. Go explore!
Yash Shah
- Where are you from? San Jose, CA
- What do you study? I’m getting a PhD in Computer Science (Comp Neuro)
- What's your favorite thing to do on (or around) campus? Swim in the AOERC Rec Pool
- What are you looking forward to at NGSO? Meeting all of you!
- One piece of advice you wish to share with incoming grads? I’ll quote from “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke: “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day”.
