NYU Is Where Possibility Creates Connection

For entrepreneur and NYU junior Amelia Kopp, relationships and interdisciplinary connections across the University helped her design a unique concentration. It also helped her realize her vision for a start-up. Amelia developed her concentration with the help of her advisor at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. “During my first year, I was matched with an adviser who was the director of experiential learning,” Amelia says. “She has been so helpful in connecting me with resources.”

Amelia’s concentration, Navigating Capitalism with an Egalitarian Lens, focuses on ways of conducting business that benefit society. Or “doing business for good,” as Amelia puts it. After enrolling in an incubator class and connecting with other entrepreneurs, Amelia realized her vision for a start-up: InSearchOf. It’s a fashion resale business that brings personalized fashion to consumers. “My business was born from a lot of the reflections and conversations I had with my professors and peers in that class,” she says.

After seeking out NYU’s resources to support entrepreneurs, Amelia applied for and was accepted as a scholar in the Tory Burch Innovation Scholars program for the 2024–2025 year. Recently, she was accepted into the Start-Up Bootcamp at the Mark and Debra Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab. Amelia credits her connections with others for helping her figure out her path. “Because of the mentorship component at NYU, and because I put myself out there—really forced myself to talk to people and ask for advice—my direction became a lot clearer,” she says.

At the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students work on cutting-edge methods at the intersection of engineering and medicine, creating innovations to reimagine the future of health care. Students regularly collaborate with each other and with renowned Tandon professors, as well as faculty from the College of Dentistry, the Grossman School of Medicine, and beyond to address leading medical problems and develop new solutions.

Aya Ibrahim, a Tandon Class of 2025 graduate who majored in Biomolecular Science with a minor in Public Health, began exploring health-related challenges through an engineering lens during her very first semester. In her Introduction to Engineering and Design course, Aya and a group of fellow first-year students worked together to design a cane for the visually impaired that vibrates when the user approaches an obstacle. “Since we were just starting out, we weren’t expecting the opportunity to work on a project like this,” explains Aya. “When we began, we didn’t have all the knowledge we needed, but throughout the semester we were trained in computer science and coding. We all learned from each other and it turned out to be a really great project.”

Aya was also president of Tandon’s Prehealth Student Board. In this role, she connected with students over conversations about merging health and engineering. New students often asked Aya if it’s possible to pursue the premed track while focusing on engineering as an undergraduate. Her answer is an emphatic yes. Not only are the opportunities to bridge health and engineering at NYU seemingly endless, but there are groups eager to help you connect your interests and goals.

Read more about merging engineering and health at NYU Tandon.

Basketball has been a through line in the home, academic, and professional life of Jan Hoang, an NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development Class of 2025 graduate who majored in Nutrition and Dietetics. Jan grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He played basketball avidly since the fourth grade and joined the intramural team when he came to NYU. Also at NYU, he transformed his dream basketball internship into a job offer.

During his sophomore year, Jan saw famed NBA trainer Chris Brickley was recruiting offseason interns on Instagram. Brickley’s post had thousands of likes, and Jan assumed many had already applied. However, his application caught Brickley’s eye. Not long after, Jan interviewed and landed the internship.

“I got to spend my summer in a legendary basketball gym, hooping while waiting for NBA players to come in and train,” he says. Because Jan lived in New York City, Brickley invited him to extend his internship beyond the summer. “Fast-forward to my second offseason—I became the lead intern.” Working with Brickley, Jan connects with people he never imagined he’d meet, including LeBron James, Klay Thompson, and Justin Bieber.

After graduating from NYU, Jan began his third offseason with Brickley—this time as an employee instead of an intern. Two years of hard work and dedication earned Jan this dream job offer. “From early-morning workouts to late-night sessions, I did my best to ensure I was always on time and paid attention to details. I kept an open mind and turned constructive criticism into a learning experience.”

Dive deeper into Jan’s story.