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Press PAWS Project Executive Board 2021-22
Snehi Mukkamalla, Committee Chair & Founder
Hi! My name is Snehi Mukkamalla (she/her) and I’m a junior Psychology major on the pre-health track. On campus, I’m involved in AVI, Psi Chi, and our PPGA chapter!
We all come from diverse communities and upbringings so failing may mean and look like something different to each of us; however, the fear of failure is a feeling many of us probably share. My own personal experiences growing up in a South Asian household and constantly surrounded by high achieving folks deterred my confidence at times and put me in a state of constant comparison to students who were deemed “ideal” or “perfect”. When I came to realize that I was not alone in my doubts and my peers resonated with me, I was inspired to start the Press PAWS Project for our TCNJ community!
With this Project, I hope others can acknowledge that our imperfections and setbacks sometimes play an integral role in shaping who we are and who we hope to become. Putting others on a pedestal or this culture of faster living and the fear of slowing down can be unhealthy and harmful practices. So by embracing the idea of pressing “paws” and sitting with our setbacks in order to learn and grow from them, we can redefine and normalize failure, while also debunking the myth of the “perfect” student at TCNJ.
Through building a dialogue with each other and sharing our experiences of failure with the campus community, we hope we can empower and uplift one another to foster a sense of resilience and belonging!
Carolyn Mazzacco, Committee Coordinator
Hi! I’m Carolyn Mazzacco (she/her) and I am a senior Psychology major with a specialization in Clinical and Counseling and a minor in Health and Wellness. I’m Senior Captain of the Women’s Varsity Swimming and Diving Team and the Vice President of The Hidden Opponent chapter at TCNJ.
I joined Press Paws because I think our mission is extremely important and students need to hear it. Being able to accept “failure” as a learning opportunity and a chance to grow is such a valuable skill. At an academically rigorous school like TCNJ, it is important to learn from every opportunity, especially the ones that may not have the results you wanted.
Christopher Gallo, Committee Coordinator
My name is Christopher Gallo (he/him) and I am a Senior Public Health Major on the premed track. I have worked with AVI in some capacity for the last 3 years whether that be on the street team or as one of their health masculinity interns.
After I heard about this Project being on campus, I realized I could help contribute to the TCNJ community and I knew I needed to somehow be a part of it. Especially after the pandemic, I feel like the message of this organization is a much needed one to have on TCNJ’s campus.
Nicole Lester, Committee Coordinator
Hi there! My name is Nicole Lester (she/her) and I am a senior biology major with a minor in anthropology. I have been working in Dr. Jeffery Erickson’s neurobiology lab for the past three years researching cardiorespiratory responses to serotonin deficiency and developmental exposure to nicotine in neonatal mice. I am also a pole vaulter on TCNJ’s track and field team.
I am so excited to be a part of Press PAWS and help cultivate a safe environment for students to embrace and pursue themselves and their goals. Adversity is an inevitable aspect of human life and learning how to be resilient is a life-long skill. I want to ensure that the students of TCNJ’s campus are prepared to take on any adversities they may face in life.
Sadhvi Mohankumar, Committee Coordinator
Hi! I’m Sadhvi (She/Her) and I’m a junior Biology major with a concentration in social justice. I am passionate about the Press Paws mission to debunk the myth of a perfect student and help foster resilience in other students.
Around campus I am also an AMIOK ambassador and part of Amnesty International. A fun fact about me is that I’m a plant enthusiast!
Susie Orecchio, Press PAWS Project Staff Chair
Hello! My name is Susie Orecchio (she/her), and I am the Director of Administration & Operations for Student Affairs and Coordinator of Parent & Family Programs at TCNJ. I started my career at the College in 2012 as a graduate intern within the Career Center and began working in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in 2014. I have my Masters in Counseling from TCNJ and my Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Health Studies from Monmouth University.
I am so excited for this partnership between Student Affairs and Student Government focusing on the incredibly important topics of resilience and reframing failure. We have already established many collaborations across campus ranging from academic departments to student organizations. We look forward to continuing to work with student leaders and our campus partners to have the mission and goals of the Press PAWS Project woven into all areas at TCNJ!