New Student Orientation (NSO)
Welcome Letter from Your NSO Coordinator!
Dear Class of 2028 and Transfer Students, congratulations on reaching this significant milestone and embarking on your journey at Stanford! We are thrilled to welcome you to our vibrant community. My name is Anjana Balachandar (she/her), a rising junior from Gainesville, Florida, majoring in Bioengineering. Currently, I serve as the NSO/Community Coordinator for the Women’s Community Center (WCC). All of us at the WCC are excited to welcome you to our family!
More from Anjana
During the week of New Student Orientation (NSO), we will host several events to introduce you to the WCC's history and mission. Meanwhile, here’s a bit of background: The Women’s Community Center exists to foster growth and engagement around issues of gender, equity, identity, and justice. We build community and provide opportunities for scholarship, leadership, and activism. Our inclusive and intersectional approach welcomes individuals of any gender, background, or level of prior engagement. We strive to center the voices and experiences of all gender-expansive and historically marginalized identities.
This is my first year working with the WCC, and in this short time, I've realized how essential the WCC is in fostering a supportive and positive experience for Stanford students. Our community thrives through amazing events like the 2024 Gender, Equity, and Justice Summit with Terisa Siagatonu, bouquet-making workshops, and STEM mentorship tutoring nights. These events offer students a respite from the fast pace of Stanford life and a chance to connect with the WCC community. The ability to learn from each other and feel the warmth of our events makes this space uniquely impactful. The WCC is here for you, too! Soon, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the WCC and create your own memories.
We have three events planned for NSO week and will continue to hold events throughout the fall quarter. I hope you can join us and get to know our community!
Women’s Community Center Open House (Tuesday, September 17th, 1pm - 3pm @ the WCC - FireTruck House, 1st Floor - 433 Santa Teresa st.)
Join us at the Women’s Community Center (WCC) for our open house where you can take a quick walk through our beautifully crafted and newly renovated space, meet and get to know other Frosh and Transfers, chat with the WCC directors and current student staff, enjoy some delicious snacks and refreshments outside behind the Fire Truck House, pick up some new WCC swag, and learn more about upcoming events, programs, and ways to get involved with the WCC.
We Are STEM: Faculty Discuss Gender, Identity, and their Journeys in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (Friday, September 20th, 2:30p - 4p @ Tressider Oak Lounge)
Join us to hear faculty and PhD students in science, math, and engineering departments discuss their journeys into academia, how they discovered a passion for STEM, and how they have navigated male-dominated fields. In addition, you will learn about diverse experiences and opportunities available to you in STEM at the Women’s Community Center and beyond.
Mocktails & Manifestations: A Queer Creative Lounge (Saturday, September 21, 2p - 3p @ the WCC - FireTruck House, 1st Floor - 433 Santa Teresa st.)
Are you a Frosh or Transfer student who identifies as Queer, Femme, Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Expansive, or is questioning and looking for community on campus? Come by the Fire Truck House for an afternoon of creativity and connection! We’ll provide a wide array of ingredients for you to mix and create your own delicious mocktails, while you chill out and enjoy some great music. Plus, we’ll have all the supplies you need to craft a vision board or collage—everything from magazines and scissors to glue and markers. This is your chance to unleash your creativity, celebrate your identity, and visually express your dreams and aspirations. Take this opportunity to connect with fellow students, learn about the resources at the WCC, and enjoy a rejuvenating afternoon. See you there for mocktails, art, and a lot of inspiration! 🎨🥂🎉
The Women’s Community Center is located on the first floor of the Fire Truck House, right in the middle of campus. Be sure to follow the WCC on Instagram and Facebook (@stanfordwcc) to get all the updates from the staff and directors! Also visit our website here to find all the most up to date information, opportunities, and resources. Feel free to also sign up for the WCC-Announce mailing list during NSO, so you can check out our weekly newsletter called “Love Notes from the WCC” to find out about upcoming events, opportunities, and resources throughout the year!
Please reach out to me at anjanab1@stanford.edu if you have any questions about the WCC, Stanford, or just life in general. I am here to support and am looking forward to meeting everyone!
With love,
Anjana Balachandar
NSO and Community Engagement Coordinator
Women’s Community Center