The Student Experience Division has announced the selection of Mark Nzasi and Yifan “Ivan” Shen as the 2025 Senior Class Marshals. In this honorable role, Nzasi and Shen will lead their graduating class during Commencement, help to recommend the Commencement speaker, meet with senior University administrators to discuss their student experience and offer insights and suggestions, in addition to representing their class at Universitywide functions, networking with alumni and more.
“Woven throughout the tapestry of Nzasi’s and Shen’s undergraduate careers are their shared passions for academic excellence, campus involvement, personal development and community support. Serving as honorable representatives for the Class of 2025 will only further amplify a positive impact on the student experience now and into the future,” says Rob Hradsky, vice president for student engagement in Student Experience.
Mark Nzasi
Joining the Orange community from Scranton, Pennsylvania, and starting his collegiate journey in Madrid, Spain, as a Discovery student, Nzasi is a junior majoring in neuroscience and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. His dedication to academics, service and leadership has been showcased early and often throughout his undergraduate career as an Invest in Success Scholarship recipient, through Dean’s List recognitions, as a participant in the Renée Crown University Honors Program and the Coronat Scholars Program, a 2024-25 Remembrance Scholar and through the Sanofi U.S. Scholarship, among other honors.
Nzasi eagerly awaits the opportunity to serve as a senior class marshal, representing the Class of 2025 and bridging connections between students, administration and the Orange community. “I would not be here today if not for my family and the incredible Orange community that’s supported me and always challenged me to be better each and every day. I’m excited to give back to this community and advocate for my peers,” he says.
As an aspiring physician, Nzasi has actively engaged in research and academic projects. His undergraduate research focuses on investigating the effects of maternal separation on adolescent CD-1 mice, aiming to shed light on the relationship between early-life adversity and the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. As a project aide, Nzasi contributes to the exploration of intricate cellular mechanisms, and their association with underlying human conditions such as degenerative eye diseases, to develop interventions to mitigate disease progression.
Outside of the classroom, Nzasi has immersed himself into a variety of student experiences including serving as the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Theta Xi vice president, implementing health care initiatives and promoting representation in medicine through the Black Pre-Medical Society, and as an orientation leader.
During his time as a member of the Black Honors Society, he was the professional development chair and co-founder of the University’s first student-organized Black Excellence Gala, a celebration of the remarkable achievements of Black students and students of Afro-descent on campus. He also supports and or is a member of the Our Time Has Come Scholarship, Men of Color Initiative (MCI) and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP).
As an active member within the larger Syracuse and global communities and fueled through his passion for hands-on clinical experience, Nzasi gives back through volunteer experiences. Highlights include Riina Education for Innovation, empowering African refugee women through English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring, and leveraging his immigrant background and Swahili language skills to facilitate learning and essential computer skills. He served in Global Medical Brigades, assisting in sustainable clinical stations such as triage, dentistry and public health education. In his homeland, at Kitui County Referral Hospital of Kenya, he shadowed physicians during emergency surgeries and provided crucial support. Volunteering at Dr. King Elementary School and as a Sigma Beta Club mentor at Nottingham High School, Nzasi has exemplified his commitment to making a positive impact.
Reflecting on his journey, Nzasi draws inspiration from his roots in Kenya and the sacrifices his family made to find better opportunities in the United States. “As someone who believes in the ideal that representation is the lens through which we dream, I applied to be a senior class marshal as a testimony to show others that they don’t have to succumb to the stories that society places on them,” shares Nzasi. “I aim to utilize this platform to empower all minority youth, regardless of their background, to recognize that with belief in themselves, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.”
Yifan “Ivan” Shen
Hailing from Shanghai, China, Shen is a junior pursuing dual majors of architecture in the School of Architecture and music history and cultures in the College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to a vocal performance minor in the Setnor School of Music.
Academic highlights include being named a 2024-25 Remembrance Scholar, Dean’s List recognitions and being a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. He is a recipient of the Asian Design Award, Alfred L. Kaskel Scholarship, Peter J. Moore Award for Excellence in Architecture Sketching, the Doug Whitney ’80 School of Architecture Global Experience Award and the Maxwell Citizenship Scholarship.
Through immersive learning and a dedication to research, Shen has placed his knowledge into action globally. Across continents he has worked with award-winning offices in Madrid, Kigali (Rwanda), New York City and Shanghai. Highlights of his contributions further include exhibitions, journal publications and supporting peers as a tutor and teaching assistant.
“I attended local schools under the communist regime in China and constantly faced shocks politically, culturally and interpersonally in foreign environments. My years at Syracuse University witnessed the possibility of a non-fluent English speaker from a totally different background becoming a campus leader,” shares Shen. “Being selected as a senior class marshal demonstrates the University leadership’s success in making the campus an inclusive environment where international students like me can find ways to grow and thrive.”
As a senior class marshal, Shen hopes to continue to support peers through inspiration and action. “I am excited to demonstrate to my fellow students that your identity does not limit what you can achieve. By showing them the capacities they possess and the opportunities the University provides, I hope to inspire more students to become as involved as I am.”
Reflecting on his own experience as an international student, Shen co-founded the International Mentor Squad (IMS), organizing events to further help international students who were nervous about branching out to make friends and merge into the community. He has been an active member of the School of Architecture Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee, a founding member of Architecture’s Honors Society, National Organization of Minority Students design team chair, member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir and member of the School of Architecture social media team. As a Hendricks Chapel Sunday Mass cantor, Syracuse Abroad Global Ambassador and more, Shen further supports others.
