
The School of Engineering Advising Hub is the primary source of academic advising for first-year engineering students at Rensselaer.
The Hub is staffed by experienced advisors who will offer academic support for all engineering majors. Hub advisors assist students to determine their unique academic path through Rensselaer while fulfilling all their degree requirements.
Connect with us on Social Media!
Welcome Class of 2026! Click this button to get started with the School of Engineering!
Class of 2025, it's almost time to transition! Find your HC here!
Class of 2025, 2024, and 2023! Click here for support!
What kind of help can I find at the First-Year Advising Hub?
The Hub is a resource for all advising purposes, including:
- The Hidden Curriculum: Your starter kit to being a Rensselaer student!
- 4-Year Plan, Major Templates and semester course planning
- Annual, required Student-Advisor Meeting (SAM)
- Major and minor declaration or changes
- HASS Requirements for Engineers
- Graduation requirements for Engineers
- Transferring College Credits (Summer classes and incoming students - AP, IB, etc.)
- Registrar protocol, College Catalog, and form approvals
- Important Dates and Deadlines
- The Arch and Study Abroad planning
We consider ourselves a one-stop shop! If you come to us for support, we will help you find the answers. Even if it is outside the above bullet points, or our expertise, we will help you to connect with the right office or person on campus. PS: check out the RPI Directory if you are looking for someone specific, or a particular office. You'll find everyone here: info.rpi.edu
Connect with the First-Year Advising Hub
Office Hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: 3306 Jonnson-Engineering Center (JEC), inside the Ansell Louge (look left when you walk into the lounge)
Class of 2026! Click here to see how to join our live chat room!
- Find the SoE Hub Advising Team, and other students from the Class of 2026
- Ask questions to prepare for your first semester of college
- Find updates and helpful information as you join our community
- Join us today!!
Email an SoE Hub Advisor: soehub@rpi.edu
School of Engineering Advising Resources
The Hidden Curriculum: Your Introduction to Rensselaer's School of Engineering!
4-Year Plan Major/Cohort-Specific Templates: find steps and an Excel sheet template
Major-Specific Advising Handbooks: department outlines and information
Industry Hour: Your connection to industry and alumni!
Transferring Credits to Rensselaer
Quick Links: Registrar's office, Forms, Catalog, Academic Calendar, etc.
Meet the First-Year Advising Team!
Valerie, Kristin, Karen and Boulos
Have you completed your first two semesters?
Scroll to the bottom of this page to find your advisor information.
![]() |
Kristin BergeneAcademic Advisor With a background in career counseling, Kristin brings the importance of professional development into her academic advising conversations. She earned an Master’s degree in London, where she lived and worked for nearly two years. After traveling to 13 countries, Kristin settled in Troy, NY in the winter of 2017 when she became a Career Counselor at RPI. In 2018, she joined the SoE Hub family as an Academic Advisor! At home with her three kittens (Axl, Gaia, and Leo) Kristin relaxes with a pen in hand, writing and illustrating. Life is grand! |
![]() |
Karen LewisAcademic Advisor Karen Lewis joined the SoE Hub in its inaugural year after advising the undergraduate students in the MANE department for three years. Previous to her ambitions in academia, she worked across the street at Samaritan Hospital as their pharmaceutical purchasing agent for over a decade. Originally from Long Island, Karen decided to switch things up by moving to rural Rensselaer county, where she enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and skiing with her husband and young daughter. |
![]() |
Valerie SwensonAcademic Advisor Valerie has been with Rensselaer since April 2016, and worked with the Core Engineering office before joining The Hub when it first opened in Fall 2017. A student herself, Valerie is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership at SUNY Albany, where she also received her Master’s degree. Originally from the Syracuse, New York area, she moved to the Capital District after college and has been a proud resident ever since. Her interests include traveling, riding her bike, and coffee. |
![]() |
Boulos AbdallahAcademic Advisor A Troy local, Boulos originally joined RPI as a Career Counselor at the Center for Career & Professional Development prior to joining the Engineering Hub in December 2021. He is currently earning a Master's Degree in Higher Education at SUNY Albany. If you can't find him on campus, Boulos is most likely lost somewhere in the woods where he was camping or hiking. Or you might find him sailing the Sea of Thieves or working on a never-ending project in Minecraft. |
Congratulations on your Retirement, Marie!
After 20 years of being a friend and mentor to thousands in the School of Engineering, Marie Dieffenbach has officially retired! We wish her all the best, and know she will have an excellent time traveling, exploring art galleries, and listening to live music with her husband, Mark. Of course, we will miss her loads. We will miss her professionally, but more importantly, we will miss her as a source of warmth and compassion in The SoE Hub.
Congratulations, Marie!
Thank you for being our fearless leader!
(If you have any message for Marie, please email Kristin bergek@rpi.edu - Kristin will pass on your warmth and well-wishes!)
Aeronautical, Nuclear, and Materials Engineers for the Class of 2025:
With Marie's retirement, you will have been sent information about advising in your Spring semester. Please, check your email from December 31st from Marie and please continue to look for additional support from the SoE Hub.
- Aeronautical Engineering Advising Support:
- Check your email for your faculty advisor's name and contact information
- Please, make use of MANE Student Services for your general questions and advising needs!
- Nuclear Engineering Advising Support:
- Professor Jie Lian, lianj@rpi.edu
- Please, make use of MANE Student Services for your general questions and advising needs!
- Materials Engineering Advising Support:
- Professor Chaitanya Ullal, ullalc@rpi.edu
- Professor Chaitanya Ullal, ullalc@rpi.edu
Advising Support for Upperclass Students! Classes of 2025, 2024, and 2023:
-
Mechanical, Aeronautical and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) Student Services
-
Electrical, and Computer and Systems Engineering (ECSE) Student Services
-
For all other engineering majors, please speak with your faculty advisors!
-
You can find your faculty advisor's name and contact information on DegreeWorks
-
You can find all faculty and staff contact information at RPInfo (just log in with your RCS ID).
-
RPInfo (Rensselaer's Directory): log in to find all RPI community members - faculty, staff, etc.