Getting to Know You: Natalie Zedzian
In October, LIHSA welcomed Natalie Zedzian as our new Work Based Learning Coordinator. Let’s get to know her!
Natalie is a Long Islander through and through, graduating from Valley Stream Central High School before moving to Syosset and later Mineola. Fun fact: as a Syosset resident, she’d often pass LIHSA on her bike route! From Hofstra University, Natalie earned both her Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship as well as her Masters in Education with a concentration in Business Marketing and extension in Work Based Learning.
Upon graduating from Hofstra, Natalie worked for the New York City Department of Education (DoE) for four years, specializing in hospitality and tourism and career and financial management. She especially loved teaching a media class where the students ran their own YouTube channel. While there, she also developed her skillset as a Work Based Learning Coordinator.
Growing up, Natalie studied piano and still occasionally tickles the ivory keys for fun. More recently, she developed a strong passion for photography. While at the DoE, she shot action shots and team pictures for the school’s basketball team. She continues to take photos and videos on the side for her friends whenever she finds the time.
In her new role at LIHSA, Natalie is tasked to make sure all the students complete the required work based learning hours and they are properly documented for New York State. She also helps oversee the logistics of LIHSA’s guest artists and helps students engage in different work based learning experiences. She will also be pushing into the classrooms to teach Career & Financial Management (CFM) lessons. There they will cover life skills like creating a resume, preparing for interviews, and financial practices that can be applied to students’ personal lives and business careers.
When she’s not working, Natalie loves to do hands-on activities, especially outside. Bike riding, hiking, arcade visits, sip-and-paints, walking tours, and museums with immersive art are often on her day off itineraries. She’s also a bit of a daredevil – she recently went skydiving!
Natalie has been immediately impressed by the intimacy of LIHSA and the collaborative and close knit community. Thanks for joining our LIHSA community, Natalie!
