Mike Blackman
Ruggles, Watt, McBain, 548 W 113th St

Mike Blackman is entering his second year as a graduate hall director and Masters candidate at the Teachers College in Higher Education Administration. In 2009, he graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in mathematics. He grew up in Rhode Island.

In addition to his work as a graduate student and graduate assistant, Mike teaches musical theatre at the CAP21 conservatory downtown and, also, private voice. He, also, performs improv and occasionally plays keyboards with what can vaguely be called a band.

Mike enjoys cooking, music, playing music, watching The Wire, and rooting for the New York Giants. He also has an affinity for puppies and, for some reason, can do the worm. You can find him longboarding around campus and working in his room (on the 5th floor or Watt) with the door open. He is extremely proud of the RA/CA staff this year and is enjoying working with the students. He looks forward to continuing the successful programming that the Block has been putting on throughout the year.

Ksenia Varlyguina
Broadway, Hogan

Ksenia Varlyguina is the Graduate Hall Director for Broadway and Hogan. She is a Masters candidate at the Mailman School of Public Health, focusing on Global Health.

Before coming to Columbia, Ksenia directed a high school youth development program focused on sexual health and service learning in Everett, MA. As an undergraduate at Clark University, Ksenia majored in English and Psychology, with minors in Spanish and Gender Studies. During her Junior year, Ksenia studied abroad in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic for six months. She has taught English to S. C. Johnson executives, medical students, and sex workers. In 2007, Ksenia completed a professional practicum in adolescent sexual health at the Center for Adolescent Reproductive Medicine and Development (CEMERA), located in Santiago, Chile.

When she is not traveling or studying sexuality, Ksenia enjoys meeting other people’s dogs, watching Law & Order, making lists, and finding new places to eat brunch. She finds iPods distracting, despite being otherwise technologically savvy. Ksenia fondly remembers her years as an RA, and is honored to supervise such a friendly, hardworking, passionate staff. She is excited for a great year at The Block!