Aliya Bhimani is the Director of the Advising Programs Office. Aliya is originally from a small Texas town and as a first generation college student herself, her passion lies in helping students navigate their own undergraduate careers through strong connections with academic partners, peers, and mentors. Prior to joining the APO, Aliya served in similar academic advising roles at both The George Washington University in Washington DC and Rice University in Houston, Texas. She has also worked in the event planning and non-profit sectors. Aliya has a BS in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and an MA in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University. 

Brooks oversees first-year advising, including the Board of Freshman Advisers and the Peer Advising Fellows programs.

Brooks completed his B.A. at Harvard.  As an undergraduate, he lived in Canaday Hall and Currier House, and concentrated in History. In 2005, Brooks worked on the Harvard College Curricular Review, in the Harvard College Dean's Office, which led to the creation of the Advising Programs Office (APO). Brooks joined the APO in its inaugural year in 2006, and helped launch the Peer Advising Fellows (PAF) program in 2006-07. Since then, Brooks has helped steer numerous advising related initiatives. Also since 2007, Brooks has served as a freshman proctor. He recently ended his tenure as a proctor in Apley Court in Ivy Yard.

Julie Sarmiento-Ponce is the Program Coordinator of the Advising Programs Office. Originally from Mexico City, Julie studied biology and dolphin communication at UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She went on to earn a master’s in research in marine mammal science at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and then a PhD in zoology and animal communication at the University of Cambridge in England. Julie is multi-talented as she is also a professional photographer and videographer. In her spare time, Julie also enjoys traveling, SCUBA diving, dancing, and singing. You can find Julie and her welcoming smile in the APO!

Kara-Sue is the Assistant Director of Administration for the APO. She was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, then graduated from Boston University with a BSc. in Hospitality Administration and later earned an MBA at the University of Miami. She has worked for over 20 years in Banking, Hospitality and other industries before coming to Harvard in 2016. She also has a deep passion for working with students and is a First-Year Proctor in Crimson Yard. Kara-Sue has earned her Master’s Degree at the Harvard Extension School, in the field of Psychology.