Isa-Marie’s Path to St. Joe’s
For Isa-Marie Kreuzinger ’26, leaving her home country of Germany to study in New York City was a major decision, but one that ultimately led her to St. Joseph’s University, New York. As a Psychology and Economics double major with a minor in Finance, Kreuzinger has spent the last four years building connections, gaining research experience and preparing for a future in clinical research.
As an international student, choosing a university in the United States was not easy, especially without being able to visit campuses in person beforehand. However, Kreuzinger shared that choosing St. Joseph’s quickly became one of the best decisions she has made.
“I fell in love with the campus and the location when I first arrived here,” Kreuzinger said. “I specifically wanted to pick a university with a small student-to-faculty ratio because I was scared of feeling anonymous, especially being an international student.”
Originally from Erfurt, Germany, Kreuzinger worked full-time for Wayfair after high school before taking a year off to prepare for applying to universities in the United States. While moving away from home was intimidating at first, she explained that experiencing something completely new helped shape who she is today.
Looking Back on St. Joseph’s Mentorship
During her time at SJNY, Kreuzinger became heavily involved both inside and outside of the classroom. One of the biggest influences on her journey was Dr. Anna Egbert, who introduced her to the world of research during her freshman year through the BRAID Lab. Kreuzinger has now worked as a research assistant in the lab for almost four years.
“The experiences I have gained through her and the contact I have had with her have shaped my time here and my career path,” Kreuzinger shared. “Getting to know the world of research with her help has opened my eyes to a career path I had not considered before and one I fell in love with.”
Attending conferences and connecting with professionals in the field also helped Kreuzinger develop networking and presentation skills that later led to internship opportunities.
Core Memories
Outside of academics, Kreuzinger said one of her favorite experiences at SJNY was working in the Office of Admissions. As part of the admissions team, she gave tours to prospective students and helped welcome new students to campus life.
After graduation, Kreuzinger plans to continue working in research. She has already secured a position as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Mount Sinai’s Brain Injury Research Center, where she will complete her optional practical training for one year before pursuing a master’s degree in Healthcare Analytics, Data Analytics or Research Methods.
Isa-Marie’s Inspiration
Kreuzinger credits much of her motivation to her mother, who supported her decision to leave Germany and pursue her education abroad as a first-generation college student.
As she prepares to graduate, Kreuzinger hopes future students will take advantage of every opportunity available to them.
Advice to Students
“Say yes to every opportunity, because you never know where it might lead. Most of all, don’t forget to enjoy these years because they will be over so much faster than you expect.”
This story is part of OnCampus’ “Class of 2026 – Meet the Grads” series, focusing on the Class of 2026 at St. Joseph’s University, New York. To read more from this series, click here.
