Student Receives Max Goldstein Prize
Because he’s so busy as a member of the Gallatin Student Council, a student representative on the Dean’s Team for Recruitment, copresident of the Gallatin Theatre Troupe, and an orientation leader, folks may not know that Matt Nolin’s true passion lies in new media and technology. That is, until they see Gallatinstudent.com—a Web site overseen by the Gallatin Student Council that Nolin masterfully redesigned to serve as a hub for student communication at Gallatin.
In recognition of the ingenuity he displayed while undertaking this project, Nolin was awarded the 2009 Max Goldstein Prize from NYU Information and Technology Services. The award, named after the cofounder of NYU’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, is bestowed upon an undergraduate student who creatively applies computing to improve the academic, cultural, and social life of the University community. Nolin was nominated for the prize by Samantha Shapses, Gallatin’s assistant director of student life, who admired his use of technology to develop a cohesive community.
Nolin’s Gallatin concentration focuses on new media and video game design, and his interest in technology began well before he arrived at NYU. A native of Cohoes, NY, he designed his first Web site at the age of eleven. By the time he reached high school, he had a technical understanding of the concepts guiding artificial intelligence.
Nolin began redesigning Gallatinstudent.com because he wanted to build a more unified and interactive network for his student peers. On the new site, community members can now submit suggestions to the Gallatin Student Council, get in touch with student clubs, and purchase Gallatin merchandise. Students involved in tutorials can also connect via a new forum system.
Though the site’s redesign is virtually complete, Nolin intends to continually improve and enhance its features. He states: “We’d like to make new content available, such as short video introductions with professors and their classes, as well as improve upon our current calendar and tutorials forum. We’re also looking at some creative ways to include Gallatin alumni.”
Nolin credits Gallatin’s advising system with stimulating his success and growth. He recalls that his first-year adviser, Justin Lorts, “was extremely helpful in figuring out where my ambitions lay and helping me to navigate the freshman experience at NYU,” and states, “Cynthia Allen, my current adviser, is great. I couldn’t think of a better fit for my interests. She connects me with individuals who further my education and sends me information on things that I simply find neat. Her ‘Digital New Media’ course was actually the catalyst for me to move forward with my interest in Web design.”
Even though he began creating Web sites at such a young age, he feels that he developed a better understanding of design and Flash programming from classes with NYU professors Sana’ Odeh and Nathan Hull. He’s taken advantage of Gallatin’s commitment to education beyond the traditional classroom by enjoying internships at a startup company called Knewton, which builds interactive, adaptive learning models for students preparing for standardized tests, and at Vicarious Visions, a company that creates video and computer games.
Nolin received the Max Goldstein Prize in April at an awards ceremony at NYU’s Courant Institute. He begins his senior year at Gallatin this fall, and is already envisioning his future. A self-described “realistic idealist,” he admits, “I like to say that I’ll spend 10 years in video games, 10 years in education, and 10 years in theater—but I think I’ll probably go wherever opportunities take me.”
