DeeSoul Carson
DeeSoul is the Program Administrator for NYU's College & Career Lab.
My role in the CFA
I provide logistical and programmatic support for the College & Career Lab (CCL), which serves over 200 NYC middle and high school students annually. Our goal is to help students navigate barriers to college and post-secondary opportunities, and give them experiential exposure to different educational and vocational pathways.
Most enjoyable thing about my work
I enjoy how my work allows me to flex my organizational and problem-solving muscles. I think administrative work at the university is incredibly important because it allows folks who need the information we capture, keep, and organize to do their jobs more effectively. I am inspired everyday by the background work of all the administrators that keep us humming along. The university is a machine, but the gears in this machine are real people working hard to make our lives easier. Make sure to thank the administrators on your teams!
I am inspired every day by the background work of all the administrators that keep us humming along
DeeSoul with CCL students at the end of the summer 2023 celebration
Favorite part of my job
My favorite part about my job is the students—no matter how routine everything else is, they keep everything fresh. There are no boring conversations with students, and it is exciting to see, over time, how they change and grow and discover new things that make them passionate. I also enjoy working with their parents. Although the students are our main focus, it often feels like the parents are equally, or even more, invested, and it’s very gratifying to offer them support that they may not be getting from other institutions that their child attends.
Proudest recent accomplishment at work
This has been a great year for my poetry, which (for those who don’t know) is my main passion. I graduated from the NYU Creative Writing MFA program in spring 2024, was the NYU GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge winner, and have received several recognitions for my work, including a big one I can’t yet share. If you want to follow my creative work, please check out my website, deesoulpoetry.com.
What I’d do if I could go back in time and choose a different career
I don’t think I would start over. My career is still relatively young, and I feel grateful for the path I have been on thus far. I think there are only more opportunities ahead of me, including possibly teaching poetry as a professor, and my time here at NYU is crucial to any success I will have in the future.
Rose Anne Bechayda
CCL Student Advisor
Working with DeeSoul has been an incredible learning experience, particularly in how to build deeper connections with students and support their personal and academic growth. One key takeaway is the importance of “showing up” for students—not just in the classroom, but as a consistent presence in their lives, someone who cares about their journey beyond the classroom. Working with DeeSoul has taught me how factors like mentorship, tailored support, and consistent engagement impact students’ long-term success.
Alexandria Martinez Meier
CFA Director of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement
DeeSoul brought a fresh perspective to the College & Career Lab, skillfully examining its framework with an operational mindset and making changes to streamline processes and improve efficiency. His insights encouraged me to establish strong policies and boundaries—not only for the team we led but in my own work. His balance of care and precision has had a lasting impact on how I approach collaborative work and leadership.