Exchanging Florence, Italy for Boston, Massachusetts, Anne Occhipinti has recently started as director of student affairs at HSPH, a new position in the Office for Students.

Occhipinti has more than 14 years experience working with students, most recently as assistant director for student life at the New York University campus in Florence.

HSPH does not boast a setting as spectacular as the olive groves of Italy, but Occhipinti doesn’t mind. She is enthusiastic about getting underway and feels that her experience abroad will especially help her work with international students, who make up one-quarter of HSPH’s student population.

Occhipinti is currently engaged in identifying student needs. She has already met representatives of the Student Coordinating Committee and several other groups. Among her goals are to explore issues concerning student housing and bring students together.

For example, she is thinking about forming a support group for HSPH students with children.

Occhipinti’s job responsibilities are broad. All student groups arranging events will do so through her office.

Students who wish to form a new group need to contact Occhipinti, who will help them process the paperwork. In her three weeks on the job, Occhipinti has already shepherded a new student group through the application process. The group, YanXinQigong, plans to discuss and research traditional Chinese health practices.

Orientation for new students falls under Occhipinti’s purview, and she is asking for suggestions and feedback about what to offer.

She will be coordinating the selection of a variety of student awards, including the Albert Schweitzer Award, the HSPH Student Recognition Award and the Public Health Award for Outstanding Service to the Community.

In addition, she will be coordinating the selection of the HSPH Commencement Student Speaker.

T passes for students are distributed at her office.

Occhipinti, who has a master’s degree in counseling from Boston College, is also available to distressed students, whether they are grappling with a personal problem or simply trying to navigate coursework. She said she sees herself as an advocate for students.

Occhipinti’s office is in Kresge 112. She can be reached at 617-432-1542 or aocchipi@hsph.harvard.edu.