We are excited to announce that the Dean’s Office has selected the Student Advisors to the Dean for the 2025–2026 academic year: Samantha Agostinelli (B.Arch ‘26) and Raha Behnam (MLA ‘27). Their terms begin July 1, 2024.
These two students will work with the Pratt SoA Dean’s Office, and the SoA Student Council (representing all school student groups) to help facilitate collaboration and communication across departments through the Pratt SoA Student Council and to liaise with the Institute’s student affairs infrastructure to support student involvement.
We would also like to thank Catherine Moreno (B.Arch ‘25) for all the work she did this past year and for her willingness to provide continuity in the role, and Jacob Brill-Weil (M.Arch ‘25) for all he did on behalf of our school.
The Student Advisor to the Dean title is meant to signify the high level of professionalism, maturity, honesty, and integrity expected from the appointed candidate. The goal is to support and foster the academic and professional leadership of our students and embody the Institute’s commitments as laid out in the strategic plan.
Please join us in welcoming Samantha Agostinelli and Raha Behnam as they join the team.
Please find more information on both of these student leaders below.
Samantha Agostinelli
Bachelor of Architecture Undergraduate Architecture
Samantha is a fifth-year architecture student at Pratt Institute with a strong passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, student advocacy, and inclusive design. Her customized minor in Set Design has allowed her to engage with film students, production designers, and artists, deepening her commitment to creative, cross-disciplinary learning. At Pratt, she has held several leadership roles, including Vice President of the AIAS chapter and President of Femmes of the Future, organizing events that promote community, creativity, and professional growth. She also supports her peers as a Student Representative, Tutor, and Teaching Assistant. As Student Advisor to the Dean, she will advocate for student voices, inclusive dialogue, and a collaborative vision for architectural education.
Raha Behnam
Master of Landscape Architecture
Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, & Urban Design
Raha is an MLA student entering her second year of the program this fall. She is looking forward to this opportunity to connect students, faculty and administration across the School of Architecture and support student initiatives. Raha has lived and worked in Brooklyn for the last eight years. Most recently she worked as a landscape designer/installer for local design and build firms in the city. Prior to that, Raha was active with various community-driven projects including the Future Historical Society, commissioned by BRIC. She is also a performing artist and holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois. She is passionate about furthering understandings of land and ecological systems in the design and construction of built environments.