Professional Staff

Patti Hanlon-Baker (she/her) is the Director of Frosh 101 & Transfer 101. Prior to joining the Frosh 101 team, Patti served as the Associate Director of Stanford’s Program in Feminism, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and before that she served as a lecturer in the Program in Writing & Rhetoric while also serving as the Assistant Director of the Hume Center for Writing & Speaking. Prior to joining the Stanford community, Patti taught writing, rhetoric, and literature courses at colleges in both Nevada and Connecticut. 

Patti was on the original planning committee for Frosh 101, where she collaborated with the former director and colleagues across campus to design parts of the program. As a Resident Fellow in an all-frosh dorm, she identified the value of a course that creates space for frosh to reflect on who they are as they transition to college as well as for them to support others in building community, so she was eager to participate. The dorm where Patti serves was one of the first to offer the pilot, and after observing the success of the program for individuals and the community, she is thrilled to now be part of the leadership team.

She has a PhD and Master's in Writing & Rhetorical Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno. During her graduate work, she focused on ways in which language shapes one’s experience, personal choices, identity, and sense of belonging. Those early studies continue to drive her professional work. In both of her prior positions at Stanford, she taught courses with a focus on access and equity, specifically around the impact of gender on politics, in social movements, in athletics, and in the media.

When she’s not working, she spends time on the side of a soccer field watching her teens play, experimenting with cooking new recipes, and reading mysteries.

Niles Wilson (he/him) is the Assistant Director of Frosh 101 & Transfer 101. In his first stint with Academic Advising, he was the Program Coordinator for the New Student Programs team, where he supported the Approaching Stanford process and New Student Orientation. He worked closely with the Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership, and this work with first-year students—especially those with minoritized identities—inspired him to pursue graduate studies at the University of Southern California. While at USC, Niles served as the Graduate Assistant with Asian Pacific American Student Services. He managed the center’s peer mentorship program supporting incoming Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students’ transition to college and success in their first year.

Niles received his B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University and his M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California. Outside of work, he enjoys unwinding at climbing gyms, watching new Marvel TV shows/movies, and cheering for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.