CAS dean Anita Farrington will always stop to answer students' questions — even during her regular workouts at Coles Sports Center.

"Once I was in the middle of bench pressing, and someone asked me about AP credit — it was about bio AP credit," Farrington said. "I stopped, we talked."

The assistant dean for freshmen prides herself on being so accessible; she is always ready to support and advocate for her students.

Whenever Farrington is notified of a student who is struggling with housing, academic or financial concerns, she reaches out and tries to help remedy the problem. She also serves as adviser for the CAS Student Council and directs freshman convocation, a fall welcome event she refers to as her yearly "wedding."

Farrington's commitment and hands-on approach as an NYU dean have recently earned her a nomination for the Outstanding Administrator Award, given by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

One way Farrington works to build community among her freshmen is by accompanying small groups to various events around the city. Her favorite outings include dinners at Cucina di Pesce in the East Village and trips to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Most recently, Farrington accompanied a group of freshman scholars to the Broadway production of "Hair." At the show, she had a surprise for her students: During the closing number, she got on stage and sang along with the cast.

"That's what students don't always get to see — her being fun," CAS senior and Student Council President Ali Accarino said. "If you don't know her she can be very intimidating, but if you're bold enough to look past, that she's always very warm and welcoming."

Having experienced her own struggles as an undergraduate freshman, Farrington has a unique empathy for her students. Farrington said during her first year of school at York College, she felt unfocused, academically unchallenged, and disconnected with the community. She decided to take a year off and eventually transferred to Queens College.

Farrington's 28-year working relationship with NYU began in 1981 when deciding between assistant director of admissions positions at both NYU and Columbia University.

"Even then, I just felt that NYU was a better fit for me," she said. "I knew I was more of a downtown girl than an uptown girl."

Farrington's daughter, Monet, will also be joining her downtown. Monet, a Tisch sophomore, is currently studying abroad at NYU in London.

Mother and daughter share a mutual love of professional and collegiate sports. They bond over watching their favorite sports teams (the Jets and the Yankees), and they appreciate what Tiger Woods can do on a golf course.

Farrington is also a huge fan of the NYU's men and women's basketball teams. She can be found sitting with alumni under the hoop at every home game, dressed in purple.

"There really and truly is nothing, for me, like the competitive spirit and rush that you get when your team is competing against another team," she said.

Farrington is a supporter of athletes but strives to empower all of her students. She considers herself to be a godmother of sorts.

"I like the godmother hat," she said. "It's not quite parental, they don't hover as much as parents do, but you know, they try and help them make their dreams come true."