Peer Mentors
Peer Mentors in the Bellisario College exist to help first-year and change-of-campus students make the transition to University Park smoothly.
Peer Mentors, 2024-25 Academic Year
Major: Media Studies – Media Effects Option
Minor: Psychology
What are you involved in? Teaching assistant for COMM 486W
What’s the dream career? Working in academia
What is something you wish you had known as a first-year student? Since I want to be a professor, I wish I had been involved in research projects as preparation for grad school.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Enthusiastic, warm, good cooker, unpredictable and driven.
Fun Fact: I have dentophobia.
Major: Advertising
Minor: Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Digital Media Trends & Analytics
What are you involved in? AExecutive Creative Director, The Nittany Group, American Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition; Bellisario Fellow; Outreach Chair, Ad/PR Club; Lead Ambassador, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Minor; Teaching Assistant, Build Your Media Brand with Dean Marie Hardin; Learning Assistant, Entrepreneurial Leadership; General Member, Trilogy Benefitting THON
What’s the dream career? Chief Creative Officer at a NYC advertising agency
What is something you wish you had known as a first-year student? The friends you meet in your Bellisario College clubs/orgs will become some of your closest friends on campus!
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Kind, hardworking, creative, tenacious, witty
Fun Fact: I own about 30 cardigans. My advertising friends literally take bets on if I will be wearing one when I show up to our org!
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Minor: African American Studies and a diversity studies certificate
What are you involved in? President of Penn State Chapter of National Assocation of Black Journalists, Culture Central News Anchor, Centre County Report News Anchor, Bams Co-director of Communications, VALLEY Magazine print writer!
What’s the dream career? Youngest black woman anchor on a national TV station.
What is something you wish you had known as a first-year student? That your end is not your beginning.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Tenacious, supportive, caring, intuitive, kind
Fun Fact: I used to be able to eat Play-Doh as a kid.
Major: Broadcast Journalism and Spanish
Minor: Sports Studies
What are you involved in? Penn State Sports Night, AWSM, Culture Central, COMMRadio, NABJ, 46 Live
What's the dream career? NFL sideline reporter or ESPN producer
What's something you wish you had known as a first-year student? That everyone is going through the same thing.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Talkative, straightforward, organized, goal oriented, loyal
Fun Fact: I competed in pageants and won.
Major: Advertising
Minor: Digital Media Trends and Analytics, Smeal Certificate
What are you involved in? Happy Valley Comm, VALLEY Magazine
What’s the dream career? Director of Advertising Operations of a company in the beauty, food, or lifestyle industry / Account Executive at a marketing communications agency
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish I knew to get involved right away and put myself out there instead of waiting for opportunities to come find me.
If someone was to describe you in 5 words, what words do you think they would choose? Short, responsible, organized, compassionate, motivated
Fun Fact: My dog made the quarterfinals of America's Favorite Pet.
Major: Broadcast journalism
Minor: Sport studies
What are you involved in? DEI chair and football reporter at The Daily Collegian, CLTR CNTRL sports specialist
What’s the dream career? Sports writer
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? It's okay to fail, things happen for a reason.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Motivated, inquisitive, determined, positive and thoughtful.
Fun Fact: I once played Mufasa in a school play of "The Lion King."
Major: Film Production
Minor: English (with a focus on creative writing)
What are you involved in? Bellisario Fellows, Public Humanities Fellowship, Presidential Leadership Academy, Schreyer Honors College Student Council, Bellisario Student Council, Delta Kappa Alpha, Student Sustainability Advisory Council, CommAgency, The Daily Collegian, University Faculty Senate Student Caucus, PSU Club Swim, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
What’s the dream career? Film writer/director
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? Your path WILL look different from everyone else's and that is OK. You don't need to compare yourself to the students around you. Set your own pace and no one else can beat you.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Trustworthy, diligent, caring, responsible, friendly
Fun Fact: I swam competitively for 15 years.
Major: Telecommunications
Minor: DMTA and sociology
What are you involved in? BAMS, CLTR CENTRAL, BLUEPRINT, VISIONARY VISUAL ARTS
What’s the dream career? High paid producer, but I’m not fully sure!
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? Time will go fast, so enjoy every moment
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Ambitious, silly, outgoing, quirky, intelligent.
Fun Fact: Drake threw me his towel while I was working at his concert; I work as an usher at the Bryce Jordan center.
Major: Advertising
Minor: Digital Media Trends & Analytics
What are you involved in? I am an active member in Penn States AD/PR Club (host high up alumni for students to get a feel of after-college life), AAF (American Student Advertising Federation, won 1st place in our district last year, on Experiential Advertising Team, primed for a head research role this upcoming fall/spring), and I partake in numerous Intermural Athletics (Softball, Basketball, Soccer, Football)
What’s the dream career? As of right now, I would love to be working on specific advertising accounts at an advertising agency. Something about choosing the right talent, clients, or whatever a brand/company may need to be seen the right way has intrigued me.
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish I would have known to get more involved with what you are passionate about! Finding your groove is so important, and something I did not take advantage of last year was trying new things like I did this year to really test my interests. I am very excited for what my futures holds now here at PSU, but even after.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Humorous, empathetic, determined, passionate, kind
Fun Fact: I actually wanted to go to college for athletics growing up, so when I was really into basketball, I played on an AAU team with current NBA player, Dereck Lively II on the Dallas Mavericks. I played with him for a year when I was 14, and it really showed me that you needed to have what it takes to be good at the next level (which I did not, lol), but nonetheless, a great teammate, and story to tell for years to come.
Major: Journalism
Minor: Digital Media Trends & Analytics
Certificate: Fundraising & Advancement
What are you involved in? Advertising Chair - Bellisario Student Council, President - Atlas Benefiting THON, Talk Show Host & DJ - CommRadio
What’s the dream career? I want to be a publicist for someone in the entertainment, music, or sports industry!
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish I knew that it is okay for freshman year to be an adjustment period; as long as you focus, do your best, and make the most of the opportunities you have at your fingertips, everything will turn out fine.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Passionate, creative, assertive, determined, outgoing
Fun Fact: I own 47 baseball hats, 65 hats total, and I take inventory annually to see how many hats I have managed to collect over the course of the year.
Major: Public Relations
Minor: Digital Media Trends and Analytics / Certificates: Sports Journalism and Diversity Studies
What are you involved in? Culture Central: Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Recruiting and Operations Intern for Penn State Football, Community Relations Director for Minority in Sports
What’s the dream career? Community Relations in Sports
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? Looking back, I realize that no amount of preparation could have fully prepared me for college. It was only after my first semester that I truly began to learn more about myself and my abilities to live independently.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Witty, compassionate, over-thinker, creative, ambitious
Fun Fact: I got runner-up in a beauty pageant in Jamaica when I was 8 years old.
Major: Film Production Major
Minor: English and Theater
What are you involved in? Delta Kappa Alpha, anything behind-the-scenes in student films and personal film projects, work in the equipment room, have been a part of a few different THON orgs, would like to join a dance/exercise club soon!
What’s the dream career? My dream is to make films someday. I love being on set and watching everything come together, and I’ve always dreamed of working on a professional set.
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish I had known about some of the clubs and opportunities that I am part of now, so I could’ve been a part of them sooner! I also always wished I had a mentor or someone to take me under their wing while I adjusted to college. (Side note: I also wish I knew about dollar dog night at Penn State baseball games a bit earlier because YUM!)
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Cat-lover, bubbly, dancer, introvert (with an extrovert personality), hardworking
Fun Fact: I pass out more than the average person. Pretty much anything medical, or anything that makes me feel woozy will make me pass out (EX: when I got my braces off, getting eye drops at the eye doctor, shots/needles, etc.)
Major: Telecommunications
Minor: Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Sports Studies, as well as getting certificates in sports administration and from the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism
What are you involved in? I am involved in a handful of PSNtv clubs, including being the Executive Producer for PSN News and the event planner for Telecommunications Club. I am an EP for 360 Sports, as well as a Penn State Athletics Live Video Production intern. I am also involved in Penn State Sports Night, After the Whistle, the Association for Women in Sports Media, and 46LIVE.
What’s the dream career? My dream career is to work in Boston covering one of the Boston sports teams, preferably the Celtics or Red Sox.
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish I had known that professors are very accommodating to help students succeed. I was always under the impression that college is a lonely struggle at big schools, but that is not the case (at least not in the comm school).
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Athletic, detail-oriented, diligent, positive, reserved
Fun Fact: I broke my finger in a pick-up basketball game in the IM Building.
Major: Film Production
Minor: Photography
What are you involved in? I am the Member Executive of the CommAgency Photography Department, the President of Visionary Visual Arts, an editor for Culture Central, the Lead Photographer for Movin’ On, and a visual contributor for Onward State.
What’s the dream career? My dream career would be to work for a Sports Teams’ Videography/Photography department so that I could travel the world mixing my two passions(Sports and Creative Works)
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? Something that I wish I had known more about as a first-year student is the wealth of resources that Penn State offers to its students. Whether it’s through job fairs, organizations or just websites, Penn State offers a lot to their students of COMM.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Creative, hard-working, dedicated, charismatic, resourceful
Fun Fact: When I was 9 years old, I got my elbow stuck in a playground structure. The fire department had to be called, and it turned into a bit of a spectacle.
Major: Film Production
Minor: Art
What are you involved in? I am a Belisario Fellow, a Belisario Peer Mentor, the President and Co-Executive Producer of Culture Central (CLTR CNTRL), a Producer in the Video Department of CommAgency, the Event planner for the CentreFIlm Festival Cl I am the Assistant Director for a Senior yearlong being produced 2024-2025, I am a crew member of 46 Live, I have been PA for various senior yearlong films,
What’s the dream career? My current dream is to be a Producer for film and television, help center other minorities and bring their stories to life.
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I wish that as a first-year student, I had known that nothing is settled right away. It takes more than a minute to find and build your community, and that is more than okay.
If someone was to describe you in five words, what words do you think they would choose? Creative, driven, detail-oriented, empathetic, witty
Fun Fact: I can tap dance.
Major: Advertising
Minor: Digital Media Trends & Analytics & Smeal Business Fundamentals Certificate
What are you involved in? Bellisario College Fellows, Penn State Navigators Christian Ministry
What’s the dream career? I don’t have a specific job in mind, but I would love a career in advertising sales that I am passionate about while also giving me time to be with my wife and family.
What is something that you wish you had known as a first-year student? I was very focused on work defining my identity and I quickly became a workaholic. I wish I knew how important taking rest and time for yourself is, eliminating hurry from my life has been so beneficial!
If someone were to describe you in 5 words, what words do you think they would choose? (Feel free to ask someone close to you): Christian, runner, artistic, energetic, kind
Fun Fact: I did gymnastics for two weeks in elementary school but quit because I couldn’t touch my toes and we didn’t jump into the foam pit enough. (I still can’t touch my toes.)