Peer Mentor Program
The GRAD Center Peer Mentor Program offers support to students who are exploring whether graduate school might be a part of their future. Peer Mentors are graduate students, eager to work with students to answer questions and provide guidance.
Resources
Peer mentors are from a variety of fields and have received training in preparing for graduate school.
Eleni Benchek is a second-year graduate student in the Psychological Science program at CSUN working in Dr. Stefanie Drew's VISN Lab. Her research interests combine cognitive psychology, education, and technology, and she is currently researching the use of virtual reality for learning chemistry. She is passionate about studying science and math learning and underrepresentation in STEM. At CSUN, she is a GRAD Center Peer Mentor, a Bridges to the PhD research scholar, and an Instructional Student Assistant for the Psychology Department.
Jocelyn Lagunas graduated from UC Riverside with a B.S. in Sociology & Administrative studies in Marketing and is currently a graduate student in CSUN's Higher Education Leadership & Policy Studies program (ELPS). Her work focuses on researching basic needs resources among Latine and first-generation college students. At CSUN, she is a GRAD Center Peer Mentor and basic needs advocate.
Adrian Lopez-Marquez graduated from UCLA with his B.A. in Psychology (With minors in Chicano Studies and History) and is currently a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Adrian is currently completing a generalist Social Work program designed to prepare professional social workers to be anti-oppressive, socially just agents of change by promoting well-being in urban settings. Adrian has an extensive background in diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education, research, community mental health, medical social work, and school-based social work. Currently, Adrian is a GRAD Center Peer Mentor, an intern with the Los Angeles Unified School District, and an employee at a hospital-based inpatient program.
Elizabeth Pitpitan is currently a graduate student in the College Counseling program and graduated from CSUN with a B.A. in Child & Adolescent Development. During her undergraduate studies, she was a Supplemental Instructor in Writing and became inspired to work with college students professionally as a hopeful college counselor and professor. Elizabeth currently works at LA Pierce College's Career & Transfer Center as a mentor, writing tutor at CSUN's Learning Resource Center, and at CHIME Charter School as a clinical mental health counseling intern. Aside from school, Elizabeth likes making paper crafts, watching Filipino and Korean TV shows, and playing Stardew Valley.
Peer Mentors are available to meet with students one-on-one (in person or on Zoom) to answer questions, provide resources and receive personalized guidance about graduate school.
To meet with a Peer Mentor, please email Grad Studies Peer Mentors with the days/times you are available, and someone will contact you to schedule an appointment. Our online booking system will be available in Fall 2024.
The 2024-2025 application will be available in early Fall 2024.