Meet Your Peer Coaches

Peer Coaches are fellow Mike Curb College students who have completed 30+ units and look to share their experiences and gained knowledge to support students transitioning to the Mike Curb College.

Each Peer Coach represents one of the six different academic departments at the Mike Curb College; whether you are majoring in Art, CTVA, Communication Studies, Journalism, Music, or Theatre, this community has valuable insights to help you succeed in your academic program.

Melissa Aragones
Communication Studies | Senior
Favorite places on campus: Maple Hall, Art Galleries, Aronstam Library
Hobbies/Interests: Pilates, travel, cooking
A favorite memory at CSUN: Meeting peer coaches and faculty, hanging out with peers and destressing during midterms at the March Anti-Madness event on the Manzanita Lawn.
One important piece of advice: No matter where you are in life, and you feel stuck and lost, just keep moving forward. Get out of your comfort zone by joining a club or networking with potential interests. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns to your fellow peers and faculty. Take advantage of any opportunity that may come and make opportunities for yourself. Do things that make you happy. By just “moving,” you will yield great rewards and benefits for your efforts.

Carmen Lopez
Music Education | Junior
Favorite places on campus: Orange Grove, The Soraya, Third floor of the University Library
Hobbies/Interests: Crafts, music, Legos
A favorite memory at CSUN: My first time performing in a chamber group and getting a good crowd reaction at the end of the performance.
One important piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to email your teachers or ask other classmates. It is best to ask as many questions as you can so you can succeed in the class.

Michael Moreno
Journalism | Senior
Favorite places on campus: My two favorite places on campus are Maple Hall and the Sierra Quad
Hobbies/Interests:  I am a photographer so most of my time is dedicated to anything photography related. I also enjoy watching basketball and trying new places to eat.
A favorite memory at CSUN: My fondest memory I've had at CSUN was experiencing college-level sports as a photographer. Unreal experience and certainly the best!
One important piece of advice: Get connected with your professors and faculty in your department. They are professionals and there's a high chance that they have connections to people in their industry, which can help get your foot in the door.

Valerie Ramirez
Theatre | Junior
Favorite places on campus: The picnic area behind Manzanita Hall, Sierra Center, and the green room in Nordhoff Hall
Hobbies/Interests: SFX and glam makeup, reading, acting, and swimming
A favorite memory at CSUN: Working on a group scene and renting out a rehearsal space in The Soraya or simply hanging out in the green room.
One important piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Go explore and find people who share similar interests and goals with you and keep them close to you. They can help you stay on track on your journey to success.

Isabella Resendiz (Isa)
CTVA-Film Production | Sociology Minor | Junior
Favorite places on campus: Sierra Center, The Armer Theater, and the Orange Grove
Hobbies/Interests: Watching TV shows, crocheting, editing videos
A favorite memory at CSUN: Taking pictures all around campus while getting to know some people from my film photography class.
One important piece of advice: Don’t be too shy to speak up, especially if you are a freshman! Get to know your classmates sitting beside you. Raise your hand or approach your professors if you have a question/concern. Join a club or participate in a CSUN event. Oftentimes we create barriers for ourselves in new settings because of nerves or doubt, but harnessing a bit of courage from the start can help you build better connections with peers and faculty that will ultimately provide you with a support system throughout your academic and personal journey at CSUN. 

Destiny Sayamoungkhoune
Art-Drawing | Junior
Favorite places on campus: SRC swimming pool, the Art and Design Center, and the University Library
Hobbies/Interests:  Drawing, painting, makeup/cosmetics 
A favorite memory at CSUN: Being able to attend CSUN with my sister and exploring campus and outside of campus together, eating at school or finding new places on campus. 
One important piece of advice: To succeed at CSUN you need to make time for yourself and put your priorities first. Fun will always come, but you have to think about what you are doing now and how that is going to affect your future. Also try to build connections and friends at school. 

Daniel Tran
CTVA-Entertainment Media Management | Business Analytics and Business Law Minors | Sophomore
Favorite places on campus: Farmers Market on Tuesdays, the Oasis Wellness Center, and the duck/turtle pond
Hobbies/Interests: Rock climbing, video games, hiking
A favorite memory at CSUN: Walking back to the campus dorms during sunset after Wednesday movie screenings in the Armer Theater!
One important piece of advice: Don't be afraid of new experiences. Especially during the first couple weeks of school, people are getting used to routine and trying to meet new people. It's the perfect time to join activities that you may not have ever seen yourself doing or have always wanted to get into but never had the chance to. Consciously pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a great way to find your community and people!