Our Graduate Assistant helps us with special projects and other important tasks! (Picture coming soon!)
Peer Mentor Coordinators will facilitate and nurture peer-mentoring relationships within academic departments. Each Peer Mentor Coordinator will oversee 70-80 mentoring relationships.
The Peer Mentor Coordinator will:
maintain frequent contact with their mentors.
answer mentor and protégé questions.
provide early awareness to the Assistant Director of at-risk students by tracking their protégé's progress throughout their first year.
Example: Is the protégé keeping in contact with the mentor?
MEET OUR PMCs (More pictures coming soon!):
Hello my name is Ashley Butella and I am a Senior here at CAL U majoring in Elementary education. I am from West Mifflin, PA and graduated from West Mifflin Area High School in 2005. I think the best part of the protégé/mentor relationship is being able to have an older person to go to with any questions that you may have and to create a friendship which can last beyond your four college years.
My name is Kala Morris. I am a Senior at California University of Pennsylvania. I am majoring in Elementary Education. I am from Monongahela, PA and I graduated from Charleroi High School in 2006. I am a Cal U Cheerleader, a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and a Peer Mentor. I became a Peer Mentor Coordinator in August of 2007. I think that the best part of being involved in the mentoring program is helping someone else and building long lasting relationships.
My name is Cassie Sacco. I'm from Bethel Park, PA. I am currently a Senior with a strong heart for Elementary Education. I love kids and I love people in general. Whenever I’m granted a chance I enjoy lending a helping hand. Two summers ago, I worked as an Orientation Leader for Cal and it was a great experience. I was able to meet most of the entire freshman class and got them started for school! I'm involved in the California Choir because I love to sing and do it often, whether I know the words or not =P. (That’s mainly the case.) Basically, I like to do a lot of everything a little bit, that’s the only way to put it! I’m always up for something new, but I love anything in the fine arts category, which includes painting, performing… and any of that jazz. I take pleasure in being a PMC, which I feel Audrey Hepburn quotes just right, “You have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
Hi, my name is Dana Reed. I am from Oakdale, PA and I am a Senior this year here at Cal. I am majoring in elementary education. This is my second year as a PMC and mentor, however, I have also been involved with other activities on campus such as PSEA and intramural basketball. I think the benefits of being a PMC and mentor are that you get to form new relationships and interact with many other students here at Cal. I think it gives you the opportunity to help out others and form many friendships that you may not have formed if you were not involved in the program.
Hi, my name is Lauren Hoover and this is my first year as a Peer Mentor Coordinator. I am currently a Junior and I am majoring in Elementary/Special Education. During my freshmen year at Cal U I was involved in CEC (Council Exceptional Children), and I am also a part of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. This coming year I am looking forward to working as a PMC and mentoring students.
Hello! My name is Ashley Fennell and I am a Graphic Design Major here at CAL-U. I participate in many campus activities such as Studio 224 (Graphic Design Club) and I was also a CAL-U for Life orientation leader for the Fall. I have been involved with the mentoring program since my first year as an incoming freshmen and I became a Peer Mentor Coordinator during my Sophomore year. I wanted to become a PMC because i believe that the Mentoring Program has a lot of great things to offer students. I know my freshman year i would have been lost without my Mentor! I also really enjoy helping people and meeting interesting new people along the way!
Hello! My name is Emily Oddo and I'm a senior here at Cal majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management. I am from North Huntingdon, PA and I graduated from Norwin High School in 2006. At Cal I am an officer of Sigma Alpha Pi - The National Society of Leadership and Success, an officer of FBLA-PBL, and a Peer Mentor. I became a PMC in January of 2009. I absolutely love being a part of this program and helping out students with any problems or concerns they may have. Mentoring is a great way to build new relationships and interact with other students at Cal.
Hi! My name is Erin Berstler, and I am a Senior this year at Cal. My major is Industrial/Organizational Psychology and I am minoring in Women's Studies. I am from New Holland, PA, which is a good 4 hour drive across the state. I graduated from Garden Spot High School in 2006. I am involved in organizations on campus such as Alpha Lambda Delta, Colleges Against Cancer, Psi Chi, Psychology Club, and am also a member of the University Honors Program. This is my second semester as a PMC, however I have been a mentor since August of 2007. I was very impressed by the mentoring program as a freshman, and really appreciated all the help that I could not have gotten anywhere else! It's great to be a part of a program that really makes a difference in the lives of the new incoming students and I'm looking forward to a whole new experience as a PMC.
Hello! :) My name is Trisha Johnson. I am a Communication Disorders Major here at Cal U and will soon be picking up a minor in Psychology. I'm a small town girl (don't take that lightly haha) from Kane, PA, and I graduated from Kane Area High School. This is my first year as a PMC and I'm really excited about being apart of the program! I love helping people and lending out that extra needed hand. Making new friendships that last a lifetime can also be found through this program, and that is why I am so excited to be apart of it! :)
My name is Tammi Bonura. I am a sophomore here at Cal and I am majoring in Communication Disorders. I'm from Plum Borough, PA and graduated from Plum High School in 2008. I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan! This is my first year as a PMC and I really enjoy it! I think it is great that I can help build relationships between a mentor and their protégé, even if it is in the smallest way.
My name is Hayley Simpson and I am a junior majoring in Sport Management. I am from Monroeville, PA and I graduated from Gateway Senior High School in 2007. In addition to mentoring and being a PMC, I work in the weight room helping to train our athletes, and I am a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success. This is my first year as a PMC and I am really excited about everything our program has to offer. Not only is it great for freshman because they have someone who is experienced and knowledgeable about Cal U, but it is also very rewarding for the mentors to know that they have helped someone!
Hi! My name is Melissa Krenzelak and I'm from Burgettstown, PA. I'm a senior here at Cal U and I'm majoring in Communication Disorders. I love being involved in making students feel like they fit in here and lending a helping hand whenever I can. It's my first year being a PMC and a mentor! I was also an orientation leader at the beginning of the year so I got to meet and interact with a lot of the freshmen class. My time at Cal has been wonderful so far and I hope that I'm giving other students the opportunity to have the same great experience!
Hello! My name is Emily Obenauf and this is my first semester as a Peer Mentor Coordinator, and I'm really enjoying my time working with the mentors and protegés. I'm not from PA like many people that go to Cal are, I'm from a city outside of Youngstown, Ohio. Pennsylvania is much different than Ohio, and I really enjoy it here. I am a Junior here at Cal in the Athletic Training program. I am part of the Athletic Training Club and I am the Chairman of the Fundraising Committee. I'm very excited about this year and I am excited to work as a PMC and help our new students! :-)
Hey!! My name is Mike Bonnono. I’m from Johnstown, PA. I am currently a junior majoring in Secondary Education Social Science and Psychology. I am involved with STAND, SPSEA, and the new Ballroom and Latin Dance Club. This is my first year being a Peer Mentor Coordinator. Being a PMC has shown me a lot. Its awesome how people volunteer their time to help freshman get adjusted to college life.
Hi, I am Sarah Shadron. I’m a junior here at Cal U. I’m majoring in Elementary and Special Education. I am from Ligonier, Pa. and graduated from Ligonier Valley High School in 2007. This is my first year as a Peer Mentor Coordinator, and also as a mentor. I am currently working towards becoming a member of the National Society of Leadership, and being a part of CEC. I look forward to being a PMC and a mentor.