The SAA Peer Mentoring Program was started by:
Ashley Coyne
When I was informed that the SAA would be launching a peer mentoring program for our students, I was ecstatic. For some time now, I have been interested in pursuing peer mentoring in some capacity, so I was pleasantly surprised when the director of SAA suggested I participate in designing the pilot program for the upcoming academic year. I have worked at SAA since my freshman year at Puget Sound as an office-support student worker and later as Coordinator of Student Activities for the department. The latter position has entailed my organization of weekly meetings of SAA students in our office in which we provide materials for a variety of relaxing activities such as knitting, drawing, coloring, and playing games. These meetings create a communal, low-stress environment in which our students can take a break from academics to unwind and socialize. I have witnessed how these meetings have cultivated a space in which SAA students can share their experiences, both triumphs and challenges, to connect and relate to one another.
I see the SAA peer mentoring program as an opportunity to expand the reach of this environment in order to provide a more consistent peer support system for our students throughout the year. I believe our program will be integral to aiding first-year students as they adapt to academic and social life at Puget Sound. Last year, I conducted a semester-long research project on the transition of students with differences inabilities from high school to college by carrying out a case study on SAA students’ transition to Puget Sound. I was fortunate to speak with some of our students in order to hear about the additional challenges they face as they navigate the already complicated passage to college life. I learned about the importance of a strong support system comprised of well-informed and understanding individuals throughout this process to ensure students’ success. Given my experience speaking with SAA students in this context as well as interacting with them in everyday situations at SAA, participating in the development and implementation of the SAA peer mentoring pilot program is and honor and a privilege.
Elena Fulton
I am a senior majoring in Molecular Cellular Biology with a minor in Religious Studies. Bridging the gap between science and religion has given me a deep appreciation for diverse stories and has pushed me to think critically about how those stories are celebrated or excluded from our local, national and global communities. In this time when our nation is experiencing such profound moments of discrimination and tension it is crucial that we find ways to combat those messages; SAA is doing just that. I am excited and honored to take part in a program that is centered around inclusion, support, connection and personal growth for both the students in SAA as well as the Peer Mentors. By ensuring that students find a home both within SAA as well as the larger campus community our university is sending the message that every student belongs and will be validated in all aspects of their identity. I am thrilled to become an ambassador for that mission and am eager to get to know the group of diverse learners within SAA.
The experiences I have had at Puget Sound have both prepared and inspired me to take on this new role as a Peer Mentor. My work as a Program Assistant (PA) in the Center for Experiential Learning (EL), an Orientation Leader, and an Instructor’s Assistant for the Biology Department have taught me how to actively listen to my peers, offer specific, constructive feedback, and ultimately help students become agents of their own stories. The roles I have gotten to play on campus have helped me cultivate a strong desire to make all people feel seen and welcome in both academic and social spaces, and I am excited to translate that passion to the Peer Mentor program. I am so looking forward to this new opportunity to be a leader and support system for fellow students, but to also learn from breadth of experiences the community.
Anna Fryxell
Hello! My name is Anna, and I am excited to be a peer mentor for Student Accessibility and Accommodations this year. I am a rising senior from Minnesota, a biology major, and interested in going into physical therapy. Aside from academics, I am involved in ECO (environmental) club, RDG (dance), Puget Sound Outdoors, and Writers Guild. I enjoy keeping myself busy, whether that’s in the library studying for a biology exam, collaborating with ECO club peers and Loggers Live Green, or just plain laughing and hanging out with my friends. There are so many things I like to do, and I am excited to hear what my peers like to do too!
One of my passions is getting to know people on a deeper level and helping peers arrive at their full potentials, which is why I was drawn to this job. SAA has been an incredible resource for me during my time at Puget Sound because it helped me realize that universities can be flexible with a variety of learning styles; last fall, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and ADHD, and I may not have gotten to where I am now had it not been for both accommodations and support from my peers. Because I started going to SAA more than halfway through my college career, it is my goal to introduce incoming students to this valuable resource as soon as they get to campus. I look forward to bonding with mentees, doing fun things together, sharing funny stories, and bouncing inspiration off of each other.