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Over 120 sophomores, juniors, and seniors volunteer their time each year to provide help and advice to first-time freshman enrolled in the UNIV 100 first-year seminar. 

Peer Mentors are helpful, kind, courteous, and some of our best student leaders on campus. We can't wait for you to get to know them a little better! Check out our amazing Leadership Team below and to meet some more students in the Peer Mentor Program.

Coordinators & Lead Peer Mentors for 2024

D’Yoni Lennix  

• Laplace, LA
• Speech Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Spanish  
• Organizations: Administrative Coordinator for the Peer Mentor Program, NSSHLA and S.I.S.T.A.S.
• The Peer Mentor Programs means connection, outreach, selflessness and leadership.  
• With the skills gained, D’Yoni plans to finish undergrad, go to graduate school and become a licensed traveling SLP. 

Kaven Landry

• St. James, LA
• Secondary Education (Social Studies Concentration)
• Peer Mentor Program: The Peer Mentor Program holds significant value to me as it embodies the essence of guiding students across various classifications to seamlessly integrate into the university community. My commitment within this program lies in assisting students in identifying their optimal paths towards achieving academic success and obtaining their desired degrees, thereby empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
• After successfully completing my undergraduate studies, my ambition is to return to my alma mater, St. James High, and embark on a career in education as a Teacher. Following this, I am committed to advancing my academic pursuits by enrolling at UL to attain a master's degree in educational leadership, with the objective of assuming leadership roles as an Assistant Principal or Principal within the educational landscape. As I progress in my career, my ultimate aim is to enhance my expertise in educational leadership by pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Xavier University. My professional trajectory is guided by the aspiration to serve as the Superintendent of Schools for Louisiana or to contribute on a broader scale as the Secretary of Education for the United States of America. 

Elissa Harb

• Lebanon (International Student)
• pre-med Biology with minors in Chemistry and French
• Involvement:
  • President of the International Student Council
  • President of Alpha Lambda Delta
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  • UL Life program
• Plan after getting my bachelor's is to attend dental school and hopefully get specialized.
• The peer mentor program gives an opportunity for freshmen students that have no idea what UL has to offer (like I once was), to have a reliable source of only knowledge, but also someone that can help them navigate their first semester/year.  

Jada Barraza

• New Orleans, LA
• Nursing
• General member of ULSNA
• The peer mentor program is a way for me to use my experiences thus far in college, and help the incoming students navigate and feel welcomed into college life. It means the world to me to be able to make connections and be a positive and supportive figure in someone’s life. To see a former mentee around campus, and they're excited to see you, is an amazing feeling!  
• After college, I plan to move back home to work in a hospital for a couple of years before travel nursing. Somewhere down the line, I also plan to go back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner. No one knows what the future holds, so these plans might change, but I’m excited for my nursing journey and can’t wait to see what life has in store for me! 

Emma Michon

• Sulphur, LA
• Criminal Justice
• Alpha Delta Pi
• The peer mentor program is so special to me because I feel it offers so much to not only the freshmen but also the peer mentors. Being able to share my experiences with those in their first semester of college and give advice to them has been so rewarding. My peer mentor was who initially pushed me to be involved in the program and I have loved every minute of it! College is such a big change for so many freshmen, and for me, it helped to have someone closer to my age to answer my many, many questions. It is so fulfilling to be able to do the same for others!
• After college, I hope to attend law school. 

Erika Whittington  

• Sulphur, LA
• Kinesiology Pre-Professional
• Alpha Delta Pi, OT society
• To me the Peer Mentor program is about guidance and leadership. As a Peer Mentor, I have learned to take on leadership by navigating the freshman through their first semester with any questions they have. You are there for them as a friend and a mentor. It is important to create a connection with your freshman so they feel comfortable enough to approach you with any problems they may have.  
• I plan to attend OT school after I graduate from UL!  

Whitney Ardoin

• Eunice, LA
• Political Science (Pre-Law)
• UL Anthropology Society, MOOT Court, Pi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society
• To me, the Peer Mentor Program means to help the Freshman class navigate college, while becoming knowledgeable and well-rounded leaders.
• After college, I plan to attend law school.