Academic Success

Meet the Peer Academic Mentors

Peer Academic Mentors support all Southwestern University students with a variety of college success skills through one-on-one coaching and workshops.

What We Do

Mentors are a source of academic support for fellow students throughout their time at SU. We work with students to develop effective study skills and strategies on an individual basis, design and facilitate academic skills workshops, refer students to campus life support services, and guide students through short- and long-term planning.

 

Been there, done that:

As upper-level students, the Peer Mentors have experiences both in and out of the classroom that help relate to the students they work with. They are eager to answer your questions, hear your concerns, or just chat!

Who We Are

 

Mara Strohl
Senior
Psychology and Political Science Major

Hometown: Flower Mound, TX

Involvement: Garden Club, Honor Code Council, Psi Chi, and Pi Sigma Alpha

Fun Fact: I have visited Disney World 9 times!

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-03 Does Chocolate Have Dark Side?
UST05-014-08 Healing Women
UST05-014-15 Running for Your Life!
UST05-014-16 Fixing Broken Minds

 

Schedule an appointment with Mara


Riley Wolfe
Senior
Biology Major

Hometown: Aledo, TX

Involvement: Kappa Sigma Fraternity

Fun Fact: I’m certified to scuba dive and have 30+ dives under my belt!

 

Paired First-Year Seminar: 

UST05-014-13 Schools At Play

Paired Advanced Entry Seminars:
UST05-214-01 Intergenerational Comm
UST05-214-02 Food, Health & the Environment
UST05-214-03 Masking: Festivals, Tribalism

 

Schedule an appointment with Riley


Davin Ratliff
Junior
Biology Major | Business Minor

Hometown: Brandon, MS

Involvement: Pirate Host, Student Activities Student Assistant, Football 

Fun Fact: I used to do theatre as a kid.

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-02 Roadside America
UST05-014-17 R-E-S-P-E-C-T
UST05-014-18 Roots & Branches: Family History
UST05-014-24 Autobiography in Age of Selfie

 

Schedule an appointment with Davin


Hope Culberson
Junior
Economics Major | Political Science Minor

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Involvement: Honor Code Council, Women’s Lacrosse

Fun Fact: I’m a huge tea drinker! My favorite flavor is lemon and ginger.

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-05 Banned Books
UST05-014-12 Understanding Race & Racism
UST05-014-14 The Secret Lives of Methaphor
UST05-014-22 The Social Networks

 

Schedule an appointment with Hope


Eunice Mexicano

Junior

Biology Major | Health Studies Minor

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Involvement: Captain’s Academy Student Coordinator, Pre-Health Club, Food Advisory Committee, LatinXcel

Fun Fact: I’ve played the piano since I was 4 years old. 

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-19 As Seen on Netflix
UST05-014-20 If Boards Could Talk

 

Schedule an appointment with Eunice


Alyanna Martinez

Sophomore

Computer Science and Psychology Major | Race & Ethnicity Studies Minor  

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Involvement: SU Wind Ensemble, Pirate Pep Band, Latinos Unidos, Computer Science Club, LatinXcel

Fun Fact: I’ve played flute for eight years!

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-06 Art, Revolution, & Today
UST05-014-10 Legends, Myths, & Folktales
UST05-014-25 From Cancer to Forensics
UST05-014-26 Confucius Says

 

Schedule an appointment with Alyanna


Elias Sarwana

Sophomore

Economics Major | Data Analytics Minor

Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan

Involvement: Intramurals, Business Club

Fun Fact: I play almost every sport there is!

 

Paired First-Year Seminars:

UST05-014-01 Robots in Fact and Fiction
UST05-014-04 From Poetry Into Song
UST05-014-07 Taking a Walk in a Painting
UST05-014-11 A Barrel of Crude

 

Schedule an Appointment with Elias