Cal Poly Pomona
Sociology Peer Mentors
Meet the Peer Mentors of Generation 9
2015-2016
Audrey Aday
Senior
Hello! My name is Audrey and I am a fourth year psychology major at Cal Poly Pomona. As a transfer student, I began my journey at Cal Poly Pomona in fall of 2014. Since then, I have become involved in undergraduate research as a research assistant to Dr. Viviane Seyranian and Dr. Anthony Ocampo in the Psychology and Sociology department. I will also be joining Cohort 17 of the McNair Scholars Program during the 2015-2016 academic year, and am currently the Co-President of ACCESS Club. I absolutely love research, and hope to pursue my PhD in social psychology after I graduate from Cal Poly Pomona. After graduate school, I hope to pursue a career in academia as a faculty member at a four-year university. In my spare time, I enjoy music very much. I love playing the piano, guitar, and singing. Other hobbies of mine include painting, hiking, meditating, skateboarding, reading, and writing. I am very excited to be a part of Gen 9 Peer Mentors; I greatly look forward to facilitating student success at Cal Poly Pomona!
Aaron Cortez
Senior
Hello I'm Aaron Cortez. I'm a fifth year psychology major. After graduating I plan on getting my Masters in Social Work and my AA in Photography. Some of my interests are the arts, staying active, and music. Thanks for taking the time to read!
Irisa Charles
Senior
I am a senior majoring in Psychology. My previous research experience is at the UCI Medical Center in the Neuropsychiatric Center where I helped collect data as part of a research project focusing on Developmental Disabilities and Psychoactive Medications under Dr. Ira Lott, M.D. In addition to being a full-time student, I am an Administrative Assistant for the Harvey Family Home, Inc., an Adult Residential Care Facility for the intellectually disabled. Some of my interests include traveling, snowboarding, going to the beach, photography, and cooking. In the fall of 2015, I joined Dr. Seyranian's Lab and I look forward to being a Research Assistant! I am looking forward to interacting with everyone in this department as a Peer Mentor!
Princess Egbule
Senior
My name is Princess Egbule and I am a senior majoring in Psychology here at Cal Poly Pomona! In addition to being a Peer Mentor, I am a part of three research teams and I am Class Council Representative for Psi Chi for the 2015-16 academic year. After graduating from Cal Poly Pomona, I intend on obtaining my PhD in Clinical Psychology and conducting research and later in life becoming a professor. I love meeting new people and being exposed to new perspectives and experiences. In my free time I love to read, write, travel, and do yoga.
Janna Esguerra
Senior
Hi! I’m Janna Esguerra and I am currently senior majoring in Psychology while minoring in Marketing. I am interested in pursuing a career that pertains to consumer behavior and market research. After achieving my undergraduate degree, I plan on building my work experience in the marketing research field and pursue a masters degree for Statistics. Aside from being a peer mentor, I am an active member in Barkada, Cal Poly Pomona’s Filipino culture club, I am the current Treasurer for ACCESS club, and I am the Vice President of Operations for College of Business’ Market Research Club. Outside Cal Poly, I like to eat, go on local travels, go to theme parks (especially Disneyland), and edit videos I take with my GoPro.
Jimena Estrada
Senior
Hi there! My name is Jimena G. Estrada and I am currently a senior majoring in Psychology. I am still in the process of deciding on what I want to do after I graduate (Class of 2017). This year, I am very excited to be a part of the ninth generation of Peer Mentors and co-president of the ACCESS club. In addition, I am also an Orientation Leader on campus. When I am not on campus, I enjoy crafting or going out for a run. I would love to meet you, please do not hesitate to swing by the Peer Mentors office.
Gracie Flicker
Senior
My name is Gracie Flicker and I am a fourth year at Cal Poly. Along with being a Peer Mentor, I am also the President of Cal Poly Pomona's Psi Chi chapter for 2015-2016. I also am a research assistant for Dr. Seyranian and I have been one for Dr.Mio. I am interested in social psych, I.O. psych, human relationships, and abnormal psych. I love to hangout with friends and make new ones. I enjoy doing yoga, hiking, singing, painting, or simply kicking back and watching some Netflix.
Denise Fritts
Senior
My name is Denise Fritts and I am currently a fourth year Psychology major, Dance minor at Cal Poly Pomona. I hope to attend graduate school at either Chapman or Pepperdine, and pursue a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am excited to be getting more involved in the Psychology/Sociology department, and see how I can achieve personal growth while helping other students as a peer mentor. In addition to being a part of the Peer Mentor Generation 9 cohort I am involved in my sorority on campus. I have held the positions of Sisterhood Chairwoman, Vice President of Scholarship, and dayhead for our annual Lip Sync competition within my sorority. I am interested in dancing, fitness, hiking, crafting, movies, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Jessica Galvan
Senior
Hello everyone! My name is Jessica Galvan and I am a senior who transferred over from Citrus Community College. I am a Psychology major who wants to specialize in Forensic Psychology in the future as a career. My academic goal is to be accepted into a PhD Clinical Psychology program. I am a national member of Psi Chi and I was recently inducted as President of Alpha Kappa Delta, which is the Sociology National Honors Society. I am also now a part of the McNair Scholars Program. My favorite free time activity is to go to the theater and watch newly released movies. I find watching movies to be quite relaxing. If you have any questions on how to get involved on campus and research with professors do not be afraid to ask me! :)
Javier Gil
Senior
I am a second year transfer student. I grew up in Baldwin Park, CA, a primarily Latin@ neighborhood 11 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. As a kid, I enjoyed playing sports like Basketball, Baseball, Dodgeball and Football. As a teenager, I began to enjoy learning how to play different instruments. I spent my time playing guitar, drums and bass guitar. Also, I became deeply involved with the Punk Rock music scene, and it is still a big part of my life to this day. To me, the music was, and still is strong, with a message of awareness and hope. After graduating high school, I attended Citrus College in Glendora, CA, where I attained an Associates degree in both Sociology and Social & Behavioral Science. Although my studies at the community college lasted longer than the estimated two years, I enjoyed my time as a student at Citrus College. Through the professors' motivation, I became a more focused and study oriented student, which benefited me as I began my academic career at Cal Poly Pomona. I earned a 4.0 gpa for my first quarter at Cal Poly Pomona, which resulted in me being added to the Deans List for the 2014-2015 Fall quarter. Aside from being a Peer Mentor, I am also heavily involved with the Mexican American Student Association on campus. I hope to one day be an effective academic counselor in the community college system; with the rising popularity in community college attendance, it will be important that there are effective counselors and role models who will motivate students to excel, and I hope to be one of those motivators.
Olga Juarez
Senior
My name is Olga Juarez and I am a fourth year psychology major. I like doing anything adventurous, traveling, and trying new things. I love the beach, and I hope to own a beach house at some point in my life. I first became interested in psychology during my junior year of high school when I took my first psychology class. At the time, I was also taking a child development class where we taught preschool and that is when I decided what I wanted to do for a living. I really enjoy working with children. I hope to become a child psychologist one day so that I will be able to work with troubled youth.
Emilio Medina
Senior
Hello there. I’m Milio and I am a senior here at Cal Poly Pomona. A quote I live by is "be the change you wish to see in the world." I was a transfer student from Mt. San Antonio College (woo!) and began here back in fall 2014. Besides peer mentors, I am also involved conducting research with my amazing mentor Viviane Seyranian, being part of the McNair Scholars Program, vice-president of Psi Chi, and being a residential advisor at the University Village. I love and enjoy psychology very much! I hope to pursue my Ph.D. in either counseling or clinical psychology after I graduate from Cal Poly. On my free time I enjoy finding the metaphors in life, listening/discovering music, photography, going on adventures, reading, hiking, dancing, and talking about the universe we live in. I hope to continue to grow as a person through every experience that heads my way. I am grateful to be part of Peer Mentors and being here at Cal Poly Pomona. If you have any questions or need any assistance then I am more than happy to listen and help. As my friend J.B. and I say, “We’re all in this together!”
Samantha Merlin
Senior
My name is Samantha A. Merlin, I am currently a fourth year Psychology major. I plan on getting my Masters either in Marriage and Family Therapy or Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. Some other long term goals I hope to accomplish is opening my own practice that includes animal assisted therapy . Besides being a Peer Mentor, I am also apart of Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority Inc. I have held various chairs including: Historian, Publicity Chair, Community Service Chair, Greek Week Chair and T-shirt Chair to name a few. I am currently the coordinator for Fuerza De La Mujer, a club on campus dedicated to promoting women empowerment, awareness and serving the community. I am also the Psi Chi community service chair. Some of my hobbies include: exercising, reading, festival and concert-going, crafting, volunteering, going on adventures with my friends and spending time with my family.
Isabela Perez
Senior
Hello! My name is Isabela Perez. I am completing my fourth and final year as a psychology major. During my time at Cal Poly Pomona I have conducted research under the guidance of Dr. DeJonghe and Dr. Dávila. Through this research experience I have developed an interest in understanding how the structure of institutions jointly contribute to maintaining social and educational inequality. Addressing these issues through collaborative efforts is of primary importance to me. After graduating I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in social psychology to fulfill these aspirations.
Martina Velasco
Senior
Hello my name is Mratina Velasco, I am a first generation transfer student from Citrus Community College in my senior year as a Psychology Major here at Cal Poly Pomona. I am a Secretary in ACCESS Club, a member of Psi Chi, a member of NLPA currently running for the public relations chair. I also have a passion for dancing which is why I am a member of APU-Citrus swing dance club. I enjoy drawing/painting and workout out in my free time. I am so happy and lucky to be a part of the Peer Mentors Cohort 9!
Meet the PM 9 Leads
Monica Santos
Class of 2015
Hi my name is Monica Santos and I am fifth year at Cal Poly Pomona. I am currently majoring in Psychology and am also about to graduate. I have been involved in the Peer Mentor program for the seventh cohort and am currently leading the ninth cohort. I was also involved in the National Latino Psychological Association E-board committee as the fundraiser representative. Working almost full-time hours for most of my undergraduate years, I managed to become more involved during my third year and have accumulated research in many areas such as students and even in the state of Hawaii. Alongside the busy schedule I created for myself, life also introduced me to a beautiful babygirl whom I love very much. Although it is extremely hard to be a mother and a student, I am trying my hardest to reach my goals and set the example. I have become very familiar with the department, professors and even some students. Doing so has allowed me to help others connect with each other and network. It is my passion to help out anyone who needs it and will not stop working until I find the answer to the problem. Being a first generation candidate in my family has allowed me to push others to do anything they set their minds to.
Susan Selfridge
Class of 2015
Hi, my name is Susan Selfridge and I am a graduating fourth year psychology major. I am interested in clinical psychology and have plans to attend graduate school to receive my doctorate in the field. On campus, I am a Peer Mentor, secretary for Psi Chi, and a research assistant. Off campus, I enjoy reading, baking, sewing, crafting, and being in nature. Joining the Peer Mentor 8 cohort last year was one of the best decisions I made at Cal Poly Pomona and to me represents the quintessential college experience. That being said, as a Peer Mentor Lead I am extremely excited to help mentor the new PM9 cohort and to pass forward my love and support of the Peer Mentor program.
Meet Our PM 9 Advisor
Dr. Nicholas Von Glahn
I am a faculty member at CPP and I regularly teach courses on Cognitive Psychology, Research Methodology, and Experimental Psychology. I love teaching these courses because I have a strong passion for increasing students' ability to think skeptically as well as improving students' critical thinking skills. My research interests include memory improvement (hypermnesia), emotional memory, false memory, and study skills. I have also been researching how people search for information on the Internet. If you are interested in learning more about my research or more information about joining Peer Mentor Cohort 10, please email me at nrvonglahn@cpp.edu or call at 909–869–4870.