CBC Undergraduate Peer Mentoring Program
Looking for an interesting service organization?
Do you have a desire to help students that are new to Chemistry and Biochemistry?
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CBC) Advising Office sponsors the CBC Undergraduate Peer Mentoring Program to provide new students with guidance and counsel. This highly successful program, established in 2005 is designed to encourage student involvement within the CBC Department. Furthermore, peer mentors share their experiences and knowledge of programs and affiliations to help new students find and/or discover their potential career path. New CBC students and current CBC upperclassmen mentors are matched based on student's backgrounds and interests. Mentors work with new CBC students on a one-to-one basis to assist new students with academic and professional development.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recruits upper-classmen to serve as peer mentors each fall to assist incoming freshmen during their first semester at the University of Arizona. We seek students who are willing to volunteer as peer mentors to share their experience and wisdom as a UArizona Chemistry and/or Biochemistry student, to provide a listening ear to incoming Freshmen, properly refer new students to campus resources, and encourage and facilitate student involvement in clubs, undergraduate research, seminars, helpful courses, and other activities that add value to their education.
• be a Junior or Senior CBC undergraduate at start of the fall term (with consideration given to some exceptional Sophomores)
• be completely through your second year of the program
• be in good academic standing
• be outgoing, involved in campus life, and research active (or have a desire to be)
• Able to start mentoring in summer before Fall classes begin (not required, but highly encouraged!)
• You will need to complete the FERPA tutorial (required) and send the proof of completion Olivia Mendoza, omendoza@arizona.edu. FERPA tutorial found here: https://registrar.arizona.edu/privacy-ferpa/ferpa-training
• You will be assigned 2 to 3 Biochemistry or Chemistry students, depending on your major. Please make first contact by emailing them and arranging to meet one-on-one. You will get an email from Olivia Mendoza, Director of the Peer Mentor program, with their information at some point over the summer after their orientation.
• Please share your email with your mentees, and if you are comfortable you may also provide your phone number..
• You will positively impact new Wildcats by sharing your invaluable student experiences
• You can build community in CBC by making connections with your peers and mentees
• Assist new students achieve their academic and professional goals by offering your insights
• You can add this leadership experience to your resume!
Each year CBC recognizes our best student mentors with the Outstanding Peer Mentor Award. Students are asked to nominate their peer mentors by submitting a nomination form usually in the Spring Semester. This award will be given to a CBC Mentor deserving of recognition of his/her contributions in assisting new students with academic and professional development. If you have any questions, contact the CBC Peer Mentor Coordinator, Olivia Mendoza.
The Nominations for the Outstanding Peer Mentors are Now Closed until February 2026
2025
Janelle Amegatse (nominated by Sofia Morais)
Dorie Chen (nominated by Alena Li)
Andrew Zoretic (nominated by Brian Senkowicz)
2024
Sam Ellis (nominated by Adrian De la Peña)
Madison Grams (nominated by Anna Campbell)
Angela Mankin (nominated by Sara Kretschmer)
2023
Eric Nathan Primack (nominated by Sean Chen)
Wesley Chiu (nominated by Jackson Taylor)
2022
Shifat Hossain (nominated by Veronica Hode)
Giang Huong Pham (nominated by Truc Le)
2021
Paige Elizabeth Martin (nominated by Anna Ramsook)
Monica Ruffalo (nominated by Moriah Ruskin)
Hillary Schiff (nominated by Meiven Yang)
Jessica Vickery (nominated by Mina Alaaldin)
2020
Steven Fried (nominated by Lucas Mendoza)
Todd Lewis (nominated by Guy Scangarello)
Doli Patel (nominated by Shifat Hossain)
2019
Hannah Moran (nominated by Ziana Collins)
Soraya Sandoval (nominated by Natalie Wallace)
2018
Jessica Diensing (nominated by Dane Zambrano)
Marisela Rodrigues (nominated by Madison Uli)
2017
Gloria Thien Huong Le (nominated by Bianca Reilly)
Neal Patel (nominated by Alejandro Villalobos)
CBC'S AWESOME PEER MENTORS
"My name is Adrian De la Peña and I am going into my third year as a Biochemistry major at the UA! I had a peer mentor myself my first year and he was amazingly helpful in navigating the new department environment, and I even got to join his intramural soccer team (shoutout to recent graduate Sam Ellis!). I got some experience in being a peer mentor this last year and I look forward to being available again to introduce new students to the extremely welcoming and rewarding CBC department!"
“The best way to predict your future is to create it” - Abraham Lincoln
"I'm excited to be a CBC peer mentor as it reminds me how far I've come myself and how much we can all grow by lifting each other up!"
"Being a member of this program is meaningful to me because it allows me to support others in overcoming the same obstacles I previously encountered."
"We meet no ordinary people in our lives" - C.S. Lewis
"One of my favorite quotes that I will definitely be sharing with my new mentees is from Earl Nightingale, "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway".
"Being a CBC peer mentor has been an awesome opportunity to meet incoming UofA students, share my experiences as an undergraduate, and reflect on my own personal and career goals! Additionally, I would like to share that I intend to pursue a career in biotechnology/environmental microbiology following graduation!"
"A quote I find inspiring is "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for" - John Shed
"I am so excited to be a Peer Mentor this year and hope as a senior I can give advice and wisdom to incoming students! I am from Oregon, and I am in a sorority. I love to hike, thrift, work out and read. I do research in Dr. Thomas Gianetti’s lab and our research is on photocatalysis and REDOX flow batteries."
"On campus, I take part in research in the Jon Njardarson lab, am a part of Greek life, teach F45 at the rec, and am VP of the dosed with happiness club."
"I switched my major to Chemistry at the end of my freshman year, and I wish I'd had a peer mentor back then to guide me. I am therefore very excited to be a CBC Peer Mentor this year and help incoming freshmen!"
"My peer mentor gave me a lot of great pointers when starting out and introduced me to many opportunities. Because of her, I want to be able to do the same for my mentees."
"A quote I would refer to throughout my undergraduate journey is “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t- you’re right.”
"Some of my hobbies include singing, playing volleyball, and watching movies. After graduation, I plan on applying to and attending medical school to pursue a career in medicine. I hope to become a physician specializing in dermatology or oncology. I am not currently in a research lab, but in high school, I was in a biochemistry lab focused on disease and drug development. I am very involved in the asian and multicultural organizations and communities on campus, specifically the Korean American Student Association, and I would love to introduce my mentees to this environment. I am also in the Honors Student Council. I am also able to share my knowledge of the resources in the honors program and available resources. "
"I’m looking forward to being a CBC peer mentor and ambassador this year and helping connect people to the exciting resources in the CBC department."
"I’m a rising senior majoring in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Molecular and Cellular biology! I love being a resource for incoming students that are looking for guidance during their time at the UofA :)"
"I'm so excited to be a CBC peer mentor this year and help incoming freshmen adjust to this new exciting part of their lives!"
"I’m excited to be a CBC Peer Mentor and help incoming freshman, as I was in their shoes not too long ago!"
“Change the game, don’t let the game change you” - Macklemore
"I volunteer at St. Mary's Hospital during the school year, and I am also the vice president of the UA-Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students club (MAPS) which provides a community for pre-med students."
"An inspirational quote I've loved since I was a young girl is "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss it you'll land among the stars."
“Ad Astra Per Aspera” (translated: through hardship to the stars)
"I am excited to be joining the CBC peer mentoring program because I enjoy teaching and learning more about others interests and how it has led them to pursue science further!"
"I am eager to be starting as a peer mentor this year! Having someone to reach out to can be really helpful, especially within your major. I am excited to be there as that kind of support while learning and growing along the way!"
"Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.” -Richard Bach.
"I am a senior B.S. Chemistry Major with a minor in Spanish. I am a first-generation college student, and I graduated from University High School here in Tucson! I started my undergrad at Occidental College, but I transferred back to the UA. I am currently working in the Gianetti Group and helping my research mentor with her synthesis projects, as well as helping her with a potential publication. I am not sure of my plans after graduation, but I am at least preparing to apply to graduate schools in the winter. I can see myself staying in academia, but I also would love to get diverse hands-on experience in cosmetics or waste and water treatment. I just want to see where chemistry takes me! I also love weightlifting and creating art in my spare time."
"A quote which inspires me is "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas Edison