Current Students

Honors Foundations

New students on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campus will register for IDH 2930 – Honors Foundations and will meet during the fall semester with a small group of Honors peers, led by a peer mentor. A peer mentor is an upper-class Honors student enrolled in the Judy Genshaft Honors College, specifically hired to share the Honors experience with incoming first-year students. The class is discussion-based, covering many topics that apply to both the Judy Genshaft Honors College and USF university life as a whole. In this class, peer mentors share their personal experiences and provide important information and resources for success.

This class is zero credits and has no tuition charge, but will be reflected on transcripts. It is required for first-year admits as part of the Judy Genshaft Honors College Curriculum.

Honors Foundations Program Purpose:

  • Ease the transition from high school to college by providing a venue to process college experiences, ask questions, and find an identity as an Honors College scholar.
  • Connect new students with the Honors College, students, staff, and faculty.
  • Start building networks of people and places that will be great resources at USF.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the peer mentor position or Honors Foundations, please e-mail Mr. Kevin Lee, Program Director for Honors Foundations & Retention Initiatives at honorspeermentor@usf.edu.

Peer Mentor leads 

Sample

Grace Beilman 
English
Minors in Education and Queer and Sexuality Studies

I became a peer mentor because I want to become a teacher in the future, and this was the perfect way to gain experience! 

Sample

Emily Hoffman 
Biomedical Sciences 

I became a peer mentor because I know that the transition into college life can be a difficult one, and I want to help guide students into life at USF so that they can learn about all that it has to offer and find community in the Honors College! 

Sample

Martin Ladjimi 
Biomedical Sciences and Psychology 

As a peer mentor, I truly pride myself in building a sense of community among new Honors College students through the Honors Foundations course! 

Sample

Julia Llanos 
Biomedical Sciences
Minor in Environmental Health

I became a peer mentor because I wanted to help connect students to opportunities so they could explore their interests and further their passions.  

Sample

Nicole Nagib 
Biomedical Sciences

I became a peer mentor because I wanted to replicate the support I received as a first-year from my PM! 

Sample

Audra Nikolajski 
English and Political Science
Minor in Global Studies in Education

I became a peer mentor because I care deeply about aiding students in reaching their full potential in the Judy Genshaft Honors College as well as helping them build connections, make friends, and enjoy their time here.  

Sample

Shivani Padhye 
Cell and Molecular Biology and Chemistry

The best part about being a peer mentor is meeting new students and giving them the courage to try and accomplish all their goals. It is really rewarding at the end when they were able to join a club or become a part of a research opportunity after encouragement from their peer mentor! 

Sample

Lalith Roopesh 
Biomedical Sciences
Minors in Psychology and Biomedical Physics

I became a peer mentor because I enjoy seeing the people around me succeed, and I want to help students navigate the intricacies of both college and professional life. 

Sample

Amber Whitmer 
Psychology
Minors in Public Health and Deaf Studies

I became a peer mentor in an attempt to connect with first-year students and help them in ways I know I needed help/guidance, and the most amazing part about being a PM is experiencing each student’s unique perspective and learning from them! 

Apply to be a Peer Mentor!

Applications to become a peer mentor are now closed and will be open again February 2024.