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.
APPLY TO BE A PEER MENTOR
Peer mentor applications open near the start of the spring semester. Check back here for regular updates.
Peer Mentor Leads
Dani Charco
Exercise Science
I wanted to be a peer mentor lead because I love helping people grow and feel encouraged, and I wanted to create a positive environment for the new generation of peer mentors the way that my PMLs did for me. I also loved helping my students navigate through college, and wanted to extend that support to peer mentors too.
Mackenzie Friday
Biomedical Science
Minor in Public Health
Becoming a peer mentor was one of the most fulfilling opportunities I have had during my time in college. I became a peer mentor Lead to help other peer mentors have a similarly rewarding experience and to take part in delivering a memorable and impactful Honors Foundations course for first-year students.
Alexa Kalhorn
Accounting
Minor in Legal Studies
I became a peer mentor because I wanted to help first-year Honors students feel confident during their transition from high school to university. I aim to be a positive influence on them as I share my knowledge and experience about the Honors College and USF in general.
Anna Ladjimi
Cybersecurity
Minor in Criminology
I became a peer mentor lead because I am passionate about assisting first-year honors students as they transition into college. My goal is to make students feel comfortable in the Honors College by sharing advice, resources, and my experiences.
Kay
Information Technology
Minor in Criminology
The experience as a peer mentor was extremely fulfilling, and I wish to impart the same to peer mentors. Beyond that, I want to experience the workings of syllabus formulation, marketing and interview aspects of a class cohort.
Abhi Nadimpalli
Biomedical Sciences
Coming into my fall semester of freshman year, I felt overwhelmed with the drastic changes that college was in compared to high school. Thankfully, my Honors Foundations class gave me the support that I needed to excel. As a peer mentor leader, I hope to give others the same support and a sense of community within the Honors College!
Olivia Pinilla
Biology
Minor in Public Health; Entrepreneurship and Innovation
I became a peer mentor lead because I enjoyed mentoring a group of students this past semester and wanted to continue fostering that growth with peer mentors as well. Mentorship has always been an important part of my college experience, and the PML role is a great opportunity to pay that forward to others.
Haille Skinner
Behavioral Health Care
Every student deserves the best chance to succeed in every sphere of their university
lives. I became a PML so that I can be an integral part of developing their support
system and providing the resources that allow them to be excited about their future.
Gray Zeisse
Biomedical Sciences
Minor in Aging Sciences
I wanted to become a PML to help develop the Honors Foundations curriculum and help
PM’s prepare for their first Honors Foundations course. My PML did I good job at giving
us resources to succeed in leading our students. I hope I can also provide the same
resources and support to my peer mentors. I am excited for this upcoming year!
MEET THE HONORS FOUNDATIONS GRADUATE ASSISTANT
My name is Anrae Stephenson-Frazier and I am the graduate assistant for first-year student success in the Judy Genshaft Honors College. I recently moved to the Tampa area but have been in Florida for the past few years. I graduated from North Carolina A&T with my B.A. in psychology and have a background in teaching/mentoring. I am currently pursuing my M.A. in school counseling at the University of South Florida. I have four years of experience in administration, mentoring, and teaching. I'm looking forward to supporting our new Honors students!
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the peer mentor position or Honors Foundations, please e-mail Dr. Kevin Lee, program director for Honors Foundations & Retention Initiatives at honorspeermentor@usf.edu.