The purpose of the Peer mentoring program is to help incoming students adjust to life at University of West Georgia and the Honors experience by enhancing group support and community within the Honors College.  

Peer mentors are current upper division students in the Honors College that work with groups of 5-10 newly admitted Honors College students throughout the academic year.

In addition to small group meetings and events determined by the mentor/mentee groups, the Peer Mentors also work with the Honors Council, the student governing body of the Honors College to plan several large-scale meetings and community engagement events and help facilitate student involvement in these activities.

  • Peer Mentoring Objectives

    Peer Mentoring Objectives  

    • To enhance group support and community within the Honors College
    • To assist new students with transition to UWG
    • To encourage mutually beneficial, positive and lasting relationships between students
    • To  provide peer mentors with opportunities for developing skills in leadership, group facilitation, communication and event-planning
    • To enhance mentees’ abilities to interact comfortably with people and groups from diverse backgrounds
  • Peer Mentor Details

    Peer Mentor Details

    Being a Peer Mentor is a great opportunity for upper division students to serve the Honors College community.  Students serving as mentors will receive community engagement hours for their volunteer service. As such, peer mentors are expected to meet the following requirements:

    • Participate in a mandatory ½ day training session that will take place at the end of Spring Semester and a refresher training at the beginning of Fall Semester
    • Provide a picture and bio to be posted on the Honors College Website
    • Introduce yourself to your mentees prior to Fall Semester
    • Attend the Honors College Cookout on the last day of Pack Premiere (usually the day before Fall classes begin) to meet your mentees
    • Meet with mentees as a group at least 3 times each semester and help facilitate student involvement in and the planning of Honors College/Honors Council community engagement and social events
    • Maintain an open line of communication throughout the semester with mentees
    • Remind students about upcoming events and encourage students to attend programs sponsored by the Honors College and/or Honors Council
    • Refer students to campus resources
    • Log all contact dates you have with your mentees using the student contact form
    • Meet with the Honors College Advisor once a semester for evaluation.  At the end of the Academic Year, Peer Mentors who have met all of the criteria will receive 30 Community Engagement hours for their volunteer service.
  • Peer Mentor Application

    Peer Mentor Application

    All applicants must have completed at least 30 credit hours and be in good academic standing in the Honors College to be considered for the positions of Peer Mentor.  If you are unsure of your Honors College Standing, please email honors@westga.edu.  

    Peer mentoring applications are made available in March each year and decisions are made Mid-April.  A mandatory training session will take place at the end of the spring semester.   

  • Peer Mentee Details

    Peer Mentee Details

    A Peer Mentee Application will be provided to all incoming Honors College students prior to their orientation session to assist with matching students with a mentor.  Students will have an opportunity to select their top two choices for a mentor after viewing brief bios of the Peer Mentoring Team, allowing students to connect with someone with similar interests or experiences.   Students will be assigned to mentoring groups based on “themes” comprised of up to 10 students per mentor.

    Once paired, students will be provided with the name of their mentor.  Before arriving on campus, students will receive an introduction email from their mentor and will have an opportunity to meet with their mentor at the Honors College Cookout on day 2 of Pack Premiere.

    Throughout the academic year, there will be many opportunities for students to engage with their mentoring group through small group meetings and other Honors College meetings and events.  We hope this program will allow students the opportunity to ask questions, meet new friends, get involved, build connections, and start to become part of the Honors College community of scholars.   

Peer Mentoring Groups 2018-2019

Listed below are descriptions of the Honors College Peer Mentoring Groups for the 2018-2019 Academic year.  The Mentors are listed by theme names.

Gillian Barber
WOLVES, WARGS, & WIZZARDS

Gillian Barber, Biology Major

If you are interested in Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, or Game of Thrones, then this is the group for you. These common interests will serve as a backdrop to our discussions on navigating UWG and tailoring a unique college experience with lifelong friends and fellow nerds. As your mentor, I hope to provide support you need during your first year of college as well as give you access to like-minded peers. I am a junior biology major and I hope to work in a genetics laboratory after graduation.


Amber Tatham Smith

THE MOVERS & SHAKERS

Amber Tatham Smith, Biology & Philosophy Major 

In this group we will work to create meaningful connections by joining together to move our bodies and cultivate a supportive community. I am pursuing a biology major and a philosophy minor and look forward to mentoring students who are interested in both the sciences and the arts. Studying the mind and body has taught me that the connection between the two is our secret weapon! Through activities such as biking, hiking, yoga, or walking our beautiful campus, we can discover a host of benefits to help us connect to ourselves, others, and our goals.

Sophia Sutcavage

THE HARMONIC SCHOLARS 

Sophia Sutcavage, Pre-Nursing Major

Hi! My name is Sophie, and I am a pre-nursing major. I chose to make this group about music because I feel that music can connect people. I hope that we can connect by sharing different bands or songs that we like, and hopefully you will discover a new genre or artist that you like to listen to. I look forward to helping you throughout your first year at UWG, and I can’t wait to meet you and get to know you!

 

James Harris

THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

James Harris, Chemistry Major

My name is James Walker Harris, and I am a sophomore Chemistry Major. I am a chemistry workshop leader, ACS Board member, and research assistant in the Chemistry Department. My group is focused on finding opportunities to have the best academic experience at UWG. Topics such as finding research opportunities, joining clubs related to our scientific fields, and learning about available resources will be the primary focus of this group.

 

Tinaye Gibbons

INTO THE MYTHOS

 Tinaye Gibbons, History Major

My name is Tinaye and I’m a current history major with a minor in gender and sexualities. My group will be focused on history with an emphasis on the social narrative such as myths and folktales. We will also be working on connecting with teachers and your peers. If you are planning on majoring in history or other fields in Humanities, this is a good group to join

Tatum Tozzo

THE POTTERHEADS

Tatum Tozzo, Psychology Major

My name is Tatum Tozzo and I am a Psychology major, minoring in Criminology and Philosophy. I am wanting to be a psychologist for those with mental illnesses, and I would eventually like to be a college professor, while still being a psychologist. I would like to be a volunteer counselor and to help those in the prison systems. I would like to spread suicide awareness and interview a serial killer. I have done research as well as studied abroad in Australia from February to June. This group might be good for you if you are in love with Harry Potter. I am a Ravenclaw and did not get my Hogwarts letter until last semester. Even though I am a Ravenclaw, I would love to be a mentor of a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin! You do not need a sorting hat to be in my group and enjoy a magical experience made for witches and wizards.

Larissa McPherson

PABLO’S PICASSOS

Larissa McPherson, Speech- Language Pathology & Studio Art Majors

 My name is Larissa McPherson, and I am a Speech-Language Pathology major and a Studio Art minor. I love painting and exploring different art forms and styles, and learning about different artists. This group is for those who are creatively inclined and seek to apply that creativity to their area of study.

Emily Miles

THE MIGHTY-CHONDRIAS

Emily Miles, Biology Major

My name is Emily Miles, and I am a junior majoring in biology with a minor in business administration. I hope to become a large animal veterinarian and run my own practice one day. I love animals, painting, Star Wars, working out, and playing sports. I am really passionate about biology and love being involved at UWG! This group is for people who are considering becoming a biology major or who already know they want to join the dark side!

 

Ashton Hendricks

FAUNA AND FLORA 

Ashton Hendricks, Biology Major

Fauna- animal life. Flora- plant life. What do they have in common? Nature! I love being outdoors and if you do too, then this is the group for you. I am Biology major with a minor in Spanish. I am pursuing a career in the medical field and trying to learn the Spanish language. Are you trying to learn a language? Wondering how to prepare for programs after undergrad? Do you love biology? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Wanting to study abroad? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, come join the Fauna and Flora group.


Lindsey Ellis
THE TRANSFORMERS 
 
Lindsey Ellis, Early Childhood Education Major 
 
Hi, I'm Lindsey, and I am an Early Childhood Education major. I chose this field because I love working with children, and I look forward to helping to make a difference in their lives. I also look forward to serving as your mentor over the next academic year as we stay connected and build friendships. If you enjoy action packed movies such as "Transformers" and watching Netflix shows, especially those that make you laugh out loud like "The Office" or "Parks and Recreation," then you may be particularly interested in this group. More importantly, this group will focus on learning how to become leaders, whether in the classroom or in your respective fields, and how to utilize resources to help shape your educational experience at UWG.

  • Gillian Barber

    WOLVES, WARGS, & WIZZARDS

    Gillian Barber, Biology Major

    If you are interested in Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, or Game of Thrones, then this is the group for you. These common interests will serve as a backdrop to our discussions on navigating UWG and tailoring a unique college experience with lifelong friends and fellow nerds. As your mentor, I hope to provide support you need during your first year of college as well as give you access to like-minded peers. I am a junior biology major and I hope to work in a genetics laboratory after graduation.



  • Amber Tatham Smith

    THE MOVERS & SHAKERS

    Amber Tatham Smith, Biology & Philosophy Major 

    In this group we will work to create meaningful connections by joining together to move our bodies and cultivate a supportive community. I am pursuing a biology major and a philosophy minor and look forward to mentoring students who are interested in both the sciences and the arts. Studying the mind and body has taught me that the connection between the two is our secret weapon! Through activities such as biking, hiking, yoga, or walking our beautiful campus, we can discover a host of benefits to help us connect to ourselves, others, and our goals.



  • Sophia Sutcavage

    THE HARMONIC SCHOLARS 

    Sophia Sutcavage, Pre-Nursing Major

    Hi! My name is Sophie, and I am a pre-nursing major. I chose to make this group about music because I feel that music can connect people. I hope that we can connect by sharing different bands or songs that we like, and hopefully you will discover a new genre or artist that you like to listen to. I look forward to helping you throughout your first year at UWG, and I can’t wait to meet you and get to know you!

     


  • James Harris

    THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

    James Harris, Chemistry Major

    My name is James Walker Harris, and I am a sophomore Chemistry Major. I am a chemistry workshop leader, ACS Board member, and research assistant in the Chemistry Department. My group is focused on finding opportunities to have the best academic experience at UWG. Topics such as finding research opportunities, joining clubs related to our scientific fields, and learning about available resources will be the primary focus of this group.

     


  • Tinaye Gibbons

    INTO THE MYTHOS

     Tinaye Gibbons, History Major

    My name is Tinaye and I’m a current history major with a minor in gender and sexualities. My group will be focused on history with an emphasis on the social narrative such as myths and folktales. We will also be working on connecting with teachers and your peers. If you are planning on majoring in history or other fields in Humanities, this is a good group to join



  • Tatum Tozzo

    THE POTTERHEADS

    Tatum Tozzo, Psychology Major

    My name is Tatum Tozzo and I am a Psychology major, minoring in Criminology and Philosophy. I am wanting to be a psychologist for those with mental illnesses, and I would eventually like to be a college professor, while still being a psychologist. I would like to be a volunteer counselor and to help those in the prison systems. I would like to spread suicide awareness and interview a serial killer. I have done research as well as studied abroad in Australia from February to June. This group might be good for you if you are in love with Harry Potter. I am a Ravenclaw and did not get my Hogwarts letter until last semester. Even though I am a Ravenclaw, I would love to be a mentor of a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin! You do not need a sorting hat to be in my group and enjoy a magical experience made for witches and wizards.



  • Larissa McPherson

    PABLO’S PICASSOS

    Larissa McPherson, Speech- Language Pathology & Studio Art Majors

     My name is Larissa McPherson, and I am a Speech-Language Pathology major and a Studio Art minor. I love painting and exploring different art forms and styles, and learning about different artists. This group is for those who are creatively inclined and seek to apply that creativity to their area of study.



  • Emily Miles

    THE MIGHTY-CHONDRIAS

    Emily Miles, Biology Major

    My name is Emily Miles, and I am a junior majoring in biology with a minor in business administration. I hope to become a large animal veterinarian and run my own practice one day. I love animals, painting, Star Wars, working out, and playing sports. I am really passionate about biology and love being involved at UWG! This group is for people who are considering becoming a biology major or who already know they want to join the dark side!

     


  • Ashton Hendricks

    FAUNA AND FLORA 

    Ashton Hendricks, Biology Major

    Fauna- animal life. Flora- plant life. What do they have in common? Nature! I love being outdoors and if you do too, then this is the group for you. I am Biology major with a minor in Spanish. I am pursuing a career in the medical field and trying to learn the Spanish language. Are you trying to learn a language? Wondering how to prepare for programs after undergrad? Do you love biology? Do you enjoy being outdoors? Wanting to study abroad? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, come join the Fauna and Flora group.



  • Lindsey Ellis

    THE TRANSFORMERS 
     
    Lindsey Ellis, Early Childhood Education Major 
     
    Hi, I'm Lindsey, and I am an Early Childhood Education major. I chose this field because I love working with children, and I look forward to helping to make a difference in their lives. I also look forward to serving as your mentor over the next academic year as we stay connected and build friendships. If you enjoy action packed movies such as "Transformers" and watching Netflix shows, especially those that make you laugh out loud like "The Office" or "Parks and Recreation," then you may be particularly interested in this group. More importantly, this group will focus on learning how to become leaders, whether in the classroom or in your respective fields, and how to utilize resources to help shape your educational experience at UWG.