What is the First-Year Peer Mentoring Program?
The first year of college can be an overwhelming transition for incoming students as they adjust to a new living space, meet new people, and create new routines away from home. The First-Year Peer Mentoring Program was created to assist first-year students with their academic and personal transition to college. Each section of SEM 100 (first-year seminar) is assigned a mentor who will attend class twice a week and interact as directed by the course instructor. Mentors serve as a peer support resource in the classroom as well as through one-on-one meetings outside of the classroom.
FIRST-YEAR MENTORING
Assisting first-year students with their
academic and personal transition to college
Who are the Peer Mentors?
Peer Mentors are successful 2nd, 3rd, or 4th students who have participated in training to assist students in a variety of ways. Peer Mentors know the resources available to students on campus and can help students find the support they need to be successful. Mentors serve as role models to first-year students throughout the full academic year.
What topics should I discuss with my Peer Mentor?
Mentoring relationships can take many different forms and the benefits vary from relationship to relationship. Here are some examples of topics mentors have discussed with mentees:
- Transitioning to Wartburg
- Time Management
- Roommate concerns
- Specific Wartburg resources and referrals
- How to get involved and connected on campus
- Career Exploration/Major Resources
- Goal setting
- Stress reduction and motivation
- Navigating new friendships
- Studying and test-preparation techniques
- Connecting with their academic advisor
- And much, much more!
Amy Tucker '10
Assistant Director for Career & Alumni Engagement
Peer Mentors
Madison Abels ’25
St. Peter, Minn.
Major: Psychology
Minors: Sociology and Leadership
Madeline Bechtel ’27
Waverly, Iowa
Major: Business Administration (marketing and supply chain management)
Minors: Social Justice and Leadership
Lexi Cahoy ’27
Sumner, Iowa
Major: Elementary Education (science, middle school, and reading)
Juliana Cimral ’25
West Linn, Ore.
Majors: Elementary Education and Psychology
Eleigh Davis ’27
Monroe, Iowa
Major: Social Work
Bailee Dawson ’26
West Des Moines, Iowa
Majors: Biology and Neuroscience
Minors: Spanish and Psychology
Susana Gonzalez ’26
Charles City, Iowa
Major: Music Therapy
Minor: Spanish
Kate Heithoff ’26
Harlan, Iowa
Major: Elementary Education
Alexander Hilgerson ’25
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
Majors: Biology & Sociology/Criminology
Minor: Leadership
Landon Jepson ’27
Williamsburg, Iowa
Major: Journalism & Communication (sports media, multimedia journalism, and public relations)
Maddie Kuper ’27
Jesup, Iowa
Major: Psychology
Tiffany Michels ’26
Spring Grove, Minn.
Major: Computer Science
Minors: Math, Data Analytics
Vanessa Nehmzow ’26
Rockford, Ill.
Majors: Social Work and Religion
Minor: Spanish
Nicholas Raine ’27
Anamosa, Iowa
Majors: Music Education and Vocal Performance
Hayleigh Ries ’27
Dyersville, Iowa
Majors: Secondary Education (all sciences) and Biology
Cadance Schroer ’27
Grundy Center, Iowa
Majors: Biology, Spanish, and Education (all science)
Louise Shabani ’25
Iowa City, Iowa
Major: Elementary Education
Ashley Stapley ’26
Brisbane, Australia
Majors: English and Education
Vanessa Victoria ’27
Ottumwa, Iowa
Major: Elementary Education