The Advising Center of the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship sponsors the International Student Success Peer Mentor program to assist the incoming first year and transfer international students of the College and Maxwell with successful transitioning to Syracuse University. The unit of International Student Success within the Advising Center matches current student with incoming student to create a supportive community.

Contact

Ling Gao LeBeau, Ph.D.
Director of International Student Success
315.443.2970
lglebeau@syr.edu
310 Hall of Languages
Syracuse, NY 13244-1170
Syracuse University

Alejandra Garcia Calderon

Class: 2026

Majors: Illustration (VPA) and International Relations

Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia

Languages: Spanish and English

Hi! Welcome to Syracuse University. My name is Alejandra García Calderón, I'm currently a sophomore double majoring in Illustration and International Relations. I am very excited to be part of the peer mentor program for international students. I'll be here to help and provide support to new students, to make their transition to Syracuse University go as smoothly and fun as possible.

Jialiang Chen

Class of 2026

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Hong Kong

Languages: English and Chinese

Hello and Welcome to Syracuse! My name is Jialiang but you can call me Leon. I am a rising sophomore and I recently changed my major from Economics to Computer Science. I am very excited to be a peer mentor this upcoming semester and to assist the new incoming international students. Hope I can help them transition to SU and be friends too!

Ivonne Millan

School Year: 2025

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Colombia and Randolph, NJ

Languages: Spanish and English

Welcome to Syracuse University, Go Orange🍊! I am Ivonne, a rising Junior at Syracuse's College of Arts & Sciences, majoring in Psychology. On campus I am involved as a Resident Advisor for Watson Hall's Upper-class Multicultural Living Learning Community, and work part-time as a Research Assistant for Falk College School of Social Work. I am also a Board Member for campus organizations like Orange After Dark and University Union. In my free time I enjoy all kinds of movies, art, and music. I am looking forward to guiding my mentees in succeeding academically, developing their personal and professional interests, with the goal of finding their home away from home at Syracuse University.

Xiaoyi Lu

Class of 2025

Major: Mathematics

Minor: Data Analysis

Hometown: Shanghai, China

Language: English, Chinese

Hi, everyone! Welcome to SU! I am Xiaoyi Lu, you can also call me Jason. As a peer mentor, I will do my best to help you with the problems you are experiencing. Please do not feel shy to ask me any questions or help. Don't worry too much, everything will go as it should. Can't wait to meet you all soon.

Henry Li

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Class of 2025

Major: International relations and policy studies

Hometown: China

Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English

Hello everyone! My name is Henry, and I am so excited to be a Peer Mentor this year and I cannot wait to meet with my mentees! I am a junior majoring in international relations and policy studies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and I am also a member of the Renée Crown Honors Program. I am also involved in duties like peer leader and resident advisor. As a peer mentor, I will be accompanying you guys with your first semester college-life transition.

Alexis Bailin

Class of 2024

Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia

Hello! My name is Alexis Bailin and I am majoring in Neuroscience and Biology on the Pre-Medical track here at Syracuse University. Along my journey of preparing for medical school, I am working as a research assistant in a lab while obtaining my EMT certification. However, while I am dedicated to my studies, I have many other activities I am interested in. I am involved in Greek Life on campus, I volunteer at my local animal shelter, and I am involved in many clubs on campus. Given adjusting to a new college campus can be quite detrimental on student’s mental health, I wanted to become a peer mentor to help students achieve academical excellence while also prioritizing their mental health. With that said, I look forward to working in this Peer Mentor program!

Grace Engel

Hi everyone, and welcome to SU! My name is Grace Engel and I’m a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology on the Pre-Med track. At SU I’m involved in several academic clubs like Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society, as well as the Women’s Club Volleyball team. I have interests in sports, the outdoors, and trying new things! I’m so excited get to know you all and support you in any way that I can through your first year. Always feel free to reach out!

Abby Gioffre

Class: 2025

Major: International Relations

Minor: Information Management and Technology

Hometown: Ridgefield, CT

Hi and welcome to Syracuse! My name is Abby Gioffre and I am a rising junior studying International Relations with a minor in Information Management and Technology. I am very excited to be your peer mentor this year and to support you through your transition into Syracuse!

Grace Fong

Hello and congrats on your commitment to Syracuse University! My name is Grace and I am a sophomore studying English and Political Science. I am a part of the badminton team, ASIA club, and Wellslink Leadership Club. I love everything about Syracuse University, and I am excited to provide you with an easy transition from high school life to college life. I am so excited to meet you all!

Zhuoyao Deng (Catherine)

Class of 2025

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Beijing, China

Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English, Korean (Conversational)

Greetings! My name is Catherine, a rising junior majoring in Psychology. It is a pleasure to serve as Peer Mentor and excited to meet you! I have studied in China, South Korea, and here in the United States, multicultural experience allowed me to develop adaptability to different cultural environments, and as such it allowed me to reach the level of expectation during college transitions in Freshman year. College transition is still different. Been there, done that, therefore hoping to support y’all undergo this stage and provide a sense of home.

Hao Chen

Class of 2024

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Chongqing, China

Hi! Welcome to the big family of Syracuse University! My name is Hao Chen, a rising senior who is majoring in Psychology. I am also good at playing badminton, singing and using PR to edit videos. I am very happy to help you in your first year at SU, and don’t hesitate to contact me! If this is your first time to come to the U.S, and if you meet some problems, don’t be sad and anxious, because it is normal for most international students and I experienced such problems as well in my first year. I am looking forward to seeing you in August!

Chenyiwei Fu

My name is Chenyiwei Fu. I am a SU class of 2026 student, majoring in psychology, and also very interested in the field of neuroscience. I'm looking forward to spend your first semester with you as a peer mentor. In addition, I am very good at communicating with peers and answering questions not merely limited to academics and campus, if there are any daily hobbies or interesting things, I am also very willing for you to share with me. Can't wait to see you guys soon!

Ines Harouchi

Class of 2026

Major: Economics BS and Data Analytics BS

Minor: Psychology

Hometown: Casablanca, Morocco

Welcome everyone! My name is Ines and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Economics and Applied Data Analytics. I am an 1870 Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown Honors Program. I am a member of the ESA and a volunteer with SUITE through the Shaw Center. I can’t wait to meet everyone next year and work closely with you to ensure a smooth transition to SU! I hope you all love it here:)

Yiqi Rong

Class of 2026

Major: Psychology

Hello Guys! My name is Yiqi Rong, but I also go by Richard. I am from Jiangsu, China and I am studying Psychology. I can understand the difficulties you may face soon and I will do my best to let you guys be involved in school activities and enjoy school life. It took me a long time to get used to many things and find friends who shared my interest. Now I have the chance to share all these with you guys. I will do my best to help people solve problems and hope that we can improve together.

Min Jin

Majors: Psychology

Hometown: Ningbo, China

Languages: English, Chinese, some German

Hello, and welcome to Syracuse University! My name is Min and I am a junior studying Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am excited to have the opportunity to assist incoming students in their transition to SU, and hope to be both a friend and a helpful resource. I wish you the best of luck and please feel free to reach out anytime!

Leona Wang

School year: Sophomore

Major: Electric Engineering

Hometown: Hefei, China

Hi All,

I’m Zhihan Wang, and you can just call me Leona!

As a peer mentor, I will share with you what I have learned in Syracuse over the past year. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I will do everything I can to help you transition to college life!

Jinru (Judy) Zhou

School Year: Sophomore

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Liaoning, China

Language: English, Chinese

Hi, this is Jinru but you can also call me Judy. I'm a sophomore majoring in psychology. I am very interested in getting to know you all and helping you adjust better to life at Syracuse University. As an international student, I understand how challenging it is for international students to travel abroad and live on their own, but you are fortunate to have a variety of resources available to you to support you. You are welcome to come and ask me any questions; I will be pleased to answer them. Looking forward to meeting you on campus!

Wenxiao Teng

School Year: Junior

Major: History

Hometown: Guangzhou, China

Languages: Chinese, English, and some Russian

I'm Teng. Welcome to SU! I'm honored and very excited to be your mentor. I hope to work closely with you and prepare you for a successful academic career at SU! I wish you the best of luck and please feel free to reach out whenever you need.

Yougang Xue

Class of 2026

Major: Biomedical engineering

Languages: English and Mandarin

Hi, my name is Yougang and you can also call me Michael. I am really excited to work with all the new international students in the process of fitting into the Syracuse University family. I was born and raised in Kunming, Yunnan which is a beautiful city in the southwest region of China. As such, I myself am an international student and I am confident that I can aid the new student when needed. I am also looking forward to learning from the new students especially in the aspect of communication.

Rehema “Rey” Kirby-Zullu

Class of 2024

Hello, my name is Rey Kirby-Zullu. I am a rising senior majoring in International Relations with a minor in Sociology. I have very much enjoyed my first three years at Syracuse and hope to help you make a smooth transition in college as well. I am so excited to meet you!

Kemi Kairuki

Hi! I’m Kemi, a senior majoring in Chemistry, Forensic Science, and Psychology. I’ve lived in Tanzania and China and explored many countries; these experiences have made me passionate about cultural exchange and global understanding. As an international student, I understand the challenges of adjusting to new academic environments, cultural differences, and language barriers. My goal is to provide guidance, support, and a sense of community for my mentees. I believe that mentorship has the ability to foster personal growth and academic success. Whether it’s offering guidance on course selection, time management strategies, or simply being a listening ear, I am dedicated to helping my mentees thrive and ensuring they feel welcome, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.

Yong Yan (Cindy) Chan-Wu

Class: 2025

Major: Biotechnology

Minor: Business & Chinese

Hometown: Puerto Rico

Hello everyone & welcome to SU! My name is Yong Yan, but everybody calls me Cindy. I can speak Spanish and a moderate amount of Mandarin and Cantonese. As you can see in the photo, I'm always down to grab food and love to try new things. I understand that change can be challenging and frightening at times, but this will also open up new opportunities for you! As part of the Peer Mentor Program, I am thrilled to serve as a guide that will facilitate and make your experience here a wonderful journey!

Shaochen Sun

School Year: 2024

Major: International Relations, Pre-Law

Home town: Langfang, China

Languages: Chinese, English and Spanish.

Hi, it's lucky to see you in SU! I know it's going to be a hard battle on your first time here, but I am sure you will enjoy your journey here. Let me know if you need anything from me and I will be more than glad to help you!

Yida He

Hi! My name is Yida; call me E. I am a rising sophomore majoring in International Relations and minoring in Linguistic Studies. I am happy to work with you and be friends with you. Transitioning to college isn’t easy, but please remember we are all here to support you. Welcome to SU! And Go Orange!

Zimasa Vezi

Class: 2026

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Durban, South Africa

Hi there! I am incredibly grateful and excited to serve as a peer mentor this year. Being an intentional student is such a unique experience and I cannot wait to meet my mentees and support them on their journeys!

Chun Yat Oscar Sin

Hello! I'm Oscar Sin, a rising junior at Maxwell School studying international relations. My goal is to assist freshmen from abroad in integrating into American university life. As a member of the Class of 2025, I understand the challenges they face. Fluent in Chinese, English, and Cantonese, I can effectively communicate with students from diverse backgrounds. I believe in the power of community and aim to provide guidance, support, and a friendly face to freshmen, helping them navigate resources, cultural nuances, and social opportunities. Let's create an inclusive and thriving university community at SU.

Haitian Wang

School Year: Sophomore

Major: Finance

School: Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Hometown: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

Languages: Chinese, English, Spanish

"Hello, I'm Haitian Wang, a Sophomore studying Finance at Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Excited to be your peer mentor, I look forward to sharing my experiences from studying abroad and navigating my way in a new country. With a background in asset management and import/export companies in China, I bring a global perspective to our discussions. I enjoy debating, hosting board game sessions, and learning about different cultures. Please feel free to reach out anytime with your questions or concerns. Welcome to Syracuse University!"

Honglei Wang

School Year: Senior

Major: Psychology and Economics

Hometown: Nanjing, China

Languages: Chinese, English

I am an international student from China and will graduate in spring 2024. I study psychology and economics. I am very excited to help you guys so feel free to ask me any questions regarding living and academics. Welcome to Syracuse University and I hope you have a good time!

Yuhan Wang

Welcome to SU! My name is Yuhan, a rising sophomore. I major in Economics at Maxwell and try to minor in applied data analytics at i-School. I come from Shanghai, China. I can't wait to meet y'all and help the transition to college lives! I wish you the best of luck and feel free to reach out to me for any questions!

Chenglu Jiang

Class of 2025

Major: International Relations

Minor: Economics

Hello everyone! My name is Chenglu Jiang and I am a junior majoring in International Relations and minoring in Economics. It is my honor to be a peer mentor this semester. When I was a freshman, I got a lot of help from the mentor program. My mentor helps me to adapt to Syracuse University. Thus, in the next semester, I hope I could also help more freshmen to make good connections in the school.

Jacob Leisawitz
Class of 2024
Majors: Biochemistry and Neuroscience
Hometown: Monroe, Connecticut

Hello! My name is Jacob Leisawitz, I am a sophomore at SU majoring in Biochemistry and Neuroscience on a Pre-Medical track. Since my first year of college was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am aware of many of the challenges that come with adjusting to college life. I have established a supportive community around me at SU that has helped me to succeed so far, and I want to help other students do the same. I participated in a similar mentorship style program in my first year, where I learned the value of a peer mentor. I look forward to being able to take the support I have received and pay it forward to my peers.

Mariya Tazi
School Year: 2024
Home town: New Milford, CT
Languages: English, Arabic, Darija, & a little bit of French

Hello!! I'm Mariya Tazi, I'm looking forward to being a mentor and resource for International Students on campus to reach out to for any help. I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience on a pre-med track. There can be challenges and questions when transitioning into college and being a mentor is giving me a great opportunity to help others to make the transition easier! I am here to help lead students into having a successful and great experience at SU! I am very excited to be a part of the journey!

Simeng Zhao
School year: Junior
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Selected Studies in Education & Psychology
Hometown: Shenzhen, China
Languages: Mandarin, English, and a little Japanese

Hi friends, my name is Simeng “Maggie” Zhao. We all know that it is extremely critical for new students to survive their first year of college. As a peer mentor, I am here to help you to succeed and feel more connected to Syracuse University. I am happy to help in any way I can and I hope you all have an amazing time here at SU!

Jessica Yu
School Year: Sophomore
Major: Television, Radio and Film
Language: Chinese (Mandarin), English

Welcome to Syracuse University. I am Yan(Jessica) Yu, a sophomore who is majoring TRF, Newhouse. From my personal opinion, the International Student Success Peer Mentor Program could really be helpful, because I have benefited a lot from it myself when I was a mentee. I am really excited to be a part of the program this semester, and I'm confident we're going to have the best time ever. Can’t wait to meet you guys, feel free to reach out anytime!

Jacqueline Murrer
Senior
Major: International Relations
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Oxford, NY
English, Spanish

I am passionate about learning about other cultures, leadership, and encouraging others to succeed. I am so excited to help students get acquainted with life at Syracuse University, and help them reach their full potential!

Jinglei Xu
School Year: Sophomore
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Guangdong, China
Languages you can speak: Mandarin, Cantonese, English

I was really nervous before I came to Syracuse because I did not know what to expect. Now I have experienced it and I understand how new students feel before they move in. I want to help freshmen transition into college, so they do not stress much as I did.

Rasim Salimov

Hi, my name is Rasim Salimov, and I am currently a rising junior at Syracuse University. I’m majoring in economics and I have recently added philosophy as my second major. My home country is Azerbaijan, and I have been living in the U.S for the past five years. I can speak English, Russian, Azerbaijani and a little bit of Turkish. I chose to become a peer mentor because I myself have struggled with getting used to a new environment, and I want to make this process easier for new students.

Luyue Wang
School Year: Sophomore
Major, Minor: Illustration
Hometown: China
Languages: Mandarin, English

I am a storyteller and a story collector who enjoys getting to know different people and listen to their stories. With the opportunity of being a peer mentor, I hope that not only will I be able to listen to mentees' stories, but that I will also help them to create wonderful stories in their college life.

Jinyu (Alex) Tian

Hi, I’m Jinyu (Alex) Tian. Currently studying economics as a sophomore in CAS. I’m from Shandong province, but I spend half of my time in Beijing. I can speak Mandarin and English, and a less-fluent Japanese. I consider myself an extrovert and fun to be with. Being a peer mentor allows me to meet with both new and current students at SU. Hanging out with you will be a great adventure.

Xinyue Mao
School Year: Junior
Major: Mathematics
Minor: Accounting
Hometown: Fuzhou, China
Languages: English & Chinese

As an international student, I understand the difficulties international students face. I want to help them surmount those difficulties and achieve their goals in SU.

Teresa Buzzoni
Sophomore
International relations, public relations with a minor in geography
Hillsborough, NJ
Some French and Spanish

I am so excited to be a peer mentor this year because I hope to help students during their transition into the Syracuse community. I believe that small acts amount to a better collective good, so helping new students is a responsibility that I am excited and honored to hold.

Yao Lu
School Year: Second year
Major: Economics; Minor: Business management
Hometown: Suzhou, China
Languages: Mandarin (native), English

Hi, this is Yao Lu. I am happy to be a peer mentor for this semester in Arts & Sciences. I’m majoring in economics with a minor in business management, but I have a huge interest in other subjects like psychology and art history. One year ago, I came to Syracuse University as a new student like you. At that time, I felt excited and nervous about my future college life. There were too many questions and I got a peer mentor to help me with them. I am now in my sophomore year. I hope I can use my experiences to help new students have a great beginning to their college life.

Tianqi Yao
School Year: Spring 2021
Major: Mathematics, economics
Minor: Computer science
Hometown: Zhejiang, China
Languages: English and Mandarin

This is my first time being a peer mentor. But I’ve been an orientation leader for the past year and enjoyed helping new students to get to know the Orange Family! Being an SU student is exciting. There are many new things to do and enjoy. However, in my own experience, doing and learning all those things as a freshman can be stressful, even overwhelming at times. That’s why I want to become a peer mentor. I wish to help you make your first year smooth and enjoyable!

Xintong Yu
School Year: 2023
Major, Minor: Undecided
Hometown: Urumqi, Xinjiang
Languages: Mandarin, English, a little French

My name is Xintong and I am currently in the College of Arts and Sciences as an undecided student. I like painting, drawing, traveling,…etc. I like to try different things and meet more friends with different perspectives. The reasons why I want to become a peer mentor are meeting more people and helping other freshmen with any problems they might have. Hope we can all learn together!

Kirsten Riley
Class of 2023
Economics and Environmental Sustainability and Policy major, with a minor in math
Accokeek, MD
Language: English

I want to build strong relationships with mentees who were once in my shoes to ensure they have the best experience at Syracuse and watch them grow on their journey through college.

Kaicheng (Irene) Deng
School year: 2022
Major: Finance
Minor: Data analytics
Hometown: Zhengzhou, China
Languages: Mandarin, English, conversational Korean

I wanted to become more culturally competent and learn about different cultures. I also wanted to help people make the transition to university life and life in the United States a little easier. This program is the perfect opportunity to help others while also improving my own perspective on the world.

Yan Luo
School Year: Junior
Majors: International relations & economics
Hometown: Chong Qing, China
Languages: English and Chinese

I always believe in the motto of SU: “Knowledge crowns those who seek her.” I love to help people on their way to success.

Minyu Chen

I am Minyu Chen. I am a rising junior, double majoring in economics and policy studies. I am also minoring in Data Analytics. I am from Shanghai, China. I speak Mandarin and English. I am really glad to be a mentor because I would like to help new students adapt quickly to college life. Go Orange!

Zhuoqi Tong

Hello! My name is Zhuoqi Tong, and you can also call me "Chi Chi." I'm a junior double majoring in applied mathematics and bioengineering as well as minoring in computer science. My hometown is Xuzhou, China, and I can speak Mandarin and English fluently. I also know some French and Japanese. I'm a very ambitious student, and I'm involved with SU Orchestra and BMES on campus. I've always wanted to find opportunities to give back to the campus community, and I thought becoming a mentor would be a good fit since I want to get my Ph.D. and become a professor. As an immigrant, I understand the hardships that international students experience, and I would like to be able to help them.

Lexin Lu
School Year: Senior
Major: Economics
Minor: Applied statistics
Hometown: Chengdu, China
Languages: Mandarin, English

It would be my great pleasure to offer assistance on your way of crowning yourself with knowledge. Enjoy when you can and endure when you must!

Sarah Un

Junior
Economics with a minor in Business
Hometown: Macao, China

My name is Sarah and I am a Junior studying Economics. I know that there are additional challenges that international students may face during the transition to college life. I hope that I could act as an additional resource for you to use in order to address those challenges. Best of luck at SU!!!

Marwa M Abderabbah

Class of 2024
Rising Sophomore
Major: Psychology on pre-dental track
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Language: English, Arabic

Hello, my name is Marwa Abedrabbah and I am a rising sophomore at Syracuse University. I am currently majoring in Psychology on the pre-dental track. My home country is Palestine, but I’ve spent most of my life here in Syracuse, NY. I can speak English and fluent Arabic. I am very excited to be chosen as a peer mentor for the Fall 2021 semester. I’ve always been passionate about helping others and taking on leadership positions, this will provide me with the opportunity to do both! I am looking forward to yet another great semester at SU with new international students whom I can help with their transition to Syracuse University, and guarantee an educational and fun experience at SU.

Francis B. Tang

Class of 2023
Majors: Political Science / International Relations / Philosophy
Minor: Japanese Studies
Languages: English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, a little bit Latin

I’m looking forward to connecting with our incoming students, providing the best support as I can.

Ziyu Huang

School Year: Senior
Major: Accounting & Supply Chain Management
Minor: Economic
Hometown: Jiaxing (Zhejiang Province), China
Language: Chinese (Mandarin), English

Welcome to SU! This is Ziyu Huang, I believe there will be tons of issues you will face in the first year of college, but I'm here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out when you have questions! 2021 will be my fourth year in SU, there are many interesting stuff I would love to share with you to help you adopt new environment.😊 Go Orange!

Sythong Run (see-tong)

Pronouns: She/They
Class of 2024
Majors: Public Health & Environment Sustainability and Policy
Hometown: Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia
Languages: Khmer & English

I was lucky to have a roommate who helped me settle in college and adjust to life here during such chaotic times. I want to pay it forward by becoming a peer mentor. I hope I can as be great of a friend as my current roommate. I am excited to work, grow, and learn with you and be a friend to you!

Qianqian Zhao

School year: 2024
Hometown: Zhejiang, China
Languages: English and Mandarin

Hi, I’m Qianqian (Tiffany) Zhao. I am so excited to be a peer mentor this year! When I was a freshman at SU, I found this peer mentoring program extremely helpful. My peer mentor helped me a lot when I met difficulties. I hope I can use my experiences to help new international students as well. Best wishes!

Jeffrey L. Hoffman II

Hello! My name is Jeff and I am a rising junior studying international relations and communications. I have a passion for foreign language, human rights and exploring and learning about other cultures. I myself am from Boston, MA and I studied abroad my first semester in Strasbourg, France. Next year I will be studying law and international organizations in Spain and France, and I cannot wait to explore other cultures and use my language abilities. I want to make sure every student feels comfortable and enjoys their time here on campus and I hope I can help make that happen!

Ziwei (Max) Zhao

Class of 2024
Majors & Minor: Economics & Policy Studies, minoring in finance
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Languages: English, Mandarin

I’m really happy to have this position this year! Being a freshman is so stressful, and I want to make my mentees’ first year as smooth as possible! I’m excited to get to know people from all different cultures, and help them in their transition to SU!

Simone Bellot

Class of 2023
Majors: Communication Sciences & Disorders and Neuroscience
Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas

As an international student myself, I am invested in making the international student experience at Syracuse University as enjoyable as possible. I am so excited to meet with my peers and help them to achieve their goals throughout their undergraduate career.

Younghyoun (Brian) Jung

Senior
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Cheonan, South Korea
Languages: Korean, English

I am highly excited to meet the mentees and looking forward to build some strong connections within the groups. I will put my full dedication on helping mentees with some problems or solve some curiosities that new students might have as they settle down to the new environment.

Ulla Alli

School Year: Sophomore
Major(s), Minor(s): International Relations and French and Francophone Studies, Arabic and Political Science
Languages: English, Arabic, and French

I'm so excited and honored to be a peer mentor for the Fall 2021 semester! I hope to guide students through their first semester at SU and help them experience a smooth transition into the SU community.

Ava Hu

I am a sophomore studying broadcast journalism and marketing. I come from Beijing, China, growing up with Peking ducks. I have a three-year-old cat and a 14-year-old sister, but I like the former better. I start reporting seven years ago, covering news from local delivery men to Biden’s election. I am a smarter writer in Mandarin than I am in English. From hundreds of articles I wrote, more than millions of people have read my words.

Xinyi You

Class of 2024
Major: Psychology
Language: English & Mandarin Chinese

I am very glad to be a peer mentor this year! I hope I can help you as much as possible to get used to life and academics in Syracuse. Hopefully, we can become friends through this program.

Heaven L. Vega

As a new student, I know that it is hard during these very difficult times . I personally know that deciding to dorm in a university, far from home, is a difficult decision. When I decided to come here, I had my doubts at first. However, I soon realized that it is possible to be academically successful, while still being active, in order to have a great college experience if you make positive choices and reach out to others. I know that not everyone will know how to take these steps; so I would like to be that person to reach out to them and show them how.

Ciara Young

Sophomore
Major: International Relations
Hometown: Liverpool, NY
Languages: English (native), Spanish and Korean

I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a peer mentor this fall and am excited to meet and exchange experiences with the incoming mentees. As I pursue my goals to facilitate intercultural exchange and aid others on a larger scale as I enter the professional world, I hope to help them fulfill their own greatest potential and goals on this campus, as others have helped me, and to create great memories in the process!

Olivia DeMarco

School year: Sophomore, rising Junior
Major: Political Science Minors: Global Security Studies & Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Hometown: Bernardsville, New Jersey

Hi! Transitioning to college life was challenging, but I am eager to help make the adjustment to being a part of the Syracuse University community easier! I am excited to meet the mentees and I cannot wait to be a guide, resource, and friend to you all!

Elizabeth Davis

I am so excited to work as a peer mentor and help as many international students feel as comfortable as they can! I want to use my experience here to help the new students with the transition for them to succeed and enjoy their time at Syracuse both inside and outside of the classroom.

Fiona Feng

School Year: Sophomore
Major: Economics
Language: English, Mandarin

Welcome to Syracuse University!! It is my pleasure to be your resource for your first year at Syracuse. I am thrilled to share my first year's experiences and advice with you. GO ORANGE!

Melina Lavarone

School year: Class of 2024
Major: Psychology/Pre-law
Hometown: Westchester, NY
Languages: English and some Italian

I hope to develop strong relationships with my mentees; my goal is to make the transition and acclimation to Syracuse University easier, more comfortable, and fun! I can’t wait to learn all about the new students I meet and help them succeed.

Amanda Letts

Class of 2024
Major: Biology
Hometown: Hamilton Township, NJ
Language: English

After adapting to college during a national pandemic, I know most can relate when I say it was not easy. I am always looking for ways to help others and I'm glad I have the opportunity to make the transition to college even a little bit easier for international students. In addition, I wanted to become a peer mentor to bond with a diverse group of people and gain a new perspective on different cultures. Cant wait to meet everyone!

Ryan St Jean

Year: Class of 2024
Major: International Relations
Hometown: New York City
Languages: English and a little French

I'm very excited to serve as a Peer Mentor this semester. The transition into college can be a very stressful and challenging time, especially for international students. The Syracuse University community is welcoming and has much to offer. I hope to play a positive part in the journey my mentees are beginning. I look forward to assisting them as they enter a new environment and providing them with the knowledge and resources to succeed.

Zhijie Han

Hi, I'm Zhijie! I am a rising sophomore. I was born and raised in Jilin, China, and this is my fifth year in the U.S. I speak Mandarin, Korean and I'm learning Russian now. I'm super excited to be a peer mentor and look forward to meeting and working with all of you.

Tianyi Jia

School Year: Junior
Major, Minor: Applied Math, Economics
Hometown: Beijing，China
Languages: Mandarin, English

Hi guys, welcome to Syracuse University. I am a junior year international student and I’m so glad to be a peer mentor in 2021 fall. My goal to help you to get familiar with our campus and get on track of this fun journey! Also, I will be sharing my study and living stories to you, and if you want to hangout but you are afraid of making friends? Don’t worry! Let’s just go and grab a cup of coffee! Enjoy your collage life my friend!

Ava Lombardi

My name is Ava Lombardi, I am a Syracuse University student in the class of 2024 from Madison, CT! I am studying Writing and Rhetoric and in my free time I love to sing and hang out with my friends and family. I am so excited to be a Peer Mentor and lend a hand to other students, and learn from the them in the process!

Lorelai Mejia

School Year: Sophomore
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Psychology
Hometown: Schenectady, New York
Languages: English, Spanish

Being a new student on a college campus that you are not familiar with can be very intimidating and cause some feelings of discomfort. As a freshman, I remember feeling all those emotions and having many questions from academics to navigating campus. As a peer mentor, I want to be that individual who can help students with the adjustment to college as it is not easy nor is it impossible.

Kelly Jia

Class of 2022
Major: Economics, Applied Math
Hometown: China
Languages: Mandarin, English

I want to be proactive in supporting mentees and build a long-term relationship with them. I hope that with my help, students can transition smoothly to freshman life.

Yuhan Zhang

School Year: Junior

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Shijiazhuang (Hebei Province), China

Languages: Chinese, English, Korean

I’m Yuhan, you can also call me Hanna. Welcome to Syracuse University!🍊I am very happy and honored to be your mentor, really looking forward to meeting you all! I have enjoyed my two and a half years at Syracuse University and have received a lot of help from Syracuse University. And now, my role is to help you to enjoy a good college life after coming to Syracuse University! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, I will be happy to help you!

Matthew Snyder

Class: Class of 2024

Majors: Psychology and Neuroscience

Hometown: Chatham, New Jersey

Languages: English and some French

Hello, and welcome to Syracuse University! My name is Matthew Snyder, and I am a junior studying Psychology and Neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am excited to have the opportunity to assist incoming students in their transition to SU, and hope to be both a friend and a helpful resource.

Alex Snioch

Class of 2025

Major: Health and Exercise Science

Hometown: Central Massachusetts

Languages: English and Polish

Hello, my name is Alexandra Snioch, and I am a rising sophomore majoring in Health and Exercise Science and minoring in nutrition. I am very excited to be a peer mentor this upcoming year and to provide support and resources to new international students that will guide them in acclimating to Syracuse!"

Marwa Abedrabbah

Welcome to SU!

My name is Marwa Abedrabbah and I am a sophomore at Syracuse University. I am majoring in Psychology, and minoring in Biology and Chemistry. I am a firm believer in receiving the best quality education, as well as being a part of the campus community and taking advantage of all of the possibilities that come with being a student at Syracuse University. I had the distinction of serving as a peer mentor for the Fall 2021 semester and it was a really fulfilling experience. I am deeply passionate about assisting individuals and taking on leading roles; and aid in the academic advancement of international students whom I can assist with their integration to SU along with ensuring an informative and enjoyable time at Syracuse University.

Jaime Heath

Jaime is a triple major in Policy Studies, Political Science, and Citizenship & Civic Engagement. She is also pursuing a certificate in Cybersecurity Administration. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to attend law school and pursue criminal prosecution. Jaime is excited to be a part of the peer mentor program and share her love for SU with international students.

Melina Iavarone

Rising junior, Pre-Law

Major: Psychology BS

Minor: Political Science

Hometown: Westchester, NY

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to return as a peer mentor & I can't wait to meet my amazing new mentees! I hope to work closely & creatively in helping them thrive & find a sense of home at Syracuse.

Luke Patrick Elliott

Hi! My name is Luke, and I am so excited to be a Peer Mentor this year! I am dually enrolled in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and my majors are Public Relations and Citizenship and Civic Engagement. I am a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown Honors Program. I also am involved in Hill Communications, Slice Consulting, and the Dean's Team. I can't wait to meet you all and be a part of your transition to college life!

Samantha Groves

School Year: Senior

Hometown: New Hartford, NY

Majors: Psychology and Forensic Science

Minor: Human Development and Family Sciences

Hi! My name is Samantha Groves and I am a Senior studying Psychology, Forensic Science and Human Development and Family Sciences. I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone. I have been the international student before and I can understand being in these shoes. I am here to help support and be a friend to you and help you with anything I can! I wish you the best of luck and please feel free to reach out anytime!

Rod Rodriguez

School Year: Junior

Major: Economics

Minor: Mathematics

Hometown: Aiea, Hawaii

I am a nontraditional transfer student who’s projected to graduate in December of 2023. I’ve lived in 7 different states and have spent over 5 years in South Korea. I was even present in Korea when the KTX began servicing customers. I understand the complexities of living in another country and hope I can use my experiences to assist.

Kate Jackmin

Class of 2023

Major: Policy Studies

Minor: Data Analytics

Hometown: Fanwood, New Jersey

Hi everyone! My name is Kate, and I will be a senior in the Fall. I study Policy Studies and Data Analytics. I am excited to be a friend to everyone in the program! I understand the importance of having a support system throughout the college transition, and will be that for you! I hope you all are thrilled to begin your journey at SU.

Emily Chiang

Class of 2024

Major: Film

Minor: Photography, Video, and Design

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Language: English, Mandarin & Taiwanese

Hi everyone!! Welcome to SU this big family! I’m Emily, a rising Junior majoring in Film and minoring in Photography, Video, and Design. I’m super excited about meeting all of you and as a peer mentor, I’ll try my best to help you as much as I can. Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions or help. I know college is totally different from High School, especially as an international student coming from a different country will face a lot of challenges. But what I want to say is don’t worry or panic too much about it, everything will just go with the flow, and enjoy every moment you spend in college! Can’t wait to meet y'all soon:)

Shaochen Sun

School Year: 2024

Major: International Relations, Pre-Law

Home town: Langfang, China

Languages: Chinese, English, a little Spanish, and Japanese

Hi, it's lucky to see you in SU! I know it's going to be a hard battle on your first time here, but I am sure you will enjoy your journey here. If any difficulties would come to you, we will deal with it together.

Isabella Al-Hachem

Hello! My name is Isabella Al-Hachem. I am a sophomore studying international relations and political science. I know college life and the adjustment can be daunting and overwhelming and I hope by being a peer mentor I am able to help guide you through your adjustment to SU! I am very excited to be a part of your support system and network here! College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience so I hope to help make it as memorable, comfortable, and fun as possible for you!

Rihua Min

Class of 2023

Rising Senior

Major: Psychology & Sociology

Hometown: Shanghai, China

Languages: Mandarin and English

Hi, I am Rihua, a rising senior who pursues working in academia after graduation. It is a good opportunity for me to learn how to establish a close rapport with students. I am glad to be your mentor, giving you care and guidance to navigate the first year. Looking foward to meeting all of you!

Rachel Iannarelli

Hi! My name is Rachel Iannarelli and I’m a rising junior majoring in Linguistic Studies and minoring in Cognitive Science. I know that transitioning to college life as a freshman comes with many challenges and questions, and I want to help make this transition a great experience and be a mentor for freshmen that need any advice or help! So excited to meet everyone and hope that you have the best time at SU!

Yibing Chen

School Year: Junior

Language: Chinese(Mandarin), English

Hello, everyone!!! Welcome to SU! My name is Yibing Chen, a junior in A&S. I am majoring sociology and minoring public communication. As a international student, I totally understand how difficult that a international student want to join a new collectivity (environment) in a new country. I'm so glad you can join the International Peer Mentor Program at your first year in SU. I also joined this program to be a mentee at my first year, and I feel it is very helpful for me to adapt college life! I'm looking forward to meet with you in SU, and I promise you will have a wonderful and unforgettable experience in this program!

Hanying Yang

School year: 2023

Hi! My name is Hanying Yang from Shanghai, China, major in Psychology and minor in Business. I am also good at and get really interested in Chemistry. I am a junior student of SU and love to make friends especially through Tarot Divination and being helpful to people in all aspects. I have been in the choirs for 10 years and is willing to teach everyone who is interested in singing. Hope to meet everyone and willing to help whoever in need!

Xinyi Huang

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Class of 2025

Major: Undecided

Hometown: Suzhou, China

Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English

Hello and welcome to Syracuse University. I am very happy to be with you through your first semester. As an international student, we will face many problems, but please be sure that you have me and other peer mentors. We will help you. I am an avid moviegoer and also enjoy listening to music, such as K-pop. I hope we can study together and be friends.

Ying Xin Tan

Class of 2024

Majors: Finance and Business Analytics

Hometown: Guangzhou, China

Hello! My name is Ying Xin Tan, I am a rising junior at SU majoring in Finance and Business Analytics. I am aware from my experience that it is a hard transition from high school to college, and it’s especially harder when you are from a different background. I participated in a similar mentorship program when I was a freshman, so I look forward to being able to take the support I have received and give back to the Syracuse University Community

Meghan Ford-Titus

Class: 2024

Major: Policy Studies

Minor: French

Hometown: West Orange, New Jersey

Hello! My name is Meghan Ford-Titus, I am a sophomore at SU majoring in Policy Studies with a French minor. I am so excited to be a peer mentor and serve as a resource for international students on campus. I love Syracuse University and am so honored and thrilled to be given the opportunity to help first year international students acclimate to this campus! College may seem daunting at first, especially as one transitions from high school to college and is faced with more tasks and decisions of adulthood. However, once one settles in and truly feels at home, college can open the door to so many amazing experiences and fun times. I aspire to help first year international students find their home at Syracuse and discover the fun times that await them here on campus!

Minseo Kim

Class of 2025

Majors: Psychology

Hometown: San Jose, California

Languages: English, Korean

Hello! I'm Minseo Kim, and I look forward to being a mentor and helping International students! I hope my part in your journey as a SU student helps your transition to college be a bit easier.

Shay Kinney Leonhardt

Hi All,

My name is Shay Kinney Leonhardt, and I am a Senior this year majoring in International Relations and minoring in Economics and Spanish. I am excited to be a peer mentor for international students this fall because I recognize the struggles one can face being a new student, especially in such an unfamiliar environment. I believe that having a support group when arriving in these new places is essential to a smooth integration into a new community, one that having something like that at Syracuse will soon show students that this place can become home.

Class of 2023

Majors: IR

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Valerie Goldstein

Pronouns: She/her

Major: Policy Studies

Hometown: Newton Massachusetts

Hi, I'm Valerie! I'm really excited to welcome new International students to Syracuse. I've found a great community here through academics and extracurriculars, so as a Peer Mentor, I'll work hard to help others find their community here too!

Haitian Zhou (Martin)

Class of 2022 Fall

Languages: Chinese, English, Japenese

Born in Zaozhuang and raised in Hangzhou, China, I am a Chinese senior international student who majored in Economics and minored in Political Science, CRS (Communication and Rhetorical Studies), and Philosophy at Syracuse University.

​I have had several internship experiences in the field of business consulting and am currently working for a Chinese consulting company. In addition, I am trying to obtain a Master's in Economics after my graduation this year. I enjoy traveling and jogging during leisure time, am a big junkie of whiskey, and prefer working at night.

I am very glad to be a part of this extraordinary program, and I am more than happy to assist students in adjusting themselves to college life.

Personal Website: https://zhtthyyf.wixsite.com/info

Mitchell Mazza

Class of 2024

Majors: Neuroscience and Psychology

Minors: Spanish and Linguistics

Hello everyone! My name is Mitchell Mazza, I am from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and I am studying Neuroscience and Psychology on a Pre-Med Track. Some of my involvement on campus includes the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Phi Delta Epsilon Professional Premedical Fraternity, and Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honor Society. I am also a Patient Care Technician at St. Joseph's Hospital as well as a Summer Tour Guide for the Admissions Office and a researcher in the SU Aphasia Research Lab.

Guangqian Yang

Class of 2025

Major: Economics

Hi guys! My name is Guangqian Yang and you can just call me Rollins. As an international student, I know how hard it is for freshman who come to an unfamiliar country and start a new life here. I took me a long time to get used to many things and find many useful resources. Now I have the chance to share all these with you guys, and I am very happy to help you in any way I can. I hope everyone can quickly adapt to the campus life and have a wonderful time here in Syracuse!

Miguel Guzman

Hello everyone! My name is Miguel Guzman. I am from Lima, Peru, majoring in Biotechnology with a minor in Entrepreneurship. This Fall'22, I will be a Junior while a peer mentor. I did this program back in my first semester at SU (Fall'20), and I loved it because it was a super helpful tool to succeed in a difficult time when school was online. Also, it allowed me to create a good connection with my mentor, with who I still keep in touch. Outside of class, I enjoy trying new restaurants, listening to all genres of music, and watching soccer. I am happy to meet the new cohort in the Fall.

Orfeas Sfyrlas

Hometown: Athens, Greece

Languages: Greek, Serbian and English.

Major: Biology

Class of '25

My name is Orfeas and I am a sophomore international student from Greece! I am majoring in Biology and pursuing a minor in Finance. As you guys know, our campus is full of clubs and organizations, and I am proud to be part of several of those, and the president of the ESA( European Student Association). Being an international student myself, I have first-hand experience of what a college transition feels like, and I would love to pass what I have learnt to you! Can't wait to meet you all! Go orange!