Meet the Mentors

Alex Chen(she/her)

Journalism & Economics, Class of 2027

What Alex brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I grew up in Beijing and later moved to Canada, where I had to adapt to a completely different learning system from rote memorizing to application-based inquiries. I grew to not only get the grades but also enjoy learning and push myself in fields that I claimed to hate before."

What you wish you'd known as a first-year student: Allowing yourself to be human & fail as many times as you need is almost the only way to grow.

Favorite Evanston restaurant(s): KOCO TABLE

Best advice you've received: Procrastination is about emotional regulation and NOT about discipline. Time management is pain management.

Sahil Desai (any pronouns)

Biology & Spanish, Class of 2026

What Sahil brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I have navigated all sorts of personal struggles alongside my academic pursuits. I know academic success cannot be everyone's first priority--but I hope to offer holistic support for students."

What you wish you'd known as a first-year student: Ask for help!!! There are so many resources at this school to support you both academically and in general, it doesn’t make you any less of a student to use them.

Favorite place to study on campus: The GSRC

Fun fact: I know all the words to Beyoncé Renaissance

Elena Hu(she/her)

Economics, Class of 2028

What Elena brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "As a second-generation Chinese American, I’ve grown up surrounded by diverse perspectives and experiences. I firmly believe that celebrating our unique backgrounds is vital to fostering conversations where we can learn and grow together, and I’m here to create a supportive space where everyone is welcome."

What you wish you'd known as a first-year student:  Learning is an ongoing process! It is okay to make mistakes and you don’t have to have everything figured out. It’s very likely that your peers are going through similar experiences, and there are tons of people at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ who are here to support you.

Best advice you've received: You don’t have to do everything by yourself. It’s okay to ask for help!

Kanishk Kapoor(he/him)

Biological Sciences & Science in Human Culture, Class of 2026

What Kanishk brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "As a transfer student, I've been through the process of acclimating to a new academic environment twice now. The step up to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ was especially challenging as I was far away from home for the first time and course rigor was much higher. I know this is a struggle many students can relate with, so I want to use what I've learned from my experiences to help students through this transition. Whether it's learning time management or understanding my limits, I've been through it all and I'm ready to help students learn these skills in a low-stress, supportive environment."

What you wish you'd known as a first-year student:  I wish I had to come to terms with the fact that I would struggle, and that it was okay. I held a mentality of thinking everything should be easy for me for far too long, so embrace the struggle and learn from it. Everyone else is going through the same thing and there are always people ready to support you.

Favorite Evanston restaurant: Yasotorn 

Fun fact: I've been playing soccer since I was 5 years old!

Skyla Kiang(she/her)

Neuroscience, Class of 2026

What Skyla brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my own academic journey and hope to use the growth I’ve experienced to support others in recognizing their potential."

What you wish you'd known as a first year: I wish I had known that asking for help doesn’t mean you’re falling short—it actually shows strength and a willingness to grow. You can do hard things, and it’s okay to lean on others along the way. Also, comparing yourself to others only takes away from what makes your own journey unique; everyone follows their own path at their own pace.

Favorite thing about ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½:  There are so many opportunities to explore and integrate different interests without limiting yourself to one specific path!

Favorite place to study on campus: Cafe Bergson in Main Library

Jack McNiel(he/him)

Statistics & Learning Sciences, Class of 2027

What Jack brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "As somebody who grew up in the Midwest, I expected to have a very easy transition coming to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, but this was not exactly the case. As a mentor, the primary perspective I am excited to bring is that I have navigated the difficulties of adjusting to life at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, specifically as someone who didn't expect these transitions to be as harsh as they were."

What you wish you'd known as a first year:  You don't have to know what you're doing. Matter of fact, you shouldn't. Take your time at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ to figure out what is important to you, find the people you want to surround yourself with, and learn as much as you can.

Favorite place to study on campus:  Annenberg Hall #SESPLove

Favorite thing about ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½: How passionate everybody is about what they're doing!

Inka Rzezinowska(she/her)

Linguistics, Class of 2026

What Inka brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "As a first generation student paying for college by myself, I'm no stranger to struggle. High school graduate of 2020, first year of college online, working 3 jobs to support myself, going on medical leave twice, taking an extra year to graduate - my experience was nothing like I thought it was going to be. No matter your obstacle, I will always sit with you and your perspective. Your struggles are valid!"

What you wish you'd known as a first year: There is no standard or perfect experience. Everyone is so unique and has their own experiences, that there really is no way to exactly predict how things will go. Just because your experience looks different, doesn't mean that it's wrong!

Favorite place to study on campus: An empty classroom!

Best advice you've received: Excellence is not perfection.

Colette Samek(she/her)

Statistics & Environmental Science, Class of 2026

What Colette brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I came into ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ certain that I would be a chemical engineer, and I spent the next two years bouncing around different schools and majors until I found one that stuck. I've run the gamut of academic experiences, and to finally find a major and academic habits that suited me, I first had to go through a long trial and error period, attempting so many studying habits and taking so many courses that just weren't for me. I'm no stranger to feeling lost and confused, totally swamped with extracurriculars, and stressed about the future. But I've come out of these feelings on top, and I hope that as a UPAL mentor, I can help navigate other students through them as well."

What you wish you'd known as a first-year student:  I wish I had known how to get academic assistance when I needed it. At the time it seemed intimidating to go to office hours or talk to my professors, but getting connected to your instructors is such a great way to facilitate academic success. From professors and TA's, to ASLA, to academic advisors, there are truly so many people who want to help you succeed, and I wish I had known that coming into ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½.

Best advice you've received:  Introduce yourself to your professors. Putting your name to a face will go a long way.

Fun fact: I was a winner on a low-budget trivia show!

Sanjana Shankar(she/her)

Neuroscience & Global Health Studies, Class of 2026

What Sanjana brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I think the biggest life experience I bring to mentoring and coaching has to do with my STEM background. As a STEM major and a pre-med student, I have taken a lot of challenging science classes that have taught me the value in reaching out for help, learning effective study habits, and giving yourself grace. I want to bring these skills and ideas to other students who are navigating the challenging academics of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½."

 What you wish you'd known as a first year: I wish I had known that there would be many times at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ where I would make mistakes. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes! Getting back up after you've fallen down is the most valuable lesson of all.

Jay Subbiah(he/him)

Neuroscience & Biology, Class of 2026

What Jay brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "In the past, I've worked as a coach and as a tutor in a wide variety of capacities. Some of my most meaningful roles have been with underprivileged high schoolers, neurodivergent individuals, and refugees. Through these experiences, I truly have learned a lot about the world and myself. Consequently, I feel very prepared to help guide the wonderful and diverse body of students we have at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½."

What you wish you'd known as a first year: ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, particularly the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, offers an immense degree of flexibility for you to pursue your interests. The fast pace of the quarter system gives every student the option of pursuing a double major. Furthermore, you can absolutely take time to experiment with different subjects and determine what to ultimately major in.

Favorite place to study on campus: The benches by Deering lawn!

Anna Truong(she/her)

Human Development in Context & Psychology, Class of 2026

What Anna brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I'm a first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college student and the daughter and granddaughter of Vietnamese refugees. I've participated in many FGLI serving programs as both a mentee and mentor and want to help students realize the strengths they've gained from their backgrounds, lived experiences, and histories!"

What you wish you'd known as a first year: You don't have to have everything figured out! Talking to peers, professors, and support systems will be helpful for navigating your path, but also remember that comparison is the thief of joy and you'll find your own way eventually :)

Fun fact: I can solve a Rubik's Cube!

Maria Zaheeruddin(she/her)

Biology, Class of 2027

What Maria brings to mentoring UPAL groups: "I’m the daughter of first-generation immigrant parents, so I constantly feel the pressure to do well in school and make the sacrifices my parents made worth it. Navigating these expectations can be really overwhelming, it feels terrible when you think you’re failing or falling short of the “American Dream” your parents worked so hard for. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re letting your family or yourself down, and how easy it is to drown in that pressure. Because of my own experiences, I feel I can really connect with students who are under similar stress and help them feel seen, supported, and capable of getting through tough times without losing hope in themselves."

What you wish you'd known as a first year: As a first-year, I often felt really lost, it was a tough adjustment. I struggled a lot with feeling like I wasn’t good enough or wasn’t living up to my potential. Looking around, I would think, “Wow, I must be the only one feeling this way,” especially because imposter syndrome can be so bad and overpowering at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½. But over time, I learned that growth looks different for everyone, and any progress — no matter how small — is still progress. I wish I’d known then to be kinder to myself and to trust that it’s okay to move at my own pace, as long as I keep a positive, growth-oriented mindset.