Bridge Peer Mentors

Country of Origin: USA
I'm from Spearfish, South Dakota. I came to North Dakota with my now husband for his work and ended up taking Norwegian at UND. When I'm not in class or studying, I'm an avid video gamer that enjoys playing competitively. I also have 2 cats, a siamese named Bastet and a calico named Macchiato (Momo for short). I became a Bridge Peer Mentor in order to reach outside of my comfort zone and open myself up to new experiences with people. I love helping people, so getting the oppurtunity to help others get used to their new home at UND sounded like one of the best ideas!

Country of Origin: India
I'm from the vibrant city of Patiala, Punjab, India. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and spending quality time with my family and my dog. I chose to be a Bridge Peer Mentor because I am passionate about helping others navigate their academic and personal journeys, and I believe in the power of community and support.

Country of Origin: Germany
I was born in Germany, but spent most of my life in Fargo, North Dakota. After immigrating to the US, I oftentimes had to help out with translating documents, filling out applications, and interacting with others for my parents. I saw how difficult it was for them adjusting to a new language, culture, and environment after they've spent the majority of their life in a different country, and wanted to be able to help out others in the process which is why I joined Bridge Peer Mentors. In my free time, I like to read and play piano!

Country of Origin: Kenya
I am a PhD student in the Department of Biology. My hometown is Kisumu, Kenya. During my free time I enjoy Zumba, Yoga, Tabata and cycling. I also enjoy swimming and watching movies with friends. As a mentor I would like to inspire mentees to ascend to heights they might not have envisioned. Conversely, I am open to being inspired by my mentees, to expand my intellectual, interpersonal, emotional, and communication skills, and to be invigorated by their passion for their research/career. Effective mentorship is not unidirectional; it's a mutual relationship where both mentor and mentee should feel safe, valued, and free to express their true selves. It's this space that I aspire to cultivate as a Bridge Peer Mentor. Finally, Life is not all that serious I think I have a sense of humor and I love laughing at good jokes!

Country of Origin: India
My name is jay singh sankhla, im from jodhpur india and i am a commercial avit major, i love exploring the city, travelling around and going on bike rides. i choose to be a peer mentor to be able to share my view of UND and grand forks to the newer students and help them settle in!

Country of Origin: USA
Hello! I am originally from Texas, but moved to rural North Dakota in 2012. I grew up in a very small town (61 residents) and graduated with 5 people in my class! In my free time, I like to go on walks on the Greenway, hangout with my friends, and enjoy the sunny weather! I love trying new foods and getting coffee. I chose to be a Bridge Peer Mentor because I wanted to share my knowledge of North Dakota and UND with someone new, and help them adjust to a new environment! I know how hard it can be coming to a new environment, as that's how I felt coming to UND. Grand Forks felt like New York City to me at first! I hope to help you with any challenges you may have coming to UND.

Country of Origin: USA
I was born and raised in Fargo, ND and moved to Grand Forks to obtain my undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Biology in hopes of pursuing a career as a physician. I am currently a second year medical student at UND SMHS. In my free time, I enjoy going for walks, baking, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and going to the lake when I am able to. Through experiences in high school and college, I have found a love for language learning and cultural immersion. The Bridge Peer Mentor Program is an exciting opportunity that will help UND and Grand Forks feel like home for all and encourage cultural appreciation from current students like myself. I look forward to using my many years at UND to better assist International Students on campus, while learning from everyone each step of the way.

Country of Origin: USA
I am from the Seattle area in Washington State. I am a big fan of soccer and enjoy playing/watching matches in my free time. I also enjoy going out to eat, playing on the Switch with friends, and watching movies.

Country of Origin: USA
Hi, my name is Olivia and I’m from Langdon ND. I enjoy rock climbing, jujitsu, dancing, hiking, or trying anything new regarding the outdoors. I chose to be a Bridge Peer Mentor to meet new people and help them feel welcome on campus.

Country of Origin: Nigeria
Hey there! I go by Sunday or Oluchi. I am from Abia State in Nigeria and pursuing my graduate degree here at UND. I am an adventurous person, I love ice-cream, traveling, music, swimming and reading. I recently started fishing but that has not been productive so far maybe my bait needs more work done on it. My journey as an international student in U.S.A has been hitch-free to a fault, and this is as a result of the resources at my disposal here at UND. The advising, the Graduate student opportunities, networking events, industry speakers, innovation center but to mention a few. My short-term interest to serve as a Bridge-peer mentor is centered on my desire to help ease the tension and reduce the anxiety of newly admitted students by highlighting pathways to meaningful resources, being relatable and discrete. In the long-term, being a part of UND LEADS Strategic plan. In my opinion, a peer mentor has walked in your shoes and figured the hack to this 'task' called life/school. It is a privilege to be a part of an initiative targeted at developing and aiding educational institutions, especially here in North Dakota. I serve as a student delegate in the North Dakota Student Association and my academic journey started with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and Masters in Energy Engineering. Championing clean energy access, resilience, sustainability, and security fuels my joy and dream of a safe and secure world. In final words, the change we seek and desire in the society starts from us, my thought process, my decisions and effect it has on others. My legacy is to develop world leaders that are compassionate, diligent and have a sense of self awareness.

Country of Origin: India
I am from Hyderabad, India. I will probably give you uncalled-for facts about space in the first five minutes of our conversation. I understand the hardships involved in moving to a new country for college. I want to make it easier for the next set of students which is why I choose to be a peer mentor. I'm excited to support and guide fellow students on their academic and personal journeys!

Country of Origin: USA
I am from Fairfield, Connecticut, and I am entering my third and final year of law school at the University of North Dakota. In my free time, I enjoy practicing Spanish and Portuguese, helping others learn English, attending classes at Lotus Yoga, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and donating blood frequently. As an undergraduate, I studied abroad in Costa Rica, which gave me firsthand experience with the challenges of adjusting to a new country. I want to be a peer mentor because I am eager to support others in achieving success during their time at UND.

Country of Origin: USA
My name is Zach LeMay and I'm from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. I will be starting my Junior year at UND as a biology major with a pre-medicine emphasis. My academic goal is to get accepted into medical school and be a physician. I'm interested in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. I currently work in the emergency room as a phlebotomist and medical scribe. I recently became EMT certified and plan to pursue a position in the ambulance. In my free time, I like to work out, go to hockey games, golf, watch sports, and chill. I chose to become a peer mentor because I think it would be a very unique and eye-opening experience for me. I think it's important to learn about other cultures as well as to be able to help someone familiarize themselves with a new culture. I will have some experience with being in a whole new culture this summer. I am spending a month in Italy where I have the opportunity to shadow doctors. I am very excited to experience a different culture and see how medicine is different in Europe compared to the United States. I would love to learn a second language and more about how different cultures go about their lives. I am very excited to be able to share this opportunity as well as help someone familiarize themselves with a new on-campus experience and meet new people!