Bridge Peer Mentors
Abosede Christian
Major: Biomedical Sciences
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Country of Origin: Nigeria
- I volunteer in my local church for hospitality, media, and choir. Outside of church, I like to watch soccer and basketball, plus I also host ceremonies on weekends. I have a YouTube channel where I talk about graduate school applications, music, and graduate student life. I have always considered my life goal as helping others to be where I am and beyond. And I think this is my motivation for becoming a Bridge Peer Mentor, to help others navigate the new life they are about to start and make UND a home away from home. I look forward to this opportunity.
Achouak Bernabia
Major: Energy Engineering
- Country of Origin: Algeria
- I'm from Medea, Algeria. Typical PhD student, I spend my time either in my office reading research papers or doing work in the lab. In my free time, I go to the gym, cook, and hang out with friends. Why I decided to join the bridge peer mentor is because having a mentor and someone to go to for simple advice is crucial in finding our own path, especially in the early stages of being abroad.
Jay Sankhla
Major: Commercial Aviation
- Country of Origin: India
- My name is Jay Singh Sankhla, I'm from Jodhpur, India and I am a Commercial Aviation major. I love exploring the city, traveling around, and going on bike rides. I chose to be a peer mentor to be able to share my view of UND and Grand Forks with the newer students and help them settle in!
Kayla Barral
Majors: Political Science, Global Studies Minors: German, International Business,
UAS
- 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.
Morgan Mastrud
Major: B.A. in Spanish and B.S. in Biology (currently working towards M.D.)
- 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.
Noah Anderson
Major: Commercial Aviation, Spanish
- 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.
Oluchukwu Sunday
Major: Energy Engineering
- 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 just 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 discreet. 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 Master's 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 society starts from us, my thought process, my decisions, and the effect it has on others. My legacy is to develop world leaders who are compassionate, diligent and have a sense of self-awareness.
Sai Susmitha Guddanti
Major: Space Studies
- 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 chose to be a peer mentor. I'm excited to support and guide fellow students on their academic and personal journeys!