The A Center
Student Leaders
Students helping students!
The A Center Student Leaders
In The A Center, we encourage students to connect with their peers and to seek out leadership positions. With us, students have opportunities to become involved in a number of ways. In each of these positions, we help students develop communication, leadership, and other professional skills. We strive to provide students with the tools needed to help them grow as individuals, and to develop tools they can use in their majors and careers once they leave The A Center. For current students looking to connect with our student leaders, view our Event calendar to see any upcoming events!
And remember - even if you leave The A Center, you can still represent. Many of our student leaders started in The A Center as an Undeclared student before deciding on a major in another college. They still hold leadership positions in The A Center because they represent our student population and they've found a home with us.
Learn More About Our Student Leadership Positions
The A Center Explorers are students who represent our department at various recruitment events throughout the year. These students are trained to speak to prospective students and guests about what the University of Arizona and The A Center both have to offer, as well as how to explore majors before, during, and after admission to the University. These students have all started as Undeclared students within The A Center.
Students in The A Center Explorers program participate in a one-unit internship course geared toward development of leadership, communication, and professional skills. They also have the opportunity to hone presentation skills in a classroom setting as they discuss major exploration processes and transitions during college.
As an incoming first-year student at The A Center, you have the opportunity to connect with a peer mentor who can assist you with the transition to university life. These peer mentors are trained to help students navigate challenges and provide support to students. The peer mentors provide community building activities and individual one-on-one sessions.
Not only do our peer mentors provide valuable support, but they also gain relationship-building skills, as well as opportunities for creative thinking and problem-solving.
The A Center paraprofessional advisors are student workers who have been trained to assist students in The A Center with basic advising questions. Our paraprofessionals work specifically with undeclared or exploratory students to help them select courses that align with their interests and the general education curriculum. They also assist with basic academic information related to policies and procedures.
The paraprofessional position is a paid leadership position where students have been trained by our academic advisors and serve as a point of contact for our students with basic advising questions. They also meet with students to conduct major exploration appointments and begin the process of narrowing down their searches.
Pre-Health Ambassadors are a group of motivated students who are interested in pursuing a health-related career. These students come from all majors and work together to provide a support network for pre-health students. They are also trained to speak to prospective students and parents about the opportunities at the University of Arizona for pre-health students.
These pre-health students are advised by The A Center pre-health advisors and work with them to host events like our Pre-Health Expo. Through these activities, they develop networking skills, professionalism and strategies essential to success in health-related fields.
Pre-Professions Peer Advisors (3PAs) are highly engaged student-level peer academic advisors who support the mission of The A Center’s Pre-Health and Pre-Law Professions Advising Office. This unpaid internship offers an opportunity to earn up to 3 academic credits and is ideal for students who are enthusiastic about supporting their peers on the path to graduate-level health and law professional programs.
Working closely with A Center advising staff, 3PAs provide peer-to-peer advising on academic requirements, experiential learning, and application processes for both pre-health and pre-law tracks. In addition to advising, 3PAs contribute to outreach efforts, assist with programming and events, and take on special projects throughout the semester.
The A Center specialists help with marketing and communication work for the office. They help with creating flyers and videos, website updates, and taking photos during events. This is a paid position where students develop skills in communications, creativity, professionalism, project management, and leadership.
The A Center Wayfinders are a dedicated team that provides academic support to University of Arizona students through pop up and accessible advising! Wayfinders help connect students to quick resources and answers with no appointment or hassle necessary!
Wayfinders can be found tabling at events, located by Bear Down Gym, or on the first floor of BASC to easily support students in making advising and resource connections!
Information often includes but is not limited to:
- Connecting with your Academic Advisor
- Answering general questions about University and academic policies, dates, and deadlines
- Utilizing campus resources
- Warm hand off to the correct next stop, if needed
NOTE: Students that have detailed questions regarding their degree’s academic requirements will be directed to their assigned Academic Advisor.
Meet the A Center Explorers (ACEs)!
Emery Dubois
A Center Explorer
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Behavior and Human Understanding
Angui Retiguin Quinonez
A Center Explorer
Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Spanish
Tina Tran
A Center Explorer
Major: Business Management
Ava VandenHeuvel
A Center Explorer
Major: Medicine
Minor: Psychology
Malina Willard
A Center Explorer
Major: Russian
Meet the A Center Peer Mentors!
Megha Masthi Srinivas
Peer Mentor
Major: Economics (BA)
Minor: Personal and Family Financial Planning
Aaniyah Miles
Peer Mentor
Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Haita Saeed
Peer Mentor
Major: Undeclared
Sanaya Touseull
Peer Mentor
Major: Business Management
Meet the Paraprofessional Advisors!
Anna Fox
Paraprofessional Advisor
Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Minor: Psychology
Merissa Wongso
Paraprofessional Advisor
Major: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
Minor: Biochemistry, Health and Human Values
Meet the A Center Pre-Professions Peer Advisors!
Logan Cochran
Pre-Professions Peer Advisor
Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences
Minors: Health and Human Values, Biochemistry
Raksha Vikram Aditya
Pre-Professions Peer Advisor
Majors: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science; Care, Health and Society
Minor: Biochemistry
Meet the A Center Pre-Health Ambassadors!
Collin Brown
Pre-Health Ambassador
Majors: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science; Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: Consciousness Studies
Braddock Ghahate
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Medicine
Ella Harris
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences
Minor: Sports Nutrition
Sanskrithi Kommidi
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Psychological Science
Anika Lanke
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Physiology and Medical Sciences
Minors: Biochemistry, Spanish
Yesenia Mendez
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Biology
Minor: Spanish
Zosia Miernik
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Biology
Vanshika Mohapatra
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences
Minors: Biochemistry, Health and Human Values
Adrian Parker
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Medicine
Minors: Health and Human Values, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Hope Ramsook
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences
Minor: Biochemistry
Galia Salgado Medina
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
Aksat Shah
Pre-Health Ambassador
Major: Public Health
Minors: Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Nutritional Sciences
Meet the Specialists!
Mika Corneil
Specialist
Major: Marketing, Business Management
Meet the Wayfinders!
Khalid Bashmakh
Wayfinder
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Carrie Ann Meade
Wayfinder
Major: Agricultural Technology Management and Education
Ryan Ratliff
Wayfinder
Major: Undeclared
Bella Rodriguez
Wayfinder
Major: Human Development and Family Science