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Student leader group

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

Emery Dubois

A Center Explorer

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies: Social Behavior and Human Understanding

Angui Retiguin Quinonez

Angui Retiguin Quinonez

A Center Explorer

Major: Elementary Education

Minor: Spanish

 

Tian Tran

Tina Tran

A Center Explorer

Major: Business Management

Ava VandenHeuvel

Ava VandenHeuvel

A Center Explorer

Major: Medicine

Minor: Psychology

Malina Willard

Malina Willard

A Center Explorer

Major: Russian

Meet the A Center Peer Mentors!

Megha Masthi Srinivas

Megha Masthi Srinivas

Peer Mentor

Major: Economics (BA)

Minor: Personal and Family Financial Planning

Aaniyah Miles

Aaniyah Miles

Peer Mentor

Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Photo coming soon

Haita Saeed

Peer Mentor

Major: Undeclared

Sanaya

Sanaya Touseull

Peer Mentor

Major: Business Management

Meet the Paraprofessional Advisors!

Anna Fox

Anna Fox

Paraprofessional Advisor

Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Minor: Psychology

afox258@arizona.edu

Request A Major Exploration Appointment!

Merissa Wongso

Merissa Wongso

Paraprofessional Advisor

Major: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science

Minor: Biochemistry, Health and Human Values

mwongso@arizona.edu

Request A Major Exploration Appointment!

Meet the A Center Pre-Professions Peer Advisors!

Logan Cochran

Logan Cochran

Pre-Professions Peer Advisor

Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences

Minors: Health and Human Values, Biochemistry

Raksha

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!

Photo coming soon

Collin Brown

Pre-Health Ambassador

Majors: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science; Molecular and Cellular Biology

Minor: Consciousness Studies

Braddock Ghahate

Braddock Ghahate

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Medicine

Photo coming soon

Ella Harris

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences

Minor: Sports Nutrition

Sanskrithi Kommidi

Sanskrithi Kommidi

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Psychological Science

Anika Lanke

Anika Lanke

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Physiology and Medical Sciences

Minors: Biochemistry, Spanish

Yesenia Mendez

Yesenia Mendez

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Biology

Minor: Spanish

Zosia Miernik

Zosia Miernik

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Biology

Vanshika Mohapatra

Vanshika Mohapatra

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences

Minors: Biochemistry, Health and Human Values

Adrian Parker

Adrian Parker

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Medicine

Minors: Health and Human Values, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Hope Ramsook

Hope Ramsook

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences

Minor: Biochemistry

Galia Salgado Medina

Galia Salgado Medina

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Nutritional Sciences and Wellness

Aksat Shah

Aksat Shah

Pre-Health Ambassador

Major: Public Health

Minors: Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Nutritional Sciences

Meet the Specialists!

Mika Corneil

Mika Corneil

Specialist

Major: Marketing, Business Management

Meet the Wayfinders!

Khalid B

Khalid Bashmakh

Wayfinder

Major: Aerospace Engineering

Carrie Ann Meade

Carrie Ann Meade

Wayfinder

Major: Agricultural Technology Management and Education

Ryan Ratliff

Ryan Ratliff

Wayfinder

Major: Undeclared

Bella Rodriguez

Bella Rodriguez

Wayfinder

Major: Human Development and Family Science