Current Rubenstein School students can access further information about the Peer Mentor program through SharePoint (NetID login required) or contact rsenrpm@uvm.edu for more information.
What does a peer mentor do?
A peer mentor provides guidance and support to fellow students, helping them navigate academic challenges, campus resources, and social adjustment. By sharing personal experiences and offering advice, a peer mentor is there to help foster a sense of community and encourages mentees to succeed both personally and academically.
How and when can I meet with a peer mentor?
Peer Mentors have drop in hours from 10-12 and 3-5 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in the Student Services Hub in the Aiken Center.
Peer Mentor Areas of Expertise
Peer mentors can offer support, guidance, and advice about many areas of student life at UVM.
Being a Teaching Assistant
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about being a TA.
CAPS
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about UVM's Counseling and Psychiatry Services.
First Gen
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about being and succeeding as a first-generation student at UVM.
Internships
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about finding, applying for, and succeeding in internships.
Off-Campus Living
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about finding an apartment and the various do's and don'ts of living off campus.
Study Abroad
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about studying abroad.
Undergraduate Research
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more participating in research.
WAGE
Contact any of these peer mentors if you want to learn more about UVM's Women and Gender Equity Center.
2025-2026 Peer Mentors
Seniors (Class of '26)
Eliana Allegri (she/her)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy (SEP)
Concentration: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Law
Minor: Green Building and Community Design
Certificate: Place-Based Education
Eliana is from Washington, DC and she's passionate about environmental education and working with kids. She's looking forward to replicating the sense of community that she was surrounded with during her first year at Rubenstein. A fun fact about her is that she ran into Bernie Sanders twice in her first week at UVM!
Carlos Canny (he/him)
Major: Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT)
Concentration: Recreation Leadership and Environmental Education
Minor: Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Certificate: Place-Based Education
Carlos and is a senior in Rubenstein studying Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with a concentration in Recreation Leadership and Environmental Education. In addition, he's minoring in Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and pursuing a certificate in Place-Based Education. When he's not floating around the Aiken Center, Carlos is typically out finding the coolest new swimming hole, playing his guitar, or doing both of those at the same time! Look for Carlos out and about on-campus as a NR1010 TA, Student Advisory Board Co-Chair, or simply basking in the sun whenever he can.
Christina Conklin (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences (ENSC)
Minor: Statistics, Geospatial Technologies (GST)
Christina is from South Burlington, Vermont. She is an Environmental Sciences major concentrating in Conservation Biology and minoring in Statistics and GST. Christina is currently training for her first marathon and loves to try to ID birds in her free time! Don't hesitate to say hi and chat with her.
Loden Croll (they/them)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Global Environment and Climate Change
Minor: Biology
Loden is a senior from St. Paul, MN and a fact that could be considered fun is that they’re running a marathon there this fall. They generally prefer being outside, walking places, and saying painfully long goodbyes. This summer, they fulfilled their dream to study and swim with sharks!
Drea Falar (she/they)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Law
Minor: Political Science
Drea is an SEP pre-law student from Union, New Jersey. She loves reading and is always open receiving or giving book recommendations! Outside of peer mentors, Drea works in RSENR’s Student Advisory Board and the Eco Reps as the program lead! Drea loves playing volleyball, scrapbooking, and napping with her beagle Milo!
Annie Faubert (she/her)
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (WFB)
Minor: Geospatial Technologies, History
Annie is from south shore Massachusetts. She enjoys hiking, playing the guitar and piano, fishing, and playing intramural sports. A fun fact about Annie is that she has eaten cooked kangaroo!
Sidra Hoffman (she/they)
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Minor: Religion
Sidra is a senior wildlife biology major from Silver Spring, Maryland. Beyond loving all things wildlife, she is interested in music (she plays trombone!), musicals, food systems, and backpacking! Sidra had the opportunity to study abroad in Tanzania and she would love to chat about going abroad with anyone who is interested!
Iris Lawson-Ryan (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
Minor: Computer Science
Iris is from Charlotte, VT and is a senior Environmental Sciences major with a minor in Computer Science. She's currently conducting research in the Biology department using Bioinformatics to analyze bat genes and their connects to echolocation. Outside of the classroom, Iris enjoys running, hiking, playing volleyball, and taking her dogs on walks. A fun fact about Iris is that during her semester abroad last spring, she conducted field research in the Polar Circle!
Daniella Ledwith (she/her)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Applied Ecology
Daniella is a senior SEP major from Long Island, NY. She is interested in aquatic ecosystems and loves to spend time outdoors in her free time, especially at the beach. Additionally, she loves reading, going on walks and hikes, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. A fun fact about Daniella is that she studied abroad in Costa Rica!
Fiona Legg (they/them)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Marine Science
Minor: Biology, Statistics
Fiona grew up in Vermont and loves to spend time on the water and in the woods. Fiona's interests include all things marine science, women's soccer, and spending time with friends. Their fun fact is that they can roll a kayak!
Peter Maloney
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Law and Policy
Minor: Computer Science, Geospatial Technologies
Peter is a senior in SEP from Middletown, New Jersey. He enjoys hiking, biking, and going to music festivals. On campus, Peter works in the Spatial Analysis Lab, where he uses drones and GIS for a variety of research projects. His favorite thing about Vermont is the scenery.
Chloe Molinari (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Law
Minor: Community and International Development
Chloe is a senior SEP major from Chelmsford Massachusetts. Some of her hobbies include spending time outside, listening to music, and reading! A fun fact about her is that she loves live music and has been to over 30 concerts! Chloe is very excited to be a part of the peer mentoring program in Rubenstein and looks forward to answering any and all questions first years might have during this transition to college!
Henry Motes (he/him)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Environmental Analysis and Assessment
Minor: Musical Theater
Henry is a senior Environmental Sciences major (with a minor in Musical Theater!) originally from Denver, CO, going into his senior year at UVM! He's been involved in a lot during his time at school, but is currently focusing a lot of his efforts on the research work he's conducting with the Watershed Education, Science, and Policy Lab and Watershed Hydrology Labwithin RSENR. He also works as one of the student TAs for our core course in Environmental Communication, NR 2100. Perhaps his favorite pastime, Henry works as a tour guide for the University, which is the best job of all time (ask about applying for it)! When he's not working or in class, Henry is into all things outdoors (climbing, skiing, hiking, etc.) and the local Burlington, VT theater scene (including 5 shows he's done with UVM)! Henry really likes strawberry Liquid IV when he wants to stay hydrated. He looks forward to chatting with you all!
Julia Ng-Heth (she/her)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Applied Ecology
Minor: Global Studies, Geospatial Technologies
Julia Ng-Heth is a senior from San Anselmo, California. She loves to dance, as well as camp, swim, have potlucks and travel. Julia had a lot of difficulty figuring out what to study and a lot of anxiety about that whole realm, so if you have any concerns or wan't talk through uncertainty regarding major etc., she's all ears!
Mya Papouschek (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
Minor: Environmental Studies
Certificate: Place-Based Education
Mya's photo is from her study abroad experience in Aotearoa, New Zealand. She would describe herself as creative, curious, and silly. Mya has found great joy in creating community in outdoor spaces--whether it's kayaking or playing volleyball at the park with friends, she loves it all! Potlucks are a favorite of hers. A fun fact about Mya is that she can sew! Don't hesitate to email her with any questions or thoughts, she'd love to chat!
Ava Stackhouse (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Global Environmental and Climate Change
Minor: Geospatial Technologies
Ava is from Westford, Massachusetts and she loves bananagrams! She's currently the UVM Bananagrams Club President. When she's not busy studying, Ava works at the Spatial Analysis Lab on the Unoccupied Aircraft Systems Team. Her favorite place to get a creemee downtown is Little Gordo's.
Clare Vondra (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology & Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Applied Ecology
Minor: Geospatial Technologies
Clare is originally from Northern California and enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming, and all things bird related! She has two cats (Shadow and Bug) and is always ready to talk about them or share pictures.
Reese Widowski (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology & Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
Reese is a senior WFB and ENSC student and is originally from Wisconsin! She is a part of the Rubenstein Student Advisory Board (SAB) and a founding member of the UVM Bananagrams Club! Reese spends most of her time outdoors, whether that be birding, kayaking, or hiking. Reese spent a semester studying Wildlife Management in Botswana and would love to share about her experience with anyone interested. She is excited to answer any questions students have about Rubenstein and beyond!
Juniors (Class of '27)
Katie Anderson (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Global Environment and Climate Change
Minor: Business Administration
Katie is a junior majoring in Environmental Science (concentration: Global Environment & Climate Change) with a minor in Business Administration. She's interested in making businesses more sustainable! Outside of class, Katie is on UVM's Cross Country and Track & Field team, a member of the Rubenstein Advisory Board, and a RSENR Peer Mentor. A fun fact about Katie is that she learned how to mountain bike this past summer. Please reach out with any questions you may have, email or teams about anything, she's always happy to chat!
Caroline Burgess (she/her)
Major: Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Concentration: Recreation Leadership and Environmental Education
Minor: Geography
Caroline is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She likes to spend time outside, dance, and do fun little crafts. A fun fact about Caroline is that she has a snow globe collection.
Lily Falk (she/her)
Major: Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Concentration: Recreation Leadership and Environmental Education
Certificate: Place-Based Education
Hello everyone! My name is Lily Falk and I am from Westchester, New York. I love hiking, skiiing, bird watching-- basically anything outdoors! I also enjoy baking and reading in my free time. If I was an animal, I would be a three-toed sloth because they are laid back and always smiling.
Eli Fuller (he/him), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Concentration: Fisheries
Minor: Geospatial Technologies
Eli loves just about everything related to the water. He can be found on the Burlington waterfront, exploring trails around Vermont, or setting up a hammock somewhere on campus. He is from Nantucket, Massachusetts, and has recently taken up interest in insect pinning.
Maren Giese (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Law
Minor: Philosophy
Maren is from Vermont, and she loves to hike, sew, cook, ski. Her favorite animal is a duck!
Madi Jones (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Conservation Biology and Biodiversity
Minor: Forestry
Madi is a junior from Framingham, MA and loves the outdoors! Her favorite class she's taken at UVM was Forest Conservation and she hopes to pursue a career in that field. When not in class, you can find her skiing, hiking, or crafting with friends!
Ellie Leigh-Manuell (she/her), Peer Mentor Liaison
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Minor: Forestry
Ellie hails from Lincoln, Massachusetts and has been passionate about nature since she was a kid. She has experience doing field work with all sorts of projects so please don't hesitate to ask her questions! In her free time, Ellie likes to crochet and embroider or go contra dancing!
Fiona Shaw (she/her)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy & German
Concentration: Applied Ecology
Fiona is a Junior SEP and German major from Wisconsin. On campus, you can find her working with the Eco-Reps or on the pitch with the women’s rugby team. Outside of school, she loves to craft and ski. She’s loved her experiences farming in Wisconsin and volunteering in Vermont. Fiona is also trying to learn to play the harmonica, but isn’t ready for a performance (yet).
Sophomores (Class of '28)
Siena Farkas (she/her)
Major: Environmental Sciences
Concentration: Aquatic Systems
Minor: Anthropology
Siena is from Lewes, Delaware. She enjoys hiking, photography, and crafts. Fun fact: she has a collection of marine life themed jewelry!
Susie Plunkett (she/her)
Major: Sustainability, Ecology and Policy
Concentration: Ecology
Minor: Food Systems
Susie is a sophomore and SEP applied ecology major with a food systems minor. She's from Dedham Massachusetts and enjoys running, hiking, going to the movies, and reading. At UVM, she's a trip leader and sponsorship chair for Summit Sisters, a member of the Rubenstein Student Advisory Board, and an Eco Rep on the transportation team.
Program Lead/Contact
