Meet our Peer Mentors
Pathways Program Peer Mentors collaborate with Pathways Advisors to co-facilitate the delivery of seminar modules and co-lead class discussions for two classes of PTH 101 and PTH 102 while mentoring approximately 30 first-year students.
Pathways Program Peer Mentors are ultimately responsible for helping first-year students with their academic and personal transition to college; providing students with avenues for peer advice and feedback; and listening and responding appropriately to students’ issues and challenges while connecting students to appropriate campus resources and opportunities. They also serve as advocates for the interests, needs and concerns of first-year students at Furman while promoting student thriving, involvement, and engagement. They are responsible for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students that fosters a sense of belonging and supports the student’s development of a sense of identity.
Meet our peer mentors
Meet Miles
Furman Class: 2024
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Major: Sustainability Science
Involvement:
Admissions Ambassador
Kappa Alpha Psi
MOSIAC
NAACP
Orientation Staff
Pathways Peer Mentor
Student League for Black Culture
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I look forward to making connections with the new students!
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Always reach out for help and interact with people at Furman. From other pupils to staff to faculty people here want to help you but they only can if you reach out!
Meet Gourgit
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Simpsonville, South Carolina
Major: Health Sciences
Involvement:
MedEx Ambassador
Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part about being a Peer Mentor so far has been the one-on-ones with my students. It has been so rewarding getting to see my students make the decision that they are going to be vulnerable with me. This has allowed us to get closer and to find ways to help each other more effectively.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Take advantage of it. I was not apart of Pathways my first and second year, but felt like those who were in it gained so much. Ask questions and make it fun!
Meet Adrian
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Chanhassen, Minnesota
Major: Physics and Applied Mathematics
Involvement:
Physics Club
Furman University Outdoors Club
Furman University Track and Field Team
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
Student Government Association
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Helping the First-Year students with the same issues I struggled with when I was in their position, and seeing them build relationships with the others in the class, which is an experience I continue to benefit from in my third year at Furman.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Approach everything at Furman, and in life, with an open mind, not just Pathways. Having an open mind and a fluid perspective allows you to connect on a deeper level with other students’ experiences, and make more profound realizations within yourself.
Meet Tori
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Major: Chemistry
Involvement:
American Chemical Society
CATALYST Tutor
Pathways Peer Mentor
Student Accountability Hearing Board
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Watching mentees become comfortable with transitioning into college life and working alongside excellent advisors.
Meet Helen
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Croton-On-Hudson, New York
Major: Business Administration
Minor: Data Analytics
Involvement:
Delta Gamma
Furman University Chess Club
Furman University Culinary Club
Furman University Cryptology Club
Furman Justice Forum
Furman University Investment Club
Furman University Pre-Dental Club
Furman University Student Entrepreneurship Association
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part about being a Peer Mentor has been building relationships with the first year-students in my classes and watching them grow and thrive at Furman.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
My best words of advice would be to go into Pathways with a positive attitude and open mind. Some Pathways classes you may feel you already have down but one of the beauties of this program is that you can then provide your peers, who may need extra help, with advice. Additionally, your peer mentors are there to help you but also there to be your friend! I love going to grab coffee or chatting with the students in my classes whether they need help figuring out what classes to take the next semester or just want to catch up!
Meet Jayden
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Roosevelt Island, New York
Major: Sociology
Involvement:
Center for Inclusive Communities
Club Baseball Team
Dins Dialogue Facilitator
Pathways Peer Mentor
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part has been being able to support fellow students in realizing their academic potential. Building relationships with those whom I mentor is one of my favorite aspects of being a peer mentor. It is really rewarding to observe my mentees’ development as they put the information and skills they have acquired to use, as well as to watch them advance. Additionally, I am able to enhance and grow my leadership potential. I may also learn a lot about various viewpoints and improve my comprehension of the difficulties that my mentees encounter. Being a peer mentor enables me to improve the lives of individuals I mentor and assist them in achieving their goals.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Enjoy each moment of your first year and try to experience everything, so you know what you like and what you don’t like.
Meet Abijah
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Greer, South Carolina
Majors: Politics and International Affairs and Africana Studies
Involvement:
Dins Dialogue Facilitator
Furman University Gospel Ensemble
Furman University Club Volleyball
Mosaic Ambassador
NAACP
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
Riley Institute Advance Team
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part about being a mentor has definitely been helping first-year students with what they are experiencing in their first year and advocating for them when given the opportunity.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Take advantage of the information given to you through Pathways because the information can have a positive impact on your experiences at Furman.
Meet Jason
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina
Major: Economics
Involvement:
Chinese Student Association
Economics Society
Heller Service Corps
International Student Association
Pathways Peer Mentor
Student Diversity Council
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I had an amazing experience preparing with other Peer Mentors to properly guide incoming first year students!
Meet Morgan
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Clover, South Carolina
Major: Health Sciences
Involvement:
Alpha Epsilon Delta
Belle Voci Choral Ensemble
Direct Entry Program
Heller Service Corps
Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students
Pathways Peer Mentor
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part about being a peer mentor is learning about each student’s interests and helping them find ways to engage with those interests while at Furman!
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Make sure you have some method of organizing your schedule and assignments. I started using Google calendar my first year and it helped me a lot!
Meet Devin
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Major: Psychology
Involvement:
Academic Advising Committee Student Representative
Dintonation
Furman University Political Thought Club
Furman University Philosophy Club
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I love working with the advisors to cater a weekly lesson plan to our classes. Over the semester, you get to know what works best with the dynamics of a particular group.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
As with anything in life, Pathways is what you put into it. As you engage more in class and try to be introspective you can gain more from this unique opportunity.
Meet Lydia
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Majors: Politics and International Affairs and French
Involvement:
Dins Dialogue Facilitator
Furman Justice Forum
Pathways Per Mentor
Student Government Association
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I enjoy getting to know new people and help students become comfortable in a new environment!
Meet Megan
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Majors: Anthropology and History
Involvement:
Chi Omega
Intramural Sports
Furman University Outdoors Club
Of Mice and Furmen Book Club
Pathways Peer Mentor
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Being able to build relationships and connections across campus!
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
The best advice for starting Pathways is to have an open mind and positive attitude. Pathways is one of those programs where you can meet people you might never have talked to otherwise. You’ll learn so much from them!
Meet Soukeyna
Class Year: 2025
Hometown/Country: Ouagadougou, Centre, Burkina Faso
Major: Business Administration
Minor: Data Anayltics
Involvement:
Afrikiya
Student Diversity Council
Pathways Peer Mentor
Purple Diamonds Auxiliary Dance Team
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part is the fact that I am able to create impact and see the growth within the ones I have interacted with.
Meet Grace
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey
Major: Sociology
Minors: Poverty Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Involvement:
First Generation Student Alliance
Hearst Fellows
Orientation Staff
Pathways Peer Mentor
Shucker Leadership Institute
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I am looking forward to getting to make genuine connections with students and helping them grow. I am super excited to get to witness the growth and development this role will allow me to experience with the incoming class.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
It is completely normal to not meet your own expectations, and struggle sometimes.
Meet Conor
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Mohegan Lake, New York
Major: Politics and International Affairs and Sociology
Involvement:
Admissions Ambassador
Mock Trial
Pathways Peer Mentor
Political Thought Club
Resident Assistant
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Being part of a great community.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Don’t be afraid to say hello to the student sitting next to you. Having friends taking the same class together makes the class more enriching and exciting.
Meet Haley
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Powder Springs, Georgia
Major: ICP – Public Policy Studies
Involvement:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Assistant Area Coordinator for Clark Murphy
Furman Prison Education Partnership Student Group
Pathways Peer Mentor (2nd year)
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
The best part of being a peer mentor has been forging new connections and learning with my peers. Another thing that I have enjoyed is being able to be an active member within my community and to contribute in the experiences of my peers.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
One piece of advice that I have for pathways is to take the initiative of expanding the resources you learn in Pathways within your larger professional and developmental endeavors Pathways is powerful because of the universal tools that it equips students with that will help students thrive during their Furman careers and after. So in short, maximize the opportunity of Pathways and use it to really advance your professional personal goals as a first-year student.
Meet Ella
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Smyrna, Georgia
Major: Philosophy
Involvement:
Chief Copy Editor for The Paladin
Curriculum Committee Student Representative
Orientation Staff
Pathways Peer Mentor
Shucker Leadership Institute
Strengths Ambassador
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Connecting with and learning from new students, peers, and faculty! I love being able to follow the incoming class from the start of the school year to the end and see their growth and what all they add to this community.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Take advantage of all it offers: the people, the tools and resources, the intentional built-in time to reflect, etc.
Meet Botamina
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Simpsonville, South Carolina
Major: Health Sciences
Involvement:
Academic Advising Committee Student Representative
Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection Student Advisory Board
First-Generation Student Alliance
Furman University International Student Association
Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students
Pathways Peer Mentor
Shucker Leadership Institute
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part of being a peer mentor is being able to foster a relationship with my students and being a resource and friend to them. I’m honored to be a small puzzle piece in their journey at Furman.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Give yourself the opportunity to learn. Embracing this as a part of your journey will make Pathways more fruitful for you.
Meet Tyler
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Spring, Texas
Major: Philosophy and Psychology
Involvement:
Acts of Random Kindness Club
Furman University Outdoors Club
Mere Christianity Forum
Pathways Peer Mentor
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
I most appreciate being able to pour into incoming students and give them a better sense of preparedness and anticipation.
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Look for the new in what feels old! Many students have concerns that Pathways simply teaches what they already know, but there’s always more to learn if you come at it from a new angle. Take all you can from the experience!
Meet Ash
Class Year: 2024
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
Major: Music
Minor: Musical Theatre
Involvement:
Alpha Phi Omega
Furman Chamber Choir
Furman Pride Alliance
Furman Singers
Furman Theatre
Pathways Peer Mentor
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
Bringing a sense of purpose to my time at Furman; it makes me so happy that I’m able to use my own experiences to help others!
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Meet Alice
Class Year: 2025
Hometown: York, South Carolina
Major: English
Minor: Visual Strategy
Involvement:
Acts of Random Kindness Club
Heller Service Corps
Malone Center for Career Engagement – Social Media & Marketing Career Ambassador
Orientation Staff
Pathways Peer Mentor
Phi Eta Sigma
Resident Assistant
Shucker Leadership Institute Fellow
Strengths Ambassador
The Echo Literary Magazine – Editorial Board Member
What has been your favorite part about being a Peer Mentor?
My favorite part about being a Peer Mentor is getting to be a light and resource in other students’ journeys and helping them feel home at Furman! I love making genuine connections with my peers, learning about people’s walks of life and experiences, supporting them in their amazing endeavors, and spreading joy with everyone on campus!
What is a piece of advice you would give a first-year student starting Pathways?
Pathways is a meaningful and unique experience that provides you with opportunities to connect with your peers, learn more about yourself and other people’s experiences, grow in many areas of life, and reflect on your journey. Take advantage of these opportunities and be engaged in these moments! What you are able to gain from this experience depends on how much you put into it!
