Meet Your Peer Mentors!
Adior Barac
She/Her/Hers
Sophomore
"Hey everybody! I am a Psychology and International Criminal Justice Major. I love playing sports and being active. My favorite thing to do in Boone is to go to the movies with my friends and just hang out."
Paola Bula-Blanco
She/Her/Hers Sophomore
"Hey! My name is Paola. I'm a Sophomore Public Relations major with a minor in Spanish. I'm not sure what I want to do with my major yet, but I hope to be able to travel around the world one day with whatever job(s) I find. I'm passionate about dogs, music, food, and long walks on the Parkway. If anyone ever wants to go to the Humane Society, go eat on King St., or go on a hike/walk, I'm in.
I had a great time last year when I did the program and I had an amazing mentor (Sam Lew, who is a Peer Mentor this year too!). I'm so excited to meet everyone and make some great memories."
Elise Haylett
She/Her/Hers
Junior
"My name is Elise Haylett. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York but I currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am a current Junior Psychology Major with a concentration in Business with a double Minor in Marketing and Spanish. I am also the President of Black Student Association for the 2018-19 year.
At Appalachian State University, I love to interact with students and make a difference on campus."
Christopher (Chris) Hinton
He/Him/His
Senior
"Hey guys, my name is Chris Hinton. I grew up in Kernersville, NC, a little town between Winston-Salem and Greensboro. I'm a senior graduating Spring of 2019, double majoring in Business Mangement and Marketing. Some of my involvement around campus include the Black Student Association, the Student Government, and Greek Life. I also work in the Intercultural Student Affairs Office as an office assistant.
It is my goal to help you and your classmates build the foundation to have a successful and fun time at Appalachian State. If you have any questions about life on the mountain, feel free to reach out to me! Can't wait to meet you all in person!"
Michael Joseph
He/Him/His
Sophomore
Major: Special Education
Favorite Place in Boone: Boone Baglery
Home Town: Chapel Hill, NC
Instagram: mbjoseph18
Samantha (Sam) Lew
She/Her/Hers
Junior
"Hi everyone! My name is Sam and I am a junior Exercise-Science major with a minor in Psychology. I absolutely LOVE animales (especially llamas), so I hope to be a pediatric PT one day and use animal-assisted therapies in my practice! If you ever need a break from school and want to take a trip down to the Watauga Humane Society to pet some floofy pups, I'm your gal. I'm also always up for hikes on the Parkway, road trips, and coffee dates. I can't wait to show you all the best places to eat in Boone (I'm looking @ you, Coyote Kitchen). I really am a very easygoing person and I want you all to know that you can reach out to me for anything and everything. I was involved in this program last year, and my mentee Paola (who is a Mentor now!) quickly became one of my best friends. I cannot wait to meet all of you in the Fall and show you why you made the right choice when you chose to come to ASU!
XOXO, Sam"
Jaxeli Martinez
She/Her/Hers
Senior
"Hi folks! My name is Jaxeli Martinez and I use she, her, and hers pronouns. I am super excited about being a Peer Mentor for this upcoming summer! I am a first genreation Latinx college student; therefore, when I first came to ASU I was very lost and scared because I had no one in my family to ask about the college experience. I hope to be able to ease some fear and uncertainty some of you may feel for similar reasons. That being said, I like to think of myself as an approachable person! I try to be as nice, inclusive, and friendly as I can be towards everyone. I am always down to bond over TV shows (Brooklyn 99 is my current favorite), books, and any topic that interests you! I love to canoe, still water kayak, play with dogs, sit in my eno, but also stay inside and relax. I also enjoy being involved in our campus and community by doing community service whenever I can.
Even though I'm a stressed out college student, I love my major (Psychology). On campus you can find me in the Women's Center, putting on an event/program with my sorority Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., at work (in the Student Union), sneaking in some time with my significan other, helping out members of my club Support Bloom Recover, or in Smith-Wright working on homework and research, but usually I am running around trying to do all of the above. I am a firm believer in the idea that everything we do has an effect on those around us and therefore I try to do as much good and daily activism as I can. Some topics that are very close to my heart are equity for people of all races/ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and folks with mental illnesses. However, that is not an all-encompassing list. I am always growing in my knowledge and inclusivity, as I feel we all are, so if you ever want to talk about anything I am excited to do so! I hope to meet all of you at some point and thank you for reading my bio!"
Cierra Palmer
She/Her/Hers
Junior
"Hi peeps!! My name is Cierra Palmer (she/her/hers) and I am currently a third year, Public Health major with a minor in Business from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
I am involved in Black Student Association, Melanin in Medicine, Minority Women's Leadership Circle, and I am also a Wellness Educator for Change and Advocacy Needs (WE CAN). When I am not in meetings or studying, I am usally hanging out with friends or watching Netflix.
Can't wait to meet you all soon!"
