MIPS Peer Mentors
Olivia Skyberg
Year: Sophomore
Major: Undecided
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Asian Women Association, Student for Education Reform, Best Buddies, MIPS, and I tutor at the elementary school down the street.
Race/Ethnicity: Asian/Chinese
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to be part of the Peer Mentor Program because I love meeting new people. Helping other and making a difference in someone life even if it's just being there for them. Also, making the first-year college experience more enjoyable and comfortable. Lastly, thought it would be a fun experience!
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Making new friends and building friendships with them. Also, going to all the events at St. Kate's has to offer.
Interests/Passions/Goals: Some of my interests are hanging with friends, art (digital art like photography & graphic), playing soccer for fun, watching movies and more! :) My passion, would be helping others. My goal is figuring out what I like to major in.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Undecided
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Asian Women Association, Student for Education Reform, Best Buddies, MIPS, and I tutor at the elementary school down the street.
Race/Ethnicity: Asian/Chinese
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to be part of the Peer Mentor Program because I love meeting new people. Helping other and making a difference in someone life even if it's just being there for them. Also, making the first-year college experience more enjoyable and comfortable. Lastly, thought it would be a fun experience!
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Making new friends and building friendships with them. Also, going to all the events at St. Kate's has to offer.
Interests/Passions/Goals: Some of my interests are hanging with friends, art (digital art like photography & graphic), playing soccer for fun, watching movies and more! :) My passion, would be helping others. My goal is figuring out what I like to major in.
Nkao Za Xiong
Year: Sophomore
Major: Respiratory Care
Resident/Commuter: Commuter
Clubs/Organizations involved in: None at the moment
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I enjoy meeting new people and I also think it is really important for the Freshmen to have someone to go to if they ever have any questions about anything. Being a peer mentor is the first step that will help them get comfortable around campus more.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Orientation
Interests/Passions/Goals: Shopping, watching dramas or movies, playing volleyball, listening to music. My Goals in the future is to be able to travel around the world.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Respiratory Care
Resident/Commuter: Commuter
Clubs/Organizations involved in: None at the moment
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I enjoy meeting new people and I also think it is really important for the Freshmen to have someone to go to if they ever have any questions about anything. Being a peer mentor is the first step that will help them get comfortable around campus more.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Orientation
Interests/Passions/Goals: Shopping, watching dramas or movies, playing volleyball, listening to music. My Goals in the future is to be able to travel around the world.
Maly Vang
Year: Junior
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Student Nursing Association
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I was attracted to the Peer Mentor position because I wanted to engage with the First Years during their transition from high school to college and assist them as a mentor and as a friend in any way possible to make their college experience go well.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Dew Drop Bop and winning at Residence Life's Grocery Bingo event
Interests/Passions/Goals: I love art, elephants, cooking, food, and shopping. My goal in life is to do well in school, graduate from St. Kate's in Nursing, Pass the NCLEX exam,be successful and happy in life with my career and have a family of my own.
Year: Junior
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Student Nursing Association
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I was attracted to the Peer Mentor position because I wanted to engage with the First Years during their transition from high school to college and assist them as a mentor and as a friend in any way possible to make their college experience go well.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Dew Drop Bop and winning at Residence Life's Grocery Bingo event
Interests/Passions/Goals: I love art, elephants, cooking, food, and shopping. My goal in life is to do well in school, graduate from St. Kate's in Nursing, Pass the NCLEX exam,be successful and happy in life with my career and have a family of my own.
Mariamu Conteh
Year: Junior
Major: Public Health/Biology
Resident/Commuter: Commuter
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Black Student Association, Orientation team
Race/Ethnicity: African American
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I love providing students with campus resources in order for them to succeed in college.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory at St. Kate’s was the retreat for women of color hosted by the MIPS Office, I had met a lot of great people and made lifelong connections. It was one of the first events at St. Kate’s that made me feel part of a community.
Interests/Passions/Goals: My goals are to graduate college and attend graduate school.
Year: Junior
Major: Public Health/Biology
Resident/Commuter: Commuter
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Black Student Association, Orientation team
Race/Ethnicity: African American
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I love providing students with campus resources in order for them to succeed in college.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory at St. Kate’s was the retreat for women of color hosted by the MIPS Office, I had met a lot of great people and made lifelong connections. It was one of the first events at St. Kate’s that made me feel part of a community.
Interests/Passions/Goals: My goals are to graduate college and attend graduate school.
Bushira Nambogga
Year: Sophomore
Major:Communication studies
Resident/Commuter: I am a resident at St.Kate’s
Club/Organizations involved in: St. Catherine International Student Organization (SCISO)
Race/Ethnicity: Ugandan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I need to help the new students of color in whatever they want, so that life becomes easy and good for them while they are at St.Kate's.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory is the day I reached st.Kate's and was so surprised that people were happy to see me! I was taken to the state fair; it was awesome and I managed to make new friends that keep me going today.
Interests: I enjoy listening and helping people, finding new places, watching movies and hanging out with friends.
Year: Sophomore
Major:Communication studies
Resident/Commuter: I am a resident at St.Kate’s
Club/Organizations involved in: St. Catherine International Student Organization (SCISO)
Race/Ethnicity: Ugandan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I need to help the new students of color in whatever they want, so that life becomes easy and good for them while they are at St.Kate's.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory is the day I reached st.Kate's and was so surprised that people were happy to see me! I was taken to the state fair; it was awesome and I managed to make new friends that keep me going today.
Interests: I enjoy listening and helping people, finding new places, watching movies and hanging out with friends.
Shakirah Tumusiime
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology
Resident: On Campus
Clubs/ Organizations involved in: Lead team, SCISO
Race/Ethnicity: African- Ugandan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I would like to make it an easy transition for new students to St. Kate's.I chose to be a peer mentor so that i can provide guidance and support for the new students, so as to feel at home and mo5re prepared for college life in the US. A lot comes with being a college student, stress and other problems, i would like to help the students adjust and fit in well into the system and be a shoulder to lean on when in troubling times.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: End of first year student`s orientation, the ceremony in the chapel. Oh how beautiful and magnificent the scenery was!
Interests/ Passions/ Goals: Love watching soap operas (Korean, Spanish, Chinese...all of them). Like listening to people and hanging out with friends. My goal is to be a DOCTOR.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology
Resident: On Campus
Clubs/ Organizations involved in: Lead team, SCISO
Race/Ethnicity: African- Ugandan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I would like to make it an easy transition for new students to St. Kate's.I chose to be a peer mentor so that i can provide guidance and support for the new students, so as to feel at home and mo5re prepared for college life in the US. A lot comes with being a college student, stress and other problems, i would like to help the students adjust and fit in well into the system and be a shoulder to lean on when in troubling times.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: End of first year student`s orientation, the ceremony in the chapel. Oh how beautiful and magnificent the scenery was!
Interests/ Passions/ Goals: Love watching soap operas (Korean, Spanish, Chinese...all of them). Like listening to people and hanging out with friends. My goal is to be a DOCTOR.
Makabongwe C. Ngulube
Year: Sophomore
Major: International Relations and minor Women studies
Commuter/Resident: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: SCISO, Political Science club, Lead team
Race/Ethnicity: Black- Zimbabwean
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for PMP because it is a great opportunity to be able to share my own experiences at St. Kate's and be there for someone the same way my mentor was there for me.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My best memory of being at St. Kate's was the CSJ orientation picnic. it was so much fun to meet the nuns and also to tour the Carondelet.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I love cheese. My dream is to become a foreign policy officer or a diplomatic representative for my country.
Year: Sophomore
Major: International Relations and minor Women studies
Commuter/Resident: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: SCISO, Political Science club, Lead team
Race/Ethnicity: Black- Zimbabwean
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for PMP because it is a great opportunity to be able to share my own experiences at St. Kate's and be there for someone the same way my mentor was there for me.
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My best memory of being at St. Kate's was the CSJ orientation picnic. it was so much fun to meet the nuns and also to tour the Carondelet.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I love cheese. My dream is to become a foreign policy officer or a diplomatic representative for my country.
Tinodaishe Antonette Mandebvu
Year: Sophomore
Major: Marketing and management
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: SCISO; LEAD Team
Race/Ethnicity: African
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: To offer my services in guidance and knowledge in order to ease the new student’s transition into the St Kate’s family.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Orientation Fall 2012
Interests/Passions/Goals: singing, swimming, dancing and having fun with friends. My goals are to be an effective leader in entrepreneurship and business
Year: Sophomore
Major: Marketing and management
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: SCISO; LEAD Team
Race/Ethnicity: African
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: To offer my services in guidance and knowledge in order to ease the new student’s transition into the St Kate’s family.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Orientation Fall 2012
Interests/Passions/Goals: singing, swimming, dancing and having fun with friends. My goals are to be an effective leader in entrepreneurship and business
Miranda Her
Year: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Asian Women Association, SHE Pab, Citizen Katie, Katie’s Hip Hop Club.
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I enjoy helping others. I want to be a mentor and a friend who can provide them the resources they need in order for them to have a great experience as a "Katie" at St. Kate's.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Representing myself as a "Katie" who can lead and influence others to help them find their potential.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I have a passion for music and singing. I enjoy baking, interior designing, scrap booking, networking, and photography. I love eating good food and going on long walks. One of my goals in life is to continue being "me" and only change to better myself because "Those Who Mind Don’t Matter, and Those Who Matter Don’t Mind" - Dr. Seuss.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Asian Women Association, SHE Pab, Citizen Katie, Katie’s Hip Hop Club.
Race/Ethnicity: Hmong
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I enjoy helping others. I want to be a mentor and a friend who can provide them the resources they need in order for them to have a great experience as a "Katie" at St. Kate's.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Representing myself as a "Katie" who can lead and influence others to help them find their potential.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I have a passion for music and singing. I enjoy baking, interior designing, scrap booking, networking, and photography. I love eating good food and going on long walks. One of my goals in life is to continue being "me" and only change to better myself because "Those Who Mind Don’t Matter, and Those Who Matter Don’t Mind" - Dr. Seuss.
Tori Handley
Year: Second year/sophomore
Major: English (hopefully by next semester)
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: BSA, Food Justice Coalition, and Spanish Club (next semester)
Race/Ethnicity: African American
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to be a Peer Mentor because I am passionate about helping students like me succeed, and help aid their interest/goals etc. here at St. Kate's.
Fondest Memory: Cornbread and Chili Night(s), Soul Food Redefined, and my first day arriving at St. Kate's from Milwaukee.
Interest: Art/photography, music, writing, and arts and crafts. Passion: Mentoring, thinking, nature, and learning new things. Goals: Cultural competency, learning Spanish, and being an effective mentor.
Year: Second year/sophomore
Major: English (hopefully by next semester)
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: BSA, Food Justice Coalition, and Spanish Club (next semester)
Race/Ethnicity: African American
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I chose to be a Peer Mentor because I am passionate about helping students like me succeed, and help aid their interest/goals etc. here at St. Kate's.
Fondest Memory: Cornbread and Chili Night(s), Soul Food Redefined, and my first day arriving at St. Kate's from Milwaukee.
Interest: Art/photography, music, writing, and arts and crafts. Passion: Mentoring, thinking, nature, and learning new things. Goals: Cultural competency, learning Spanish, and being an effective mentor.
Brittany Clausen
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology w/ minor in business administration & leadership studies
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Active Minds, BSA, and Student Senate
Race/Ethnicity: Black and Caucasian
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I think that it's so very important that freshmen students of color see other students of color as leaders on campus. Also, they need a support system of diverse backgrounds to help them grow as promising leaders, too!
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: My fondest memory at St. Kate's was being a part of the Graduates of Color Dinner. I really loved being able to collaborate with one another.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I am passionate about people. I love to be social! I love learning new things. My goal in life is to live and love happily. I hope to travel the country and speak about mental health issues.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Psychology w/ minor in business administration & leadership studies
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Active Minds, BSA, and Student Senate
Race/Ethnicity: Black and Caucasian
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I think that it's so very important that freshmen students of color see other students of color as leaders on campus. Also, they need a support system of diverse backgrounds to help them grow as promising leaders, too!
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: My fondest memory at St. Kate's was being a part of the Graduates of Color Dinner. I really loved being able to collaborate with one another.
Interests/Passions/Goals: I am passionate about people. I love to be social! I love learning new things. My goal in life is to live and love happily. I hope to travel the country and speak about mental health issues.
Tamnnet Kidanu
Year: 3rd year
Major: Public Health- Health Education Concentration and Psychology minor
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: BSA
Race/Ethnicity: Ethiopian
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to help students of color transition into college life and create a community of support between us all.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Meeting my new family (my best friends) in Crandall Hall
Interests/Passions/Goals:
Interests: Writing, Running, Reading, Cooking, Music
Passions: Psychology, Sexuality Education, Writing
Goals: Be enrolled and funded for graduate school!
Year: 3rd year
Major: Public Health- Health Education Concentration and Psychology minor
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: BSA
Race/Ethnicity: Ethiopian
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to help students of color transition into college life and create a community of support between us all.
Fondest memory at St. Kate's: Meeting my new family (my best friends) in Crandall Hall
Interests/Passions/Goals:
Interests: Writing, Running, Reading, Cooking, Music
Passions: Psychology, Sexuality Education, Writing
Goals: Be enrolled and funded for graduate school!
Fershteh Karimi
Year: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Muslim Student Association, Center for Community Work and Learning, MIPS
Race/Ethnicity: Afghan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I loved my mentor. She was there to support me my 1st year and gave me helpful advice to be successful. I want to be able to be the same support system that she provided me for someone else. I also want to be part of MIPS because I would love to learn about different cultures and become part of this diverse community
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory at St.Kate’s is dandia Night. This was the night I was really exposed to diversity at St.Kate’s. I learned the dandia dance and it was a lot of fun dancing to my favorite songs. They had delicious food and the whole experience was what I was looking for when I began my freshmen year.
Interests/Passions/Goals: Big fan of Maroon 5, I love Adam Levine, Love to watch movies, Go shopping, Reading books, Goal of being a midwife in the future, Love watching Bollywood movies, I like working with kids, I love learning about different culture and trying out new types of food, clothes and dances
Year: Sophomore
Major: Nursing
Resident/Commuter: Resident
Clubs/Organizations involved in: Muslim Student Association, Center for Community Work and Learning, MIPS
Race/Ethnicity: Afghan
Why I chose to work for the Peer Mentor Program: I want to work for the Peer Mentor Program because I loved my mentor. She was there to support me my 1st year and gave me helpful advice to be successful. I want to be able to be the same support system that she provided me for someone else. I also want to be part of MIPS because I would love to learn about different cultures and become part of this diverse community
Fondest memory at St. Kate’s: My fondest memory at St.Kate’s is dandia Night. This was the night I was really exposed to diversity at St.Kate’s. I learned the dandia dance and it was a lot of fun dancing to my favorite songs. They had delicious food and the whole experience was what I was looking for when I began my freshmen year.
Interests/Passions/Goals: Big fan of Maroon 5, I love Adam Levine, Love to watch movies, Go shopping, Reading books, Goal of being a midwife in the future, Love watching Bollywood movies, I like working with kids, I love learning about different culture and trying out new types of food, clothes and dances