A staple of the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center since 2022, students can meet with a peer success coach to get help navigating college and University resources.
Our coaches are experienced Penn State students who help current students, as well as incoming first-year, transfer, and change-of-campus students, connect with the campus community.
What is Peer Success Coaching?
Peer success coaches act as guides, listeners, and motivational partners to undergraduate students in the College of the Liberal Arts. Peer success coaching helps you think about your goals and motivations and provides you with techniques so you can be in the driver’s seat.
Meet with a peer success coach weekly or biweekly during the fall and spring semesters for personalized action plans on these topics and more.
- Goal setting
- Motivational techniques
- Stress management
- Studying strategies
- Time management
Meet our Peer Success Coaches
Alena Kolesar
Alena is a third-year student majoring in Psychology. She is currently involved in research as a research assistant for the Cognitive Neuroscience and Creativity Lab.
“I became a peer success coach to help students gain the best experience out of college and develop skills and habits that will help them throughout their whole life. I enjoy helping students grow and become the best versions of themselves!”
Justin Lai
Justin is a second-year student majoring in Global and International Studies in the College of the Liberal Arts and supply chain management in Smeal College of Business. He is also minoring in Portuguese, International Business, and Military Studies. Justin is deeply involved in Global Business Brigades, the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, and Army ROTC.
He was inspired to become a peer success coach because he wants to contribute to the success of others. In high school, he was an assistant for the counseling department and through this experience, he gained a great amount of appreciation for positions that guide others through their academic and personal journeys. He wants to make a positive impact on people, just as he has seen others do. He wants to foster an environment of confidence, optimism, and diversity in the College of the Liberal Arts!
Trinidy Manison
Trinidy Manison is a second-year student majoring in Criminology and minoring in Communications. She serves as the event planner and treasurer of CRIMBOOTCAMP. She is also actively involved in the Next Generation Academy, where she focuses on public policy.
Inspired by her own journey as a first-generation college student and the support she received from her mentor at the Chaiken Center, Trinidy became a peer success coach to help others find their path and build a strong support system, just as she did.
Ben Romero
Ben is a third-year student majoring in Psychology. He is a research assistant for the Laboratory for Personality, Psychopathology, and Psychotherapy Research. He is also an ambassador for EcoReps, and a co-founder of his club Growth and Development. Other ways that Ben is involved on campus is as a member of the Filipino Student Association and Korean Student Association.
Winetta Williams
Winetta is a second-year Psychology and Criminology major with an interest in international affairs. She is the outreach representative and supports students’ engagement by providing how to navigate resources on campus and outreach for Chaiken Center events.