CSUN Mentorship Program Team

Hello Matadors,
My name is Amy Pizano Flores, I hope all of you are doing well. I am a sophomore majoring in sociology. I hope to pursue a degree in sociology and become an attorney related to family services. Some things I enjoy doing when I have free time is hiking, going to the beach and trying new foods. As a second year student I understand how difficult the transition to a new environment is. I was a mentee my first year and had an amazing experience learning about all the resources CSUN provides and how to use them. This made the transition from high school to college easier. Now my goal is to help you navigate your way around campus here and provide you with information that will help you these next couple of years of school.

My name is Porosh Khan, my pronouns are He/Him/His and I am a Computer Information Technology major at CSUN. Choosing CSUN was an easy decision for me because of its vibrant campus life, variety of student resources, and diverse community. Plus CSUN shares the same values as me regarding learning, leadership, mental health, and balance. Becoming a Peer Mentor in the CSUN Mentorship Program was inspired by my desire to guide fellow Matadors, give back to the university, and help incoming students transition into college life. One of my fondest memories here has been attending the New Student Orientation Retreat with my peer mentors and orientation leaders, which reminds me of the close-knit community I am proud and grateful to be a part of, I keep thinking of the past retreat and am eager for the next one. Looking ahead in terms of CMP, I aspire to take more leaps of faith in personal growth, share that growth with the program, and see my mentees achieve success with the help of the program. Professionally, I look forward to becoming a computer technician, helping people connect more with the digital world, and becoming more of a leader in the tech space.

Hi, I’m Kaylyn Gonzalez! I’m currently a second year student and double majoring in Psychology and Child & adolescent development. I also love to go try new places to eat and explore, draw and go to Disneyland! There was a lot that inspired me to choose CSUN; One of the biggest was the environment and community here. I am a commuter student and enjoy learning more about what CSUN has to offer since there's always events on campus that are hosted by different resources. I was also a mentee and becoming a Peer Mentor allows me to help incoming students in anyway possible. Please feel free to come and say hi! :)

Hello New Matadors, I would like to welcome all of you to CSUN. My name is Joshua Hurst. My pronouns are he/him/his and I am one of the many peer mentors here in the CSUN mentorship program. A little about myself is that I am a sophomore, majoring in TV production focusing on visual editing. I also work as a music producer and artist on the side mastering in different genres like Alternative Hip Hop, NEO Soul, and RnB. On campus, I am heavily involved in many different communities. I work at the Student Development and Transitional Programs as apart of the New Student Orientation program, where you probably recognized me from the TAKE 35 Performance during your orientation ;). I also work part time as an IT assistant in the library on weekends. On my off time I love to play basketball at the SRC and make different music with my friends. As a Peer Mentor, my personal goal is to be there for all of my mentees socially and emotionally, and let them know that it is ok to ask for guidance and support whenever it is needed. As humans, we can’t do things alone, especially when we are stepping into a new environment. So it is my job as a peer mentor to make sure that each mentee that I encounter has the right amount confidence and knowledge necessary to navigate their way through college in the best way possible. I am excited to meet all of you and start the journey of growth and self discovery in your first year in college. Remember, there's always a community for you here at CSUN. 

Hi Matadors!

My name is Alejandra Contreras, my pronouns are she/her. I am a first generation college student, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. I am going into my fifth year at CSUN, majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. I am pursuing a Medical degree, within Sports Medicine, talk to me about any sport. I became a peer mentor because I love to spread my knowledge about CSUN to other students. My favorite memory of CSUN came from being an orientation leader part of New Student Orientation, it has shaped me into a strong confident leader. 

Hello y’all! My name is Auritry Wasika (Auri). My pronouns are she/her/hers. I’m a first-generation student from Bangladesh majoring in Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation Management. I love skateboarding, learning languages, and dogs! My favorite music genre is rock. I’m a very curious person and love learning new things because I believe there’s always something new to learn and educate yourself about. I was part of the Mentorship program last year as a mentee and later became a peer mentor. The main reason I joined this program is that I love making connections and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. This program has helped me make many connections throughout the year and learn about every resource available on campus. During my first semester, I also volunteered as an Orientation leader, and being part of NSO helped me make a lot of friends. I highly recommend getting involved on campus, joining clubs, and making the best use of them because, trust me, it’s worth it!

As the new semester rolls in, I’m very excited to meet all my amazing mentees and be there for you as your friend.

I’m Analy Mejia and I am double majoring in creative writing and art. I never thought college was an option for me, but support was sent my way and the opportunity for art inspired me to choose CSUN. Despite being accepted and earning enough to pay for classes, I still didn’t feel ready to become a college student. Fortunately, I heard about the CSUN Mentorship program and with it, became comfortable enough to explore many academic, social, and personal, opportunities. Becoming a mentor, I hope to assist new students like me in feeling welcomed here on campus. My fondest memory at CSUN was actually at one of the Mentorship events where I made a new friend and enjoyed great food and activities. I hope to make many more connections for the future and finish at least one of my novel drafts.

Hello, how are you all? Welcome freshmen to CSUN. I'm Oscar NC and my pronouns are he/him/his, and I'm a Matador sophomore majoring in Animation and Visual Effects at the Mike Curb College of Arts Media & Communication Department. During my free time, I enjoy listening to music in English and Spanish, playing Super Mario games, and spending time with my family, and my friends. My academic goals are to be able to graduate in my Senior year and continue studying for a Master's in Animation while working in the field of animation. Here at CSUN, I am a DRES (Disability Resources and Educational Services) student, I am a Peer Mentor for the CSUN Mentorship Program, and I also participate as an NSO leader in the CSUN New Student Orientation. Before working for the Mentorship Program, I used to work for the CSUN Theater Department as a Student Clerical Assistant. Being part of these programs has allowed me to socialize with other people, make new friends, feel part of the community, helping other students. As a Peer Mentor, I want to do whatever it takes to help all freshmen feel welcome and let them know that they are not alone in facing the obstacles of academics and social experience.

My name is Nico Alexander (he/him). I'm majoring in Mechanical engineering, and im aiming to go for a graduate degree not too long after my bachelors. I came to CSUN because im from LA and i wanted an inclusive college to go to. I wanted to become a peer mentor genuinely because I enjoy interacting with people and I want to help people branch out and make use of whats around them. One of my favorite memories from college was my NSO retreat after my freshman year, i had just met a bunch of new friends and got to bond with them through water balloon games, karaoke, night hikes, and group games. my long term goal is be significantly skilled in every hobby I indulge in.

Greetings everyone! I'm Sumedha, a sophomore majoring in Computer Information Technology and a peer mentor in the CSUN Mentorship program. In my role, I extend a warm welcome to incoming students at CSUN through "New Student Orientation," "Meet the Clubs," and various cultural gatherings. I'm dedicated to aiding them in setting and achieving their goals while organizing enjoyable mixers for their first year on campus. Beyond my academic responsibilities, I'm passionate about Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, which I envision as the cornerstone of my future career. I joined CSUN last year and have been an active member of the Mentorship program ever since. It has been instrumental in helping me forge valuable connections and friendships. My journey at CSUN is going amazing, and I'm eager to make yours just as exciting. During my downtime, you'll often find me on the badminton court or out enjoying a good meal.

Hello everyone! I’m Mahi Kachhadiya, a vibrant sophomore diving deep into the world of Computer Science here at CSUN. Originally from India, I bring a unique blend of global perspectives and innovative spirit to our campus community. When I’m not unraveling the mysteries of code or immersed in intricate math problems, you can find me on the volleyball court, where I embrace the thrill of teamwork and competition. My passion for both technology and community drive me to be an active mentor in the CSUN Mentorship Program, where I’m dedicated to guiding and supporting my peers on their paths to success. I’m always hustling to chase my dreams and thrive on exploring new horizons and learning continuously. I’m committed to serving our community and making a positive impact wherever I can. If you spot me around campus, don’t hesitate to come over and say hello—I’m always up for engaging conversations and new connections. Let’s make the most of our journey together and create unforgettable experiences along the way!

Hey ya’ll! Zareen Atia Supti here and I just became a senior here at CSUN, majoring in Computer Science. I am an international transfer student in the US living my dream life to the fullest (YaY). I really love to connect with people and learn about their culture. I joined the CSUN Mentorship Program as a mentee in my first semester which really helped me to get out of my shell and engage more on campus. I am also an orientation leader in NSO which helped me to know our resourceful campus well. Now I can not wait to provide the same support to other students coming to CSUN. Being a Mentor, I want to help students overcoming their fear of college and let them know that they’re not alone and provide them with the resources that CSUN offers to us.

Hello! I’m Kavishka S Palliyaguruge and I’m a Junior at CSUN pursuing in Computer Information Technology and Domain Emphasis in Communication Studies. Once I graduate I am looking forward pursuing a career in the Tech Industry as Info Tech Specialist for Air Force and other forces. Without my Peer Mentor, who happens to now be my best friend Supti, I would have not been aware of the CSUN Mentorship Program. All the great support and building connections are some of the many reasons on why I chose to become a Peer Mentor. To be able to help other students, show where resources are, and offer support are my focal points for this year as a Peer Mentor.

My name is Deepak Swan and I am an international student in the Accountancy program at CSUN and my pronouns are He/Him/His. The reason why I am interested in being a Peer Mentor is because I Would like to assist students in their day to day university life and especially the international students who encounter many challenges. CSUN’s memory that left a positive impression on me is the teamwork project I had which entailed solving an accounting problem applicable to a real organization. As to my long-term objectives, the primary one is to get a Certified Public Accountant degree and work at a multinational company overcoming cultural differences in business. I am sure that the CSUN Mentorship Program will not only help me become a positive role model and provide support to the community; but also improve my work on leadership and communication skills.