Clarendon-Hills Student Serves As Peer Mentor

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — Emma Kroeger of Clarendon Hills, who is studying Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been serving as a peer mentor.

Serving as guides for incoming students throughout their entire first semester, peer mentors are selected in a competitive process. Successful peer mentors lead students through "Warhawk Welcome," a weeklong orientation for new students at the start of the academic year. They continue to provide peer support and advice as co-instructors in New Student Seminar, a course taught alongside a UW-Whitewater faculty or staff member. There are currently 91 peer mentors for new students, four peer mentors for transfer students, and five orientation leaders for transfer students.

"Peer mentors help normalize what being a college student is actually like — versus what students see in the media. They help students go through the transition from high school to college both academically and socially," said Amanda Murphy, coordinator for mentor programs. "Peer mentors are there as a friendly face, someone who will listen and help with issues or problems, and also someone who can role model what being a Warhawk is all about."