The Honors Peer Mentorship Program is a lifeline for incoming Honors College freshmen to help ease the transition into the Honors College and university life by grouping new students with experienced upperclassmen. New students have a contact from the first day they arrive on campus to help them navigate this new step in their lives. Mentors are paired with a small group of first year students with whom they interact throughout the summer and fall semester.
Goals
LEARN – Students will learn about resources critical to their success through the guidance of an experienced upperclassman student.
ENGAGE – Students will engage in meaningful and authentic partnerships with other Honors students and the Honors College Staff.
ACHIEVE – Students will achieve success through a consistent support during their transition to Auburn and the Honors College.
DISCOVER – Students will discover more about their personal journey through intentional processing of their college experience.
Mentees
- Benefits
- Learn from the experiences of others.
- Increase your social and academic confidence.
- Become more empowered to make decisions.
- Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and academic issues.
- Identify goals and establish a sense of direction.
- Responsibilities & Expectations
- Reach out to your mentor; let them know what is on your mind.
- Assume responsibility for your own growth & development.
- Set goals and make decisions to achieve these goals.
- Utilize campus resources.
- Participate in activities with mentor and other mentees.
Mentors
- Benefits
- Gain a fulfilling experience – Through peer mentoring, your volunteerism makes a difference in the lives of new students who may feel lost, isolated, and stressed with the challenges of being a college student. Doing good deeds makes people feel good. The chance to make a positive impact on someone’s life is a priceless experience.
- Boost leadership skills – You will encounter new and different situations as a peer mentor that will enhance and improve your leadership skills and abilities. Your capacity to be compassionate, make sound decisions, and listen will increase through your mentor/mentee relationship.
- Improve career profile – Leadership, time management, and many other management skills can be enhanced by becoming a peer mentor. Your role as a peer mentor adds valuable experience to your resume, demonstrating your adaptability, resourcefulness, and passion for helping others.
- Meet new people – It’s not just new students building friendships in the peer mentoring program. Peer mentors befriend their mentees and other mentors and mentees. You can meet your peers in events and volunteer activities surrounding the peer mentoring program. Peer mentoring isn’t just a school activity; it’s a place where students connect and become life-long friends.
- Receive 1 hour of participation credit through the Honors Mentor Lyceum – offered during the Fall of your term.
- Responsibilities
- Build relationships with mentees and assist them with their adjustment to campus life both socially and academically.
- Coordinate social activities and opportunities for mentees.
- All mentors will be expected to uphold the Auburn Creed and maintain good academic standing within the Auburn Honors College.
- Time Commitment
- Attend all trainings and large group events (kick-off, celebration, reunion)
- Weekly communication (call/text) with mentees weekly through Nov. 1 (min. 10 minutes)
- Monthly meet ups with mentee group
- Bi-weekly team meetings with all mentors (1 hour credit class)
- Complete program evaluation at the end of Fall.
2023-2024 LEAD Peer Mentors
Ainsley Braswell
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Major(s)/Minor: Political Science (Pre-Law)
Involvement: Pi Lambda Sigma Pre-Law Honor Society, Honors Congress, Navigators Campus Ministry, Auburn Community Church, Auburn Student Veterans Organization, Delta Zeta Sorority
Interests/Hobbies: Swing dancing, live music, BBQ, and Mario Kart
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Everything surrounding Auburn football games! Tailgating on the green space, the eagle flight, and rolling Toomer’s Corner are all so uniquely Auburn.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: Coming to Auburn not knowing a soul, being in the LEAD mentorship program was such a blessing. My mentor pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and try things that I never would’ve considered doing in high school. As a military kid, I’m used to being the new kid in town. I hope to give my mentees the guidance and motivation that allows them to make the most of their freshman year!
Fun Fact: I never learned how to ride a bike…maybe next semester
Emory Clifford
Hometown: Bentonville, Arkanas
Major(s)/Minor: Mechanical Engineering
Involvement: Honors College Week of Service, Auburn Catholic, Auburn Formula SAE team, Honors Congress
Interests/Hobbies: Working out, watching/playing sports, Spending time in nature, reading the news
Favorite Auburn Tradition: The eagle flight before football games is my favorite tradition. Yelling “WAAARRRR EAGLE, HEY” and then getting hyped with the music as Auburn prepares to take the field is unmatched.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am excited at the opportunity to meet incoming freshmen and welcome them to the Auburn family. Transitioning to Auburn from out of state was scary. I did not know anyone and I was going over 10 hours away from home. I can confidently say that choosing to attend Auburn is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am truly thankful for everyone who has made Auburn home and has helped me understand what it means to be a member of the Auburn Family. I can not wait to meet the upcoming honors class at Auburn this year. War Eagle!
Fun Fact: I was born with 2 extra teeth.
Grace Crim
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Major(s)/Minor: Law and Justice Major / Business Minor
Involvement: Week of Service Counselor, Pi Lambda Sigma Pre-Law Honor Society, Honors Congress
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, Basketball, Violin, Painting
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Free Stuff!!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I want to help new students acclimate to life at Auburn and get involved on our campus.
Fun Fact: I have over 60 pairs of pajama pants.
Thomas Foster
Hometown: Beulah, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Med)
Involvement: Honors Congress, The Auburn Jungle, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and the Disc Golf Club of Auburn
Interests/Hobbies: Disc Golf, Escape Rooms, and enjoying outdoors
Favorite Auburn Tradition: I love the eagle flyover before every football game. I have been an Auburn fan my whole life and still think Auburn’s unique pre-game tradition is the best in the nation.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I know what it is like to be a clueless freshman trying to find a place at Auburn. I came from a small school (graduating with 60), so coming to this huge campus was quite shocking to me. Now that I am fully adjusted to the Auburn lifestyle, I am excited to help guide new students in Honors to find a place where they belong and get settled at Auburn.
Fun Fact: I have broken eleven bones in my life.
Peyton Gilliam
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Major(s)/Minor: Global Studies in Human Sciences, minor in Sustainability
Involvement: LEAD Mentor, Pi Beta Phi sorority, Pi Beta Phi New Member Committee, Auburn University Dance Marathon, Beat Bama Food Drive
Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with friends/family, Listening to music, Fashion, Traveling
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite auburn tradition is probably the 4th Quarter Light Show at night football games!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am so excited to be a mentor because I know that having a friendly face who you can always count on is so helpful and I want to ensure that everyone has the smoothest, most comfortable, and most exciting freshman year! I want to do anything to make the transition a little easier for anyone I can!
Fun Fact: I applied to 16 schools!
Shauna Giroir
Hometown: Gurley, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Physician’s Assistant) | Honors Business Minor
Involvement: Auburn Biotechnology Society, Auburn Microbiology Club, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Honors College Week of Service Counselor
Interests/Hobbies: cooking, hiking, traveling, music, and volunteering
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition would be the chants and cheers at the football games.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am thrilled to be a mentor because I know what it is like to have freshman jitters and want to help alleviate these nerves! I love meeting new people and cannot wait to help acclimate people to Auburn. Whether that be class schedule advice, or just lunch as friends, I am thrilled to help make Auburn feel like home.
Fun Fact: I have played the piano for 13 years!
Jaclyn Hanhauser
Hometown: Helena, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Nursing (Major), Human Development and Family Science (Minor)
Involvement: The Big Event, Honors College, AU Catholic, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority
Interests/Hobbies: Pickleball, reading, walking, painting, traveling
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition is yelling “Warrrrrr Eagle, HEY!” during the eagle fly-over in Jordan Hare. In this moment I cannot help but feel like a part of the Auburn Family as the student body participates in unison. It gives me chills every time!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I loved serving as a mentor last year and enjoyed helping freshmen adjust to college. Additionally, Auburn has so many resources and opportunities for its students to make its campus feel like home, and I hope to help my mentees discover all that Auburn has to offer. I cannot wait to be your potential mentor and friend!
Fun Fact: I have three older sisters!
Hope Hartley
Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia
Major(s)/Minor: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Involvement: Greek life, Undergraduate Research
Interests/Hobbies: Running, piano, church at ACC
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Rolling Toomers Corner and the eagle flying over the stadium (I can’t pick just one!)
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I remember how intimidating freshman year was, and I am so excited for the opportunity to be there for other freshman who might be in the same boat
Fun Fact: I drove to high school on a golfcart almost every day for a whole year.
Luke Jenkins
Hometown: Winfield, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences (Pre-med); Minors in Spanish & Honors Business
Involvement: International Buddy Program, Global Medical Brigades, Alpha Epsilon Delta, University Residential Assistant, Habitat for Humanity, Drug Discovery Research
Interests/Hobbies: Going to the gym, eating out with friends, watching movies and sports, listening to music, playing Xbox
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite AU tradition is either the eagle flyover or the swag surf at football games.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am excited to meet new people and share with them the great things that I have discovered about Auburn. I did not know anyone when moving here in the fall of 2022, so I would love to help new students adjust and feel relaxed about the college experience (It’s not as scary as it looks). In the end, it’s most important that you enjoy your journey through college rather than stressing about the destination.
Fun Fact: I have arachnophobia. I would be much more terrified when coming face-to-face with a spider rather than a bear.
Taylor McClung
Hometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Major(s)/Minor: Hospitality Management- Culinary Science with a Business Minor
Involvement: First Baptist Church Opelika, Oaks Retreat Staff, Beat Bama Food Drive
Interests/Hobbies: Baking/Cooking, Books, Volleyball, Taylor Swift!
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Camping out in Pearlville for Basketball.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: Auburn is quite literally my favorite place on the planet and I’m so so excited to be able to help it feel like home for new students! I’d love to just be a friend to anyone willing!
Fun Fact: I’m studying abroad in Italy in 2025!
Julia Peterson
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences, Pre-Medicine
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta, COSAM Peer Advisors, Storybook Farm, Compassus Hospice, Honors Serves, Basden Eye Care, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Interests/Hobbies: traveling, boating, skiing, working out
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition is definitely rolling Toomer’s after an Auburn win!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am so excited to be a mentor this fall because I know how daunting entering college can be, and I want to be an advocate for incoming students as they adjust to Auburn in order to make their time here as fulfilling as it can be.
Fun Fact: I’ve jumped off the highest bungee jump bridge in the world.
Olivia Pricher
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences Interdisciplinary Major/Business Minor
Involvement: Association of Women Science, Honors Serves
Interests/Hobbies: Soccer, Fashion and Shopping, Good Food, Travel, Music
Favorite Auburn Tradition: The Eagle flying over Jordan-Hare stadium before the football games.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am so excited to introduce new students to everything Auburn! Coming from so far away it was extrmely helpful to have my mentor so I could ask her any questions or concerns I had, especially on the first day of class. I want to be here for you guys and bring a fun, no judgment zone to your first semester at Auburn!
Fun Fact: I’ve been to New Zealand
Laney Roe
Hometown: Hoover, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Pre-Elementary Education
Involvement: Auburn Community Church College Ministry, Intramural Sports, Diversity in Honors, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America on Campus, Greek Life (Sorority), College of Education Student Ambassadors
Interests/Hobbies: Pickleball, activities with friends, working out, taking walks, and painting
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn Tradition is the love that Auburn has for Aubie. I do not think I will ever outgrow Aubie and I am okay with that. Aubie is obviously the best mascot, but on top of that he is everywhere and a part of everything. Aubie truly is the living spirit of Auburn University, so it’s always a good day when you run into him!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am excited to be a mentor because I love meeting new people and cannot wait to help freshmen learn the ins and outs of college. I have absolutely fallen in love with Auburn, and it truly is home. I cannot wait to share this love with others and make them feel like they are at home as well. I want to be a connection for my mentees that will help them navigate all aspects (classes, involvement, extracurriculars, etc.) that Auburn has to offer, and I look forward to helping with their transition!
Fun Fact: I had Covid before my senior year of high school, but ever since then I have not been able to smell… That’s around 2 years without my sense of smell!
Murphy Stapleton
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences/Counseling
Involvement: Study Partners Peer Tutor, IMPACT, Project Uplift, Undergraduate Research in Chemical Engineering, REACH Community Respite, Camp Good Grief
Interests/Hobbies: basketball, surfing, reading, cooking, traveling
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition is swag surfin’ at football games.
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I’m excited to be a Mentor because I feel like this position provides something for incoming students that I lacked. In my time at Auburn, I have often come back to the line, “If I just knew this sooner,” so I am excited to try to alleviate some of the anxiety that comes from simply not knowing. I am also excited to use this opportunity to grow my own character and disposition.
Fun Fact: My intramural basketball team has won back-to-back championships.
Aidan Toomey
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Computer Science
Involvement: Honors College Week of Service, Auburn Housing RA, ACM, and DEI.
Interests/Hobbies: Anything computer science related, Formula One, Musicals, and Rap.
Favorite Auburn Tradition: 4th Quarter Light Show
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I’m just so excited to help incoming freshmen have their best year possible at the greatest institution in the world.
Fun Fact: I handle over a million dollars’ worth of equipment at my summer job every single day.
Maitland Coppock
Hometown: Eastaboga, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences (Major) English Literature (Minor)
Involvement: Campus Kitchen, Red Cross Club, Association for Women in STEM, Alpha Epsilon Delta (honor society), Honors Serves
Interests/Hobbies: Creative Writing, Drawing/Painting, Archery
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Rolling Toomer’s Corner after a win!! It’s probably Auburn’s most famous tradition, but it never gets old and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love it. It’s something every Auburn student needs to see at least once!!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I’m excited about being a mentor because I know how hard it can be to make the transition from home to college, but I promise it’s not that scary. I want to help make the change as easy as possible for my mentees, whether it be helping with school or getting connected with organizations to make friends. I’m a biomedical sciences major on the pre-med track, so I understand how hard it can be to balance coursework and the other ten thousand things college students have to do in a week. It can be intimidating trying to figure out the first year in a new place with new people and new systems, but I’ve been there. At the time, I remember wishing that there was somewhere or someone to go to for help, and now there is!! We’re here to help and I’m excited to meet my mentees and get started!
Fun Fact: I have a blind, mostly deaf, one eyed dog (and no, she’s not ancient, she’s still a baby).
Jack Ferrell
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Major(s)/Minor: Finance
Involvement: Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honor Society, Young Life Leader, Oaks Retreat Support Staff, Club Tennis, Honors College
Interests/Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, Playing Pickleball, Hiking, Rock Climbing at the rec, Working Out
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Rolling Toomer’s Corner after a big Football or Basketball game. Nothing beats Auburn game days and winning after!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I can’t wait to help incoming freshman start their journey at Auburn and get them plugged into the community! Seeing freshman find their home here and adapting to the ways of college will make all the work worth it!
Fun Fact: I am the only red head in my immediate family and left-handed! What are the odds??
Hailey Hubbard
Major(s)/Minor: Finance and Marketing
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Involvement: Greek Life, Auburn Club Pickleball team, Women in Business, Onward Ministry, Emerge Leadership, Glomerata (yearbook) staff, Younglife leader at local high school, Nursery Volunteer at Auburn Community Church
Interests/Hobbies: Taking adventures, going on walks, trying new restaurants, attending Auburn athletic events, pickleball
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition is the pregame show before the football games
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am super excited to be a mentor and meet my future mentees! I learned and grew a lot during my freshman year, and I want to pass on some helpful advice. I was a mentee last year and found it very helpful. From being from far out of state and not knowing anyone at Auburn, I was a little lost at the beginning but quickly got adjusted by taking advantage of the opportunities Auburn offers, like this program, and getting super involved. I have loved being a part of the honors college and the Lead Mentor program and can’t wait to help my mentees love Auburn as much as I do! War Eagle!!
Ellie Morgan
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences, Pre-PA; minor in Business
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Involvement: Intramural sports, Honors Congress, ACC Community Group
Interests/Hobbies: Playing and watching sports, Traveling, Broadway, Being outside
Favorite Auburn Tradition: The eagle flying over the stadium before football games!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I’m so excited to welcome incoming students to Auburn and the Honors College. College can be intimidating, so I hope to be able to make this time of transition easier for them. I love getting to know people, and am a problem-solver, so I’m looking forward to helping these students navigate the challenges they are going to face in their first year!
Fun Fact: I have seen the movie “The Proposal” dozens of times.
Letícia Raymundi Pinheiro
Hometown: Passo Fundo, Brazil
Major(s)/Minor: Nursing, Pre-Med
Involvement: Alpha Epsilon Delta, Intramural Sports, Student Nurse Association (SNA), SI leader, A&PI UTA.
Interests/Hobbies: I love anything related to exercise such as dance, sports, hiking, cycle and much more! I have a passion for cooking and baking too. I am a very outdoorsy person, and I also share a love for anything craft related.
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Saying “War Eagle” whenever I see an Auburn fan or a fellow Auburn student! The love that students and fan share is so special, saying War Eagle just keeps that spirit and love alive. This traditions makes me very proud and happy to be an Auburn student!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am super excited to meet new students and help them to accommodate to life in Auburn and in the Honors College! The process of starting college can be very difficult an/or intimidating, but having someone that cares for you and look after you makes the experience a bit more barable, and I am so happy I can be this person that provides comfort and tips and tricks here and there!
Fun Fact: I can speak 6 different languages, including ASL!
Regan Sullivan
Hometown: Davidson, North Carolina
Major(s)/Minor: Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Med), and Spanish
Involvement: Alpha Epsilon Delta (honor society), Honors Serves, Lab Assistant for Chemistry
Interests/Hobbies: Exercising/ Weight Lifting (I frequent the Recreation and Wellness Center), spending time with friends, Going to new places/ Traveling, All things music
Favorite Auburn Tradition: Marching Band Pregame
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am most excited to connect with new people and hopefully offer some insight about what it’s like to be a student at Auburn! I look forward to many inside jokes, random polls in the GroupMe and people coming up to me in the Edge and saying hi (hopefully)!
Fun Fact: I’m TERRIFYINGLY good at Tik Tok impressions/ references.
Brooke Twiner
Hometown: Dunwoody, Georgia
Major(s)/Minor: Exercise Science (Major)/ Psychology (Minor)
Involvement: Student Government Association (SGA): Freshman Forum and Cabinet, Alpha Gamma Delta, Lee County Humane Society Volunteer
Interests/Hobbies: Watching college sports, traveling, being with friends, exercising, and dancing
Favorite Auburn Tradition: My favorite Auburn tradition is rolling Toomer’s Corner after a big Auburn win! It is so fun and unique to be able to celebrate the win in such an enjoyable way with your friends alongside the whole Auburn community!
Why I’m excited to be a Mentor: I am beyond excited to be a mentor to help students love Auburn as much as I do! I want to make the incoming students feel loved and heard, and that I am always there for them no matter the time of day or the question asked. I hope to provide support and comfort to the students to make their transition to Auburn a little bit easier.
Fun Fact: I was an Irish dancer for 11 years!
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