Aspirational Graduate Peer Mentors
Peer Support
As a student, it helps to have the support and encouragement of a near peer that has experiences similar to your own. Undergraduate students that are interested in (or already are) working with faculty on original research and creative works projects can benefit from the advice the CSR Graduate Peer Mentors can offer!
What can a Peer Mentor Do for Me?
Our Peer Mentors are available to answer your questions about the research and scholarship process. They have the experience and training to answer questions such as:
- “What is the timeline for my research goal and how can I balance that with my other obligations?
- “Will I get paid to work on research, or am I eligible for a special scholarship?”
- “How do I approach a mentor who can oversee my work and give me lab experience?”
Our mentors are also skilled in professional development as students who have been successful reaching graduate programs in their chosen field. Ask them things like:
- “How do I even begin to write a personal statement?”
- “What career opportunities exist if I don’t want to attend graduate school?”
- “How do I pass the LSAT/MCAT/GRE ahh! Or, wait, do I really need to take the test?”
Meet our mentors
Ashley Degeorge
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Biomedical Science
Graduate Program: MS in Biology - Cellular and Molecular Biology Track
Research Interests: Molecular genetics relating to neurodegenerative disease
What I can help you with:
1. Research as an undergraduate
2. Writing - research papers
3. Research design and plans
4. Graduate school applications
5. Time/stress management
Favorite activity to do outside of research: Cooking and taking my dog to wander the forest or the mountains!
Colleen Mock
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Psychology, minor in Criminal Justice; MA in Clinical Psychology
Graduate Program: Clinical Psychology PhD Program, Geropsychology Specialization
Research Interests: Older Adults, Suicidal Ideation, Personality, Death Anxiety, Intrapersonal Functioning
What I can help you with:
1. Navigating being a first-generation student or having other barriers to education (SES, justice involvement, etc.)
2. Time management
3. SPSS navigation
4. Psychology graduate school admissions
5. Career and graduate school alternatives
6. Fostering professional relationships
Favorite activity to do outside of research: Engaging with nature (and thrift shopping!)
Kyrie Milliron
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Biochemistry, Distinction in Research
Graduate Program: MS Biochemistry – Research Track
Research Interests: Virology, Immunology, Biochemistry
What I can help you with:
1. Research as an undergraduate
2. Undergraduate Research Academy (URA)
3. Writing - Personal statements, Research papers
4. Presentations - Oral and Poster
5. Mentor/Mentee Relationships
6. Work/Life Balance and Time Management
Favorite activity to do outside of research: I love reading, going to concerts, and enjoying nature in the mountains.
Reeti Sharma
Graduate Degree:
Master of Public Administration
Current Program:
PhD in Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy
Research Interests:
Internationalization in education, higher education policies, equity in higher education, international students, marginality and mattering
What I can help you with:
1. Navigating research and academia as a first-gen student
2. Academic writing for non-English speakers
3. Graduate school admissions, transition, and adjustment
4. Conference proposal submission, and presentation
5. Boundaries, Networking, and Collaboration in academia
My favorite activity outside of research:
Visiting national parks in the US. I love being outdoors, camping, and paddleboarding. I am obsessed with indoor plants and spend time taking care of them.
Jon Sundby
Undergraduate Degree: BA in Political Science and Policy Studies
Graduate Program: MA in Clinical Psychology
Research Interests: Death Anxiety, Existential Psychology, Older Adults, Homelessness
What I can help you with:
1. Writing
2. Navigating the research process
3. Graduate school admissions
4. Research into fellowships
5. Gap year(s) planning
6. Personal statements and admission essays
7. Guidance on research mentors
8. Goal planning
Favorite activity to do outside of research: When I'm not thinking about research, I'm thinking about my next cooking "project".
Gemma Brom
Undergraduate Degree:
BS in Psychology, minor in Biology
Graduate Program:
MA in Clinical Psychology (Trauma)
Research Interests:
Self-compassion, Fears of compassion, Emotion Regulation, Post-traumatic Growth, and Resilience in interpersonal trauma survivors
What I can help you with:
- Getting involved in research as an undergraduate and connecting to resources
- Choosing a faculty research mentor and narrowing in on your research interests
- Choosing the right psychology graduate program for you, well as what to expect in the application process
- Reviewing and providing feedback on application documents such as your CV and personal
statement - Reviewing and providing feedback on research presentations
- What to expect being a grad student v. undergrad (differences in grad v. undergrad, experience being in a research lab, etc.)
- Time management and work-life balance
- Tips for studying
- Cultivating self-care practices (to avoid burn-out)
Favorite activity to do outside of research:
I love spending time with my two cats, reading fiction novels, being in nature, and exploring Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas!
Paige D Klein
Undergraduate Degree: BA in Psychology, minor in Counseling & Social Change
Graduate Program: Clinical Psychology – Trauma Track
Research Interests: Moral Injury, Intimate Partner Violence, Self-Compassion, Self-Care in Psychology Training Programs, and Community Based Participatory Research.
What I can help you with:
1. Graduate School Preparation and Planning
2. Information on distinctions between PsyD/PhD/Masters Programs in Psychology
3. Narrowing your research interests
4. Finding relevant faculty advisors
5. Personal Statement Writing
6. Scientific Writing
7. Networking
8. Self-Care
9. Stress Management
Favorite activity to do outside of research: Watching stand up comedy in the springs, losing at weekly trivia, coffee shop hopping, and finding a good lake to enjoy!
Branden Schaff CSR Program Developer
Branden Schaff, MA graduated with his master's in clinical psychology in 2023 from UCCS. Branden attended his undergraduate education at Truman State University, where he managed the Center for Applied Psychophysiology with Dr. Fred Shaffer. Working with Dr. Rachel Weiskittle, he is pursued his research interest in the treatment of older adult loneliness, especially as it pertains to minority status. Branden served as the Center for Student Research Peer Advocate Program Developer from 2022-2023 and was instrumental in establishing the Aspirational Graduate Peer Mentor Program. He is now pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mississippi.
Now Recruiting Peer Mentors!
Want to Join the Graduate Peer Mentor Program?
The Center for Student Research is seeking to recruit graduate students from a variety of disciplines to serve as near-peer mentors for undergraduates. Students interested in research or creative works or those already involved in them will be able to request a 30-min meeting with a peer mentor to discuss different topics related to research, creative works, and graduate school pursuits. We intend for the peer mentors to serve and inspirational role models for undergraduates and provide informational and social peer support to those that contact them. Each peer mentor will receive training on mentoring best-practices including active listening, interpersonal communication, setting ground rules and trust building, and implicit bias mitigation as well as on-and off campus resources to help support their mentees.
Who can be a peer mentor?
All graduate students are welcome serve as peer mentors. The CSR will also consider advanced undergraduate students as well to serve in this role to mentor novice undergraduate students. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a peer mentor, please contact Colleen Mock at cmock@uccs.edu today!