Meet the Founder!

Hi there! My name is Jia (she/her), and I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in Psychological and Brain Science with minors in Chinese and Applied Psychology. Coping with mental health challenges can be a struggle, especially when our situations can make us feel isolated and withdrawn from

Hi there! My name is Jia (she/her), and I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in Psychological and Brain Science with minors in Chinese and Applied Psychology. Coping with mental health challenges can be a struggle, especially when our situations can make us feel isolated and withdrawn from our peers. Sometimes we hold the strongest responsibility to confront our problems but also hold the most vulnerable soul facing our deepest fears of speaking up about our issues. Recovering from our mental health is often an imperfect, nonlinear route! Whether you are first-year students entering college, transfer students transitioning into a new university, or a graduate student pursuing a higher education, we are in this together, struggling and dealing with heavy, rigorous workloads or a tangled personal life. Beyond talking about academics, I am motivated to create a comfortable and confidential space to talk about interpersonal problems or issues that are hard to express and open up to our family and friends. We are here to listen to your concerns and give a shoulder when you need one! 

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy reading, traveling, and listening to music. A recent book that I have been reading is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. If there is one thing that captures my attention to keep on reading a book, it would be the writing style of the author. Levi begins in Theo of Golden with a second person perspective and the vivid language, lyrical prose, and word choices that the author wrote the story in, is both captivating and appealing. Otherwise, I enjoy spending my free time traveling locally. I have traveled to local areas near home, such as Huntington LIbrary, Irvine Spectrum, and Joshua Tree. Some music genres that I listen to are Chinese R&B and English Pop songs. I listen to songs ranging from “Toxic Till the End” by Rose, “Carpool” by Zachary Knowles, and “The Older You Get The Less You Cry” by LANY to “Euphoria” by Jungkook and “1000 Times +1” by Patrick Brasca. 

Hi everyone! My name is Nik, and I’m a senior at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. I grew up in New York City, though, surrounded by a robust culture of Caribbean Americans. I myself am Dominican, as well as a first-generation student. I’m a Psychology major, minoring in English, and work with underclassmen to facilitate group conn

Hi everyone! My name is Nik, and I’m a senior at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. I grew up in New York City, though, surrounded by a robust culture of Caribbean Americans. I myself am Dominican, as well as a first-generation student. I’m a Psychology major, minoring in English, and work with underclassmen to facilitate group connection and conversation through our Hoyas Connected Group here on campus. My career goal is to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, working with couples and families, while also focusing on young adults high school and college aged. I’m also on the Georgetown Cheer team, and work two jobs during the year, so I have experience with time management and learning how to balance a full college and work load. I look forward to meeting you all!

Hi! My name is Guenivere and I am a peer listener with Collegiate Connect!  I am currently finishing my undergrad at UMass Dartmouth in hopes to attend graduate school next year. I am here because I also understand the stress that college can bring on.  My goal is to support you and hopefully bring some light at the end of the tunnel.  Ev

Hi! My name is Guenivere and I am a peer listener with Collegiate Connect!  I am currently finishing my undergrad at UMass Dartmouth in hopes to attend graduate school next year. I am here because I also understand the stress that college can bring on.  My goal is to support you and hopefully bring some light at the end of the tunnel.  Everyone needs support and I’m here to offer a listening ear. My hobbies are gardening, crafting, and watching terrible reality tv shows. 

I also have a really cute dog named nugget who is ready to boost your spirits as well.  

Hi! My name is Alex, I just graduated from The New School in New York with a BA in psychology! I’m originally from Texas but moved here on my own for school and am planning on staying in the city. A bit about myself: I’m 22 and have always been passionate about understanding and helping others. I ultimately aspire to become a therapist, a

Hi! My name is Alex, I just graduated from The New School in New York with a BA in psychology! I’m originally from Texas but moved here on my own for school and am planning on staying in the city. A bit about myself: I’m 22 and have always been passionate about understanding and helping others. I ultimately aspire to become a therapist, and my personal experiences with mental health have played a huge role in developing my perspective. From early on in my life and to this day, my experiences have helped me become more committed to supporting others and continue to help me become better equipped to pursue this passion. For college, although I grew up around the southern state school atmospheres, I’ve spent 4 years in the city at a smaller, more art-centered school so I’m familiar with a range of perspectives in that regard. Nonetheless, I’m always, always open to talk about anything whether it’s school related or not, so don’t hesitate to reach out at any point!

Hi, I'm Jonah Hur, an upcoming junior studying psychology at NYU! I'm originally from San Francisco, California, and I'm passionate about mental health and helping others navigate the ups and downs of college life. When I'm not in class, you can usually find me on the basketball court — I love playing and always try to catch a game when I

Hi, I'm Jonah Hur, an upcoming junior studying psychology at NYU! I'm originally from San Francisco, California, and I'm passionate about mental health and helping others navigate the ups and downs of college life. When I'm not in class, you can usually find me on the basketball court — I love playing and always try to catch a game when I can, whether I'm watching live or cheering from my couch. Outside of sports, I love spending quality time with my dog, I'm excited to be part of Collegiate Connect and to help build a community where students feel supported and heard.  

Hi, I’m Maleny Argudo! I am a junior at Farmingdale State College majoring in Applied Psychology, with a specialized micro-credential in Developmental Science (Child Emphasis). I am focused on understanding human behavior and finding ways to support the growth and development of children. As an Ecuadorian who speaks both Spanish and Engli

Hi, I’m Maleny Argudo! I am a junior at Farmingdale State College majoring in Applied Psychology, with a specialized micro-credential in Developmental Science (Child Emphasis). I am focused on understanding human behavior and finding ways to support the growth and development of children. As an Ecuadorian who speaks both Spanish and English, I love connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and bringing an inclusive, welcoming perspective to everything I do. I am incredibly glad to be a part of Collegiate Connect and can’t wait to meet and support students.

My name is Cassidy Philip, and I am someone driven by curiosity, resilience, and a genuine

desire to understand both people and the world around me. I originally earned my bachelor's

degree in Sociology from Binghamton University before deciding to pursue a career in

healthcare. My academic interests sit at the intersection of science and hu

My name is Cassidy Philip, and I am someone driven by curiosity, resilience, and a genuine

desire to understand both people and the world around me. I originally earned my bachelor's

degree in Sociology from Binghamton University before deciding to pursue a career in

healthcare. My academic interests sit at the intersection of science and human behavior, and I

enjoy learning about psychology, sleep disorders, neuroscience, statistics, and the many factors

that shape our experiences and relationships.

Outside of academics, I have always loved storytelling and creative writing. I enjoy creating

realistic dialogue, memorable characters, and emotionally engaging narratives that explore what

makes people who they are. I also love photography, anime, gaming, and creative projects that

allow me to express myself in different ways. When I'm home, you'll usually find me spending

time with my pets, who have always been a source of comfort and joy. The people closest to me

would probably describe me as observant, detail-oriented, and someone who enjoys looking for

patterns that others might miss. I value both logical thinking and genuine human connection.

While I appreciate facts and evidence, I also believe that feeling heard and understood can make

a meaningful difference in someone's day.

Like many college students, I know that life doesn't always go according to plan. Throughout my

education and career journey, I've faced unexpected challenges, changing circumstances, and

moments of uncertainty that pushed me outside my comfort zone. I’ve experienced it all. During

my time in college my father became sick with cancer, I found out I wouldnt recieve aid and

couldnt afford schooling anymore, my roommates were so unhinged the police had to be called

on multiple instances and my own health took a turn as I worked 3 jobs and that was all within

my first year of university. Those experiences taught me resilience, patience, and the importance

of asking for help when it's needed. They also reminded me that no one should have to navigate

the challenges of college completely alone.

I'm excited to be part of a team that supports students as they navigate the ups and downs of

college life. While I'm not a therapist or mental health professional, I believe that sometimes

having someone who genuinely listens, understands the challenges of being away from home,

and offers encouragement can make all the difference. Whether someone is feeling overwhelmed

by exams, struggling with homesickness, feeling lonely, or simply needs another student to talk

to, I hope to provide a welcoming, compassionate, and judgment-free space where they feel

heard and supported