Psych Friends Peer Mentoring aims to increase the academic success & well-being of psychology students by connecting upper division psychology majors (mentors) with students newer to the major (mentees). Psych Friends is a great way to expand your knowledge on all that the field of psychology has to offer and to build a social network with others within the psychology community.
SIGN UP FOR A PEER MENTORING SESSION
Make an appointment with a peer mentor to learn about the psychology and behavioral neuroscience major requirements, careers and education paths in psychology, the graduate school application process, strategies to increase academic success, and/ or student self-care techniques.
Our mentors would love to get to know you. We have plenty of time slots available to best fit your needs. Appointments can be made through Navigate and students can choose between having an appointment in person on campus, or to meet online via Zoom.
To sign up for an appointment, visit GVSU's Navigate. Select “Schedule an appointment,” then select “Mentorship Programs and Support” and “Psych Friends Peer Mentorship Program.” Check out our pdf flyer.
EARN COURSE CREDIT BY SERVING AS A PEER MENTOR
PSY 493 and PSY 494 is a two-semester practicum experience that allows junior and senior psychology and behavioral neuroscience majors to offer their leadership skills and knowledge about the major to students newer to the major. Students learn key principles and processes related to mentorship and apply this knowledge through peer mentoring.
Mentors
Alex Holda
Alex enjoys spending time with friends and getting to know new people. In his free time Alex likes to work out, play guitar, and board games. Outside of school, work, and free time, Alex spends a lot of his time within the Church and one of the campus ministries on GV. Alex plans to go to grad school for social work after his undergrad. Alex hopes to begin working within a hospital working with children or veterans.
Grace Soliven
Grace is a senior psychology student at GVSU with a minor in sociology. She plans to pursue a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, with the goal of supporting young adults and neurodivergent individuals as they navigate life’s challenges. She loves coffee, creative writing, and listening to music. Grace is excited to join Psych Friends and help students make the most of their time at GVSU!
Sydnie Schimmel
Sydnie is a third-year student majoring in Social Work with a minor in Psychology. Her goal is to one day apply her studies to helping children and families, whether she works in a hospital or a school. She is also interested in helping victims and survivors of human trafficking. Outside of work and school, Sydnie loves spending time at home with her family and dog, hanging out with friends, singing, painting, or reading.
Sammy Patrick
Sammy is a senior at Grand Valley majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology, with plans to pursue a career in School Psychology. She is particularly interested in the intersection of neuroscience and education. In her free time, she likes thrifting, hiking, canoeing, cooking, and spending time with her friends. Sammy is excited to connect with other students and help in any way she can!
Mady Kuestner
Mady is in her junior year, majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice. After GVSU, she plans to pursue a graduate school program in Forensic Psychology on the road to becoming a Forensic Psychologist. In her free time, she really enjoys reading, crocheting, listening to music, and soaking up the sun at the beach! A fun fact: she really loves sharks and was born in Hawaii, living there for a bit before moving back to the states.
Sydney VanGoethem
Sydney is currently a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business. While she is still exploring her career options, she hopes to attend a graduate school program in social work and possibly work as a therapist in the future. In her free time, Sydney loves hanging out with her friends, listening to music, going for walks, and dancing!
Mollie Murdock
Mollie is a junior at GVSU. She enjoys learning about neuroscience and deepening her understanding of how the brain shapes thoughts, memory, and behavior. Mollie hopes to one day work in a neurological or rehabilitative administrative position. This year, she hopes to help other students discover their passions and goals through mentorship! Outside of school, she loves traveling, shopping with friends, and doing Gel-X nail sets! A fun fact about Mollie is that she is always down to grab coffee!
Emily Beuschel
Emily is a Psychology major working towards minors in Writing and Applied Statistics. While still exploring career options, she plans on attending grad school. This past summer she spent time with the Psychology program in Northern Ireland. In Emily’s free time she enjoys music, traveling, and playing games with family and friends.
Amber Duffany
Amber is a junior at GVSU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business. Amber plans to attend graduate school after Grand Valley to earn a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She hopes to become a Licensed Trauma Therapist with training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR. She spends her free time at the gym, hanging out with friends, and doing things she loves like cooking, thrifting, and listening to music.
Mimi Friel
Mimi is a junior studying Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. She hopes to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology with dreams of working in women's mental health and reproductive care. She is also involved as a Peer Educator with the University Counseling Center and volunteers for the Crisis Text Line. In her free time, Mimi loves spending time with her loved ones, reading, crocheting, running, and going to concerts.
Max Korwin
Max is a junior at Grand Valley State University majoring in psychology, with minors in general business and philosophy. Originally from Lake Orion, Michigan, Max enjoys reading, mixology, creative writing, baking, and perfumery. After pursuing a Ph.D. in graduate school, Max plans to work as an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. Having benefited from Psych Friends during their sophomore year, Max is eager to support fellow students through the program.
Natalie Palbicke
Natalie is a junior majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She and her service dog, Cookie, like to play fetch, craft, paint, and bake in their spare time. Natalie plans to go to graduate school after GVSU to further her knowledge of neurological disorders and diseases and become a researcher. Cookie plans to gather all the ties and bowties he can for his collection.
Tori Landman
Tori is majoring in Psychology, with minors in Sociology and Early Childhood Education. In her free time, Tori likes spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, going on walks, and going shopping! A fun fact about Tori is that she currently works in ABA Therapy as a Behavioral Technician. After graduating next fall, she plans to earn a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and work as a child therapist.
Check out our video to learn more about our awesome team and why they became Psych Friends Peer Mentors in their own words. Be sure to say hi when you see them around campus!
We would love to learn more about you. Please email us at [email protected] to share a little bit about yourself and what you hope to gain from this program!