International Peer Mentoring Program
International Peer Mentoring Program is offered by the Office of Global Affairs.
What is the Peer Mentoring Program?
- The InternationalPeer Mentoring Program is an international mentoring community.
- Stony Brook University is one of many institutions to provide support for new international students through mentorship.
- This program matches students with a trained alumni/current students mentor based
on common interests, background, academics, and professional aspirations.
- MENTORS
Program Information
Peer Mentors are campus leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to diversity, recognize the contributions diversity brings to the work of the team, and dedicated to helping new international students have a good college experience. Peer mentors plays are a critical role in assisting new undergraduate international student’s transition into the U.S. education system and Stony Brook University.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7.
- Must complete at least 2 semesters at Stony Brook University.
- Must have a working knowledge of the services offered on campus and where to refer students for various queries.
- Must be available to attend Peer Mentor training and meetings.
- Must commit to the program for the full 2023-2024 academic year.
- Abide by a confidentiality agreement, maintaining confidentiality and respect for individual students' rights at all times.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong interpersonal skills, especially when communicating with people from different cultural background.
- Strong desire to help new international students.
- Self-motivation.
General Expectations
- Paired with at least 3 mentees, and must commit to the program for the full 2023-2024 academic year.
- Must attend required training sessions.
- Prompt response to all office communications (e.g., emails and Google Calendar invitations).
- Active engagement in International Peer Mentor Program events, including but not limited to pre-orientation evening programs, evening social events during the semester, and social media engagements.
- Available to communicate (phone, email, and/or in-person) with assigned new student mentees over summer 2023 and winter 2024, prior to their first semester, as well as throughout the remainder of the academic year.
- If applied and selected as the Mentor Program Event Committee Member:
- Assist with preparation, face to face outreach, and facilitation of Peer Mentor Program Events (1 major event per semester).
- Attend at least 3 major meetings in the semester regarding event planning with the program supervisor.
Benefits of Being a Peer Mentor
- Hourly paid position.
- Experience and development of the following core learning objectives and skillsets:
- Cognitive Complexity: Critical thinking, reflective thinking, effective reasoning, and creativity.
- Interpersonal Competence: Develop meaningful relationships, interdependence, collaboration, and effective leadership.
- Practical Competence: Pursuing goals, communicating effectively, technical competence, managing personal affairs, demonstrating professionalism.
- Intrapersonal Development.
- Networking with University staff, mentors, and mentees.
Apply to Be a Mentor
The application for 2023 mentors is open from Feb 14, 2023 to March 3, 2023 at 11:59 am EST.
- MENTEES
Program information
What do mentors and mentees discuss?
- How will my major impact my professional options?
- How do I balance the demands of school, sleep, and socializing?
- How can I set myself up for academic, social, and career success?
- How do I make connections with peers and professional contacts?
- How do I find jobs and internships as an international student?
What are other Mentees saying about the experience?
- "[My mentor] helped me answer the question of how to form strong relationships with my professors by giving me an actionable strategy to having strong purposeful visits to their office hours. "
- "I'm really excited to have someone there for me. It's nice knowing that I'm not completely alone and hopefully I can someone I can reach out to if I'm having a hard time in school or other activities. "
- "My mentor has been an amazing help in my life, he makes me realize and see things more clearly. Sometimes it's in front of your face but you can't see until someone puts into words for you. "
How do I apply?
- MEET THE 2022-2023 MENTORS
Naila Ali
Language: Bengali and some Korean Major: Health Science
Naila is an advocate for self-care. In her spare time, she likes to journal, crochet, and do skincare. You might even catch her in the middle of an intense TV show/ K-drama binge sometimes. She enjoys learning new languages, going to concerts, her mom's curry, and hanging out with her friends! 
Sara Asher
Language: Hindi, Gujarati, Kutchi, and Marathi Major: Biology
Sara is an international student from India and a huge animal lover. She loves exploring new places and would love to travel the world. She is also a rookie singer and was a part of the Choir for 4 years. A fun fact about her is that she is the only left-handed person in her whole family. 
Anushri Kulkarni
Language: Hindi and Marathi Major: Biomedical Engineering
anushri.kulkarni@stonybrook.edu
Anushri enjoys reading books, especially historical fiction. You will find her doing yoga and staying active. She wants to travel more, specifically to natural areas like forests and hills. She wants to learn digital art in the near future. 
Shazmin Lakhani
Language: Hindi Major: Biology/Psychology
shazmin.lakhani@stonybrook.edu
Shazmin is on the pre-med track. Her hobbies include singing and dancing. She teaches private flute and vocal lessons and is the co-director of Deja Vu Dance Team, a hip-hop dance team on campus. She is a foodie, and loves to try new things and cooking. 
Kristine Theys
Language: French and Norwegian Major: Business Management; minor in Leadership Development
Kristine enjoys playing tennis, as she is part of the Stony Brook Women’s tennis team. During her free time, she likes to hang out with friends and do fun activities, like bowling. She has played the piano for 7 years. She has 3 dogs! 
Angel Wu
Language: Mandarin Chinese Major: Psychology BA/Sociology
Angel enjoys writing and composing songs. Her favorite genres are R&B and Hip-Hop. She also has her own YouTube channel where she shares her travel experiences and songs. She is passionate about her cultural roots and she is on the executive board of Taiwanese Students Association (TSA) at Stony Brook University. Her favorite animals are birds and she has two adorable pet parakeets. 
Stephanie Yam
Language: Mandarin Chinese Major: Psychology/Asian & Asian American Studies
Stephanie loves learning and trying new things. During her free time, she enjoys discovering a variety of new music in different languages while writing her original stories or working out. Recently, she has gotten into taking care of indoor plants such as succulents and flowers, and plans to get into photography, embroidery, and rollerblading as well. 
Yoon Yu Yu Ya
Language: Burmese and Korean Major: Business Management
Yoon enjoys slow songs, sentimental gifts, and deep talks at 2 AM! She also loves good movies, short-walks, oceans, blue skies, and sunsets. She is a detail-oriented person who secretly likes to be carefree sometimes. She will say ‘yes’ to food and silly stories every single time. Taking care of her friends and making sure everyone is involved are her specialties.