Peer Advising

Group photo of spring 2021 ambassadors

Discovery Center Peer Advising Program

The Discovery Center Peer Advising program provides current and past exploring students at the University of Missouri with leadership, networking, recruitment, and community building opportunities.

Peer Advisors will participate in recruitment events and share their experiences as an Exploring student with prospective students and their families in addition to educating prospective and current students about the resources available to exploring students. Peer Advisors will have the opportunity to network with other exploring students and build community within the Discovery Center.

Eligibility

Students who are currently or have previously been an Exploring student in the Discovery Center are eligible to apply. Students must have completed a minimum on 12 credit hours at the University of Missouri and be in good standing. Preferred applicants will have completed SSC 1150 College Success Seminar, section: DISCOVER.

Application

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on February 10th, 2023.

Complete your application HERE.

Application materials must include current resume.  For resume help, visit https://career.missouri.edu/resumes-interviews/

Questions? Contact Alison Lee at leeal@missouri.edu.

Peer Advisors

Sophia Bianco

Major: Communication

Minor: Digital Storytelling

Certificate: Arts Entrepreneurship

Hometown: Dixon, Missouri

My favorite thing about Mizzou: The connections I have made through classes, campus activities, and service organizations.

What piece of advice would you give to an exploring student?

Don’t put yourself in a box as an exploring student. This is your opportunity to learn what future will be best for you! Take advantage of the resources you’re given as you explore. You may be able to build a path for yourself that wouldn’t exist otherwise!

How did you choose your major?

After a lot of research, career assessments, and even a march madness themed majors’ bracket, I came across Communications. It made the most sense with my career aspirations and gave me the greatest opportunity to build on my education at Mizzou.

Hannah Dominique

Major: Psychology

Minor: Human Development and Family Science

Hometown: Chillicothe, Missouri

My favorite thing about Mizzou: Mizzou Homecoming! Everyone gets together to celebrate a place that so many call home.

What piece of advice would you give to an exploring student?

Use the resources Mizzou offers to narrow down what major is right for you! So many people want to help you, so don’t be scared to reach out and ask for help!

Tyler Blodgett

Major: Public Health

Hometown: High Ridge, MO

What piece of advice would you give to an exploring student? I would tell them not to worry about exploring majors and embrace it. Being an exploring student allows you to discover what you really want to do and gives you the resources to do so.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be? Take your first year slow and explore as many classes as you can. This will really help you find what you want to do and find what you love.

Carolyn Chapman

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Fair Oaks, CA

My favorite thing about Mizzou: The friends I made here and my rugby club.

How did you choose your major? I was drawn to Political Science because of my interest in the government and the many career options after graduation. 

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be? Put yourself out there and try new things!

Sebastian Ashman

Major: Spanish 

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

My favorite thing about Mizzou: My favorite thing about Mizzou is the people. The professors, advisors, students, etc., all want to see you be successful and are willing to help you along your path to success.

How did you select your major? I picked my major after thinking about the classes I enjoy and the things that are valuable to me. Resources such as SSC 1150 helped me a lot with this decision.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming first-year students, what would it be? Getting involved helps a lot. Mizzou is a big school, but getting involved in clubs, organizations, Greek life, and connecting with people over shared interests makes it feel smaller.

Maddi Ehmen

Major: Accounting

Hometown: Quincy, Illinois

My favorite thing about Mizzou: Homecoming!

How did you choose your major?

I knew coming in that I potentially wanted to be a major somewhere in Business. When I took my first accounting class, the concepts just clicked. I felt like it was a class that I was very interested in and wanted to take more like it in the future. I decided, even though I never saw myself going into accounting, to take a chance and go for it! I have loved my major ever since.

Emily Gates

email eag3px@mail.missouri.edu

Major: Spanish and Communications

Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas

My favorite thing about Mizzou: How easy it is to talk to people here. They are very friendly.

How did you choose your major?

I was originally thinking of majors based on how I would like their careers, which made it hard. However, being an exploring student, I realized that your major and career could be chosen by things like values and your personality. I realized I was passionate about getting to know new people, and Communications was a perfect fit. I also have always enjoyed Spanish and meeting people outside of my culture. I am now going to study abroad in Spain in the fall for my major.

Lauren McQuade

Major: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology

Hometown: St Louis, Missouri

My favorite thing about Mizzou: All of the study spots on campus. (Second floor of the Student Center 😊).

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshman, what would it be?

As someone who was unbelievably terrified to leave home and go to college, I absolutely dreaded the idea of college for years. But, once I got to Mizzou, I realized how amazing college was for growth and independence. My advice for incoming freshmen would be to treat everything new and “scary” as an opportunity for growth. Focus more of your energy on being excited about what could happen rather than being afraid of it.

Alexia Vollmer

Major: Human Development and Family Science

Minor: Psychology, Leadership and Public Service

Hometown: Troy, Missouri

My favorite thing about Mizzou: The number of opportunities we have to make our experience here unique and our own.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming freshman, what would it be?

Step out of your comfort zone and into your growth. This is the perfect time to try new things. I’m usually very wary about new settings, but my best experiences come from doing things I was nervous to do. Mizzou has so many opportunities to learn more about yourself, and you should really take advantage of them.