PEER MENTORS
Peer Mentors are undergraduate students in the SEES department who have been recruited by faculty to serve as role models, advocates, and allies for students.
SEES Peer Mentors are excellent students, but they are also individuals who have demonstrated maturity, leadership, and emotional intelligence during their time in the department. They work directly with our introductory lab classes (ENSCI 99, ENSCI 100, and GEO 101) to support students with lab reports, study strategies, selection of majors and/or classes, and orientation to Queens College in general.
Aquila Nuzhat
GEOL 101
“Hello! I am a senior dual majoring in Environmental Studies and Computer Science. I am interested in the intersection between tech and environmental policy and research. I enjoy crocheting and watching comedy shows in my free time. I am very excited to meet my fellow peers and help them through the semester to the best of my ability!”
Clohie Clarke
GEOL 101
“Hello! My name is Clohie and I am a Political Science major with minors in Geology and Women and Gender Studies. I have cultivated a passion for the study of the Earth’s processes, materials, and history. I am honored to serve as a peer mentor with an active role in students’ learning experience in Geology 101. I look forward to working with students! Fun fact about me… I enjoy crocheting as a hobby.”
Erika Mondragon
ENSCI 99
“Hi! I am Erika, a senior majoring in environmental science. I chose to become a peer mentor because I look forward to sharing what I have learned with others. I am excited to be an additional source of support for you. I am interested in how climate change impacts cities and ways to mitigate its effects. In my free time, I enjoy cruising outdoors on my bike.”
Isabel Santiago
ENSCI 100
“My name is Isabel Meadow Santiago. I am an Environmental Science BS major and Geology minor. I was born and raised upstate in Beacon, NY where I studied Aesthetics. My fascination with the natural world blossomed there in my childhood backyard. Finding solace amidst the natural world, I inherited an unwavering desire to protect and preserve nature. I moved to NYC 3 years ago, got married and enrolled at Queens College in Spring 2026. I am pursuing this degree to do my part in the fight against rapid global warming and climate change inflicted on the Earth by human society. My goal is to study ecosystems with the intention of conserving the climate and the animals living within it. Some of my hobbies include painting, gardening, baking, bird
watching and hiking. I hope I can inspire people to get in touch with the natural world and help them recognize the importance of protecting it.”
Joel Reyes Cruceta
GEOL 101
“Hey, my name is Joel, and I’m excited to be a peer mentor this semester! I am a CS major, and I’ve always been interested in space, Earth’s processes, and cool-looking minerals and rocks. I chose peer mentorship because I enjoy helping others, and I love learning about our beautiful planet. I look forward to being a PM and hope I can help as many students as possible do their best.”
Michaela Chiu
ENSCI 100
“Hi everyone, I’m Michaela, a senior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Geology. I love hiking and learning how we can protect and conserve the environment. My passion is helping people, which is why I became a peer mentor. I hope to make a positive impact on the classroom and show other students the beauty of the environment around them. A fun fact about me is that I love crafting, and I have a sweet chocolate lab/pit mix named Autumn.”
Michell Hernandez
ENSCI 100
“Hi! My name is Michell. I am a senior environmental science major. My passion for this field is focused in wildlife conservation and environment policy. Outside of the class room, I love to sing and draw! I look forward to being a peer mentor for ENSCI 100 and helping students make everyday connections with concepts that may seem abstract. “
Mika Tabanera
ENSCI 100
“Hello! I am an Environmental Science major interested in hydrology and its methods of monitoring water quality, such as fecal indicator bacteria in sewage water that is released out into the harbors of NYC. I’ve had wonderful experiences with the Guardians of Flushing Bay and the pilot remediation project of Tidal Planters with BioHabitats, both of whom are set on making New York’s waters safer and soon to be recreational.”
Natalia Marine
ENSCI 99
“Hello! I am Natalia, and I am a senior dual-majoring in Environmental Studies and Urban Studies. I am interested in environmental policy, environmental inequality, and sustainability. My goal is to help communities that are disproportionately affected by air and water pollution. As your mentor for ENSCI 99, I am excited to support your learning and help you build a stronger relationship with the natural environment. “
PEER ADVISORS
Peer Advisors are SEES majors who serve as student ambassadors.
Kristine Mikhaylov
“I am a senior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Geology. I enjoy learning about the Earth sciences as well as biology. I aspire to build a career dedicated to marine biology and marine conservation. I am looking forward to offering my support to my fellow peers this semester!”