Peer Success Coaches

Peer Success Coaches are trained student leaders who offer practical strategies, encouragement, and accountability to help you stay on track. They understand the challenges of college because they’re experiencing them too, and they’re here to share what works.

You can meet with a PSC by scheduling through Starfish or by dropping in at the Chaiken Center (325 Boucke) Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. No appointment needed.  Coming this spring semester, students will also be able to join a PSC-led accountability group for weekly support.

Accountability Groups (New for Spring 2026)

Looking for structure and a supportive community to help you follow through each week? Our Peer Success Coaches are each leading a weekly Accountability Group this spring, open to all undergraduate students at University Park. Starting in Week 3, each Accountability Group meets once a week at the same time. With 14 different meeting times to choose from, you can select the group that best fits your schedule.

Use the form below to select your preferred time(s), and we’ll match you with a group for the semester!

Join an Accountability Group

Meet Our Peer Success Coaches

Our PSCs represent a wide range of majors, backgrounds, and experiences—so you can connect with someone who truly understands what you’re navigating. Explore their bios below to find the coach you most resonate with.

Schedule with a Peer Success Coach

Alyssa Beers

She/Her
Alyssa Beers
Second Year from Bellefonte, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Motivation and Procrastination, Organization, Time Management

Major:  Accounting

Coaching superpower:  Creating accountability efforts for motivation

What do you wish you knew when you first started college?  Your plan should follow your own idea of success, not anybody else’s

Archit Gautam

He/Him
Archit Gautam
Second Year from Sao Paulo, Brazil
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Community and Belonging, Motivation and Procrastination, Time Management

Major:  Industrial Engineering

Coaching superpower:  Turning overwhelming goals into a clear, motivating direction that feels achievable

Favorite way to recharge when you’re stressed?  Playing soccer

Aryana Harris

She/Her
Aryana Harris
Fourth Year from Boston, MA
Favorite coaching topics:
Academic Skills, Organization, Time Management

Major:  Human Development and Family Studies

Coaching superpower:  Planning and breaking up a bunch of assignments into a foolproof “no burnout” schedule

Top productivity hack:  Finding time for a self-care day each week. It’s really a necessity for success!

Denzel Girsang

He/Him
Denzel Girsang
Second Year from Chambersburg, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Academic Skills, Community and Belonging, Time Management

Major:  Economics

Coaching superpower:  Adapting notetaking for different goals

Campus involvement:  Penn State Jazz Collective

Isabella Tinney

She/Her
Isabella Tinney
Third Year from New York, NY
Favorite coaching topics:
Academic Skills, Goal Setting and Follow Through, Motivation and Procrastination, Time Management

Major:  Biomedical Engineering

Coaching superpower:  Making spreadsheets for assignment completion

What do you wish you knew when you first started college?  Always check Canvas, Outlook, and LionPath every day!

James Morgan

He/Him
James Morgan
Third Year from Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Community and Belonging, Motivation and Procrastination, Time Management

Major:  Accounting

Coaching superpower:  Managing time efficiently and effectively

What song or playlist gets you motivated?  80s and 90s rock music

Jordan Palacios

She/Her
Jordan Palacios
Fourth Year from Westwood, NJ
Favorite coaching topics:
Academic Skills, Balancing Life and Academics, Time Management

Majors:  Psychology (Business Track), Labor and Human Resources

Coaching superpower:  Finding time in students’ schedules they didn't realize they had

Top productivity hack:  Putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, sitting in a quiet space, and making a to-do list for myself of what I want to accomplish during the time I have to study

Leona Riji

She/Her
Leona Riji
Third Year from Philadelphia, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Campus Resource Navigation, Community and Belonging, Goal Setting and Follow Through

Major:  Integrative Science (Biological Science and Health Professions)

Coaching superpower:  Breaking down big issues

Penn State origin story:  I did my first two years at the Abington campus!
 

Neha Valamkonda

She/Her
Neha Valamkonda
Third Year from West Chester, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Goal Setting and Follow Through, Motivation and Procrastination, Organization, Time Management

Major:  Computer Science

Coaching superpower:  Organizing overwhelming tasks and schedules

Top productivity hack:  Prioritize weekends! Getting ahead of school work will make life easier during the weekdays
 

Nicholas Bianchi

He/Him
Nicholas Bianchi
Second Year from Elizabethtown, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Academic Skills, Campus Resource Navigation, Community and Belonging, Organization

Major:  Aerospace Engineering

Coaching superpower:  Knowing what resources will be beneficial for classes, both campus and online

Favorite study spot:  HUB lawn in the spring
 

Nicole Guzman

She/Her
Nicole Guzman
Fourth Year from Poughkeepsie, NY
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Campus Resource Navigation, Organization, Time Management

Major:  Finance

Coaching superpower:  Finding the right balance of fun and academic success

Campus involvement:  Caliente Dance Company, TA for Business Sustainability and Ethics Class, Tri-Alpha Honor Society

Ryan Bell

He/Him
Ryan Bell
Third Year from Montgomery County, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Campus Resource Navigation, Community and Belonging, Motivation and Procrastination

Major:  Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations

Coaching superpower:  Being aware of and staying on top of assignments to reduce stress levels

What do you wish you knew when you first started college?  It’s okay to have setbacks

Shahid Khan

He/Him
Shahid Khan
Fourth Year from Stroudsburg, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Campus Resource Navigation, Community and Belonging, Goal Setting and Follow Through

Major:  Health Policy and Administration; IUG with Masters in Public Policy

Coaching superpower:  Making studying manageable and using extracurriculars to support academics instead of taking away from it

Favorite Penn State tradition:  The Homecoming parade!
 

Sophia DiJoseph

She/Her
Sophia DiJoseph
Fourth Year from Glen Mills, PA
Favorite coaching topics:
Balancing Life and Academics, Community and Belonging, Motivation and Procrastination, Time Management

Major:  Psychology

Coaching superpower:  Creating plans to clear mental roadblocks

Favorite way to recharge when you’re stressed?  Getting a large coke zero from McDonalds