What is the Peer Mentor Program?

The Peer Mentor Program provides MAICEI students with opportunities to become familiar with the campus and develop friendships with UMASS MAICEI Peer Mentor students. Together, they build a relationship based rapport, trust, and respect. Peer mentors help plan social and recreational activities to do with their mentee on campus and provide modeling for characteristics of healthy peer relationships. Mentors and students will have lunches at the dining commons, hang at the craft center, go to sporting events, and attend some of the many student groups on campus. The primary function is to provide an inclusive model for access to social opportunities through student networks and relationships meant to help students feel a better sense of belonging to campus. The Peer Mentor Program runs from the beginning to the end of each semester and is not provided through Winter and Summer breaks.

The peer mentors go through a training and typically earn 1 credit and write small weekly journal entries. The hope is the peer mentors will be able to articulate growth through their thought process and writing with regard to their relationships with Mentees. Many of the students who become MAICEI Peer Mentors aspire to go into careers which offer varieties of services for people with various disabilities including Intellectual Disabilities.

Meet the Current Peer Mentors!

SARAH MCGLINCHEY

My name is Sarah McGlinchey and I am a sophomore here at UMass! I am currently an English major in the process of applying to be a Special Education double major. As for my background with people with disabilities, I was a member of my high school’s Best Buddies and president for two of those years, president of a club that was like Best Buddies but incorporated dance for three years and the president of a similar club that did arts and crafts with these students for two years. I have also worked at a summer camp called Camp Venture for children and young adults with special needs for four years, and have worked my way up from an unpaid volunteer to a senior counselor. I am a musician and love musical theatre, and my favorite thing that I have done with this community is volunteering with a local music therapy organization for two years to help participants of ranging ages and disabilities to put on musical theatre productions such as Mamma Mia and Oklahoma. I am now a member of the Executive Board of Best Buddies here at UMass, and have loved my time as a MAICEI mentor thus far! MAICEI has taught me a lot about others, but also a lot about myself. During the group sessions, I have had to think about my own identity, and realized that there are several similarities between myself and the mentees, more than I had anticipated. While we do have differences, our differences make us unique and powerful, and learning about each other’s differences can make us even closer as a group. Some of the activities that we do in MAICEI with the mentees are fun icebreakers that help us learn more about each other, and while we do go over social skills, there are always fun things incorporated to make it more of a lighthearted and friendly setting rather than a classroom setting.

ALLISON MCGLINCHY

Hello! My name is Allison McGlinchy and I’m currently a senior at UMass. I’m pursuing a double degree in communication disorders and psychology and I’m loving them so far! I’ve had a lot of experience with people with disabilities throughout my life. My first job ever was at a one on one summer camp with people with disabilities, where I worked from when I was 16 until I was about 20. Additionally, when I was 16, I worked with an 11 years old that had autism and was non-speaking. Because he wasn’t able to communicate his needs and I really wanted to help people with the same challenges to be able to communicate, this opportunity really inspired me to pursue the communication disorders major. Here at UMass, I heard about MAICEI and since I have never worked with people with disabilities in the academic setting, I really wanted to give it a try. As a senior, I felt like I knew about a lot of activities/organizations/clubs happening on campus and thought of trying MAICEI because it was related to both my major and to my interests. Being a part of this amazing program, I am constantly learning a lot about myself and about others. On one hand, MAICEI has helped me realize how much I enjoy making connections with people and getting to know them. In the past, I have always been categorized as quiet and shy but this experience has really taught me to step out of my comfort zone and to make genuine relationships with people. On the other hand, this program has taught me to open up my mind even more to people with disabilities. I have had the chance to interact with people with disabilities and therefore put into practice some of the things that my major has taught me as well as learn about different ways in which people listen (use their phone, take breaks to pay more attention, use a stress ball…), which has definitely been one of my favorite parts of this experience. Furthermore, some of my favorite specific activities that I do with the program are going to berk with my mentee, the icebreakers that we do at the beginning of group dialogue (my favorite is when we had to sing a line of our favorite song) and some very interesting discussions that we have had, both the mentors and the mentees, about how to debate vs how to have a healthy disagreement (we went into breakout rooms and role played each side of the game). 

MAHIKA ARORA

Hi! I’m Mahika Arora and a freshman majoring in Computer Science. 

My mom usually quotes “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give ”, and that’s why before I truly get into the CS industry world, I wish to take up various opportunities that involve giving and cherishing. One such opportunity I came across during the first few weeks at UMass was becoming a peer mentor for MAICEI. I saw this as a medium for students with and without disabilities to realise their similarities and uniqueness. At first, I was a little hesitant to apply, unsure of my contribution and resourcefulness to MAICEI as a CS major, but I still thought of giving it a try. Now, in addition to working with mentees, I feel elated to also start handling MAICEI’s newsletter and blog project soon and incrementing my technical expertise. 

Back in my high school, disabled students were treated no differently than all other students. To encourage them, our school offered a diverse range of subjects to choose from. As a peer mentor, I believe MAICEI has provided a platform for collaboration, interaction and self expression. Everyday I learn new things about others and myself. I feel so glad to be able to call myself a part of our MAICEI family. So far, my journey with MAICEI has helped me grow substantially, and the experiences therein, have been fruitful and constructive. I have learned a great deal: realize the true potential of people and their willingness to make changes in order to better interact with people from varied backgrounds.

ALEXIS CARSON

Hello everyone! I’m Alexis Carson, an undergraduate freshman majoring in Biology on the premed track. I was interested in joining MACEI because growing up, I was able to be involved with events like the Special Olympics and 5Ks as an angel, where I was able to meet and assist people with disabilities. I also help my mom, a program coordinator at Open Sky, with groceries and decorating for parties at my mom’s house and through it gets to know the individuals better. When I first heard about MACEI, I was excited at the fact that there was a program similar to activities I have done in the past working with those with disabilities and it sounded like a fun program. Through MACEI, I have learned that sometimes it’s okay to take a step back and allow yourself to be in the moment to better understand material, yourself, and others. I have learned that everyone is unique individually and together even more so because together we are able to accomplish things unimaginable. Together we not only learn about different life skill sets, ourselves, and others, but get to know each other through movies, arts and crafts, go to lunch together, and small games. I find it important that we engage together as a group to help support both mentees and mentors throughout their time both in the program and out. 

Past Peer Mentors!

Jordan Beck

I study finance at UMass, therefore, I have stuck to organizations and activities surrounding the business school. Due to being a female in a male dominated major, I have had to work very hard to make myself stand out when it comes to finding internships and jobs. Since day one, we have been taught to be the most competitive, the most prepared, and the most sought after candidate on the job front– it has seemed that everything we are learning is for one purpose and that would be to secure an internship and a post-grad job offer. 

Don’t get me wrong– I enjoy my major and have loved my internship experiences, but I am not entirely sure what I want to do not only post-grad, but for my entire career. Maybe I want to be in the finance industry, maybe I want to be a lawyer, but maybe I want to be a teacher. All I know is, I want more than the standard procedures I have been pushed to follow. I felt like something has been missing from my college experience, so when my roommate mentioned that she was looking for one more student mentor to join the MAICEI program, I thought about it silently for about five seconds and then casually said, “well, I think I could do it.” Her face lit up with relief and she quickly typed an email to secure my spot in the program. 

I have been fortunate to have been welcomed into this program with such open arms, and I am so grateful to be a part of this lovely group of people. Between group meetings, one-on-one meetings, and my favorite, “Lunch with Elina”, I get to meet with the wonderful MAICEI students and other mentors three times per week. And let me tell you, no matter what is going on in my personal life or this hectic world that we live in, I leave each meeting with a smile on my face. The relationships I now have with the MAICEI students and mentors have enriched my life in so many ways. These new friends of mine make my heart smile, they make me laugh, and they send virtual hugs when I need them most. These friendships are much like the established ones I had before my MAICEI experience, which is beautiful. Attending meetings for the MAICEI program is always the highlight of my day, and what I look forward to each week. I know that I will remember the lessons I have learned from this program for the rest of my life, and I am a better person after joining the program. 

Recently, I accepted a position as an Investment Operations Specialist with Parametric Portfolio Associates. I am super excited to begin this new role after graduating in May and to continue to learn and grow as a person and a business woman. I will be bringing all of the wonderful, impactful lessons I have learned from the MAICEI program with me into my finance career. Who knows where this path will take me and what I will be doing in a few years, but I do know that no matter where I end up, I will always have a home in the MAICEI program.

  During winter break of my sophomore year at UMass, I eagerly searched for experience that related to the field of communication disorders. Fortunately, I landed a volunteer position at Stoneham High School that transformed my whole world. At the high school I worked intimately with five incredible students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I had the honor of getting to build relationships with each student and challenged myself to find ways in which I could make every student feel heard. For instance, when working with a student with limited verbal language and motor skills I designed an art activity using tape. The student expressed choice by pointing at the color tape they wanted me to tear off, and then enjoyed placing the tape onto a paper to create a wonderful collage. Creating a bond with this student through an activity that fostered their communication skills was simply amazing. As I grew to know each student individually, I felt so welcome in their classroom. I learned valuable life lessons such as celebrating the achievements of small goals and the importance of inclusion. I have never felt so accepted in a community before and therefore set forth in my search for my place at UMass.

Allison Ryan

The MAICEI program was first brought to light by my advisor whom I went to, seeking advice on how I could get more involved on-campus. She instantly recommended MAICEI, thinking that it would be exactly the community I have been looking for. She couldn’t have been more right. The MAICEI program has added an abundance of joy into my life and has allowed me to make irreplaceable bonds and friendships with my MAICEI peers. This year in MAICEI, I was introduced to my amazing friend, Ari Birks. From the first day that Ari and I met on Zoom, until now, our friendship has blossomed in tremendous ways. Catching up with each other every week, we have supported each other through various life experiences and through everyday life in college. Ari has brought out so much laughter in me with her fantastic personality and has always made me feel welcome during our time together. One thing that Ari has taught me that will remain with me forever, is how to be truly present and that showing support for someone can be shown just through giving someone the space to be vulnerable.

As a senior this year, I can definitely say that being a Peer Mentor for the MAICEI program has changed the way I see the world. It has taught me to slow down and truly appreciate being able to connect and relate with my peers. MAICEI has also reinforced the importance of inclusion and building a community where everyone can feel accepted for who they are. I am so appreciative and lucky to be a part of this outstanding group and know the lessons I learned will stay with me through the rest of my life and guide me through my future career.

Looking forward to the next chapter of my life, I am striving to work as a speech-language pathologist in school-based settings. I have such a strong passion for wanting to help others feel heard, accepted, and included in their community. As a speech-language pathologist one day, I hope that I can help those who face challenges in communicating, by giving them the tools to feel confident and express themselves. The invaluable experiences I gained from working in a special education classroom at Stoneham High School and also from being a Peer Mentor in the MAICEI program will propel me on my journey to achieve these goals.

Natalie Russo

Truth be told, I’m a sucker for feeling like I belong somewhere, aren’t we all? This past January was the spring semester of my junior year at UMass and everyone I knew had found their on campus niche. Whether it was through intramural volleyball, women in business, science, or arts clubs, or even just in their majors, but I hadn’t found my place yet. What was my contribution to this campus? Did I even have one? Reality was, I hadn’t been truly impacted by anything on this campus, until I joined the MAICEI program. How much MAICEI has changed me as a person is beyond what I can put into words, but what I can say is that it helped me find my purpose. It was a spur of the moment last minute decision to join in and I haven’t looked back since. The students in MAICEI are such tremendous, inspiring individuals. One of my friends I met through MAICEI, Sammy Racine, taught me what being a strong woman looks like. She taught me that on the rainiest days you can always find some sunshine if you look hard enough. Through my friend Ashley North, she taught me to always be myself unapologetically. She reminded me that it’s okay to step back and have some fun, hard work always requires a little bit of joy to get through.
Putting yourself in a situation where you are willing to connect and be vulnerable with others is the type of situations that help you grow as a person and that is what the MAICEI program is all about. Forming relationships built on trust, respect, and honesty is what we do in MAICEI. Having access to higher education for everyone is such an important component of growth and development. For all students it helps us widen our horizons on possibilities for the future, inspire passions in us, and helps form relationships inside and outside the classroom setting. The MAICEI program is more than a program, group, whatever you want to call it, but MAICEI for me means family.

Elina Rozentsvayg

    “For the last two and a half years, I have been itching to find my place and purpose at UMass. I had yet to find a club or program to be a part of in my free time that did not have anything to do with my academics. Last fall semester I was introduced to the MAICEI program by a good friend of mine. She was, and still is, a peer mentor in the program and always spoke very highly of it. This spring semester, I found myself having more free time in between classes, so I decided to get some information on how I could get involved. Little did I know that a program I decided to join on the fly would have such a major positive impact on my life.

I was fortunate enough to be able to get to know and spend time with three MAICEI students this past semester. Each one kind-hearted, funny, and truly a pleasure to be around. I got really lucky. I believe I gained three new friends. Through getting to know these students, I rediscovered my interests and hobbies, some of which I hadn’t done in years because I prioritized school work over them once I started college. I found myself drawing again, laughing more, and honestly just enjoying my college experience more because of these weekly meetings. I believe that every single person that enters your life has a purpose. Whether they stay or leave your life, they mold you, helping you become a better version of yourself.

Although my role in the MAICEI program is as a peer mentor, I believe these experiences in MAICEI helped mold me into a better and happier version of myself, something I will forever be grateful for. The MAICEI program has an important role and purpose on the UMass campus, and I feel very proud to be a part of it. I know that when I look back on my college experience, my involvement in the MAICEI program will have been one of the best things I’ve done during my time at UMass.”

Become a Peer Mentor!