Peer Mentors

SOURCE Peer Mentors play a vital role in the vibrant life of undergraduate research and creative work at Syracuse University and are especially integral to the student governance of The SOURCE. Peer Mentors serve in paid student employee positions as peer mentors to students in all phases of the research and creative process, assist with SOURCE planning, outreach, programs, and office tasks, and design and implement their own project to foster undergraduate research.

Office Hours | Fall 2025

Peer Mentors have open office hours each week in 208 Bowne Hall. Whether you’re just getting started brainstorming ideas or are polishing your final presentation, we’re here to help.

Mondays

  • 9am – 11am: Owen
  • 11am – 1pm: Gavin
  • 2:30pm – 4:30pm: Alex

Tuesdays

  • 9am – 11am: Ayla
  • 12:30pm – 2:30pm: Alyssa

Wednesdays

  • 9am – 11am: Alex
  • 11:30am – 1:30pm: Gavin
  • 2pm – 4pm: Alyssa

Thursdays

  • 9am – 11am: Ayla
  • 12:30pm – 2:30pm: Alyssa

Fridays

  • 9am – 11am: Alex
  • 11am – 1pm: Owen
  • 1pm – 3pm: Gavin
  • 3pm – 5pm: Ayla

Peer Mentors

Headshot of Gavin, he is standing in front of a tree with leaves

Email: gclinton@syr.edu

Year: Senior

Faculty Mentor: Assistant Professor Anupam Pandey

SOURCE Programs I have participated in: Research Assistant through the Faculty RA Grant, Fellowship Award

Research: My work lies in the intersection of soft matter and fluid mechanics. More specifically, we work with harnessing mechanical instabilities for function. The most recent projects have involved creasing structures for fluid transport and characterizing rate dependence in beam buckling.

Campus Involvement and Hobbies: I play and coach soccer!

Photo of Alex M, sitting in a chair holding a book. There is a lamp to the right and a table in the foreground.

Email: apmilcho@syr.edu

Year: Senior

Faculty Mentor: Associate Professor Sylvia Sierra

SOURCE Programs I have participated in: Research Assistant through the Faculty RA Grant, Bridge Award, Fellowship Award

Research: I am a SOURCE Research Fellow working on an independent project with Dr. Sierra on queer media references and their function in everyday conversation; we are currently co-authoring an article for publication. I was the first undergraduate to present at Columbia University's Teachers College's Language and Social Interaction Working Group (LANSI) conference, where I presented this work. I am trained in discourse analysis, transcription, and take an interdisciplinary approach to sociolinguistics, incorporating media studies/analysis and queer theory to my work. I have also done research in the public history and archival field (Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink Research Internship and the Senator John Heinz History Center curatorial internship) and in English literature (English Distinction/Honors Thesis).

Campus Involvement and Hobbies: I am the Editor-in-Chief of TENDER Magazine, an arts, literature, and cultural publication. I am also a Music Performance minor and am a classically trained vocalist, participating in the Hendricks Chapel Choir. Aside from my SOURCE Fellowship and Peer Mentor position, I am also an English Department Undergraduate Ambassador, a College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Career Ambassador, a VPA Peer Advisor, and a DJ/Radio Show Host for WERW Radio, an independent radio station on-campus. Outside of my involvements, I love to hike, draw, collage, and read. I am an animal-lover, and love to hang out with my dog, Andy.

Headshot of Ayla, she is in front of a dark background wearing a light colored sweater

Email: aray08@syr.edu

Year: Junior

Faculty Mentor: Assistant Professor Christopher W. Fernandez

SOURCE Programs I have participated in: Meeting of the Minds conference, Fellowship Award

Research: I work in a fungal ecology lab focusing on ectomycorrhizal fungi which form symbiotic relationships with plant hosts. I am completing an honors and distinction thesis investigating the impacts of pH, soil organic matter, and inoculum on leaf litter decomposition, fungal diversity, and plant productivity.

Campus Involvement and Hobbies: I am a member of the Renee Crown Honors program and Phi Kappa Phi. I am also a member of the SU outing club within which I enjoy hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and caving.