The First Year Mentors (FYMs) are upper-class student leaders who are here to support new students and their transition to Pitt. We have a team of FYMs working throughout the summer to plan fun and exciting activities to help you get connected during Panther Connect and Welcome Week. During Fall and Spring semesters, the FYMs will be planning and promoting campus events to make sure your first year at Pitt is outstanding!
![“Noor"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/noor_fym.jpg")
Noor Ahmad
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Marlton, NJ
Minor/Certificate: Chemistry minor, Conceptual Foundations of Science certificate
Fun fact: I don't know how to swim
Stephen Aulerich
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Vandergrift, PA
Major: Chinese and Linguistics
Favorite thing about Pitt: The resources and opportunities they give for students as well as help navigating and searching for careers after graduation
![“Sarah"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sarah_fym.jpeg")
Sarah Bast
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown:Long Island, NY
Major: Psychology
Minors/Certificates: Sociology and Exercise Science
Fun Fact: I have been in performances with the Pitt Dance Ensemble!
![“Adriana"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Adriana-Intro-Photo-1.jpg")
Adriana Bebout
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Wadsworth, Ohio
Major: Legal Studies
Minor/Certificate: Administration of Justice minor, International Human Rights certificate
Favorite thing about Pitt: The amount of clubs
![“Monet"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Image.jpeg")
Monet Blackman
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: New York, New York
Major: Mass Communication
Minors/Certificates: Korean Studies
![“Clara"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/clara_fym.jpg")
Clara Brotke
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Major: Political Science and Communication Rhetoric
Minors/Certificates: Legal Studies minor, Digital Media certificate
Favorite thing about Pitt: My favorite thing about Pitt is all of the things I can access for free with my Pitt ID. Specifically, traveling on the bus with my ID to different neighborhoods around Pittsburgh such as Squirrel Hill and The Strip District.
![“Cynthia"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cynthia_fym.png")
Cynthia Cheng
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
Major: Psychology
Minors/Certificates: Sociology
Fun Fact: I have a greeting card business
Vijay Kiran Cherupally
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Computational Biology
Minors/Certificates: Theatre Minor
Favorite place to study: One of my favorite places to study at Pitt has to be the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room, as long as I can find a table! Pro tip, there are plenty of cubbies around the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors, so be sure to explore!
![“Promiti"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Promiti.jpeg")
Promiti Debi
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Major: Neuroscience and Studio Arts
Minor/Certificate: Chemistry
Fun Fact: Promiti also works as an illustrator for the Pitt News!
![“Sophia"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sophia_fym.jpg")
Sophia Dunham
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Upper Chichester, PA
Major: Classics Major on pre-med track
Minors/Certificates: Chemistry
Favorite Place to Study: My favorite study spot at Pitt are the Cathedral of Learning’s Nationality rooms. Contrary to what you may think, they are empty the majority of the day, especially in the early evening. I love them because the bright colors inspire me to study and stay focused and usually I’ll use the chalkboards to write out my homework!
![“Cate"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cate_fym.png")
Catherine de Hoogh
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Major: Finance
Minors/Certificates: Economics minor, Business Analytics certificate
Favorite thing about Pitt: When the weather is nice even for a random day in March, everyone is out on the lawn in Schenley Plaza. It’s amazing to grab a blanket and do work with friends or enjoy a meal with a view of Cathy in the background
![“Shrishti"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Shrishti.jpeg")
Shrishti Jain
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Pune, India
Major: Neuroscience
Minor/Certificate: Dance, Chemistry
Fun Fact: I'm trilingual but can't speak my native language
![“Luke"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LukeFym.jpg")
Luke Joynt
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Lebanon, PA
Major: Accounting and Supply Chain Management
Favorite Pitt Memory: Watching Prof. Ray Jones rant about Dunkin’s new products and Charlie D’Amelio
![“Samantha](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/image.png")
Samantha Kirschman
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Major: English Writing
Minors/Certificates: Sociology and French minors, Global Studies certificate
Favorite Place to Study:One of my favorite places to study is by the windows on the third floor of Hillman! You can get a little bit of sun sometimes and the view is sweet
![“Tegan"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Tegan.jpeg")
Tegan Lapp
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Major: Information Science
Minor: Political Science
Favorite thing about Pitt: When the weather begins to get nice again in the spring time and everyone flocks to study and hang out on Cathy Lawn or in Schenley Plaza
Neha Manoj
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Fremont, California
Major: Computer Science
Favorite thing about Pitt: The diverse, welcoming community Pitt provides to students!
Sabrina Martin
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Greensburg, PA
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor/Certificate: Nuclear Engineering certificate
Favorite thing about Pitt: How many opportunities there are to be involved outside of the classroom. Whether it’s research, club sports, student organizations, or presentations from companies around Pittsburgh, there’s something enriching to do for everyone!
![“Zackery"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Zackery.jpeg")
Zackary Miller
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Altoona, PA
Major: Pharmacy
Minors/Certificates: Chemistry Minor, Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate
Favorite thing about Pitt: Pitt has a plethora of resources on campus that are available to all students such as Study Lab, the Student Health Center, the University Counseling Center, Disability Resources and Services (DRS), the Math Assistance Center (MAC), and many more.
![“Megan"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/megan_fym.jpg")
Megan O'Connell
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Boston, MA
Major: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Minors/Certificates: Education
Favorite thing about Pitt:I love the diverse libraries at our campus that cater to everyone’s study needs!
![“Phoebe"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_2040.jpg")
Phoebe Parker
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Major: Molecular Biology
Minors/Certificates: Chemistry and Political Science Minor; Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate
Fun Fact: I can juggle!
![“Alexis"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alexis_fym.jpg")
Alexis Shainoff
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Mogadore, OH
Major: Undecided
Minors/Certificates: Korean
Favorite thing about Pitt:The community and all of the things around campus to explore and try! I’ve met a lot of my favorite people here and I love exploring new places and trying all of the food options on/near campus!
![“Morgan"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/morgan_fym.jpg")
Morgan Villa
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown: Lebanon, PA
Major: Environmental Science
Minors/Certificates: Music
Fun Fact: I am in the Pitt band!
![“Gary"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gary_fym.jpg")
Gary Wang
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Lawrence, KS and Beijing, China
Major: Rehab Science
Minors/Certificates: Political Science
Favorite thing about Pitt:Basically everyone you’ll meet on campus is a kind and nice person with an interesting and unique personality; you will never get bored exploring the city and meeting new people.
![“Liann"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/liann_fym.jpeg")
Liann Zyontz
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Hometown:South Brunswick, NJ
Major:Undecided, with an interest in biology, hopefully applying into the emergency medicine program
Fun Fact:I was named the hula hooping champion at Black Bear Day Camp circa 2011
![“Vignesh"](https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vignesh_fym.jpeg")
Vignesh Senguttuvan
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Allentown, PA
Major: Biology and Psychology
Minors/Certificates: Chemistry minor
Favorite place to study:The math lounge in Thackeray