Peer Mentor Program
Steinbright's Peer Mentor Program is a community focused on connecting prospective and current students with a peer expert on everything co-op!
A Peer Mentor is experienced in the recruitment process and can provide support in topics like career exploration, industry insight, and job search preparation and strategies. A Mentor can also provide support to students on co-op by sharing insights on navigating the professional environment, setting goals, time management, and how to make the most of a co-op experience.
Peer Mentors also support the Steinbright Career Development Center and the university at large by attending events and engaging with prospective and current students, sharing their lived experience of the co-op program.
Questions About the Program?
Contact the Peer Mentor Advising team at: scdcpeer@drexel.edu
Looking for Peer Mentor support?
Check out the list below to connect with a Peer Mentor today.
Arya Gopikrishnan
Class Year: Class of 2026Major: BS/MS Electrical Engineering & Robotics
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I became a peer mentor to guide students through their co-op application process and share personal insights from my own co-op experiences. I want to help my peers leverage Drexel's resources effectively and feel confident in their co-op journey.
Where was your previous co-op(s)?
My recent co-ops were at RoboChef, where I worked as a robotics and AI engineer and at Bergische Universität Wuppertal in Germany as an AI researcher, where I researched Emergent language through Deep Reinforcement Learning. For my first co-op, I worked at Cerami & Associates as a Technology Systems Engineer.
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
I don't watch any TV shows.
Hannah Pittenturf
Class Year: Class of 2027
Major: Psychology, Climate Change Minot
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I wanted to be a peer counselor because I know how difficult it can be to sit with uncertainty of not getting a co-op and having all odds against you. I want to remind everyone that it's okay and everything does work out in the end.
Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
Currently, my favorite TV show has been Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. It's such a great comfort show!
Maria-Louisa Ching
Class Year: Class of 2027
Major: User Experience and Interaction Design (UXID)
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I became a Peer Mentor because I want to offer the same support and encouragement that I wished I had during my own Dragon journey. Having experienced the challenges firsthand, I am passionate about helping others navigate through the beginning steps of their adulthood and ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.
First co-op: DE&I Public Policy at Comcast Corporation
Second co-op: Communications & Website Development at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
My favorite tv show to binge watch is Parks and Recreation!
Milind Sangani
Class Year: Class of 2027
Major: Biological Sciences
Hometown: Chester Springs, PA
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I became a peer mentor because I had an extremely positive first co-op. I learned
a lot from my friends about navigating the co-op experience and the advice I was given allowed me to attain a great first co-op. I wanted to contribute to shaping the co-op experiences of others so that they could share experiences similar to my own!
My previous co-op was at Merck Pharmaceuticals where I worked in the CTSF (Clinical Trial Slide Files) group within the publication department
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
Game of Thrones
Neha Menon
Class Year: Class of 2026
Major: Public Health
Hometown: North Brunswick, NJ
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I became a peer mentor to share my experiences and knowledge of my co-op experience, helping others navigate their co-op journey successfully. By offering guidance and support, I aim to foster growth and confidence in my peers, enriching both their academic and professional development.
Where was your previous co-op?
Penn Medicine Neurosurgery Clinical Research Division – Brain Tumor Center
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls
Samira Salifu
Class Year: Class of 2025
Major: Computer Science, Entrepreneurship Minor
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I became a Peer Mentor because I want to reassure others that it's okay not to have everything figured out when it comes to choosing a career. Life offers countless opportunities and paths, and it's perfectly fine to explore the different directions that come your way. I believe that through this role, I can make a meaningful impact by guiding others as they navigate difficult decisions, especially when the right choice isn't immediately clear.
Where was your previous co-op(s)?
My first co-op was at PCI Pharma Services where I worked as a process engineer.
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Shaina Banerjee
Class Year: Class of 2027Major: Computer Science
Hometown:Chandigarh, India
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
With a sound understanding of the current industry, I believe that I can serve as a great resource for students and be the bridge between students and university faculty of the SCDC. As an introvert myself, I totally understand that struggle to reach out in the beginning and intend to provide a safe space for discussion of ideas. I also have hundreds of LinkedIn connections and am recognized as a "Top Voice in Programming" on LinkedIn. I wish to help my mentees learn what I have learnt from my mentors and share my resources to help uplift them.
I highly believe in the transformative power of mentorship from my personal experiences with my mentors, and therefore, I only wish to add to that legacy. I especially wish to guide and mentor students with diverse backgrounds at Drexel and intend to understand their professional goals, to help them carve out a practical path towards achieving their goals. I believe that we all have tremendous capacity to excel, we’re all only a gentle push away from recognizing this untapped potential.
Where was your previous co-op(s)?
I worked as a software engineering co-op at Marlette Funding (Best Egg) from fall 2023 to winter 2024, where I worked in the backend development team.
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
Gilmore Girls is my ultimate comfort TV show that I love to binge watch.
Toni DeSalvo
Class Year: Class of 2026
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Rutherford, NJ
Why did you want to become a Peer Mentor?
I wanted to become a Peer Mentor because I feel as though going through the co-op process can be exceedingly difficult for some students. I felt very overwhelmed applying to co-op for the first time, and I wish I would have utilized the program to benefit me when applying to co-op.
Where was your previous co-op(s)?
My first co-op was at Penn Medicine, and I was a research assistant working on a study involving sleep apnea and CPAP. My second co-op and soon to be third co-op is at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and I am a research assistant in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery division, working on three cooperative studies involving children with cleft lip and cleft palate.
What is your favorite TV show to binge-watch?
My favorite TV show to binge watch is Criminal Minds.