HOPE & Wellness Interns

Graduate Student Peer Health Advisors

Michelle smiling

Michelle Montes

Hello, Cougars! My name is Michelle (she/her/ella) and I am a fellow CSUSM graduate, class of 2016. I'm excited to be back on campus and pay it forward. I am a second-year graduate student in the Masters of Education, Counseling and Guidance Program at Point Loma Nazarene University. I aspire to work as a counselor at a 4-year university or community college with first-generation and underrepresented college students. I look forward to connecting with you all this year and engage in fruitful conversations about the importance of mental health.

In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors at the beach and watching the sunset. I have been obsessed with ordering paint by number kits from Amazon, they're very therapeutic.

Kristen smiling

Kristen Tomolak

My name is Kristen Tomolak. I am a graduate student at Point Loma Nazarene University earning my Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in College Counseling and Student Development. I am ecstatic to be a Peer Health Educator with the H.O.P.E. & Wellness Center and am looking forward to interacting with students and helping them find a holistic approach to all aspects of health and wellness. In the past several years, I have come to understand the importance of taking care of your mental health as much as your physical health and am eager to help friends, family, and strangers alike find their best method for doing so.

I am a certified yoga instructor and appreciate what my yoga practice has done to improve my relationship with mindfulness. In my free time, you will find me practicing yoga, hiking, reading, taking my pup to Dog Beach, or camping with my partner.

Megan Young

My name is Megan Young. I am a graduate student in the Master's of Social Work program. I graduated with a Bachelor's in Psychology in spring 2019. I have had epilepsy since I was 3 years of age, which is the underlying reason I am interested in the well-being of others as well as myself. Due to many hardships in my life, ranging from sexual violence to mental and physical health issues, I feel I could be a great advocate for both; although I feel I could be an advocate for both, my primary interest is in mental health.

Mental health has been my primary interest because of my trials and tribulations with epilepsy in tandem with depression and anxiety, which can be emotionally and physically debilitating. I believe being a peer educator would provide a voice for fellow students who have experienced some form of mental and physical health difficulties that feel they cannot share, as well as information on how to cope with what they feel, and helping students understand that they are not alone.

Peer Educators (Interns)

Brianna Iniguez

Hello! My name is Brianna Iniguez, and I am a fourth-year student at CSUSM working towards a degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Justice Studies. Once I graduate, I hope to pursue a career in Marriage and Family Counseling.

Hobbies of mine include playing pickle-ball, learning to bake new things, spending time with my close friends and family, and visiting the beach. One of my passions includes being a service to others and I am excited to have the opportunity to assist the CSUSM community in living a healthier lifestyle!

Dazie Miller

Hi everyone my name is Dazie Miller, I am going into my 4th year as a psychology major and hope one day to be a marriage and family counselor. I am so excited to be able to go on back campus and connect with my peers and educate everyone about the importance on mental health and how to party safely!

Allison Mitchell

Hi, I’m Allison and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I’m a first generation student pursuing a bachelors in psychology. As a former foster youth, I’ve had my share of trials and tribulations including my own mental health struggles. I have a passion to help others and I hope one day my story can help those who have lost hope or are questioning their worth. I am excited to be a peer intern and help educate and empower others to live a healthy life and reduce the stigma around mental health.

Outside of school, I enjoy raising my beautiful daughter, hanging out with friends. Going to the beach, hiking and being in nature.

Juliana Rodriguez

Hello my name is Juliana Rodriguez! I am a third year student here at CSUSM, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies. My pronouns are she/her/ella. My future career goals are to go to graduate school and get my Ph.D so that I may be a counseling psychologist working with adolescents who have experienced trauma. I’m passionate about advocating for mental health education on campus because it is something everyone experiences and we can all be more aware about.

I am also the Active Minds President, a club dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness by providing mental health education and resources to students. I am looking forward to engaging with the CSUSM community and learning more about what it means to be a peer educator intern.

Outside of school, my hobbies include swimming and listening to music. I love to visit new beaches along our beautiful California coastline and find small businesses to support along the way. Recently, I have been painting and journaling at the beaches as a form of self-care. I love listening to all kinds of music, though my favorites are generally oldies from the 70’s.

Let’s have a great semester!

Megan Schneider

Hi everyone! My name is Megan (pronouns are she/her) and I'm a fourth year global Political Science major with a minor in psychology. I am dedicated to bringing mental health to the forefront of our conversations, especially after the pandemic and the isolation that came with it.

I'm super excited to meet new people and talk to you all about how to be the healthiest you that you can be.