AGREES Peer Advisors
About This Club
The AGREES Peer Advisor program is a unique leadership experience for students in the College of Agriculture. It provides students the opportunity to participate in the College’s retention and first year experience efforts. Those students selected to serve gain valuable experience working in a team environment, interacting with students and faculty, and developing leadership and career skills.
The primary duty of an AGREES Peer Advisor is to be a resource for incoming new students, both freshmen and transfer students. This is accomplished by serving as a teaching assistant in the freshmen AG 100 classes, conducting Transfer Roundtables, and holding office hours in the AGREES Center. In addition, Peer Advisors participate in a variety of other college and university activities, including orientation, Bronco Fusion, Club Fair & Ice Cream Social, Pumpkin Festival, and Open House. The Peer Advisors also look for new ways to contribute to student life in the college and in 2009, began publishing the College of Agriculture’s Student Handbook and Planner.
The AGREES Peer Advisors are a chartered organization with the University and as such, elect an officer team, participate in the College of Agriculture's student government, Ag Council, and conduct fundraising activities.
Students interested in becoming a Peer Advisor must participate in the annual selection process. Applications are accepted in January each year. Qualified applicants then participate in a selection workshop and an individual interview during the month of February. Peer Advisors are announced in March and training begins in spring quarter. Peer Advisors serve a one year term beginning with summer quarter and continuing through the following spring quarter.
2012 - 2013 Officers & More
| President: | Skylar Matthews |
|---|---|
| Vice President: | Rachael Fisher |
| Secretary: | Sarah To |
| Treasurer: | Kalise Bryant |
| Publicity: | Crystal Ortiz |
| Ag Council Rep: | Alexandra Glenn, Merissa Martinez |
| Social Chair: | Nicole Paulden |
| Historian: | Jenjira Sorreca |
| Planner Chair: | Kristie Conde |
| Advisor: | Rhonda Ostrowksi |
| Club Email: | smatthews@csupomona.edu |
| Club website: | www.csupomona.edu/~agri/peer-advisors.shtml |
| Meeting date/time/location: | Every Thursday/12:00 p.m./2-125 |
| Club majors: | All agriculture majors |
| Number of members in 2010-11: | 7 |
| Club Events & Activities: | Orientation, Open House, COA Planners |
| General Information: | Students interacting with faculty and freshmen to increase retention as well as gain leadership and career skills. |
| History of Club: | Established in 2004-2005. |
| Club Goals: | To be a resource for incoming new students, both freshmen and transfers. |
Meet Our Peer Advisors
Name: Rachael Fisher
Major: Animal Science Pre-vet
Year in School: 5th
Age: 21
College Activities: International Viscera Cooler Club, Peer Advisors, and volunteering at Yorba Regional Animal Hospital
Hobbies: Outdoor activities, baking, and playing with my dog Caly.
Hometown: Castro Valley, CA
High School: Castro Valley High School
Work: Student Assistant in the College of Science Dean's Office
Career Plans: To continue on to vet school and become a food animal veterinarian.
Favorite Cal Poly Experience: Going to the National Meat Expo in Las Vegas with the International Viscera Cooler Club.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: I am excited to be a Peer Advisor for another year because I get to help students acclimate the College of Agriculture and learn to make the most out of college.
Name: Merissa Martinez
Major: Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics option
Year in School: 3rd
Age: 21
College Activities: FN Forum club member, FN Peer Mentor, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society Member, PHFE WIC volunteer
Hobbies: Doing Pilates, shopping, watching British comedies and historical pieces, and baking.
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
High School: Ramona Convent Secondary School
Work: Full time student
Career Plans: I plan on becoming a Registered Dietitian working in either a community setting, helping children and infants, or working in an eating disorder clinic.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience : My favorite Cal Poly Pomona experience has definitely been from FN 345, Nutrition Education; when I got to teach a nutrition lesson to a group of first and second grade students at a nearby elementary school. Seeing the kids get excited about eating fruits and vegetables really helped ignite my passion for the field of nutrition.
Personal Statement about being a Peer Advisor: I'm really excited to be a Peer Advisor because I want to help provide a smooth transition for the incoming students. I know how difficult the transition into college can be and I want to share the knowledge and skills I've gained, with the freshmen and transfer students of the College of Agriculture as well as Cal Poly Pomona in general. As a Peer Advisor, I hope that my experiences and advice can help the students grow and succeed.
Name: Skylar Matthews
Major: Animal Science
Year in School: 5th year
Age: 22
College Activities: Golden Key Honour Society, Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Honor Society, Peer Advisors
Hobbies: Reading, going to the movies, road trips, and trying new food.
Hometown: Redlands, CA
High School: Redlands High School
Work: ASI, University Housing Conference Services
Career Plans: Work in wild life conservation
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: Getting my invitation to Gamma Sigma Delta.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor : I have had a lot of great experiences at Cal Poly Pomona both in and out of the College of Agriculture and I think it is very important that people know what is available to them. I want to help people utilize their resources and consider Cal Poly Pomona their second home just like I do.
Name: Crystal Ortiz
Major: Foods & Nutrition
Year in School: Junior
Age: 21
College Activities: Member of Foods & Nutrition Forum Healthy Bronco volunteers, an accredited program known as Estudiante Diet é tico, and now Peer Advisors.
Hobbies: Cooking, eating, hiking, bike rides, knitting, reading, swimming, and making others laugh.
Hometown: West Covina, CA
High School: South Hills High School
Transferred From: Mount San Antonio Community College
Work: Personal Assistant, tutor, and nanny
Career Plans: Become an RD, specialize in one of the clinical fields, private practice, and work with community and educational nutrition.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: Eating at Los Olivos, and the free food at the meetings on campus
Personal Statement about being a Peer Advisor: I hope to work on my fears and anxieties of public speaking, and also helping create a positive college experience for my peers as well as for myself. Peer advising is important because I know the skills I will learn as a Peer Advisor can be translated and will be utilized throughout my entire life.
Name: Jenjira Sorreca
Major: Food and Nutrition, Dietetics
Year in School: 4th
Age: 21
College Activities: Peer Advisors, FN forum club, Dean's Honor List.
Hobbies: Cooking, anime and manga, shopping, swimming, hanging out with friends and boyfriend, and watching beauty videos on YouTube.
Hometown: Milano, Italy.
High School: International School of Pattaya, Thailand.
Transferred From: Fullerton College.
Work: Full time student.
Career Plans: I plan to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). I am still undecided in which field I want to specialize in but I hope to find my interests as I gain more experience.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: My favorite experience at CPP would be running the pumpkin toss booth with students from the FN Forum Club during the Pumpkin Festival. It was an enjoyable experience and I was able to meet a lot of great people.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: In the College of Ag of Cal Poly Pomona, Peer advisors are a valuable source to any students that need an advice as well as to all incoming freshmen and transfer students that need help in familiarizing with the school. I am honored to have this position and I hope to gain a lot of knowledge and new skills through this experience, in addition to build long lasting friendships. My goal as a Peer Advisor is to encourage students to get involved with what the university has to offer and guide them to success. I am eager to help and support fellow students, and I look forward to meet new students!
Name: Sarah To
Major: Food and Nutrition with an option in Dietetics
Year in School: 3rd
Age: 21
College Activities: Member in FN Forum, Peer Mentor from FN Forum, Concert Band Member 2010 – 2012
Hobbies: Watching Korean dramas and anime, reading manga, hanging out with friends, shopping, tinkering on the piano, and playing ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. “
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
High School: Ruben S. Ayala High School
Work: Full-Time Student
Career Plans: My career plan is to become a Registered Dietitian. As a Registered Dietitian, I desire to work in the field of pediatrics, and/or become a lactation consultant.
Favorite Cal Poly Pomona Experience: My favorite experience was to be able to meet new people, make new friend, and to continue to do so here at Cal Poly. They make my college experience, in studying and passing the time between classes, all the more memorable.
Personal Statement About Being a Peer Advisor: As a Peer Advisor, my goal is to help incoming students who are new to this campus adjust to the university. Coming to a new school can be rather life changing and challenging. So it is important for incoming students to know where they can go to ask their question and get the help that they need to make their transition at Cal Poly smoother.
Selection Process
Peer Advisor 2013-2014 Application Packet (pdf)
All applicants will be required to:
- submit an application, resume, and two evaluations;
- participate in the selection workshop and interview, if invited;
- be enrolled in an academic program within the College of Agriculture;
- have a grade point average of at least 3.0;
- have junior or senior standing;
- be available to commit to the program for one year, June through June;
- be available 4-5 hours per week during the academic year;
- complete the Ag Leadership class; and
- demonstrate excellent oral communication skills, evidence of a positive Cal Poly Pomona experience, an outgoing personality, enthusiastic, and active in college activities.
Note: You must have Adobe Reader to open and view all PDF files with full functionality. To download Adobe Reader, visit http://get.adobe.com/reader/.
Expectations
By accepting the position of Peer Advisor, a student agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- attend the Ag Leadership class during spring quarter, Fridays 3:00-5:00 p.m.;
- participate in summer orientation;
- attend the Peer Advisor retreat;
- attend assigned section of AG 100 fall quarter;
- staff the AGREES Center;
- attend Peer Advisor meetings;
- wear the Peer Advisor polo shirt in class and during office hours;
- exhibit professional behavior consistent with that of a representative of the College of Agriculture and the University;
- be enrolled in at least 9 units per quarter; and
- maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
Benefits
Peer Advisors receive the following benefits:
- two units of credit for the Ag Leadership Class;
- a quarterly stipend of $100 (dependent on funding);
- priority registration (dependent on approval);
- a Peer Advisor polo shirt; and
- use of the AGREES Center.
Program Coordinator
For questions or more information, please contact:
Rhonda Ostrowski
Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
College of Agriculture
2-114
(909) 869-3718
rlostrowski@csupomona.edu