Peer Advisors

Peer advisors pose for the camera in front of Lattimore Hall.

Peer advisors help students declare majors and make connections with faculty, review research opportunities, and explore study abroad and options for independent and interdisciplinary study.

For general questions about the peer advising program, or to be referred to a peer advisor, email peeradvising@rochester.edu. To keep up with what's new in the program, check us out on Instagram.

The peer advising team is managed by Director Angela Buchiere and Assistant Director Mayra Vite-Romero.

Department-specific peer advisors are also available for the following departments:

Peer Advisors 2023-2024

Headshot of Velma Anyona.

Velma Anyona

Pronouns: She/They
Class Year: 2024
Major(s): Electrical and computer engineering
Minors(s): French and cultural studies

Involvement/Interests: I am super excited about computer architecture and I look forward to working at a computer assembling farm one day. I love soccer and dancing. I am currently a member of the Royal Dance Club on campus. I am passionate about women empowerment and currently run a girls empowerment program back in my village in Kenya.

Fun Fact About Me: I love food and eating in general but I am super picky on what I eat. It sometimes takes me about an hour to decide what I want to eat.

vanyona@u.rochester.edu
Headshot of Hana Genana.

Hana Genana

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2024
Major(s): Computer science and studio art

Involvement/Interests: Recently, I am very interested in exploring African contemporary art. Contemporary African art is a diverse field that encompasses a wide range of mediums and styles. There are many emerging art capitals in Africa, including Accra, Cape Town, Dakar, Lagos, and Marrakech. Throughout my senior year, I look forward to learning more about this topic!

Fun Fact About Me: I have no sense of direction so much so that I still need GPS to navigate around my neighborhood.

hgenana@u.rochester.edu
Headshot of Iraan Hemphill.

Iraan Hemphill

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2025
Major(s): International relations and Latin American studies
Minor(s): Economics

Involvement/Interests: Douglass Leadership House, Club Soccer

Fun Fact About Me: I’ve moved 21 times in 21 years and lived in eight different places.

jhemphil@u.rochester.edu
Headshot of Damian Otsile Rantshabeng.

Damian Otsile Rantshabeng

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2024
Major(s): Mechanical engineering
Minor(s): Actuarial Studies Certificate Program

Involvement/Interests: Student Alumni Ambassador, National Society of Black Engineers Alumni Relations Chair, 2024 Class Council Senior Giving Co-Chair, Ma'Frisah African Dance Group, Meliora Weekend Support, Language Center

Fun Fact About Me: I speak Setswana and English fluently. I learnt Mandarin and French in high school. I'm learning Spanish in college.

orantsha@u.rochester.edu
Headshot of Isabella Rocha.

Isabella Rocha

Pronouns: She/Her
Class Year: 2025
Major(s): Political science and economics

Involvement/Interests: President of Model United Nations, Captain for Mock Trial, Business Manager for College Republicans, First-Year Fellow in Sue B., recreational runner, avid Taylor Swift listener

Fun Fact About Me: On my 18th birthday, my US Senator, Ed Market, sang Happy Birthday to me.

irocha@u.rochester.edu
Headshot of Peter Thompson.

Peter Thompson

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2024
Major(s): MS Technical Entrepreneurship and Management

Involvement/Interests: Wind symphony/orchestra, cooking, hiking

Fun Fact About Me: I once ran a 5k race with a missing shoe.

tthomp17@ur.rochester.edu
Headshot of Samuel Trisciani.

Samuel Trisciani

Pronouns: He/Him
Class Year: 2024
Major(s): Philosophy

Involvement/Interests: I am currently involved with helping to improve the transfer student experience on campus through our Transfer Student Association club and as a Transfer Virtual Assistant with the office of admissions. I have helped run esports events since high school, and love to write in my free time. I really enjoy applying my studies in philosophy to better understand real-world experiences!

Fun Fact About Me: Throughout my middle school years, I designed and developed my own video games for fun! Realizing how difficult animating was for these projects left me with a deep appreciation for animation in film, television, and games. It's such a cool form of art!

striscia@u.rochester.edu