Current Students

Honors Foundations

New students on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campus will register for IDH 2930 – Honors Foundations and will meet during the fall semester with a small group of Honors peers, led by a peer mentor. A peer mentor is an upper-class Honors student enrolled in the Judy Genshaft Honors College, specifically hired to share the Honors experience with incoming first-year students. The class is discussion-based, covering many topics that apply to both the Judy Genshaft Honors College and USF university life as a whole. In this class, peer mentors share their personal experiences and provide important information and resources for success.

This class is zero credits and has no tuition charge, but will be reflected on transcripts. It is required for first-year admits as part of the Judy Genshaft Honors College Curriculum.

Judy Genshaft Honors College peer mentors pose outside the Tampa Honors building

HONORS FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM PURPOSE

  • Ease the transition from high school to college by providing a venue to process college experiences, ask questions, and find an identity as an Honors College scholar.
  • Connect new students with the Honors College, students, staff, and faculty.
  • Start building networks of people and places that will be great resources at USF.

Peer Mentor leads

Joey Ambrosino Headshot

Joey Ambrosino 
Political Science; History 
Minors in Psychology

I became a peer mentor because I wanted to replicate the pivotal academic, professional, and social growth that my peer mentor helped me achieve.

Chandrika Ganduri Headshot

Chandrika Ganduri 
Public Health


I became a peer mentor because I wanted to support other students in the same way I’ve been supported at the Honors College! 

Chad Hosein Headshot

Chad Hosein
Electrical Engineering


I became a peer mentor because I wanted to help first-year Honors students feel confident during their transition from high school to university. I aim to be a positive influence on them as I share my knowledge and experience about the Honors College and USF in general. 

Tanmayee Kanagala Headshot

Tanmayee Kanagala
Biomedical Sciences
Minor in Political Sciences

Honors Foundations was such an integral part of my first-year experience and provided me with a lot of valuable information/support. I want to make sure the incoming first-years also have this level of support during this transition period.

Kay Headshot

Kay 
Computer Science
Minor in Criminology

The experience as a peer mentor was extremely fulfilling and I wished to impart the same for peer mentors to be. Beyond that, I want to experience the workings of syllabus formulation, marketing and interview aspects of a class cohort. 

Martin Ladjimi Headshot

Martin Ladjimi 
Biomedical Sciences; Psychology

As a peer mentor, I truly pride myself in building a sense of community among new Honors College students through the Honors Foundations course!

Jordon Myrick Headshot

Jordon Myrick 
Sociology; English w/ Creative Writing Concentration
Minor in Anthropology

I wanted to get more involved in the Peer Mentor program and interact with my peers in it more often. It is also giving me valuable experience as I am interested in working in the education sector in the future. 

Ramya Subramanian Headshot

Ramya Subramanian
Environmental Science and Policy; Information Science


I became a peer mentor to expand my interest in the teaching field while engaging first year students academically and socially within their new Honors community. 

Jacob Tagle Headshot

Jacob Tagle 
Biomedical Science; Public Health


I became a peer mentor because tutelage is something I thoroughly enjoy doing. I understand the tribulations of being a first year in college and I want to be able to make the easier for students. 

MEET THE HONORS FOUNDATIONS GRADUATE ASSISTANT

My name is Anrae Stephenson-Frazier and I am the graduate assistant for first-year student success in the Judy Genshaft Honors College. I recently moved to the Tampa area but have been in Florida for the past few years. I graduated from North Carolina A&T with my B.A. in psychology and have a background in teaching/mentoring. I am currently pursuing my M.A. in school counseling at the University of South Florida. I have four years of experience in administration, mentoring, and teaching. I'm looking forward to supporting our new Honors students!

Headshot Anrae Stephenson-Frazier

APPLY TO BE A PEER MENTOR

2024 peer mentor applications are now closed. 2025 applications will open in February, 2025. 

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about the peer mentor position or Honors Foundations, please e-mail Dr. Kevin Lee, Program Director for Honors Foundations & Retention Initiatives at honorspeermentor@usf.edu.