By Summer Kaeppel
This year has been uniquely challenging and it feels as though seemingly everything has changed. Though the Communication Peer Advisors have not been able to provide support to students in person, we have created new models of providing guidance and support to both our students and to each other. It is unclear what exactly the future is going to look like, but one thing that is certain is that this department will continue to be present for its students.
Many of the Peer Advisors, myself included, will be graduating in May. The end of our undergraduate career and our roles as PAs is bittersweet; though many of us are sad to be leaving behind a position that was formative to our senior year, it also means that we are opening up spots for younger students to have their turn. I caught up with the incoming PA team for the 2020-2021 school year and am excited to introduce each of them!
Rebecca Aiken ‘21: Along with being a Communication major I’m also a Journalism major. My favorite class that I’ve taken so far in the Comm Department was Prof. Anderson’s COMM 231: Intro to Film & TV Production Concepts. I’ll be a senior when I’m a PA. I love to travel, I write for Amherst Wire, I love to take the fitness classes at the Rec Center, I work at the Student Success Office, and I’m super outgoing, so I’m excited to meet all of the students that come in for advising! What I’m most excited for while being a PA is getting to help others solve problems and hopefully have them leave with a smile after we meet.
Kyle Balis ‘21: I am currently a junior at UMass, and I got the opportunity this past semester to study abroad in Manchester, England, before unfortunately having to come home due to the pandemic, but it was an amazing experience. I am from Dedham, MA. I am very passionate about film and am currently going through the process of applying to BDIC, to double major Film Studies with Communication. One of my favorite Communication classes I have taken is Comm 441: Principles and Techniques of Film Style Production, where you make short films that really require you to think creatively. I am very excited to be a Comm PA this semester because I’m sure the fall is going to be very busy as everyone returns to campus after a long time away and I’m excited to not only be able to help during this time in any way I can but also to learn a lot along the way!
Sade Brooks ‘22: I’m a rising junior, a Communication major and a French minor. I’m involved in the Black Student Union (BSU) and the NAACP organization on campus. I was previously a History major and I have a strong interest in social justice reform/issues. I’m a dog lover, I have a Havanese-poodle named Milo, he’s 4. One cool thing about me is that I am currently learning two languages: French and Amharic. A life goal of mine is to become fluent in at least five languages. The most exciting aspect of Peer Advising I look forward to is connecting students to academic resources and hosting professional development events.
Hannah Ellison ‘21: I am a rising senior Communication major with a minor in Spanish. I’m from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, which is a small town near Springfield. When I came to UMass Amherst I was undeclared and so unsure about what I wanted to study, but when I learned about the Communication major, I knew it was a fit! Out of all the classes I’ve taken I’d have to say my favorite has been Comm 228: Visual Communication. Besides my studies here, I work as an Office Assistant for University Relations and am part of the Marketing Club. UMass and the Communication Department have made me feel so at home and I hope as your Peer Advisor l I can help answer any questions you have!
Gabby Grondalski ‘21: Aside from being a senior Communication major, I am also pursuing the Education Minor and Media Literacy Certificate. I am from Charlton, MA, which is located in Central Mass. Since my freshman year at UMass, I have been a member of the tuba section in the Minuteman Marching Band. I am also currently a sister of the Music Fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota and will be the Chapter President this upcoming year. This is my first year as a Peer Advisor, and I am excited to help provide guidance to students who are looking to join or are already a part of the Comm Major!
Elizabeth Jacobs ‘22: I am a Communication and Marketing double major pursuing a film studies certificate. My favorite Communication class I have taken so far is COMM 597: Advanced Video Production with Professor Kevin Anderson. I love film production and being in a small class with upperclassmen was super fun, as I was a freshman when I took the course.
Over the past two years I have interned for the Film Studies Department at UMass, doing social media and helping out with the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival and the Latin American Film Festival. I am currently working on my honors thesis, which is a feature-length documentary film on my adoption from Cambodia and the baby trafficking scandal behind it. In addition to my interest in film production, I love photography and music. What I am most excited to do as a Comm PA is to organize more events on film production and spur an interest in students about film. I am also excited to meet students and become a friendly face around campus for them to ask any questions that they have.
Grace Keller ‘22: I am a junior Communication major with an IT minor here at UMass. I am from Northborough, a small town in central Massachusetts. I spent my freshman year commuting to Framingham State University, where I took some general education courses. I decided to transfer to UMass my Sophomore year because of all the opportunities I knew UMass held for their students. After getting situated on campus, I joined a few clubs such as Women in Business, the social entrepreneurship club, as well as Campus Crusade. I am constantly looking for new opportunities at UMass and being a Peer Advisor is one I am extremely excited about. I am eager to use my experiences in order to help other Comm majors with their time here at UMass!
Estela Suarez-Hernandez ‘22: I’m a rising junior at UMass, double majoring in Communication and Journalism. I grew up in South Florida and decided to come to UMass for my undergrad education, which was a big adjustment. I have loved my time as a Communication student and I believe my favorite class so far has been Comm. 287: Advertising as Social Communication with Professor Sut Jhally. In addition to being a student at UMass, I am also in a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and hold an on-campus job doing marketing and communications for Smart About Money, a peer-to-peer financial wellness organization. I am excited to be a part of the Comm. PA team, especially getting to know and helping other students!
Emaan Tariq ‘22: I’m a Communication major and my favorite Comm class has been Comm226: Social Impact of Mass Media because it is very relevant to media and the culture that comes out of it, and what culture goes into media. I’m on the board for the Pakistani Students Organization which is a great way to keep involved with the UMass community as well as my culture. As Comm PA, I’m most excited to meet new people as well as become more accustomed to the major!
In addition to our new PA’s, two of our current PA’s who are not graduating this May will be continuing on with the team. Kayla Noel and Aaliyah Quintal will be helping our new PA’s transition into the position.
Kayla Noel: I am a double major in Communication and Journalism. I’m here to help you accomplish your academic, social, or spiritual goals. I recommend you write them down and let’s work on them together. College is a different world; take your time, ask questions, be in the moment, and most importantly be yourself. You’re going to accomplish great things!
Aaliyah Quintal: I am a junior English and Communication, double major. I am from Fall River, Massachusetts and I love fashion, gaming, and red lipstick. I am very excited to meet you all and provide whatever help I can to ensure your year goes as smoothly and enjoyably as possible. As your peer advisor, I hope that I can be a friendly face around campus for you all to come to, whatever your needs may be.
Congratulations to the PA’s of 2020-2021, both new and old! This diverse group of student leaders were carefully selected to ensure that Communication students have the best support possible.