Here are our times for the Spring 2024 semester: 

Monday: 10-11am, 12:30-1:30pm

Tuesday: 8:45-9:45am, 2:30-3:30pm

Wednesday: 9-10am, 11-12pm, 12:30-1:30pm

Thursday: 8:45-9:45pm, 2:30-3:30pm, 3:30-4:30pm

Friday: 10-11pm

Peer advisors are available for drop in office hours in Holdsworth 209 and/or on Zoom!

Use this Zoom link (passcode: 387700)

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Meet the Peer Advisors

Senior Peer Advisors

Austin Bartlett

Hello everyone!

My name is Austin, and I am a Senior from Naugatuck, Connecticut. I’m a double major in Public Health and now EnviSci, with a focus in Environmental Health. Despite being new to the EnviSci major and team, this is not my first time working with advising. For years now I’ve been responsible for personnel management of new airmen on all sides of life, including school, career, social and etc. I’ve been a part of incredible initiatives that helped mold confidence and leadership in youth and adults alike both in, and outside of the military.  It’s because of my experiences that I thought that I could be a great resource for the students here at UMASS, for things that seem a bit further from your normal academic advising (not to say I can’t do that as well). So if you ever find yourself looking for advice of any kind, I urge you to feel free to reach out and use my experience as a resource! Also, feel free to just reach out to chat! I’m a big nerd for nature, star wars, and computers, and I love hearing from people about the things that they are doing to try and improve themselves and their communities. My email is: asbartlett@umass.edu

Heather Bortolussi

Hi everyone!

My name is Heather Bortolussi, I’m a senior from Westford, MA majoring in Environmental Science with a focus in aquatic ecology. During my time at UMass, I have had opportunities in several different labs working with aquatic invertebrates, frogs from Madagascar, and brook trout. Currently, I am continuing my summer internship with the USFS into the fall to look at how different water chemistries affect the concentration of mercury in young of year brook trout! I am also a member of the iCons program on the renewable energy track where I have had the opportunity to design and carry out my own research attempting to understand some of the world’s most pressing issues. A perfect day to me is one spent outdoors with good friends, art, music, and tea! I am always open to chat and I would love to share all of my mistakes and trials and errors with you, as well as the opportunities and achievements that I have experienced during my time at UMass. hbortolussi@umass.edu 

Bryan Dole

My name is Bryan (he/him) and I am an environmental science major in the class of 2024. Environmental science is such a broad, fascinating field and I want to be a peer advisor to help all of you navigate where you wish to take it. Growing up in Western Mass, I’ve found myself surrounded by nature. While I love all of the nature in Western Mass, I have such a deep love for the ocean. My favorite memory this past summer is walking the beaches of Cape Cod at sunset. I’ve been involved in undergraduate research at the Morrill Science Center here at UMass where I ran soil analyses measuring pH, organic matter, and metal content for soils in the New England area. I’d love to learn more about all of you and if you have any questions – major related or otherwise – please feel free to contact me at: bdole@umass.edu

Junior Peer Advisors

Lillian Pogany

Hey there!

I’m Lillian and I am a junior Environmental Science major.  I transferred to UMass Amherst for my sophomore year after spending one year at UMass Dartmouth.  During the summer, I work at a Boys & Girls Club summer camp where I run a program teaching kids about gardening, ecology, and conservation.  I have a strong passion for environmental justice and using science to connect with and better serve our communities.  I grew up in a city known for its heavily polluted bay that has deteriorated human health and the local economy for decades.  Being raised in a community that is so heavily impacted by this ecological devastation has emboldened my passion for this field.  I am interested in pursuing a career working for a government environmental agency.  Personally, I enjoy spending my free time with friends, being outdoors, drawing, and trying new restaurants or activities. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time for anything at all!  I look forward to meeting you! My email is: lpogany@umass.edu

Nina Costanza

Hi everyone!

My name is Nina. I’m a junior from Leesburg, Virginia and I’m super excited to meet you all! I’m majoring in Environmental Science and have a strong interest in habitat/wildlife conservation and ecology. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a research lab on campus that worked in collaboration with the USFS to determine pollinator habitat restoration success in log landing areas in the Midwest, and really enjoy going on outings with the UMass wildlife and forestry clubs. I switched into the Environmental Science major at the beginning of my sophomore year and fell in love with the program, so I wanted to be a peer advisor to become more involved and connect with other students in the major. In my free time, you can often find me hiking, kayaking, spending time with my friends and pets, or even just lying in the sun by the campus pond. If you have any questions about scheduling or are looking for advice about what it’s like changing majors, navigating college as an out of state student, or even just to chat, feel free to reach out at: ncostanza@umass.edu

Sydney Strauss

Hi everyone! My name is Sydney and I’m from Sewell, NJ. I have a focus area in plant and soil science and hazardous waste management. I currently work in Dr. Om Parkash Dhanker’s phytoremediation lab and I will be doing a field study program in Australia this fall. I will be studying the ecology of the Daintree Rainforest as well as the Great Barrier Reef. I am a member of WMUA, UMass’s radio club, and I love all things related to music. In my free time I enjoy exploring nature and any type of arts & crafts. I look forward to meeting everyone and don’t be afraid to reach out about any questions or just to talk! My email is: smstrauss@umass.edu.

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Your Faculty Advisors

Your Primary Faculty Advisor

Need to lift an enrollment hold on Spire? Want to ask someone about your graduation requirements? Looking for general guidance on how to stay on track in the major? Then your assigned faculty advisor is the person you are looking for!

Contact information for your assigned faculty advisor can be found on the center of the Academics tab. In order to get there from the SPIRE home page simply click on “Academics”. On the center right of the page under “Your Advisor” you should see the name and contact info of your primary advisor. Underneath there is also “General Advising Information” which is where you can find another point of contact for your advising department!

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Informal Faculty Mentors

Is your Primary Faculty Advisor the only professor you should get to know?  NO!!  Everyone with more than one older experienced mentor to whom they turn for advice knows how beneficial these relationships can be.  These kinds of connections with faculty tend to be unique for every student. You can think of such professors as ‘unofficial’ mentors: you are not formally assigned to them, and the mentor/mentee relationship you build with them is something the two of you establish together.

Environmental Science faculty members are extremely knowledgeable about their particular sub-disciplines. They also know a lot about the University as a whole, and about the broader field of Environmental Science. Most importantly, though, they want to share what they know, and they’re enthusiastic about helping students who reach out to them. Having an informal advisor or two isn’t strictly necessary, but if you reach out to and foster relationships with professors, you stand to gain invaluable insights and new perspectives!

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Program Manager & Chief Undergraduate Advisor

Deborah Henson, PhD

Office: 310 Holdsworth Hall

Email: dhenson@eco.umass.edu

Drop-In Virtual Office Hours: TBD

Appointments can be booked through Navigate for current students. You will receive a Zoom link with your appointment confirmation.

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Assistant Program Manager

Craig Nicolson, PhD

Office: 320 Holdsworth Hall 

Email: craign@umass.edu

Drop-In Virtual Office Hours: TBD

Bookable Navigate appointment times with Dr Nicolson are also available.