Graduate Peer Mentor Program
The Graduate Peer Mentor Program
Celebrating the next steps in your career and academic journey, the School of Graduate Studies supports our Peer Mentors as an enhancement to your journey.
Starting graduate studies can be exciting and overwhelming, the journey will look different than undergrad with many different milestones and deadlines that vary across disciplines, departments and programs.
The School of Graduate Studies created the Graduate Peer Mentor Program to provide you with a connection to institution, a guide through the polices and resources, and someone to connect with if you are not sure where to start. Oh, and of course, to provide you with tips and tricks to navigate graduate school, including the fun, and finding the balance.
Whether you are receiving regular outreach from a mentor or just have a question, all graduate students are mentees. Please reach out to a mentor if we can support your journey.
Step 1: Are you new to the School of Graduate Studies?
Yes, you are already in.
You will receive an email from the Graduate Peer Mentor Program Coordinator with a form. Fill it out to help us by providing more insight into your specific needs.
Step 2: Watch your ULeth inbox!
Within the first month of classes, you will receive a personalized email from your Graduate Peer Mentor. They will use the information you provided to welcome you and provide you with any additional resources to get you started in your first term.
Step 3: Give Us Your Feedback
At the end of every term we want to hear from you, we will send you a short survey and ask if you would like to continue receiving outreach from your mentor. You can opt-out and back into the program at any time. All graduate students are mentees.
Are you a continuing student who wishes to connect with a mentor? Do you have a question for a mentor?
Please fill out the Ask A Mentor Form and we will connect with you, within 3-5 business days.
Please reach out to us anytime with any question or request and we will do our best to guide you to the resources and supports or find someone with the answers.
Email us: sgs.peermentor@uleth.ca
Meet The Graduate Peer Mentors
Alexa Fowler
Master of Science, Kinesiology
In your graduate journey so far, what has supported your learning, well‑being, or sense of balance most strongly (academically, personally, or in community)?
Regular exercise such as going for a walk outside, joining a rec sport league, or using the campus gym has been a huge support for both my health and social well-being. Exercise helps me manage stress, maintain focus, and stay energized, while keeping me connected in my community outside of academics, which creates balance in my life.
What motivated you to become a Graduate Peer Mentor, and how do you hope to support a sense of belonging and connection within the graduate community?
I was motivated to become a Graduate Peer Mentor because I know how important it can be to have someone to turn to while navigating graduate school. I hope to help create a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and knowing that they belong in the graduate community.
What insight, practice, or perspective has helped you grow as a graduate student that you would like to share with others?
Focusing on my personal progress rather than perfection. I feel like grad students often place a lot of pressure on themselves to know everything, but recognizing that no one is expected to have everything figured out and that graduate school is a continuous learning process has helped me to reduce that pressure and has taught me to celebrate the small wins.
Nabeel Al Jahan
Master of Arts, History
Nabeel is currently working on his thesis exploring the historical connections based on Buddhist heritage between the Bengali and Japanese scripts. Beyond his research, he is deeply invested in how we communicate, both as scholars and as a community. Throughout his graduate journey, the strongest support for his learning and well-being has come from the authentic bonds shared with his academic peers. Whether it is navigating complex discussions in the classroom or offering mutual support during personal hurdles, the graduate student community here at the University of Lethbridge has been his anchor. This connection is exactly what motivated Nabeel to become a Graduate Peer Mentor. Having navigated different academic systems in Dhaka, Toronto, and now in Lethbridge, he knows how vital it is to have a reliable point of contact. He hopes to strengthen this sense of belonging by ensuring no student feels they are walking their path alone, acting as a bridge to the resources and community networks that helped him find his own footing here. The most valuable perspective Nabeel aims to share with fellow students is that success in grad school is a balance of time management, clear prioritization, and technical mastery. By finding the right blend of these skills, we can navigate the heavy workload of graduate studies without sacrificing our personal lives. Nabeel believes that with the right combination of strategies and a supportive community, graduate students can manage the demands of academia while staying healthy and connected.
Niosha Attarifard
Master of Science, Kinesiology
In your graduate journey so far, what has supported your learning, well‑being, or sense of balance most strongly (academically, personally, or in community)?
As a first-year MSc Kinesiology student specializing in biomechanics, my graduate journey has been shaped by a few key pillars of support. My supervisor's guidance on academics and research has given me clarity and confidence in navigating this new chapter. Advising has also been incredibly helpful, giving me the structure I need to plan my academic life with intention and purpose. On top of that, community engagement has been a wonderful way to find balance, connecting with others outside of my research reminds me that graduate school is about more than just academics.
What motivated you to become a Graduate Peer Mentor, and how do you hope to support a sense of belonging and connection within the graduate community?
I truly enjoy helping and connecting with people. Graduate school can feel isolating, especially early on, and I want to be an approachable presence for students who may need someone to talk to, lean on, or simply relate to. Having had the opportunity to access many on-campus resources, I have experienced firsthand how they can make you feel welcomed and like you truly belong. That sense of belonging has meant a great deal to me, and I am eager to give that back to the community I am so proud to live and study in.
What insight, practice, or perspective has helped you grow as a graduate student that you would like to share with others?
One insight that has made a difference for me is learning to break big goals into smaller, manageable steps. As a graduate student, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the big picture. Taking things one step at a time has helped me stay motivated, reduce stress, and make progress, and it's something I look forward to sharing with the students I mentor.
Olympia Tomasta
Master of Fine Arts, Theatre and Dramatic Arts
In your graduate journey so far, what has supported your learning, well‑being, or sense of balance most strongly (academically, personally, or in community)?
Something I have found to be super helpful is attending and taking part in the different conferences, symposiums and graduate events across campus. It is a great way to expand your knowledge and network with fellow graduate students!
What motivated you to become a Graduate Peer Mentor, and how do you hope to support a sense of belonging and connection within the graduate community?
I wanted to become a graduate peer mentor to support graduate students as they navigate this new chapter of their academic life. Graduate school can seem overwhelming at times and I want to provide a welcoming environment in which new students can grow and thrive, by providing information, resources and encouragement!
What insight, practice, or perspective has helped you grow as a graduate student that you would like to share with others?
It is important to prioritize your research and classes as well as to take time for yourself. Finding time to do things for you can be challenging with everything that we do as graduate students but rest is key for having an enriching overall experience (in other words, you do your best work when you are rested and fulfilled 😊). Also, don’t let the imposter syndrome get in your way. You’ve worked hard to get here and deserve your place!
Regina Olarewaju
Master of Fine Arts, New Media
Regina is an MFA New Media student whose work examines how movement, meaning, and rhythm shift as Yoruba dance is translated into digital form using motion capture. Her graduate journey has been shaped by learning how to balance creative work with academic demands, while also building a sense of community along the way. She became a Graduate Peer Mentor because she cares about creating a more supportive and connected environment for other students. Having experienced moments of uncertainty herself, she understands how important it is to have people to talk to. She hopes to be someone others feel comfortable reaching out to, whether for guidance, reassurance, or simply conversation. One thing that continues to guide her is focusing on progress rather than perfection. She values consistency, openness, and self-compassion, and hopes to share this with others as they navigate graduate school.
Meet The Graduate Peer Mentor Program Support
Amanda Ervin
Doctor of Philosophy, Cultural, Social, and Political Thought
In your graduate journey so far, what has supported your learning, well‑being, or sense of balance most strongly (academically, personally, or in community)?
My learning and well-being have been most supported by strong relationships, both within my academic community and beyond! Staying connected to peers, mentors, and community partners has been the key to sustaining balance and finding joy as a graduate student.
What motivated you to become a Graduate Peer Mentor, and how do you hope to support a sense of belonging and connection within the graduate community?
I was motivated to become a Graduate Peer Mentor because I value the role connection plays in student success. As a seasoned graduate student, I understand how isolating this experience can feel at times. I hope to support others by creating space for honest conversation, shared experience, and a stronger sense of belonging.
What insight, practice, or perspective has helped you grow as a graduate student that you would like to share with others?
One perspective that has helped me grow is recognizing that progress in graduate studies is not always linear. Being adaptable, staying grounded in purpose, and allowing space for both challenge and growth has been essential, and that’s something I would encourage others to carry with them.
Daniela McGonigal-Plankey
Master of Arts, Indigenous Studies
Daniela is a graduate student in the department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Lethbridge. Originally from Mexico, she grew up in Calgary and is proud of her Mexican identity and mixed Chilean-American and Scottish heritage with Latin American Indigenous ancestry. Her research examines how Mapudungun is taught online, and how the symbolic and linguistic elements in online language videos reinforce the language learning process. In her free time when she is not thesis writing, Daniela likes to swim, travel, learn Indigenous languages, play music and do lots of creative writing. She also knows some fun facts about early Western Canada that not many people do. She hopes to bring her creativity and ideas towards helping new and current graduate students feel a connection with the campus community, and to get the word out on the amazing work being done by the Graduate Studies department!
Learn About the Professional Development Benefits of the Peer Mentor Program
This link provides information about the professional development in the peer mentor program.
