Peer Academic Coaching
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Meet with a coach in-person or online. If you have scheduled an in-person coaching appointment, please review our In-Person Appointment Information prior to your appointment.
For online appointments, a red "join now" button will appear in your upcoming appointments one hour prior to start time.
Need assistance scheduling an appointment? Contact Coach Admin.
In-Person Drop-in Coaching
Drop-in coaching is available during any unscheduled appointment times. Check Our Scheduler for availability. You can reserve an appointment or stop by the Student Success Center and join the queue for drop-in coaching.
About Peer Academic Coaching
SSC Peer Coaches help students develop their skills and strategies for learning efficiently and effectively. While a tutor works with you on course content, an academic coach works with you on strategies for learning the content.
Coaching Quick Facts
The Peer Academic Coaching program is an academic support program designed to provide individualized student support. Peer Academic Coaching is a partnership between a student and a peer coach, developed through a series of short, one-on-one conversations to help the student evaluate and elevate their academic performance. Coaching is not advising, counseling, or tutoring.
Log into Our Scheduler, our appointment scheduling system, to view available appointment times and select one that works for you.
Our team of Peer Academic Coaches is comprised of currently enrolled, successful undergraduate UofA students. Our coaches represent a variety of academic majors, college experiences, and personal backgrounds. What they share is their passion for working with students to help them be successful at the University of Arkansas. You can learn more about our team in our coach profiles below.
You and your coach will talk about lots of things! Your coach will work with you to identify stressors and establish goals that lead to academic success. You can expect your coach to ask you powerful questions that are curious, non-judgmental, and are designed to promote reflection, create possibilities, and encourage new insights. Your coach is invested in your goals, cares about your results, and will be your biggest advocate!
Meetings with your coach will typically last around 40 minutes.
There is no cost to attend a coaching session!
Our coaches can help you:
- define a specific game plan that can be used for an upcoming exam
- evaluate and implement learning styles & strategies
- learn how to master reading college texts
- create outlines, notes, and study materials
- review tips for effective studying & successful learning
- address text anxiety or other stressors
- assess time management to maximize study time for challenging areas while balancing college life and other time demands
Meet our Peer Coaching Team
Graduate Assistants
Madalyn Donahue
Madalyn Donahue
Pronouns: she/her
MS Student in Counseling
GA since Summer 2020
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
After graduation I want to work in a school in NWA helping set students up for future success!
What is your favorite campus resource?
Free counseling with the CNED program! Mental health is so important.
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Fayetteville Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a MUST!
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
My favorite thing about the SSC is working with our SI Mentors each Monday!
What's a fun fact about you?
I won a car for having good attendance my freshmen year of high school!
Peer Coaches
Sana Amin
Sana Amin
Pronouns: she/her
International Studies and Political Science major with a minor in Chinese
Coach since Fall 2021
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
I plan to attend law school, in hopes of working in international law in the future.
What is your favorite campus resource?
The Writing Studio
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
A few of my favorites: coffee with friends at Bolder, having a picnic at the botanical gardens, and breakfast at Prelude (pricey but worth trying!)
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
Seeing students overcome struggles that seemed insurmountable to them before.
What's a fun fact about you?
I love playing video games, and I’m very passionate about Disability rights and advocacy!
Spencer Briggs
Spencer Briggs
Pronouns: he/him
Biological Engineering major with a minor in Sustainability
Coach since Fall 2021
What is your favorite campus resource?
UREC Facility
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Go to a Razorback football rivalry game (preferably one that we win).
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
The opportunity to help other students grow.
What's a fun fact about you?
I have a rooster back home that crows to the tune of "Tequila" by The Champs.
Hannah Lane
Hannah Lane
Pronouns: she/her
Food, Nutrition and Health major
Coach since Spring 2022
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
Get my masters in Food Studies/Gastronomy. Work in recipe development/food media.
What is your favorite campus resource?
My favorite campus resources are SSC and CAPS.
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Spend time outdoors and try new food!
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
I love getting to know students and helping them navigate new experiences in college.
What's a fun fact about you?
I am originally from New York!
Lilli Martin
Lilli Martin
Pronouns: she/her
Apparel Merchadising and Product Development major with a minor in Journalism
Coach since Spring 2020
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
Hopefully grad school for fashion design!
What is your favorite campus resource?
Career Development Center
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Eat at Spoons on Dickson!!!!
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
I love meeting other students and being able to help them make college a little less stressful.
What's a fun fact about you?
I saw Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson when I was in LA.
Kay Simon
Kay Simon
Lead Peer Academic Coach
Pronouns: she/her
CRLA Level I Certified
Master of Public Health Student
Coach since Fall 2018
What do you plan to do when you graduate?
More school...
What is your favorite campus resource?
University of Arkansas News (that email that comes in around 3:00am on weekdays) it is a fun way to learn about events and opportunities happening on campus. Additionally, they include research studies that you can participate in to earn some extra $$!
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Hike the Yellow Rock Trail at Devil's Den State Park
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
The people I work with!
What's a fun fact about you?
I am in the 0.001% top listeners of my favorite artist on Spotify.
Brooke Vaughan
Brooke Vaughan
Pronouns: she/her
Chemical Engineering major
Coach since Spring 2021
What is your favorite campus resource?
CAPS
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Hike at Devil’s Den.
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
The community and how helpful it is.
What's a fun fact about you?
I have a dog named Goose.
Nichele Wescott
Nichele Wescott
Pronouns: she/her
Criminology & Sociology major with a minor in Psychology
Coach since Spring 2022
What is your favorite campus resource?
Center for Educational Access (CEA)
What is a bucket list thing students should do while here in Fayetteville?
Visit Dickson Street Bookshop
What is your favorite thing about working at the SSC?
My favorite thing about working at the SSC is getting involved and getting to know other students one-on-one.
What's a fun fact about you?
I love coffee.