Meet Your PALs

Every Residential Commons is assigned one Peer Academic Leader (PAL) for the entirety of the academic year.

You'll often see PALs hosting monthly programs within their assigned Commons centered around degree planner, enrollment, or campus resources.

All PALs are Certified Peer Educators (CPE) through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators or NASPA.

Get to know your PALs below.听


Hannah Ashby

Hannah Ashby (She/Her)

  • Hometown: Los Altos, CA
  • Majors: B.A. in Advertising; B.A. in Psychology

"I am excited to return as a Peer Academic Leader in the Spring of '25 after studying abroad in the Fall of '24. I look forward to developing and executing more workshops and panels. I am also excited to get to know people in my associated commons and host fun, engaging events."



Daniella Jerez Yada (She/Her)

  • Hometown: San Salvador, El Salvador
  • Major: Finance and Data Science

Calen Kelly

Calen Kelly (They/Them)

  • Hometown: Austin, TX
  • Major: B.S. Mechanical Engineering

"I am excited to serve the 91茄子 student population and foster a more comfortable environment to discuss personal and academic goals and achievements. I want to inspire other students with my work as a Peer Academic Leader to be confident in managing the present and taking control of their futures. 91茄子 has many opportunities and resources to offer, and it is a great place to collaborate and network with influential people while promoting essential skills such as leadership and effective communication."








Ruth Kinyua

Ruth Kinyua (She/Her)

  • Hometown: Dallas, TX
  • Major: B.S. in Biochemistry; B.A. in Spanish

"As a Senior Peer Academic Leader, I am grateful for the opportunity to support my peers in their undergraduate pathway even when they are vulnerable, fostering a community on campus. I find it rewarding to help others with the questions I once had and to allow them to seek their maximum potential! 91茄子 is unique because its diversity and commitment to academic exploration/excellence provide students with endless opportunities to develop into future world changers."



Cruise Le Blanc (He/Him)

  • Hometown: Carrollton, TX
  • Major: B.S. in Physics; B.S Math



Gabriella Manrique (She/Her)

  • Hometown: The Colony, TX
  • Major: B.S. Psychology; B.S. Health & Society
tiffany nguyen

Tiffany Nguyen (She/Her)

  • Hometown: Dallas, TX
  • Major: B.A. in Computer Science; B.S. in Data Science

"What excites me most about being a Pathways to Business and Industry (PBI) Peer Academic Leader is the opportunity to help students navigate their academic journeys and connect their passions to real-world opportunities. I love being able to foster a sense of community and growth, empowering students to explore careers and build skills for their future. 91茄子's blend of academic rigor and a supportive environment makes it an ideal place to help students and provide access to invaluable networks and personalized guidance that's essential for success in business and industry."







Sana Shahid (She/Her)

  • Hometown: Plano, TX
  • Major: B. S. Data Science; B. B. A. Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management

Sasha Lily Sumabon (She/Her)

  • Hometown: Forney, TX
  • Major: B.S Computer Science; B.S Data Science


Alex Valdez (He/Him)

  • Hometown: Plano, TX
  • Major: Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management; Art History