STEP Mentors

My name is Stephany Bernadeau and I am currently a senior here at Salem State University. I am majoring in psychology and minoring in biology. I’m from Boston, Massachusetts but I live on campus during the school year. I am originally from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. My goal for the future is to become a counselor, though I haven’t decided what I will be focusing on yet. My first-year experience with STEP is something I will treasure for the rest of my time in school. STEP has help me a lot with the transition from high school to college both academically and socially. As a STEP peer mentor, I want to be able to help others have as good as an experience as I did. I’m glad I will have the chance to work with all of you this upcoming year, and I can’t wait to meet all of you! See you soon!

My name is Lenn Darla Jean Gilles. I am a Nursing Major with a minor in biology and psychology. I am a first-generation student, and I am currently a senior at Salem State University. I aspire to be a nurse midwife, and I am also a makeup artist. This will be my fourth year being part of the STEP program. I joined the step program because as a first-generation student, I didn't have the resources and information from my parents regarding what I needed to be a successful college student. The STEP program provided me with the necessary information and help in order for me to have a smooth transition during my first year here at Salem State University.

My name is Suzanne Musema. I am currently a sophomore at Salem State University majoring in social work. I have recently declared a minor in women and gender studies. I want a career where I work directly with my community, helping people reach their full potential and succeed in life. I live in Lynn, Massachusetts and commute to school. My involvement with STEP during my freshman year made the school year a lot more manageable and less daunting. So as a first-year STEP mentor, I am excited to be given the opportunity to do the same for someone else. I look forward to meeting all of you.

My name is Keliana Doyle and I am a senior here at Salem State University. I am majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology and Spanish. I am an SRA in Marsh Hall and enjoy involvement on campus! My favorite memories at SSU include meeting amazing people, studying abroad, and getting to be a mentor! I cannot wait to meet you in the fall!

My name is Elsy Sánchez. I was born in Boston and grew up in Honduras. I moved from Honduras about six years ago and now I live in Chelsea Massachusetts. I’m a biology major with a minor in chemistry and Spanish. I’m passionate about learning about different cultures, traveling, volunteering and helping others. I had the opportunity to be part of STEP during my first year, and it was an amazing and beneficial experience for me. It helped me successfully navigate my first year in college. Having the support and guidance from my mentor and STEP coach made me realize that I was capable and belonged at Salem State University. During my sophomore year, I was a STEP mentor. It has been one of the most beautiful experiences. I’m excited to return as a mentor and I can’t wait to meet you all. 

Hello everyone! My name is Kaitlyn Meeks and I am a junior this upcoming fall. My major is nursing and I have a double minor in human biology and psychology. I am a commuter from Lynn, Massachusetts, but I was born and raised in Canyon, Texas. My goal for the future is to become a scrub nurse or a nurse practitioner. One fun fact about myself is that I have traveled 23 states and have done something memorable in each state.

The STEP program has made my first-year transition from high school to college very smooth, and that is why I wanted to become a mentor this year. Outside of being a STEP mentor, I am also a part of Greek life and involved in one of the sororities on campus, Theta Phi Alpha, where I serve on the E-Board. I can’t wait to meet all of you and hope to provide the same experience that I received my freshman year!

My name is Sheilyn Rodriguez and I am from Worcester, Massachusetts. I grew up in a strict Puerto Rican household, therefore, I have a great work ethic and organizational skills. As strict as the household was, I am a very caring and loving person and I can't help but worry and care for others. I am a nursing major currently living on campus. I plan on becoming a nurse practitioner for the NICU as I see that this career fits my warm and welcoming personality. My experience in STEP has been a smooth sail into college. I love the program and now as a peer mentor, I hope to help my mentees navigate their troubles and support their decisions as they go along their first-year college experience.

My name is Alex Sheehan and I will be a sophomore this fall at Salem State. I am a first-generation college student and I am majoring in economics with a minor in math. I plan to continue pursuing higher education and possibly obtain a master’s degree or Ph.D. in my respective field. I joined STEP during my first year and the support and resources they have provided me with are invaluable. Now, as a STEP peer mentor, I am excited to do the same for my mentees! In addition to STEP, I am a member of the softball team as well as the honors program.

Hello, my name is Natalia Caron. I am from Lowell, Massachusetts and I am currently a sophomore here at Salem State University. I am majoring in early childhood education with a double major in geography. As a freshman, being apart of STEP was probably the best decision I made. This program has helped me to succeed in all aspects of my life, not just academics. My STEP coach helped me to get involved on campus and it even resulted in me becoming the treasurer of the education club! I am so excited to be working with everyone this year and being able to lend a helping hand when needed. I hope to be able to make everyone’s first year here at Salem State the best it can be! 

My name is Gisady Mendoza, a current sophomore at Salem State University majoring in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. I am a commuter from Peabody, Massachusetts. My goal is to become a doctor of osteopathic (D.O.) in OBN/GYN or anesthesiology. I joined the STEP program because I wanted to be a successful college student and get all the resources and information in order to be one. It made my freshman year more manageable and less stressful. It helped improve my communication and time management skills as well. As a first-year STEP peer mentor, I am excited to give the opportunity to another first-year student. I had a great experience with STEP and I hope to help others have an amazing experience as I did. 

My name is Zainab Abd Alkaby, I am from Iraq but I was mostly raised in Lynn, MA. This is my third year at Salem State as a biology major with two minors in chemistry and physiology. My ultimate goal is to become a licensed dentist. I love helping people out, as I needed help my self. Transitioning into college was one of the toughest obstacles that I’ve overcome and I believe all first-year students can also. STEP is an amazing way to ease into the campus lifestyle, and I’m glad that I’m a part of a great resource. I am so excited to meet and work with all of you in the fall! Please don’t hesitate to ask me about anything!