Peer Academic Coaching for Psychology & Neurosciences

Hengjia Guo '25 - PAC Captain

Major: Psychology

About me: I am from China. I love to read books and watch movies and listen to music. I'm good at writing (and I love it!), I've written some poems and short stories (in Chinese). I'm also a huge cat lover!

Why PAC: I joined PAC because I wanted to help others learn more easily. Peer help is really important and supportive to me, and I'm sure it's the same with some people too. And I'm excited to meet more new people!

Favorite class and why: My favorite class is Social Psychology. This course explains some social behaviors of people, how to persuade others, and how people behave in intimate relationships. I found it very interesting because it’s highly relevant to our daily lives.

Academic advice: Ask questions if you feel confused. Try to find the aspects of the course that you are interested in, so you can be more motivated to study.

Allison Blais '24

Major: Neuroscience      

About me: I'm a dual citizen of the U.S. and France. I love dogs and cats. I'm also an identical twin; you may see my sister Isabelle around campus! I find the brain fascinating!

Why PAC?: I have been a TA and a tutor before, and I find it very fulfilling to help fellow students understand the material that I once grappled with myself. I love to work with my peers and meet new people. 

Favorite class and why?: My favorite class so far has been Cannabis. It was so interesting to learn the history and controversies surrounding this plant, as well as learning what it does to the body at a cellular level. In the lab, we conducted an experiment from start to finish to determine the effects of hemp extract on zebrafish neurodevelopment. It was so cool!

Academic advice: Figure out how to study effectively for each class based on the content and structure of the course. In a class where you have to memorize lots of brain regions, neurotransmitters, receptors, or drugs, use flashcards. In a class where you take a lot of notes, rewrite and consolidate your notes into a study guide before an exam. 

Danielle Coughlin '26

Major: Neuroscience      

About me: I enjoy all types of things both inside and outside. I love to read, complete work in coffee shops with my friends, and arts and crafts. I also love going to concerts and listening to music. School-wise, I love learning how behavior is associated with the brain.

Why PAC? PAC is a wonderful way to learn material differently and collaboratively. It can be beneficial for a range of things involving content questions or just provide a space to do work. I joined PAC because I enjoy being a part of and aiding in this academic environment. I love both neuroscience and psychology and would love to support others in finding their love for the subjects. 

Favorite class and why? My favorite class so far has been Clinical Psychopharmacology. The class was very insightful on how different clinical drugs affect the brain and behavior of those with psychological disorders. I enjoyed going to every class!

Academic advice: Studying with friends and in groups has helped me the most. In groups, you guys can talk out ideas, teach one another, and write things down on whiteboards in study rooms which can be beneficial. I also think that going to office hours can help show initiative and it can be a lot easier to ask questions in a smaller setting than in a classroom. Remember that you have many resources available to help! 

Jack Egan '24

Major: I’m a Social Work and Psychology double major. Learning both of these disciplines has helped deepen my knowledge in each and prodded me to ask novel ideas.    

About Me: Hello, my name is Jack Egan; I grew up on Long Island and attended Community College there before transferring to Skidmore my sophomore year. I love spending my time near water, cooking with/for friends, and playing the piano.  

Why PAC? I wanted to become a PAC because I love finding and using people’s strengths to tackle their assignments and goals. I also just enjoy chatting and connecting with fellow students.  

Favorite class and why? Last Spring, I took Existential Psych with Sheldon and found the class deeply impactful as a student and as a person as well. Months after, I still conceptualize and use many ideas I learned in that class.  

Academic advice: Being clear and intentional with yourself about your values and realistic time you want to a lot to social, personal, and academic life. I also have personally found it always beneficial to meet with professors prior to major assignments; just showing up can be meaningful.  

Emily Kayser '26

Major: Neuroscience, Psychology        

About me: I am originally from New Hampshire but moved several times during high school to pursue ballet training. I also took four years off to continue dancing after high school before coming to Skidmore. I love spending time outdoors, in coffee shops with friends, and watercoloring.  

Why PAC? I wanted to be a part of PAC because I love connecting with other students and helping people find more efficient and effective ways to study based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. I really enjoy helping students find ways to make their coursework more accessible for their style of learning and believe that peer help can be a less intimidating outlet to ask questions and get support.   

Favorite class and why? My favorite class was Clinical Psychopharmacology with Hassan Lopez. I loved learning about the neurobiological pathways implicated in psychopathology and connecting the neurobiology of mental illnesses to the mechanism of action of common drug treatments for those disorders.  

Academic advice: Connecting with peers can be incredibly helpful for studying and for providing exposure to different learning strategies, but it is equally as important to remember that what makes someone else a successful student may not work for you. The way others study should be a resource rather than a source of comparison. Ask questions, engage with your professors and classmates, and trust yourself! 

Ellie Ketterer-Sykes '24

 Jonah Levy '26

Major: Psychology      

About me: I love Playing Frisbee, Rock climbing, and hiking. I just started learning how to play the bass guitar and I enjoy playing new board games with my friends.  

Why PAC: I joined PAC because I find that helping others is deeply rewarding. Learning about ourselves and how our mind works in psychology is helpful when thinking about being a student and building new habits. I enjoy thinking about how using psychology in our lives can greatly improve them. I’m also always looking to learn new things about psychology, and conversations with peers are a great way to discover new interests.  

Favorite class and why: My favorite class was the Colloquium in Psychological Science. The psychology program at Skidmore is very much oriented towards research, so having the opportunity to hear about each professor’s interests and what work their lab was doing was amazing. The wide variety of topics that were discussed throughout the course made each lecture unique. 

Academic advice: Not every study strategy you hear about is going to work for you, so trying different strategies is important. If you find yourself struggling, being forgiving to yourself is an important part of the process. When you eventually find what works best for you, stick to it. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is one of the best tools to have as a student.

Olivia Ouyang '25

Major: Psychology    

About me: I am from Guangzhou, China. I love traveling, meeting local people, learning about their life lifestyles, culture, and history as well as the amazing natural beauty along the journey.

Why PAC?: Peer students from different regions, and cultural backgrounds gather together for similar interests with a shared language. I enjoyed talking to our peers to know their ideas, learning about their concerns and difficulties, which I might also have experienced before, and helping them eventually.

Favorite class and why?: This is the hardest question I’ve ever had. Almost all the psychology classes I took were really awesome! However, if I have to choose, I highly recommend Professor Rebecca’s PS303. From her lesson, I knew that statistics was not only helpful for academic reasons but also a strong and new perspective that helped you review the difficulties you encountered in your own life. 

Academic advice: Do not push all the work before the exam. Break them done, learn, and review step by step. Trying to illustrate what you learn to your friends (or find PAC, we’d love to be with you!) is a really good way to consolidate your memory.

Emma Pantschenko '25

Emma Pantschenko '25    

Major: Neuroscience, Psychology   

About me: As both a psychology and neuroscience major, I am very interested in all things brain! Whether my future contains more laboratory focused research or more clinical work alongside patients, I hope to help those struggling with mental health and other neurological impairments. In my free time, I love to paint, spend time outdoors, crochet, and read!" 

Why PAC?: PAC is an amazing way to deepen both interest and knowledge in any subject; it is an opportunity to get helpful peer perspectives and advice. Seeking help from PAC has helped many students, including myself, so being able to give this same help and support is extremely gratifying.  

Favorite class and why: My favorite class was Intro to Neuroscience with Professor Lagalwar. I had always known I was interested in the brain, but this class deepened and affirmed my love for neuroscience. I found myself excited to learn all this class could teach me. 

Academic Advice: Staying very organized is one of the most effective and efficient ways to achieve academic success. Making plans and schedules for homework or study times will ensure that you stay on top of your work, and it also prevents being overwhelmed. Also, never be afraid to ask for help!