Meet the Mentors
Executive Board 2020-21
Isabelle
Isabelle Leonard
Lead Mentor
Where you transferred from: Cornell University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Dairy Science
- Fun Fact About Me: I’ve never broken any bones.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Pandapas Pond is a little known hiking spot on West 460 and 10 minutes from campus. While you're out that way, stop by Mountain Lake as well. This is the site of filming for the movie Dirty Dancing!
Rachel
Rachel Hoffman
Time Management Coordinator
Where you transferred from: Roanoke College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Biological Sciences
- Fun Fact About Me: I’ve lived in Blacksburg my whole life!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Make sure you hike the cascades in the fall - it’s beautiful
Michaela
Michaela Rustia
Where you transferred from: Duquesne University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Finance
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Cabo for dinner; Lefty’s brunch; Trampoline Park in Christiansburg; Cascades
Kimberly
Kimberly Olivarria Iboa
Marketing Coordinator
Where you transferred from: Danville Community College
- Academic Year: Fifth Year Senior
- Major: Biomedical Biology with an Animal and Poultry Minor
- Fun Fact About Me: As popular as it is, I haven’t hiked the Cascades...yet!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Attend “Salsa Night” at the Milk Parlor on Wednesday nights! Volunteer at the annual Big Plant and help plant trees in the community.
Mentors
Michael
Michael Buzzelli
Where you transferred from: Central Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Biological Sciences
- Fun Fact About Me: I put hot sauce on almost everything. I have bottles at some of my friends' apartments just for when I come over.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Two words. DP Dough. I call it my second home, but they say I can’t legally have it changed to that, so I have to compromise. I cannot describe the love i have for this glorious place and how much I am going to miss it when I leave.
Prabhav
Prabhav Bhaumik
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Fun Fact About Me: I’m left-handed
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Climb the rock at the top of dragon’s tooth. The view is beautiful.
Sarah
Sarah Campbell
Where you transferred from: Clemson University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Economics
- Fun Fact About Me: I play the piano, guitar, & ukulele (and I’m trying to learn electric bass)
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Eat at Cabo Fish Taco, sit on the Drillfield when it’s nice out, and visit the Duck Pond.
Megan
Megan Chenoweth
Where you transferred from: George Mason University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Human Development
- Fun Fact About Me: I am the only left-handed person in my entire family
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Lefty’s breakfast or brunch! Take time to watch the sunset from the pylons on top of the War Memorial Chapel, it truly is a wonderful experience.
Josh
Josh Daniels
Where you transferred from: George Mason University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Business Information Technology (BIT)
- Fun Fact About Me: I sometimes set off metal detectors because of metal plating in my collarbone from a biking accident.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Having a bonfire with friends in the Caldwell Fields on a Saturday night is a must-do.
Shajesza
Shajesza Diggs
Where you transferred from: Blue Ridge Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Biochemistry
- Fun Fact About Me: I’ve done puppet shows for children at the Augusta County Library in Fishersville, VA.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Attend Gobbler Night events.
Nikki
Nikki Ferrer
Where you transferred from: Providence College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: National Security and Foreign Affairs with an Italian minor
- Fun Fact About Me: I love to travel and I was able to visit Vietnam, Japan, Mauritius, and South Africa this past year on Semester at Sea!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Take a trip to Claytor Lake and spend the day relaxing by the lake with your friends! Pack a picnic, enjoy the sun, and just forget about all your worries for a little bit!
Patricia
Halea Fowler
Where you transferred from: Bluefield College and Southwest Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Fifth Year Senior
- Major: Electrical Engineering-Photonics
- Fun Fact About Me: I used to be a theater major!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Visit the Farmer’s Market with a friend!
Maggie
Maggie Frazier
Where you transferred from: Virginia Highlands Community College
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Clinical Neuroscience
- Fun Fact About Me: I recently started an online business with my sister selling our handmade wood burned art pieces and decor items.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Check out some of the local businesses in Blacksburg. One of my favorite places is Idego Coffee. It’s a great place to hang out with friends and has great coffee!
Haley
Haley Galliher
Where you transferred from: Virginia Highlands Community College
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Psychology
- Fun Fact About Me: I am a big country music fan! My favorite band is Zac Brown Band
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Blacksburg has some of the best hiking trails to try out! My favorite is Dragon’s Tooth!
Sarah
Sarah Gellert
Where you transferred from: Rider University
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Biological Science: Biomedical Option
- Fun Fact About Me: At Rider University, I played Division I soccer for a year before transferring to VT.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: If you are looking for a challenge, run the Hokie Half in the fall. I wouldn’t have wanted to run my first half marathon any other way! You get to run alongside fellow Hokies and you can feel the sense of pride associated with all aspects of Virginia Tech!!
Alejandro
Alejandro Gonzales
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Business Information Technology (BIT)
- Fun Fact About Me: I was born in Peru and English is my second language
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Go hiking at the Cascades Falls with friends and grab dinner at Macado’s.
Jenna
Jenna Rose Helme
Where you transferred from: Germanna Community College
- Academic Year: Fifth year Senior
- Major: Mathematics
- Fun Fact About Me: I’m on the Marching Virginians Color Guard here at Virginia Tech!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Visit the golf course and watch the sunset
Sadie
Sadie Hughes
Where you transferred from: University of Virginia
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Civil Engineering
- Fun Fact About Me: I train dogs and horses
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Walking through the farm fields by the Duck Pond. It is the most relaxing thing to do in Blacksburg!
Megan
Megan Murphy
Where you transferred from: Gettysburg College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Animal and Poultry Science
- Fun Fact About Me: My dream is to be a veterinarian in the US Army.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Every VT student needs to experience Enter Sandman in Lane Stadium! Also hiking Bald Knob at sunset is one of my favorite things to do in the area!
Gabrielle
Gabrielle Myers
Where you transferred from: Monmouth University
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Political Science with a concentration in National Security
- Fun Fact About Me: I am a member of VT Women’s Rugby Team
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Visit Joe’s Diner for breakfast and order their chocolate milk!
T. Van
T. Van [tee-von] Nguyen
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Management-Human Resources Management
- Fun Fact About Me: I am the President of Virginia Tech’s student chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Favorite restaurant in Blacksburg is Spicity. Have a picnic or “field day” on the drillfield AND watch the sunset on the Pylons
Jamy
Jamy Ordonez
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Animal and Poultry Sciences
- Fun Fact About Me: I know Harry Styles’ entire discography by heart.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Watching the sunset on the Drillfield!
Steven
Steven Rowen
Where you transferred from: George Mason University
- Academic Year: Junior
- Major: Finance: Certified Financial Planning Concentration
- Fun Fact About Me: I cover and write articles about VT sports events for the Collegiate Times!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Even if sports aren’t your thing, should try going to at least one football game before you graduate.
Dana
Dana (Sooyoung) Ryu
Where you transferred from: Seoul, Korea
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Mathematics
- Fun Fact About Me: Lived in various countries including Kuwait, Japan, and China!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: eat at the Himalayan Curry
Barbara
Barbara Sanchez
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Physics
- Fun Fact About Me: I really love to explore new places! I love walking around campus and the Blacksburg area just to enjoy the scenery and hope to find something new.
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Visit the Farmer’s Market during the weekend! They have everything from antiques to locally grown food for sale, and even live music.
Ben
Ben Wardach
Where you transferred from: Thomas Nelson Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Fun Fact About Me: I train Jiu-Jitsu, love mountain biking, and swing dance
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: Bike ride at Pandapas Pond, eat calzones from the Cellar, and walk across the Drillfield at sunset.
Mallory Wood
Where you transferred from: New River Community College
- Academic Year: Senior
- Major: Human Development
- Fun Fact About Me: I am terrified of squirrels!
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: I would definitely take advantage of the outdoor activities around Blacksburg. I would recommend going to Claytor Lake, Fishing/Tubing on the New River, and hiking at the Cascades, McAfee Knob, and Grayson Highlands. Also, make sure to sign up for the student lottery if you didn’t buy student season tickets for the football and basketball games.
Melinda
Melinda Yeboah
Where you transferred from: Northern Virginia Community College
- Academic Year: Sophomore
- Major: Political Science
- Fun Fact About Me: I love sushi
- Recommendation of must do’s while at Virginia Tech: If you are looking for a great breakfast spot, go to our Daily Bread Bakery & Bistro. It’s so good!