What is a Peer Wellness Coach?

Peer Wellness Coaches (PWC) are upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who assist students in accomplishing their academic, social, and personal goals. Sponsored by Student Counseling Services and Student Affairs, the primary goal of the program is to provide students who are stressed, unmotivated or worried about their grades or life in general with a personal coach. The role of the PWC is to assist students in their endeavor for college success.

What does a Peer Wellness Coach Do?

Peer Wellness Coaches help Northeastern students one-on-one with coaching/mentoring, linkage to Student Counseling Services when necessary, as well as linkage to University or community resources, and peer advocacy. They also provide some outreach programming to the University community on a variety of mental health-related topics.

What kind of training do Peer Wellness Coaches receive?

Peer Wellness Coaches receive training in basic counseling and leadership skills, Mental Health First Aid, healthy relationships and consent, social justice issues, choosing a major, self-care, information on University resources, and community social service resources. Peer Wellness Coaches receive weekly supervision and seminars for ongoing training in these areas.

Peer Wellness Program Locations AND HOURS

Peer Wellness Coaches can be found on campus in convenient, private locations, including the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs, The Nest, NEIU Libraries and Campus Recreation. Coaches can also meet for remote appointments using a secure Zoom connection.

Hours for FALL 2023

  • Monday: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 
  • Tuesday: Noon-5:30 p.m. 
  • Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 
  • Thursday: Noon-4:00 p.m. 
  • Friday: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Make an Appointment with a Peer Wellness Coach

Peer Wellness Coaches are available throughout the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters! You can schedule an appointment by contacting Student Counseling Services at counsect@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4650. You can also fill out the Peer Wellness Coach Mentee application to be matched with a Peer Wellness Coach!

Meet Our Peer Wellness Coaches (2023-2024)

Isha Amir, She/Her
Hello, my name is Isha Amir. I am an undergraduate Psychology student. I like to paint and create art in my free time. I know how stressful and overwhelming college can be. I myself am a first-generation transfer student, so I am aware of the challenges that can come with that, more specifically the challenges that can come with not knowing what you don't know, how to deal with transferring to a new school, and how helpful it can be to have guidance. Another thing that I can relate to and understand is the challenge that comes from asking for help. I am South Asian and in my experience in my culture a lot of times mental health is something that is dismissed and asking for help when it comes to anything really is not encouraged and I can understand how difficult and isolating it can feel wanting to ask for help but being unsure how to or if you even should because you think people around you can not relate, so if you want to talk about that or anything else relating to cultural issues I am here and am more than happy to talk these things out. My main goal is to be someone who can help guide you to the resources that you need and someone you can talk to about anything whether that is how to destress, if you want help with coming up with new study habits, if you want to talk about feeling unmotivated, choosing a career path for yourself, or just talking in general about life.This is because there are all things that I at one point needed in my own life, and I would be more than happy to be that for anyone who needs it.

Alondra Espinoza, She/Her
Alondra is an undergraduate student who will be graduating with her bachelor’s in Social Work in the Spring 2024. Alondra is a first-generation college student. Alondra came to Northeastern after transferring from a community college. Alondra's interests include stress and time management, school or personal life issues, empowerment etc. Alondra hopes to help her fellow peers make their time at Northeastern the most rewarding.

Duchelynn Joanne Fanfan, She/Her/Hers
Duchelynn is an undergraduate transfer student at Northeastern Illinois University and is eager to complete her Bachelor of Social Work in Spring 2024. Duchelynn is compassionate about helping others and is heavily involved in the Northeastern community. Duchelynn has undergone issues of imposter syndrome, bullying, homelessness and mental health issues, however, those experiences did not stop her from pursuing her dreams of caring for others in mental health and emotional stability. Duchelynn has done plenty of volunteering in the Chicagoland area and has participated in a few protests in the Humboldt Park area. Duchelynn’s areas of expertise include active listening, impartiality, motivation, self-care, planning and gathering resources for helping others in achieving their goals.

Kenzo Shibata, He/Him/His
Kenzo fathers, teaches, writes, learns, and organizes in Chicago. He was a co-founder of the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators (CORE), former Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) High School functional vice president, and a media director/organizer for CTU and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. He is president of the Illinois Chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (AFL-CIO) and a delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor. His writing appears in Jacobin Magazine, the Nation, Huffington Post, Truthout, and more. He is currently on a teaching sabbatical to work on his second master's degree in Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University. His areas of focus are adult survivors of child abuse and workplace trauma. He previously earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. In his free time he likes to play guitar, video games, lift weights, DJ and cook for the people in his life. 

Eric Underhill, He/Him
Eric will be graduating with his BSW in Spring 2024 and plans to further his education by pursuing an MSW with a concentration in Mental Health. He eventually wants to become an LCSW to help uplift marginalized people and make their voices, struggles, and accomplishments heard. Eric is particularly interested in LGBTQIA+ rights and communities due in part to how they've shaped his life. He also wants to give back to the Northeastern community and assist students with their daily stressors, as he can relate to juggling social and academic pressures as a student.