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Peer Assisted Learning Program (PAL) Center for Science & Math Success

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Meet the Facilitators

Office Hours


PAL office hours are held in person in SQU 315; Math (SQU 313) and Chem (SQU 321) are in inner rooms. You can view Fall 2024 office hours here:

Math Office Hours

Chemistry Office Hours

Biology and Physics Office Hours

PAL Facilitators By Class

Supervisory Facilitators

Emily Lam

Supervisory Facilitator

Headshot of Emily LamWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I love helping people and hope to pursue a teaching career someday, so serving as a PAL Facilitator will be a strong learning experience. I am excited to learn from everyone in the program and in the PAL classes!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I love going on walks at parks to enjoy the fresh air, trees, and wildlife. It does wonders for my mental and physical health. When I’m trapped inside, I like to solve jigsaw puzzles, watch YouTube, and read.

Julianna Davison

Supervisory Facilitator

Headshot of Julianna Davison

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I’m excited to be a PAL facilitator because I want to be a significant part of student success here at Sac State. I want to help students understand the concepts surrounding anatomy and physiology that could seem very challenging from the surface. I hope to share my passion for the subject all while guiding students to their goals. I also look forward to providing a safe learning environment, being a support system for students, and watching the minds of my peers grow!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? On my free time, I like to relax at home and focus on self-care! I really enjoy journaling, reading, and painting. I also like to take my dog for walks and catch up with friends.

Kevin Salimo

Supervisory Facilitator

Headshot of Kevin Salimo

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work with students as a PAL Facilitator to help them achieve their academic goals. As a former PAL student, I am inspired by my facilitator to create an environment that stimulates learning and growth. I want to allow students to make connections with the difficult concepts of BIO 25 and be able to carry on those techniques into additional courses. Being able to watch my students succeed and start understanding the material is my goal!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I like to do a lot of things in my spare time! During the winter I like to go ice skating with my friends and snowboarding with my family. I enjoy exploring nature through hiking, rock climbing, and swimming. Indoors I like to just relax in bed, watching movies and shows, reading a book, or be on facetime with friends.

Chem 1A Facilitators

Richmond Apande

Chem 1A (Lead)

Headshot of Richmond Apande

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator because I enjoy helping others succeed and want to help students build their confidence in their work. I feel as if PAL is so advantageous and provides students with very useful skills.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I usually listen to music, exercise occasionally, and go out with friends. I also enjoy watching all types of movies and TV shows.

Eddie Muoki

Chem 1A

Headshot of Eddie MuokiWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to build new connections with students as well as other facilitators. Chemistry at first can be a very intimidating and challenging subject, but I want to bridge that gap and show others that they can excel with dedication and hard work. I know I can also benefit my peers by just being a great friend and an outlet of help throughout their academic career and life.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music and working out, and I like to indulge in self-improvement books/videos. I also enjoy hanging out with friends and analyzing different genres of films.

Alaina Hagen

Chem 1A

Headshot of Alaina

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? From my own experiences, I understand that STEM courses can be difficult. I am excited to work as a PAL Facilitator because I have experienced the academic and social benefits of taking PAL courses, including being more confident in my coursework and making new friends. I enjoy working with others and would like to help other students have a similar experience with PAL and STEM courses.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to take Ballet and Contemporary dance classes, listen to music, play board games, and write short stories.

Logan Lawrence

Chem 1A

Headshot of Logan Lawrence

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I found that working together in a group setting allowed me to thrive in very difficult class, I am excited to facilitate and aid students in a similar manner.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I enjoy working out, reading, playing video games, and binging TV shows. I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend, family, and other close friends.

Chem 1B Facilitators

Kelly Chan

Chem 1B (Lead)

Headshot of Kelly Chan

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I’m excited to be a PAL facilitator to meet new people, make friends, and especially aid others when they struggle with math. Personally, math is my favorite subject, so I want to make it as easy as possible for others.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy watching dramas, trying new foods, and spending time with friends. I also really enjoy puzzles, but I never have enough time to complete one entirely.

Rachael Basra

Chem 1B

Headshot of Rachel

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to be a PAL facilitator as I seek to encourage students to develop their interests and knowledge in the sciences. Furthermore, I believe the group environment as well as guidance from facilitators greatly help increase confidence in going through challenging problems. Being a PAL student myself I found the class to be very helpful as it helped me academically as well as socially as I got to meet new people. I look forward to working with my students and hope to gain new knowledge from them as well as they go through their academic journey.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? Some of things I like to do is to spend time with my family and crocheting.

Diana Gamboa

Chem 1B

Headshot of Diana

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? To be able to share a passion of science with others is so exciting! I look forward to watching people conquer the difficult study that is Chemistry and watching their confidence grow as they overcome these challenges. Anything can be learned as long as effort and practice is put in.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I enjoy dancing and doing art when I get the chance! I also love playing video games but most of my spare time is spent studying. Such is the life of a college student.

Chem 4 Facilitators

Bella Lares

Chem 4 (Lead)

Headshot of Bella LaresWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am most excited to see all the new faces that come to the palace! STEM is such a wonderful community and PAL is a wonderful way to meet people and work towards that degree together.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I love to cook and bake! Chances are you'll find me stealing herbs from the arboretum after I forgot one from the store. I also love to talk about my dog, Beyblade.

Avigail Anguiano

Chem 4

Headshot of AvigailWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL Facilitator because I love sharing my passion for chemistry with my peers. I want to create a positive environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow and have fun.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I love to hang out with my friends, take long naps, and play Minecraft.

Laura Racpan

Chem 4

Headshot of LauraWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to be able to give back and help others just like those who helped me when I needed it!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I like to play FPS games like overwatch and I mainly rewatch comfort shows!

Jessy Cadena

Chem 4

Headshot of JessyWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I’m excited to work as a PAL Facilitator because I have the opportunity to help mentor students who are in the same position I was in starting STEM-based courses, asking for help can be intimidating but I’m hoping to make this process easier for students, and be there for them as needed.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I enjoy going to the gym, snowboarding, sunset-watching at the lake, and coloring. Anything that includes being outside or challenges me!

Chem 24 Facilitators

Belle Glaesman

Chem 24 (Lead)

Headshot of Belle

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? As a PAL facilitator, I'm excited to share my love of chemistry and help students grow confidence in themselves and their academic capabilities. Many students are intimidated by chemistry and often believe it is too difficult for them to learn, and I hope to lessen some of this fear and to inspire success and growth among the students I work with.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time, I love reading, conducting research in my lab, going to the gym, and spending time with people who are important to me.

Maarten Rios

Chem 24

Headshot of Maarten Rios

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I'm excited to become a PAL facilitator because I look forward to helping others build a strong foundation in chemistry. As a PAL facilitator I'm also looking forward to fostering peer interest in all STEM fields.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I really enjoy plants so in my spare time I like tending to my vegetable and california native garden as well as going on nature walks and hikes when I get the opportunity.

Chem 124 Facilitators

Sophia Schultz

Chem 124 (Lead)

Headshot of Sophia Schultz

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator because I am passionate about learning and helping other people succeed. I look forward to seeing my peers grow academically, as well as grow with them.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I enjoy spending time outdoors, playing with my dog, and catching up with friends and family.

Megan Pham

Chem 124

Headshot of Megan Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL Facilitator since taking PAL has helped me not only academically but also socially as I have made many friends while in PAL classes. Being a PAL facilitator, I am invested in seeing growth not only in my students but also my peers as I think that this will be a great learning opportunity for everyone.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I like spend time with my partner, usually watching anime together and playing with their dogs. When I am by myself, I like to play video games with Stardew Valley being my favorite video game.

Math 12 Facilitators

Mela David

Math 12 (Lead)

Headshot of CarmelaWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I’m looking forward to being a PAL facilitator because I want to help other students feel more confident and motivated when it comes to building foundational math skills. I understand that math can be pretty tough to learn, and because of that, I want to create a positive and supportive environment so that I can help others thrive in their class and develop essential skills for the future! I’m also excited to make new connections and see my peers succeed as well.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to hang out with my friends and family, play video games, and eat good food.

Destiny Housley

Math 12

Headshot of DestineyWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I’m excited to be a part of PAL because I like helping people understand math at a base level. I also like interacting and working with others.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I love to crochet and play pc games in my spare time. I also like listening to music while doing both activities.

Keenan Calhoun

Math 12

Headshot of KeenanWhy are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to be a PAL facilitator because I have always loved math and think it would be an amazing experience to try and share that passion with my peers. I think it will be really fulfilling to help students build confidence in themselves and meet new people, I couldn't be more excited to be a part of that growth process.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I enjoy writing music, hanging out with my friends, and spending time with my dog Kel.

Math 29 Facilitators

Michael Kenny

Math 29 (Lead)

Headshot of Michael Kenny

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I'm excited to be a PAL Facilitator since I've always had a passion for helping others as well as math and so this is the perfect place for both!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I play a lot of video games in my free time on my computer, I like to read here and there as well as watch shows on streaming platforms and anime, as well as traveling with friends and creating new memories with those I love.

Joab Murillo

Math 29

Headshot of Joab

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator because I am eager and enthusiastic to guide others to success.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to play video games or engage in the human body's physical development through rock climbing, volleyball, soccer, or just lifting weights. I also like to watch anime.

Math 30 Facilitators

Victoria Mosley

Math 30 (Lead)

Headshot of Victoria Mosley

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL Facilitator because I want to share my passion for math and science. I want to help others succeed in difficult classes and achieve their goals. I understand math and science can be frustrating sometimes, but with a little guidance these subjects can actually be quite fun and interesting!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time I love to crochet, play with my crazy dog, or play basketball. I also enjoy watching movies and shows on Netflix.

Christy Au

Math 30

Headshot of Christy

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? As a PAL Facilitator, I can’t wait to work with students and watch them succeed through their journey here at Sac State. Additionally, I would like to share my love for math with others and help them understand concepts may be more challenging than others.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I love to solve Rubik’s Cubes and enjoy putting together puzzles. I also love playing Wordle, CrossNerdle and Free Cell.


Math 31 Facilitators

Sahil Kumar

Math 31 (Lead)

Headshot of Sahil Kumar

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator because I look forward to students working together to solve problems that they are struggling with.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time I like to play video games, make music, and work on my car.

Nicholas Agudelo

Math 31

Headshot of Nicholas

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? Despite what the face in my photo might imply, I'm quite excited to work as a PAL Facilitator since I'll be helping students pass the very difficult path that is Math 31. Plus, I get to practice my Socratic dialogue skills.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? Considering that I'm a walking, talking chatter box, going out with friends, acquaintances, and strangers is always a tremendous pleasure. Aside from that, I'm very fond of the movie theatre experience, playing the guitar, the gym, and cooking traditional Colombian snacks.

Phys 5A Facilitators

Edwin Saavedra

Phys 5A (Lead)

Headshot of Edwin

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to contribute my part to other students looking to succeed. PAL has worked well for me in the past and has helped me study better and work well with classmates. I aim to create an environment where students can engage and learn from one another to maximize their learning experience.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? On my free time I like to keep myself busy. I would spend my time working out, playing some video games or simply seeing what is going on at the time like concerts or festivals. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and loved ones.

Celaye Pena

Phys 5A

Headshot of Celaye

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I wanted to be a PAL facilitator because I really enjoy helping others and solving problems. I feel that facilitating physics is a great way to do that as PAL has helped me tremendously in the past. I too want to share that experience of learning and working together to help each other succeed.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I really enjoy crocheting! I've made a lot of things like clothes, bags, and home decor. I also like playing minecraft and other games as well as rewatching the same show over and over.

Bio 25 Facilitators

Zainab Ghani

Bio 25 (Lead)

Headshot of Zainab

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to be a PAL Facilitator because taking PAL courses has helped me perform significantly better in my classes. I hope to have a positive impact on my peers in the same way my past PAL Facilitators had on me. I look forward to helping my students master Molecular Cell Biology!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I enjoy sewing, baking, and traveling. My favorite place I’ve traveled to so far is Switzerland. I also watch Korean and Pakistani Dramas regularly!

Emma Greenberg

Bio 25

Headshot of Emma

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator because I wish to share my love for biology! I understand these concepts can be challenging, but I want to help students feel more comfortable and excel at anatomy and physiology. My goal for being a PAL facilitator is to create a safe and encouraging space for everyone to strengthen their skills in biology.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I love playing my saxophone and clarinet (I have played both instruments for over 10 years!). I also enjoy going to cat shelters and petting cute kitties.

Carolina Flolo

Bio 25

Headshot of Carolina

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to be a PAL Facilitator because I am passionate about the human sciences, especially BIO 25, and want to help introduce my peers to the subject in a supportive way. As a former PAL student myself, I know firsthand how beneficial PAL courses can be. I want to use what I learned from my own PAL facilitators to empower students and help them gain confidence in their ability to learn, just like my facilitators did. BIO 25 is a rigorous course, but with the support from someone who was once in the same position, and hard work, you can thrive!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I enjoy a lot of hobbies in my spare time! I really enjoy being outdoors, where you might find me rock climbing, picking wildflowers, or combing a river, lake, the ocean, or any body of water I can find, for rocks, fossils, or shells. I also love my cozier, at home hobbies, like reading, jewelry making, and playing video games! You can also find me at local coffee shops with friends enjoying an iced mocha!

Luciana Pena

Bio 25

Headshot of Luciana

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to join the PAL community and participate as a PAL Facilitator to encourage students to become their best scholarly selves by enhancing their academic habits! At the beginning of my higher education journey, I did not have the best learning routines or academic habits. Navigating this challenge as a PAL student enabled improvement in active studying and stimulated growth in my course performance. I am excited to help students gain confidence in BIO 25 by practicing effective study methods!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? I like to spend time with my family and puppy; I value quality time more since I moved to Sacramento. For fun, I enjoy shopping, outdoor activities, and concerts! On the rare occasion that I have spare time, I like to make desserts and binge-watch comfort shows.

Bio 26 Facilitators

Avery Farlee

Bio 26 (Lead)

Headshot of Avery Farlee

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am so excited to work as a PAL facilitator so that I can help other students grow and succeed in learning anatomy and physiology as well as directing them down the right path towards success in the career that they are striving for. I want my PAL classroom to be a safe space for students to explore their interests and become the best learner that they can be!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? Along with anatomy and physiology, I am very passionate about fitness and weight training. I am a personal trainer at the Well, so I love working with clients and seeing them grow and reach their goals. I spend most of my time at the gym, studying or reading a good book.

Jasmine McNeil

Bio 26

Headshot of Jasmine

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am so excited to be a PAL facilitator because I want to help be a resource for other students who are on this journey to accomplish their academic goals. STEM classes make so much more sense and are also so much more fun when you have resources and support. I hope as a PAL facilitator I can be this resources to my peers and contribute to their success!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time I love to spend time with my husband, puppy and our families. I enjoy spending time outside, whether that is just on a walk around the neighborhood, or a hiking trip. I also enjoy movies and the gym.

Michaela France

Bio 26

Headshot of Michaela

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am very excited to work as a Facilitator after having been a student in PAL for both of my Anatomy and Physiology courses that I took for nursing school. PAL was a game changer for me; not just helping me academically, but also growing my passion for anatomy and physiology through strong teamwork and the PAL model. I am so excited and proud to be apart of PAL in this new way!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time I enjoy cooking and baking; I would do it all day if I could!

Bio 131 Facilitators

Aubrey Heldoorn

Bio 131 (Lead)

Headshot of Aubrey Heldoorn

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL Facilitator because I want to help others succeed in Systemic Physiology. Personally, I am very passionate about Physio! I know it can be intimidating at first! I want to offer students the help they need in order to feel confident in their knowledge and maybe even develop a passion for science like me!!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my free time I enjoy thrifting, collecting vinyl, going to concerts, cooking, hiking, and getting coffee with friends!

Manraj Toor

Bio 131

Headshot of Manraj Toor

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I'm excited to have the ability to boost students' confidence in the subject material and prepare them for assessments. I will strive to foster a welcoming and positive environment and help students fulfill their potential!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time, I exercise and play a plethora of video games such as Kingdom Hearts. I also enjoy watching horror movies, like Scream, and TV shows such as Survivor.

Emily Licea

Bio 131

Headshot of Emily

Why are you excited to work as a PAL Facilitator? I am excited to work as a PAL facilitator to utilize my passion for biology to uplift my peers. As a former PAL student, I hope to pay forward the support and impact that many PAL mentors have had on me. Biological sciences can be difficult but I'm excited to be here to work through it together and let others know that they belong here!

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time? In my spare time I like to sing songs to my plants, play Minecraft, and watch sitcoms (I just finished "How I met your mother"). I can also do the worm!