Peer Advising

GS Peer Advisors are students who wish to provide support and advice about the opportunities and challenges at Columbia. Peer advisors are available to discuss academics, campus resources, personal concerns, and the transition to GS at either in-person walk-in hours or by scheduling an appointment by email.

Contact

Undergraduate Peer Advisors 
[email protected]

Peter J. Awn Lounge Walk-In Hours 

Please email for summer availability.

Peer Advisors

Isabela Moreira
Cognitive Sciences
Isabela is an International Student from Brazil who grew up in Nicaragua since the age of 13. In her previous life, she was a professional ballet dancer with the National Ballet Company of Nicaragua and moved to the US to escape the political conflicts of her country and dance with the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ. Once retiring from dance, Isabela decided to explore the arts in Philadelphia and go to Rowan College at Burlington County to pursue an associate degree in Psychology, when transferred to Columbia she found the wonders of Cognitive Sciences and is also minoring in Visual Arts. Outside of campus, she likes to spend her time with her pets, painting in the park, and exploring new places and different cultures with her loved ones. Isabela is currently creating an International Students Club so that students from everywhere can have a space to feel joy and share their culture!
 

Jamil Jalalzadah
Sustainable Development / Business Management
Jamil is studying Sustainable Development with a Special Concentration in Business Management and is an entrepreneur working at the intersection of sustainability, tech, policy, and capital. His work focuses on climate adaptation, energy access, and market-based solutions, with a particular interest in how innovation and policy can accelerate renewable energy deployment, drive market growth, and create impact where it matters most. He is a former professional football/soccer player who still can’t resist a good game, a long run, or the illusion that his photography is more than just "good."

Jeremy Switzher
Anthropology / Art History / Archaeology
Jeremy is originally from Southwestern Colorado but he has traversed both the globe and the nation in other places he has called home. He is now a senior studying archaeology in realms of both anthropology and art history. Prior to matriculating at Columbia, Jeremy spent over 20 years as a tattooer and through that career was able to visit more than 60 countries. This travel instilled a necessity for understanding cultural difference and the cultivation for knowledge related to the distant past and how that may affect the ontologies of the present. In addition to peer advising, Jeremy is a part of the Gotham League of Archaeology Majors, the director of the Archaeology Open Lab and has participated in the Bancroft Research Scholars program studying human migration in Madagascar through archaeobotany. When not engaged in studies, Jeremy enjoys rock climbing, snow sports, motorcycles, board games and sci-fi media of various types. 

Kent Andrews
Cognitive Science / Psychology
Kent is a rising junior entering his third year at GS. Originally from New Jersey, ballet has always been an integral part of his life. Throughout middle and high school, he commuted daily into New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer. After realizing that dream and performing with First State Ballet Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, Kent felt called to immerse himself in academia. He returned home and enrolled at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he studied computer science before transferring to Columbia University. At Columbia, Kent is majoring in Cognitive Science with a concentration in Psychology. He also serves as Vice President of the GS Alliance, a space
for nontraditional LGBTQIA+ students and their allies. In addition, he works as a resident advisor at his former ballet school’s dormitory and loves pet sitting! His interests include exploring new parts of NYC, reading, cooking, and listening to music. Feel free to reach out to Kent about being a transfer student at GS, commuting to campus, or tips for making the most of your Columbia experience. He looks forward to serving the GS community as a peer advisor!