Peer Advising
Each year the IS Program hires a diverse team of Peer Advisors to help guide fellow students through the many decisions and processes required to make your way into and through the IS Program. We encourage current and prospective students to reach out to the peer advisors for answers, advice and support -- they are terrific resources.
Spring 2023 in-person peer advising hours (in Connolly House 202):
Mondays 10am - 5pm
Tuesdays 10am - 1pm
Wednesdays 10am - 1pm
Thursdays 10:30am - 1:30pm
Fridays 12 - 3pm
To book a meeting with a specific Peer Advisor: read about their experiences, skills, and interests in the list below or on their bio pages, then book an online appointment or come to their office hours. To book a meeting with *any* Peer Advisor: send an email to isp@bc.edu with the subject line "Peer Advising," telling us about your situation and when you'd like to meet.
Meet the 2022-23 Peer Advisors!
- Senior PEDS concentrator, with a minor in Finance
- from Laguna Beach, California
- Speaks Spanish, Italian, French, and is learning Mandarin
- Studied at the American University of Rome for her junior year
- Conversation leader for Global Conversations project
- Click to book online advising with Laura, or meet with her at Connolly House during her Spring 2023 office hours: Fridays 12-3pm.
Thalia Chaves '24 (Click for full bio)
- Junior PEDS concentrator, minor in Managing for Social Impact
- from Saugus, Massachusetts
- Interned in Ireland
- Fluent in Portuguese, studying Italian
- McGillyCuddy-Logue Fellow
- First-generation college student
- Member of BC delegation to UN Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Egypt, November 2022
- Click to book online advising with Thalia, or meet with her during Connolly House office hours: Mondays 2-5pm.
Sophie Hoeltgen '23 (Click for full bio)
- Senior Cooperation & Conflict concentrator, minoring in French
- from from Barrington, Illinois
- speaks French and interned in Paris; learning Italian.
- Varsity BC athlete for 3 years (Cross-Country and Track & Field teams)
- Research Assistant for Prof. Krause's Political Violence Project
- Interned for an environmental NGO in Washington, D.C.
- Click to book online peer advising with Sophie, or meet with her during her Spring 2023 Connolly House office hours: Wednesdays 10am-12pm, Thursdays 12-1pm.
Izzy Jones '23 (Click for full bio)
- Senior Ethics & Social Justice concentrator, minoring in Global Public Health & the Common Good
- from Arkansas
- Speaks Spanish; interned in Mexico; studied in Ecuador
- Gabelli Presidential Scholar
- Researched for Prof. Hawkins (Social Work); received Advanced Study Grant
- Active with Student Health Equity Forum; Ethics Bowl; Campus School
- Click to book online peer advising with Izzy, or meet with her during Spring 2023 Connolly House office hours: Tuesdays 10am-1pm.
Christina Quinn '23 (Click for full bio)
- Senior PEDS concentrator, minoring in French
- from Franklin, Massachusetts
- speaks French; studied in Aix-en-Provence, France in 2021-22
- Managing editor of Kaleidoscope International Journal
- Research assistant on Prof. Krause’s Political Violence Research Team
- Summer 2022 International Assistant at BC, English tutor through BCNC
- Click to book online peer advising with Christina, or meet with her during Spring 2023 Connolly House office hours: Mondays 11:45am - 2:45pm.
Mairi Scholefield '23 (Click for full bio)
- Ethics & Social Justice concentrator, minor in Women's and Gender Studies
- from Medford Lakes, New Jersey
- Learning Spanish; studied in Quito, Ecuador in Spring 2022
- Writing a senior thesis on the role of women’s activist groups in addressing gender transgressions during and after armed conflict through processes of transitional justice
- FACES Council member; research assistant for Fresh Ink Journal
- Click to book online peer advising with Mairi, or meet with her during Spring 2023 Connolly House office hours: Mondays 10am - 1pm.
Zeyad Yousif '23 (Click for full bio)
- Senior Global Cultures concentrator, minoring in Environmental Studies
- Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt; now lives in New York City
- Native Arabic speaker; studied Spanish and Italian
- Studied abroad in Italy and Argentina; interned for an NGO in Singapore
- URF on Professor Krause's team and researched for the Schiller Institute
- Co-Chair of Global Conversations
- Click to book online peer advising with Zeyad, or meet with him during his Spring 2023 Connolly House office hours: Thursdays 10:30am - 1:30pm.

Each year the IS Program partners with the International Studies Student Association (ISSA) on a mentoring program that connects upperclass majors with new majors (sophomores) and prospective majors (freshmen) to help with advice, friendship, and solidarity. Apply by Sunday October 10, 2021 to be a part of this terrific program:
- Freshmen and sophomores apply here to receive a mentor.
- Juniors and seniors apply here to be a mentor.
Contact Caroline Melancon (melancoc@bc.edu) or Alex Pastrana (pastraal@bc.edu) with any questions.
Boston College offers many resources for additional counseling, advising, and support, and we encourage students to reach out to the following programs:
Connors Family Learning Center
O'Neill Library, 2nd floor, M-Th 10:00am-9:00pm, Fri 10:00am–3:00pm, Sun 12–8pm. 617-552-0611Learning Resources for Student Athletes
Yawkey Athletic Center, 4th Floor,
M-F 9:00am-5:00pm. 617-552-8533Montserrat Program
Serves students with the highest levels of financial need.
36 College Road; M–F 9:00am–5:00 pm. 617.552.3140 | montserrat.coalition@bc.edu- McNair Program / “Learning to Learn”
Graduate school preparation program for BC undergrads who are both low-income and first-generation college students.
50 College Road; M-F 9:00am–5:00pm; 617-552-4551; ltl@bc.edu
BC Counseling Services
Gasson Hall 001, M-F 8:45am-4:45pm
617-552-3310
- Group Therapy is available through University Counseling provides students the opportunity to work through issues such as anxiety management and coping in a supportive group environment.
- Individual counseling is available through University Counseling
- University Health Services
Thomas More Apart. Building (Ground floor) 617-552-3225, uhs@bc.edu
- Women's Health at University Health Services
Thomas More Apart. Building (Ground floor): Tuesday-Friday by apt. 617-552-3225
- BC Office of Health Promotion
Gasson Hall 025. 617-552-9900. healthpromotion@bc.edu
OHP provides Health coaching!
- Disability Services Office
Maloney Hall 448; 617-552-3470, disabsrv@bc.edu or deanofstudents@bc.edu
- Office for Institutional Diversity: 129 Lake St., Rm 211 (Brighton Campus)
Title IX officers address issues of exploitation, intimidation, and
discrimination based upon gender, including sexual assault
or sexual misconduct of any kind. See the tab below for more
Title IX information.
- Women's Center
Maloney Hall 441, M-F 10:00am-4:00pm; 617-552-3489, women@bc.edu
- Women's Health at University Health Services
Thomas More Apartment Bldg, Ground floor. 617-552-3225
- BC Allies
allies@bc.edu
- DIOP consists of a synergetic group of AHANA men who gather
to share in a common bond and discuss issues that affect their
social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth
- HEAL is a confidential support group for students who are survivors
of sexual violence
- HORIZON is a community support group for gay, bisexual, queer and
questioning men
- Pregnancy Support - Kate Daly of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center
and Rick Rossi of Campus Ministry are pregnancy support advocates and are
available for safe, non-judgmental conversations and assistance throughout.
All conversations can be kept private.
- PRISM is a group for queer, lesbian, bisexual, gender-transcending
and questioning women
- SANet, the Boston College Sexual Assault Support Network supports
students who have been directly or indirectly impacted by sexual violence.
- Sisters, Let's Talk is a support and discussion group that seeks to
facilitate connections between women students of color as well as
women faculty and staff of color
- Pastoral Counseling
Rick Rossi, LCSW and campus minister: McElroy 227; rick.rossi@bc.edu (617) 552-6592.
- The Center for Ignatian Spirituality serves as a resource to explore and enhance the ethical and religious environment of the University.
- Service-Immersion Trips and Solidarity
For info on 4Boston, Appa, Arrupe, Global Public Health, Habitat for Humanity, Ignatian Solidarity Network, and Magis
- Mult-Faith Student Groups
- Zen Meditation is a group for students, faculty, and staff to learn together about the practices of mindfulness and meditation
- The Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center supports the undergraduate community—with a particular focus on AHANA (people of African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent), multicultural, multiracial, and OTE students—in navigating college life and fulfilling their potential.
- DIOP is a synergetic group of AHANA men who gather to share in a common bond and discuss issues that affect their social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth
- HEAL is a confidential support group for students who are survivors of sexual violence
- HOPE is a support group for students who have experienced the loss of a loved one
- HORIZON is a community support group for gay, bisexual, queer and questioning men
- International Graduate Student Support is a support group for international graduate students
- Lean on Me is a Boston College Peer Support Network that students can text 617-553-6655 anonymously 24/7 to get support
- PRISM is a group for queer, lesbian, bisexual, gender-transcending and questioning women
- SANet, the Boston College Sexual Assault Support Network supports students who have been directly or indirectly impacted by sexual violence.
- Sisters, Let's Talk is a support and discussion group that seeks to facilitate connections between women students of color as well as women faculty and staff of color
- Together is a confidential group that consists of members of the BC community who are children or siblings of someone who is or has been incarcerated, contact Professor Celeste Wells for group information.
- Office for Institutional Diversity: 129 Lake St., Rm 211 (Brighton Campus)
Title IX officers address issues of exploitation, intimidation, and discrimination based upon gender, including sexual assault or sexual misconduct of any kind.
Melinda Stoops, Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students (stoopsme@bc.edu, 617-552-3482), records and investigates all Title IX reports involving students.
Patricia Lowe, University Title IX Coordinator (patricia.lowe@bc.edu; TitleIXCoordinator@bc.edu; 617-552-3334), handles issues involving only faculty/staff