2026-27 Peer Mentor
Hi, my name is Anya and I'm a 4th year Environmental Studies & Physical Geography B.S. major from San Diego. After graduating, I hope to travel and work in marine conservation or at an environmental non-profit.
I've been involved in many campus organizations throughout my time at UCSB. My freshmen and sophomore year I interned/volunteered at the urban forestry nonprofit Your Children's Trees, REEF teaching aquarium, and UCSB biology greenhouse. I have also been a research assistant in the geography department and done scientific diving for the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER. Last year I worked at a farm in Goleta and as a proctor for the Disabled Students Program. I'm also a part of the Science Communication Club and the FUERTE program.
Favorite memory at UCSB: It's so hard to choose one, but some of my favorite memories have been going to watch the sunset at Coal Oil Point and surfing at sunset at Devs.
Hobbies: I'm a very active person and love nature so I like to run, hike, and go to the gym in my freetime. I also love being in the ocean and enjoy surfing, snorkeling/freediving, and paddle boarding when I get the chance. I love traveling and am usually planning my next trip or thinking of places I want to go.
Advice for incoming students: Be open to trying new things, even if it's a little scary! And, take advantage of living in such a beautiful place and being so close to the beach. College is an exciting and unique time of your life where there are so many opportunities and so much change. It can be overwhelming to navigate moving to a new place and being surrounded by new people and balancing classes, work, and personal life. I hope the peer mentors and I can be here to support you through that. Don't doubt yourself or your abilities and know that there are people and resources there for you!