Honors Mentor Council

The Honors Mentor Council is the student-led steering committee that oversees the extracurricular programming of the Honors Mentor Program. The Council is led by two executive officers, the President and the Vice-President. The rest of the Council serve on one of three committees.

The Mentor Council has four primary goals:

  • Build the mentor community through extracurricular programming
  • Foster mentors’ development of leadership competencies
  • Promote diversity and inclusion
  • Serve first-year students beyond the HONR 19901 classroom

Mentor Council members help run key events that are central to the functioning of the program, including a callout and interview process in the spring and the orientation and training in the fall. Beyond this, the council builds the mentor community through casual meetings and major events, coordinates a network of communication and support through team leads, and communicates programmatic values through a variety of media platforms.

Council members gain opportunities that go far beyond the usual mentor experience, as they identify and hone skills necessary for large-scale organizational leadership. They gain a deeper appreciation for how leadership works from an institutional perspective and across a larger population – a significant departure from leading small groups. Mentor council members have a scope of influence that very few students ever experience: they help select and empower 99 peer mentors, and through these mentors they impact the first-year experience of over 700 students each year. Ultimately, council members have an opportunity to impact the John Martinson Honors College community in profound ways.

How to Become a Mentor Council Member

All previous mentors who are committed to returning the next year are eligible to apply to become a Council Member for 2026. Applications will be open from November-December, 2025. Notifications about acceptance will be sent mid-December. Current mentors will receive the application form via email. Please contact Dr. Muiris MacGiollabhui ( mmacgiol@purdue.edu) if you have any questions.

Council Members and Executive Officers begin their terms at the start of the Spring semester and continue through the end of the Fall semester, allowing them to select and train their own mentor cohort.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Mentor Council consists of Honors mentors that are highly dedicated to the program and are eager to shape its vision and implementation. Council members begin their yearlong tenure in January, and it is assumed that they will participate in the Mentor program in the Fall semester. These members take on specific roles in their efforts to support the mission and goals of the program. That said, the council is highly collaborative, so members often share in the roles of others and thus gain similar skills.

Council members are expected to commit an average of 3-4 hours per week attending a one-hour Council meeting, a one-hour committee meeting, planning and attending events, and completing other duties related to their role.

Committees of the Mentor Council

  • Executive Officers: The two executive officers work closely with the program director and are responsible for ensuring that all council efforts and initiatives are aligned with the core goals. In both the Spring and Fall semesters, the executive officers take the 1-credit independent study course HONR 395: Executive Leadership with the program director. They are responsible for running council meetings and communicating important information to the larger Mentor Program. They are also responsible for keeping track of monetary and other resources available to the program.
  • Event Planning: The members of the Event Planning committee coordinate major events, including mentor interviews, the legacy event, mentor orientation, and the Ment Gala. These council members rely heavily on decision-making, planning, systems thinking, and problem solving skills while ensuring that events run by the Mentor Council meet their intended goals. They also have several opportunities to hone their public speaking skills.
  • Community & Outreach: The members of the Community & Outreach committee utilize casual gatherings and media platforms to inspire mentors, increase engagement, foster community values, and promote events. They are also responsible for visual media related to the program. These members will rely heavily on their organizational and communication skills during their term, and hone their capacity for interpersonal motivation and empowerment.
  • Team Building: The Team Building Committee supports the team leads for each of the different “flavor” teams of HONR 299. The Team Building Committee helps team leads to cultivate a sense of community and foster peer networks of support between mentors. The Team Building Committee creates research-informed activities that help mentors develop psychological safety, address bias, and generate passion for the program and its vision.

Mentor Council

Dr. Muiris MacGiollabhui

Director

Dr. MacGiollabhui (Dr. M) is a faculty member at the John Martinson Honors College and the Director of the Honors Mentor Program. He teaches a wide range of classes that address many themes including diasporic movement, imperialism, and banishment/exile.

Thomas Giltmier

President

Tom is a third-year student in the PharmD program. He is currently the President of the Honors Mentor Program and has previously served as Chair of the Event Planning Committee. Tom’s vision for the program this year is to increase engagement with our community and to make our program more impactful on the JMHC as a whole. Outside of the HMP, Tom works as a Pharmacy intern and is involved in Kappa Psi, a professional pharmaceutical fraternity. Tom is also a research assistant in the Snyder Lab, analyzing the role of Medication Therapy Management (MTMs) in improving patient outcomes. Tom’s top three leadership competencies are continuous learning, adaptability, and others’ contributions.

Sabrina Hardy

Vice President

Sabrina is a junior majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology with minors in Chemistry and Biotechnology. She is serving as the Vice President of the Honors Mentor Program and will be entering her third year as a mentor. Sabrina is extremely passionate about creating a welcoming environment for first-year students within the Honors College and creating a greater sense of community for the mentor program as a whole. Sabrina is currently doing research in Dr. Applegates lab doing bacteriophage purification and amplification in the search to prolong expiration dates on milk and other short-term foods. Sabrina’s top three leadership competencies are inclusion, continuous learning, and reflection and application.

Icyss Meredith

Chair: Community Outreach

Icyss is a junior majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences with a Pre-Medicine concentration and a minor in Psychology. She has been with the Honors Mentor Program for three years and served on the council last year on Community Outreach. Outside of HMP, she is an Emerging Leaders Scholar. She is involved in Dr. SooJung Jo’s lab is researching vaccine uptake in rural Indiana communities. She also works as a Medical Assistant for a Neurology office and a Medical Scribe in the ER. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Rebecca Rust

Community Outreach

Becca is a sophomore majoring in Biology with a minor in Anthropology and a certificate in Medical Humanities. She is serving on the Community Outreach Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Becca is excited to organize creative and engaging events that foster connection and support among HMP mentors. Outside of the HMP, she is an Emerging Leaders Science Scholar committed to mentoring first-year Science Scholars. She is also an undergraduate researcher in the Olson Lab and a Multicultural Science Program Ambassador. Becca’s top three leadership competencies are facilitation, continuous learning, and inclusion. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Yuvika Bisht

Community Outreach

Yuvika is a junior majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences with a concentration in pre-medicine. She has minors in Biological Sciences and Psychology. She is serving on the Community Outreach Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Yuvika, in her many roles, works to create an inviting, and friendly environment, open to discussions and creating a safe space for both mentors and mentees. Some of her hobbies include rock climbing, embroidery, prop-making and cooking. Outside the HMP, Yuvika is also a Resident Assistant, a mentor for the HHS Success Program, HHS co-chair in the Honors Leadership Council and is involved in research in educational psychology. Her top three leadership competencies are problem solving, group development & inclusion, and empowerment. After graduation, she plans to enter medical school.

Lorellei Fletcher

Chair: Event Planning

Lorellei is a sophomore majoring in Brain and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Medicine, and minoring in Biological Sciences and Studio Arts. She is serving as Committee Chair of Event Planning and will be entering her second year as a mentor in the HMP. Lorellei is passionate about ensuring a welcoming space for mentors and mentees alike and helping the program run efficiently. She is a mentor for the HHS Success Program, a member of Brain Exercise Initiative, a lab assistant in Dr. Mittal’s lab within the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, a research assistant for Dr. Temitope’s Heads Up research, and works as a DSP. Lorellei’s top three leadership competencies are Problem Solving, Adaptability, and Mentoring. She plans to attend Medical School after graduation.

Celia Hart

Event Planning

Celia is a sophomore majoring in Economics, Political Science, and History with a minor in English. She has concentrations in Economic Policy, Political Theory & Public Policy, and the Legal Foundations of Government and Policy. She is serving on the Event Planning Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Celia is excited to bring creativity, excitement, and more interaction to HMP events. She is an RA in Windsor, a Research Assistant with Dr. Jengelley’s ISS Generator, and an intern with Praxis Solutions Inc. Celia’s top three leadership competencies are providing and receiving feedback, others’ circumstances, and empowerment.

Ayusha Patra

Event Planning

Ayusha is a Computer Science major with a minor in Computer and Information Technology and with a strong interest in AI ethics, interdisciplinary research and cybersecurity. She is serving on the Event Planning Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Her goal in this role is to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where first-year students feel confident exploring their academic and personal identities. Outside of HMP, Ayusha is a research assistant at the GRAIL, a member of Honors Serves, and an active participant in game design projects. Her top three leadership competencies are relationship-building, strategic thinking, and adaptability. After graduation, she plans to pursue research or industry roles at the intersection of AI and social impact. In her free time, she enjoys online gaming, bowling, and art and crafts.

Daniela Islas

Chair: Team Building

Daniela is a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences and Spanish. She is serving as Chair of the Team Building Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Daniela is passionate about providing an inclusive environment for first-year students and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. She is the treasurer of MAES (Latinos in Science and Engineering), doing research in Dr. Dydak’s lab on the Neuroimaging and Stability of the Purdue Welder Study, and works as a CNA! Daniela’s top three leadership competencies are inclusion, empowerment, and continuous learning. She plans to attend PA school after graduation!

Aarushi Gupta

Team Building

Aarushi is junior majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences with Pre-Med concentration and has minorsin Biological Sciences, Forensic Science, Psychology, and Sociology. She is serving as a member of the Team Building Committee and will be entering her second year as a mentor. Aarushi is passionate about mentoring and sharing her experiences with first-year students to provide them with support and create an inclusive and belonging environment for everyone. She is a Resident Assistant, a TA for Biology and Health Sciences classes, the Member Resources Director and Fundrasing Consultant for AMWA, Events Director for UR Global, Director of Donations for ACE Food Pantry, and Leadership Development Facilitator for LEAD. Aside from her academic extracarriculars, Aarushi also works as an EMT and Medical Assistant. Her top 3 leadership competencies are mentoring & empowerment, cultural intelligence & inclusion, and continuous learning. After graduation, Aarushi plans to do a masters program and then attend medical school. As her hobbies, she loves to do ceramics and craft, reading, hanging out with ehr friends and family, and woodworking.

John Robbins

Team Building

John is a Junior majoring in Brain and Behavioral Sciences and Biomedical Health Sciences. He has minors in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Sociology, and Biological Sciences. He is also looking to obtain a certificate in Medical Humanities. This is John’s second year being an Honors mentor and he is excited to continue working with this great program and to learn from many outstanding people. John is a Director of the Purdue Student Government, works in Dr. Bartlett’s lab, where he focuses on the Auditory Pathway in Noise-Induced Exposure, and volunteers with Alzheimer’s Buddies. John’s main leadership competencies are inclusion, problem-solving, and empowerment. John plans to attend medical school.