Academic Skills Peer Coaching

Peer coaches are here to help undergraduate and CAPS students get and stay organized, develop a study routine, learn about evidence-based study strategies, communicate with instructors, manage test anxiety, and more!

Click here to schedule a meeting with a Peer Coach!

You will be prompted to log into your WUSTL Outlook account to access the scheduler. All Coaches are available for video appointments; in person appointments, if available, will take place in or near the Learning Center’s office in the lower level of the Mallinckrodt Center. Peer Coaching appointments must be scheduled in advance; there are no drop-in hours at this time.

Please note that the scheduler displays all times in your local time zone. Here are the Peer Coaches’ hours for the Fall 2024 semester:

Tanisha Paul: Mondays from 4:00-6:00 PM
Kidest Eshetu: Mondays from 6:00-8:00 PM
Margot Kades: Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 PM
Mallorie Goodwin: Tuesdays from 6:00-8:00 PM
Grace Tyau: Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00 PM
Princess Fayemi: Thursdays from 3:00-5:00 PM
Sofía Then: Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 PM
Harlem Taylor: Fridays from 2:00-4:00 PM
Ryan Hillery: Mondays from 3:00-4:00 PM & Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00 PM (Athletic Complex) *
Kotomi Yokokura: Mondays from 2:00-4:00 PM, Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 PM, & Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00 PM**
Rayna Tang: Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00 AM, Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 PM, & Thursdays from 12:00-2:00 PM**

* Ryan’s hours are primarily accessible to student-athletes, but are open to all!
** Kotomi and Rayna are the Learning Center’s graduate fellows. They are available to help students at both the undergraduate and graduate level, including CAPS students.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to read more about your Peer Coaches!

Other Academic Skills Resources

In addition to Academic Skills Peer Coaching, the Learning Center offers robust services to help undergraduate students achieve their academic goals. The resources/services featured on this page can help you achieve specific goals and complement your participation in our other Academic Programs. We provide support for a variety of academic skills, including:

Study strategies
Time management and productivity
Note-taking
Avoiding procrastination and increasing persistence
Collaboration
Managing test anxiety
Approaching instructors (and other course-related resources) and utilizing office hours effectively

Academic Skills Self-Assessment

The Academic Skills Assessment can help you identify your strengths and opportunities for growth. This survey should take you less than 10 minutes to complete, and you can take it as many times as you’d like in order to track your progress throughout your college career.

Your results, which you will receive via email after completing the survey, are confidential and are intended for your own personal reference, though you can also choose to forward them to an Academic Skills Peer Coach or Learning Center staff member prior to meeting with them.

Online Resource Library

Our academic skills resource library includes videos, worksheets, apps, and more! You can filter by specific academic skills (study strategies, time management, etc.) or browse the entire collection.

Meet with a Learning Center Staff Member

Learning Center staff are also available to meet one-on-one with CAPS students and answer questions about academic skills resources. Email learningcenter@wustl.edu to set up an appointment with a staff member.

Visit the Writing Center

The Learning Center does not offer any dedicated support for writing. You can visit our campus partner The Writing Center for all your writing support needs!

Meet Your Peer Coaches

Grace Tyau

Hi, I’m Grace Tyau (she/her) and I’m a junior from Springfield, Missouri! I’m pre-social work, studying American Culture, Psych, and Spanish. On campus, I’m an Uncle Joe and TRIO mentor, and in a few community service clubs. Outside of school, I love reading and cooking! I can’t wait to help you on your academic journey this year!

Harlem Taylor

Howdy! I’m Harlem Taylor (he/him) and I am a sophomore interested in economics, statistics, and marketing. I am from Little Rock, AR and I’m a Danforth Scholar at WashU. On campus, I’m closely involved with Uncle Joe’s Peer Counseling and Resource center, both as a peer counselor and an outreach chair. I enjoy playing soccer and volleyball and making fun videos. I’m excited to hear your experiences and share my own as your Peer Coach!

Kidest Eshetu

Hello! My name is Kidest Eshetu and I use she/her pronouns. I am a senior currently majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology and Writing. One of my favorite hobbies is writing, and I enjoy writing short stories and historical fiction pieces! I became a Peer Coach because I enjoy being able to aid my fellow peers and provide support and service to the WashU community. I hope to further continue to help students thrive and succeed here at WashU!

Mallorie Goodwin

Hi! My name is Mallorie Goodwin, and I use she/her pronouns. I am a junior majoring in History and Sociology. In my free time, you can find me sewing, spending time with my friends, or working with Alpha Phi Omega, my service fraternity. I became a Peer Coach because the role combines two of my favorite things, learning and service. I am so excited to share my passion for these two pursuits with all of you through my time with the Learning Center!

Margot Kades

Hi, my name is Margot Kades (she/her), and I am from Houston, Texas! I am a sophomore majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology on the cognitive neuroscience track with a minor in Writing. At WashU, I am a Synapse 101 coordinator and on the executive board of Hillel. I am also an MBB UGAI and conduct research at an educational psychology lab. In my free time, you can find me going on walks, trying new restaurants, and relaxing with friends. I became a Peer Coach because I am passionate about educational equity and supporting my peers. I am so excited to get to know you as a Peer Coach!

Princess Fayemi

Hello! My name is Princess Fayemi (she/her), and I’m a junior majoring in Psychology & Brain Sciences on the pre-med track. I’m originally from Lagos, Nigeria, but I’ve called Atlanta, Georgia home for the past 10 years. On campus, I’m actively involved as a member of the executive board for WUPAC and MAPS. I have a passion for reading Nigerian novels, listening to music, exploring nature on walks, traveling, and spending quality time with friends. As a peer coach, my goal is to help students navigate the transition to college life with ease and to be a guiding light during the challenges of their academic journey. I’m thrilled to be a part of your journey this school year!

Ryan Hillery

Hi guys! My name is Ryan Hillery, and I am a senior studying Cognitive Neuroscience and Global Health on a pre-med track. I’m actively involved in our swim team, balancing my training schedule with my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a Peer Coach, I’m passionate about helping others navigate their educational and personal challenges, drawing on my experiences as a student-athlete. As a TA for Intro to Global Health and Intro to Human Evolution, and with hands-on experience working in the schoolroom at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, I’m invested in both educating and supporting others in diverse learning environments. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies (Interstellar is my favorite) and playing board games, and I have recently gotten into reading more. I’m excited to connect with you and support your journey as your Academic Skills Peer Coach!

Sofía Then

Hi, my name is Sofía (she/her)! Currently, I’m a senior majoring in anthropology with a minor in biology on the pre-med track. After undergrad, I am interested in pursuing an MD-PhD in anthropology. I grew up as a military brat, moving around the U.S. and Japan with my family. In my free time, I enjoy exercising and taking care of my many houseplants! Helping others thrive is something I am extremely passionate about. I am looking forward to helping students smoothly transition to college and succeed at WashU!

Tanisha Paul

Hello! My name is Tanisha, and I use she/her pronouns. I am a current sophomore majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In my downtime, I enjoy baking, going on recreational runs, or dancing with the WashU Bhangra team! I chose to become a Peer Coach to share a myriad of unique study strategies and time-management skills with my ambitious and diligent peers. I’m very passionate and eager to provide you with the support you deserve!

Kotomi Yokokura (Graduate Fellow)

Hi! My name is Kotomi Yokokura (she/her) and I am a graduate student at the Brown School studying social work and social policy. For my undergraduate, I went to the University of Kentucky, where I founded a student and nonprofit organization around menstrual equity, worked with the Kentucky legislature, and conducted research around the experience of homelessness and houselessness. As a disabled student, I am passionate about increasing the accessibility of higher education and navigating these spaces with students. I am so excited to meet and learn more about all of you!

Rayna Tang (Graduate Fellow)

Hi! My name is Rayna, and I use she/her pronouns. I’m a third-year PhD student in Psychological and Brain Sciences, where I focus on episodic memory and how the brain enables it. In my free time, I love dancing, playing tennis, snowboarding, and exploring film photography. Fun fact: all my cameras are older than I am! I became a Graduate Fellow because many people supported me along my journey, and now it’s my turn to help others. I’m excited to help you thrive and become the person you aspire to be through my time as a Graduate Fellow!

Back to Academic Programs