About the CNR Undergraduate Peer Advising (PAL) Program
The Peer Advising Leadership (PAL) Program of CNR strives to offer personal viewpoints and experiences to current and prospective CNR students. These students are trained in understanding CNR and University requirements, policies, and procedures, and they help with CNR recruitment and enrichment programs. Their work is integral to the success of their fellow CNR undergraduates.
If you wish to contact a peer advisor, visit the Student Resource Center at 260 Mulford, or send an email.
Spring 2020 update! We now have
Virtual PAL Hours
Want to find out more about certain courses? Click here for a list of classes the PALs have taken!
You can also follow us on CNR's Instagram and Facebook pages.
If you would like to hear more about the program, you can also stop by the PAL advising window during our office hours, email PALs at pal@berkeley.edu or talk to your academic advisor for more information!
2019-2020 PALs
(click name or photo for student bio)
Hello! My name is William and I’m a fourth-year Genetics and Plant Biology major. When I’m not studying or trying to convince my friends to join CNR, I enjoy reading and learning new things. Along with school, I am a student library employee in the Doe and Moffitt libraries. I hope to pursue research in the future and make lots of cool friends along the way. Ask me about the DeCal that I teach, called "Fruits of the World"! Though plants are just about my favorite thing in the world, I do enjoy a good meme and would love to talk about anything (especially plants and/or memes) so please stop by!
Hello! My name is Ada and I'm a second-year Microbial Biology major from the Bay Area. I love traveling, and I've been across Europe and Asia with my family. I'm involved in GBO and volunteer as an orientation leader. In my free time, I enjoy reading, thrifting, and learning new languages. I'm also a self-diagnosed meme addict, avid Buzzfeed quiz taker, and proficient baker. If you want to talk about the Bay Area, good books, Cal or anything else, feel free to stop by. Hope to see you soon!
Hi, I’m Celine! I’m a junior from San Jose, California majoring in Molecular Environmental Biology and minoring in Chemistry. When I’m not studying, you can find me hiking or spending time with friends. In addition to being a PAL, I’m involved in The Berkeley Project, the Cal Alumni Student Association, and The Daily Californian here at Cal. I have also had the opportunity to intern in Paris, France through a Berkeley Study Abroad program and I am spending the Fall 2019 semester in Moorea, French Polynesia to work on an independent research project. Swing by my office hours with any questions or just to talk! Go bears!!
Hey everyone! I’m Kipper and I’m a third year Environmental Economics and Policy and Environmental Science major. I love backpacking, surfing, and biking around California and the rest of the world. I’m also an avid reader and really trying to become a better cook – though I definitely still have a long way to go. Outside of school I’ve been a part of Cal Boxing every semester, and got involved with Cal in the Capital (a program that lets you intern in Washington DC for the summer) so if you want to talk about any of that, or if you have questions about classes or life at Berkeley I’d love to chat. Come hang out if you want to swap nature stories or hear about some awesome places to visit in and around the Bay Area!
Hi there! I'm Ana, a third-year student majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy and hoping to minor in Conservation and Resource Studies. My academic interests revolve around public policy and sustainable development at large. I also enjoy crafting, hand lettering, learning new recipes, and being outdoors in general! I spent this past summer doing international policy research for a networking organization in my hometown, San Diego, and I would love to chat with you about that if you are interested in policy research! Please don't hesitate to come by my office hours, I'd be happy to offer you advice, coffee shop recommendations, and a listening ear.
Hey y'all! My name is Dante Gonzales and I am currently majoring in Society and Environment and minoring in Public Policy and Conservation and Resource Studies. I love backpacking, hanging out with friends, talking about the environment/politics, playing tennis, and watching shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Archer, and Rick and Morty. In addition to being a PAL, I am also involved with the EAVP office, Tennis at Cal, SERC, and Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity). Also, as a low-income and working student, I understand and have experienced many of the struggles of being a student, so please feel free to reach out to me regarding class advice, balancing schedules, or just to talk! Hope to see y'all soon!
Hi everyone! My name is Justin Hogenauer and I am 2nd year Society & Environment major. I'm also interested in studying Environmental Economics And Policy or Business Administration and potentially getting a summer minor in Sustainability, so if any of those interest you, feel free to reach out to me and I'd more than happy to help in any way possible. I'm a big fan of exploring the outdoors and I love to travel. I worked at a Space Camp in Turkey this past summer so if you're interested in working the coolest summer job ever please hit me up! I'm also in Air Force ROTC at Cal and want to pursue a career as a pilot. I love to socialize so if you'd like to talk about Cal, CNR, traveling, National Parks, flying or whatever it may be, feel free to introduce yourself to me and I'd love to make new friends :)
Keep in touch on Instagram @justin_hogenauer
Hey there! My name is Nicole and I am a second year Molecular Environmental Biology major with a concentration in Environment and Human Health. I'm from Northridge, CA and I have two dogs. In my free time I like to bake cookies and volunteer at Berkeley Humane. One of my greatest talents is being able to name any Disney song within the first two seconds of hearing it. I'd love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Hello everyone! My name is Henry and I am a CRS major Senior. I am from El Salvador, and I have lived in Los Angeles for the past 10 years. I love volunteering and helping people, which is why I was an Orientation Leader for Golden Bear Orientation. I enjoy going to the theater, bowling and eating. I love meeting people and I hope to do my best to answer any questions you might have. I know from experience how difficult it is to ask for help, but feel free to come talk to me during my advising hours or emailing me any question! I hope you have a great year and enjoy your experience at Berkeley!
Hi! My name is Denice and I’m a second-year studying Nutritional Sciences and on the pre-med track. I am from Rocklin, CA, which is about 20 miles from Sacramento. In my free time, I enjoy playing sports, reading, volunteering, and food! This past semester, I played IM basketball, tennis, and volleyball and I also did AFX. I also enjoy hiking, lifting, badminton, ping pong, and just being active in general! Besides being a PAL, I am also involved with the Pre-meds of Berkeley Task Force for American Medical Student Association, American Red Cross @ CAL, ACE Coaches, and Circle K. I have gone to school in China and I have also attended ten schools before, so I can help if you are struggling with getting adjusted here! I love CNR and Cal so please also stop by if you need advice on classes, clubs, pre-med, or just wanna chat about sports, books, food, or life!
Hi ya’ll! My name is Kirsten and I’m a second-year studying Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Environment and Human Health. I’m a SoCal native from Thousand Oaks, I’m super into the MCU, and I’m a sucker for Instagram food gimmicks. On campus, I’m involved with the Filipino community in PAHC (Pilipinx Association for Health Careers), I participate in SPUR research, and I volunteer as a Health Advocate with the Alameda Health system. Come by my office hours and ask me anything, or even if you just want to chat. Looking forward to meeting you soon!
Hello everyone! My name is Leslie Nunez and I am majoring in Nutrition Science with a concentration in Physiology and Metabolism. I am a transfer student from East Los Angeles College and have been really lucky to find a great support system in CNR and the Transfer Student Center (TSC). In addition to being a PAL, I am also involved in the TSC, the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP), the Berkeley Student Cooperative and the School of Public Health. My career goal is to become a physician practicing in historically marginalized communities like my own. I strive to be a part of a dual degree program where I will be able to earn a medical degree and a master's of public of health in order to learn more about how social determinants affect health outcomes and how I can contribute to improving these. From experience, I know that asking for help may be difficult, but if you find people who will support you, you will get much more from your Berkeley experience. Please come talk to me or email me about anything and I hope that Berkeley becomes a place where you can grow and learn about yourself like it has been for me!
Hi everyone! My name is Perla Paredes. Currently, I am a 4th-year student majoring in Conservation & Resource Studies with a minor in Public Policy from Oakland, CA. I love to read, go on long walks, and try new food. I enjoy cooking and even find it to be a fun way to de-stress. I have been a volunteer at the Health Advocates of Alameda Health System and the Food Pantry in the past. Currently, I am a student library employee at Moffitt and Doe libraries. I just got back from a semester-long study abroad in July and it was such an amazing experience! During the last third of the program, I was as an intern at the Paris Urbanism Agency. If you ever want to talk about studying abroad, classes, food or anything feel free to come to my office hours or email me. :)
Hi! My name is Hannah and I’m in my second year, with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Marine Science. As a San Francisco native, I find myself spending as much time out in the sun as possible, usually between classes out on Memorial Glade. I get really excited about any activity that involves a beach or the ocean and one of my favorite weekend trips is going to look at the tide pools down in Half Moon Bay/Pacifica. Outside of work and my schoolwork at Cal, I enjoy spending time outside with my friends, exercising at the RSF, exploring the Bay Area, or taking a quick drive home to visit my family and dogs. In the future at Berkeley, I hope to study abroad in Australia or New Zealand. I’m really excited to be a peer advisor and I’m looking forward to talking to you!
Hi everyone! My name is Ananya and I'm a second-year majoring in Society and Environment and hoping to double with Data Science! I'm from SoCal, and I love exploring the outdoors with family and friends, spending time with animals (I love them all), and reading everything from news articles to novels. In addition to being a CNR PAL, I love to sing with my acapella family in Dil Se and am a part of CALPIRG. I would love to you talk more about anything you're interested in, and I hope to meet you soon!
Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I’m a third-year Microbial Biology major from Los Angeles, CA! When I’m not studying, I like to figure skate (join Cal Figure Skating, no experience needed!) and bake (keep an eye out for baked goods in the CNR advising office!). I also do research in the Koskella lab and am involved in Support, Encourage, and Develop for Children (SENDforC), a STEM mentorship organization. Although I love talking to people about courses and career paths, I also love talking about life and meeting new people, so please stop by!
Hi friends! My name is Carol :) I am a fourth-year studying Environmental Science with a minor in Geospatial Information Science and Technology. I am interested in using geospatial tools to study the environment. I grew up in Mission Viejo in Southern California. Apart from being a PAL, I am in Environmental Science Student Association and Klesis Christian Fellowship. In my free time I enjoy reading, bullet journaling, running, and hanging out with friends. I love being a peer advisor because I get to meet so many people with different stories and help people discover their interests and succeed in school. I also love the casual and friendly atmosphere of CNR. Come visit me during office hours if you have any questions about academics/clubs/life/etc. or if you just wanna chat and share stories!
Student Ambassador Leadership (SAL) Program
The Student Ambassador Leader (SAL) program aims to raise awareness and knowledge of the programs that CNR offers in prospective and newly admitted students. Our goal is to offer peer advising to help students through the admission process and transition into the university and especially in the CNR community. In doing so we hope to guide these students to be at a place of their passions and where they will have the chance to succeed. SALs also engage with prospective, newly-admitted, and current students at yield events, CNR tours, Cal Day, CNR Commencement, and more!
Meet the 2019-2020 SALs!
If you wish to contact a student ambassador visit 260 Mulford Hall, or send an email to cnrsals@gmail.com.
(click name or photo for student bio)
Hey there! I’m Heidi, and I’m a 4th-year Molecular Environmental Biology major with an Animal Health and Behavior focus. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but NorCal’s got a soft spot in my heart now. When I’m not in class, I’m either cafe-hopping or studying with my friends in one of the many libraries. You can also catch me at the Cal Pre-Vet club, or at NAF cuddling it up with the lab rats and guinea pigs! That being said, I really love animals and I hope to become a veterinarian one day. I also love to travel, so hit me up with all your travel stories or questions about studying abroad! I’m always open to talks about academics in general, from study tips and advice to what fun classes to take here at Cal. Hopefully I’ll become a friendly face at the College that you can turn to for support in the coming year!
Hi y'all! My name is Aileen and I am a second-year Environmental Science major with a biological concentration. I'm from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, so if you ever want to talk about being an out-of-state or international student I'd be happy to. I love CNR and I would love to talk about why choosing Berkeley was one of the best decisions of my life. I intend to study abroad at Mo'orea fall of my junior year and will gladly discuss how to schedule in order to be able to study abroad. I enjoy long walks on the beach, soil, and ice cream. If you ever need a rock/mineral identified or have questions about CNR, let's chat!
Hi! My name is Jason Mark and I’m a third-year Molecular Environmental Biology major with a concentration in Environment and Human Health. I’m originally from Temple City, CA and I love to play basketball, go to the beach, and spend time with friends during my free time. The last two summers, I’ve chucked myself across the country to participate in research programs and this Fall 2019 semester I’ll be able to add Moorea, French Polynesia to that list. On campus, I’ve been involved with Pilipinx student organizations such as PAHC (Pilipnx Association for Health Careers) and PCN (Pilipinx Cultural Night), I’ve danced for AFX (yeah, you’ve probably seen us on Lower Sproul), and I’ve written articles for the Public Health Advocate undergraduate publication. This will be my first year as a PAL so please feel free to come in and talk to me about anything and everything, from finding research opportunities to navigating the complexities of life and Berkeley :)