Peer Mentor Profiles
Fall 2025 Peer Mentors
Photo Credit.
Ben Aguillon-
PII, Government & Philosophy
Hey Y’all, my name is Ben and I’m from San Antonio, Texas. I’m a senior studying Plan II, Government, and Spanish on the pre-law track. During my time on campus I have been active in Student Government, Beevo Beekeeping, and the Plan II-KIPP partnership. I am a major fan of mitski, traveling, and playing poker. I became a peer mentor because I wanted to help others through the challenges which everyone experiences when adjusting to college, but especially those unique to plan II. I am excited to meet you all!
I am required.
Christin Hernandez-
PII & Psychology
Hey everyone! My name is Christin. I’m majoring in Plan II & Psychology, but I’m also applying to the School of Business to hopefully major in Management. During my time at UT, I've been involved with several organizations, including The Terry Scholar Student Association—where I serve as the Director of Alumni Relations, The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), & the University Fashion Group, where I'm a member of the PR & Modeling Committees. In Summer 2025, I'll be interning abroad in Paris in Marketing, & I am very excited for the opportunity! In my free time outside of school, you can catch me doing something in the categories of thrifting, baking, or fashion. I've even considered culinary school or studying Textiles and Apparel at one point! You can probably find me with a Dutch Bros drink or Chipotle bowl—I'm hopelessly addicted to both! Feel free to reach out with questions—be they about Plan II, business, organizations, or life at UT in general. I'm excited to meet all of you, and I'm definitely looking forward to the fall!
Lead Peer Mentor
Cate Kratovil-
PII & Government
Howdy! My name is Cate Kratovil and I am a Junior studying Government and Plan II. I am from Dallas but my parents actually met at UT Law so I come from a diehard longhorn family. On campus I’m involved with Texas 4000 for Cancer where I cycled from Austin to Alaska. I’m also a RA at Kinsolving. Finally you will always find me in the front row of football games with full face paint with my spirt org Longhorn Hellraisers. In Austin you can find me biking, running, and trying to find the best matcha spot. I became a peer mentor because I want to help freshman love UT as much as I do and I can’t wait to meet y’all!
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Emma Hamilton-
PII & Government
Hi! I'm Emma, a born & raised Houstonian. I’m majoring in PII & Government, and studying Spanish and Portuguese. At UT I’ve been involved with the Global (Dis)Information Lab, The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, the (other) Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the Clements Center for National Security. Beyond the 40 acres, I tutor refugee and asylee kids at Casa Marianella and work for an energy policy consulting firm. In my free time I can be found perusing restaurant menus online and learning new country dancing lifts. I LOVED hosting my peer pod for dinner parties and movie night last year, could be you this year??
I am required.
Jake Herman-
PII & Psychology
Hey y’all! My name is Jake, and I’m a pre-law junior from Southlake, Texas, majoring in Plan II and Psychology with minors in Law, Justice, and Society & Business. Throughout my time in college, I’ve been involved in organizations such as Plan II Students’ Association, The Daily Texan, and the Plan II Kipp Program. Outside of class, I love exploring new restaurants in Austin with my friends every Saturday, going to concerts (most recently, Charli XCX and beabadoobee) and traveling to new places! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about anything Plan II or UT in general - I’m so excited to get to know y’all as a Peer Mentor this year!
Lead Peer Mentor
Hareem Musa-
PII & Neuroscience
Pre-Med Track
Hey y'all! My name is Hareem and I'm from San Antonio, TX. I am a senior Neuroscience/PII major (& business minor with a certificate in Social Inequality, Health, and Policy) on the pre-med track. I am SO excited to get to know you all as one of plan ii's (self-proclaimed) biggest fans!! On campus, I'm involved in the spirit org Texas Sweethearts, Plan II Hiking club, Plan II KIPP, the Glow Worms research lab, & the Preston memory lab. One of my favorite things I have done here is co-create 'Care Beyond Borders' to provide asylum seekers with healthcare resources. Off campus, you can find me froliciking around the Austin outdoors (pease park), getting froyo with my friends, or journaling to my shuffled liked songs on spotify (yes that includes both the lorax soundtrack and lana del rey). I cannot wait to meet you all and see you have the best year at the best school ever <3 Please reach out if you have any questions or just want to chit chat!
Learn MorePhoto Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Katie Wasserman-
PII & Art History
Hi guys! I’m Katie, and I'm so excited to be returning as a Peer Mentor. I’m a senior from Houston majoring in PII & Art History with a minor in business. On campus, I'm a member of the Texas Orange Jackets (catch me on the field at football games) and am on the club swim team. Outside of school, my interests are pretty diverse, but I love traveling, exploring Austin (hiking, finding coffee shops, and trying new restaurants are my favorite pastimes), finding new ways to stay active, & spending time with friends. I’m also obsessed with my cats (I have 6) & Criminal Minds/Modern Family. In the future, I want to pursue a career as a museum director or art lawyer, ideally somewhere abroad! Feel free to reach out whenever! I can’t wait to meet everyone and see you all soon!
Learn More
Photo Credit.
Luke Schweizer-
PII & Sustainability Stds.
Hey guys! My name is Luke (he/him) & I'm a senior from Dallas, Texas pursuing majors in PII & Sustainability Studies with minors in Global Sustainability Leadership and History. I’m hoping to go into the sustainability sector as a consultant with a focus on sustainable development and emission reduction. Outside of school, I’m a member of the Texas Wranglers, the UT men’s basketball spirit organization. With any other free time I can spare, I enjoy reading on the front lawn (great place to de-stress), running around Ladybird Lake, listening to random Youtubers’ podcasts, & hanging out with friends. Please feel free to reach out to me with any and all questions. I’m so excited to meet y’all and show y’all how great UT and PII are!
Lead Peer Mentor
Olivia Gonzalez-
PII Government
Hi y’all! My name is Olivia Gonzalez and I am so excited to serve as your Lead Peer Mentor this year! I am a senior pursing a Plan II and Government degree with a minor in History on the pre-law track. After college I hope to pursue a career in appellant law with the goal of becoming a judge. Last summer I interned for a congressman in DC. I recently spent the 89th Texas Legislative Session interning for the Dean of the Senate here in Austin. Off campus, I was one of the founding members of the Young Professionals Board of Austin Pets Alive and the Judicial Director of the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter at Texas! In my free time I enjoy reading, listening to live music, needlepointing, and traveling. I am so excited to meet y’all and help with your transition to the program! Don’t hesitate to reach out. See you in the fall!
Learn MorePhoto Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Prisha Mehta-
PII & Business
Pre Law Track
Hi there! My name is Prisha, and I'm a senior from Dallas majoring in Plan II and Marketing and minoring in Management Information Systems. On campus, I'm a competitor and Tournament Director on UT’s competitive Mock Trial team, Music Committee Chair for the Texas Entertainment Association, and a small group leader for OneWay, a South Asian campus ministry. Some things about me: I enjoy going on hikes and outdoor runs, songwriting, discovering new movies on Letterboxd, and going to concerts in small venues. I’m so very excited to get to know all of y'all (and have y'all over for movie nights at my place, of course! :))
Photo Credit.
Reese Saliceti-
PII & Sociology
Pre Law Track
Hi! I’m Reese, I am a second year from San Antonio TX, majoring in PII & Sociology on the pre-law track. I am also pursuing a minor in business in hopes of expanding my custom cake business @dulcecustomcakes. I love sweets & art, cake is the medium that allows me to combine the two. I will be spending this fall as a KIPP mentor, an RA in the honors quad, & involved in the Kendra Scott Womens in Entrepreneurship org. Outside of school & work you can find me running or working out, shopping at Urban, & spending time with my family including my 4 cats. I look forward to making you feel at home here on the 40 acres, please don't hesitate to reach out even to just chat about your week!
Photo Credit.
Roopa Bindingnavele-
PII & Math
Pre-Med Track
Hey everyone! My name is Roopa Bindingnavele! I’m a senior from Corpus Christi, Texas majoring in Math and Plan II on the pre-med track with minors in History and English. I love cooking, baking, dancing, and watching movies/TV with friends! I am currently a research and teaching peer mentor in my FRI stream Microbe Hackers and I’m involved in several clubs including Texas Sunshines, Adavu Club, and Kappa Rho. I am looking forward to helping introduce y’all to UT and Plan II! Please feel free to reach out (rlbindings@utexas.edu), I am so excited to meet y’all!
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Shruthi Juttu-
PII & Psychology
Pre-Med Track
Hi guys! My name is Shruthi Juttu, and I'm a rising junior majoring in Psychology and Plan II on the pre-med track. I went to high school in Dallas but live abroad in Saudi Arabia, so I’ve always been big on finding connection and community wherever I am. On campus, I’m involved in the Caminos Lab, volunteer with Crisis Text Line, and serve as the Assistant Merch Director for Texas THON. When I’m not studying, you can usually find me at a coffee shop with a matcha, going on walks with friends, or deep in a Spotify rabbit hole. I also love trying new restaurants around Austin! I’ve loved my time in Plan II so far and can’t wait to share what I’ve learned along the way– so excited to meet y’all!
Photo Credit.
Siyona Nayampally-
PII & Economics
Hi y’all! My name is Siyona and I am a junior from Austin, Texas, majoring in PII and Economics with certificates in Business Spanish and Applied Statistical Modeling! After graduation, I am interested in economic/ public policy and international relations, and I hope to serve in the Peace Corps. On campus, I am a co-president of P2SA, a member of the Walker Fellowship, a research fellow in the Innovations for Peace and Development Lab, and a volunteer at the UT Microfarm. Outside of school, I love to travel, find new vinyl records for my collection, read, spend time outside on South Mall with friends, and stay active! I am so excited to meet and get to know you this fall! Plan II is such an amazing program that has given me so much and I can’t wait to help y’all find your way within the program! Please feel free to reach out or ask me any questions and say hi if you see me around campus!
Learn More
Photo Credit.
Trent Kinder-
PII & Economics
Hey y’all! I’m Trent Kinder. I’m a senior from Dallas, Texas. In addition to Plan II, I am also pursuing a B.S. in Economics, a minor in Philosophy, and certificates in German (the best language department at UT) and Applied Statistical Modeling. I represent Plan II through my involvement in organizations such as my fraternity, Kappa Sigma, and the Texas German Club. In my free time, you might find me working out, playing pool or bowling at the Union, or getting acquainted with Austin’s food scene. Can't wait to help get y’all settled in during your transition to UT, and I'm always here to help if you need it. See you in the fall and Hook ‘Em!
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Virginia Nussbaumer-
PII & French
Pre-Med Track
Hi guys! My name is Virginia Nussbaumer, and I am a senior Plan II Honors and French double major on the pre-med track. I am so so excited to be one of your peer mentors for the 2025-2026 school year! My interests include baking, reading, and Peloton biking. I was Plan II Premed president last year, and currently volunteer at St. David's Medical Center. I am also an EMT! But as much as I love interacting with my patients, I am looking forward to meeting you guys even more. Specifically, I am excited to help you guys answer any and all questions you all probably/definitely have about Plan II and to help you guys navigate a super fun and busy freshman year!
Photo Credit.
Wren Brumley-
PII & Psychology (B.S.)
Hi guys! My name is Wren Brumley, I’m an Austin native going into my junior year here at UT. I’m double majoring in Psychology (B.S.) & Plan II, pursuing a certificate in Spanish for Medical Professions, & working toward the Patients, Practitioners & Cultures of Care Bridging Disciplines Program. You can catch me leading the Plan II Pre-Med Society as President, or serving as a Pre-Med Mentor in Global Medical Training & staying involved with Alpha Epsilon Delta. I’m also thankful to call Pi Beta Phi home within the Greek community and have enjoyed every minute of my experience in Younglife. When I’m not in class, you’ll likely spot me at any concert possible or at Town Lake with my friends! I’m beyond excited to get to know y’all & help show you the ropes of Plan II, UT, & all the little hidden gems that make Austin so special. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at wrenbrumley@utexas.edu or just say hi if you see me around campus- I can’t wait to meet you!
Learn More
Photo Credit.
Alexandra Ulmer-
PlI & Math
Hi! My name is Alexandra Ulmer, and I am from San Antonio, TX. I am a rising senior majoring in Plan II Honors and mathematics. This summer, I completed a finance internship in Sweden and explored around Scandinavia. On campus, I am president of the Honors Consulting Association and involved in my FRI stream Big Data in Biology, where I was also a peer mentor. In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, and trying new coffee shops around Austin. I am so excited to meet all of you on campus and feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Learn MorePhoto Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Alexandra Ulmer-
PII & Math
Hi! My name is Alexandra Ulmer, and I am from San Antonio, TX. I am a rising senior majoring in Plan II Honors and mathematics. This summer, I completed a finance internship in Sweden and explored around Scandinavia. On campus, I am president of the Honors Consulting Association and involved in my FRI stream Big Data in Biology, where I was also a peer mentor. In my free time, I enjoy running, baking, and trying new coffee shops around Austin. I am so excited to meet all of you on campus and feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.
Photo Credit.