Nominated by
Zack Hulings

Program
Gwynedd Mercy University - Integrated Studies Program

Semesters as a Mentor
3

Please describe in detail how this nominee stands out among the other peer mentors in your program.
Erin Huggard is an exemplary peer mentor who should be celebrated not only with an award nomination, but every day. Her hard work with our students inside and outside of the classroom reflects on the kind of person she is. She is a total asset to the Integrated Studies Program at Gwynedd Mercy University, always willing to assist students regardless of the situation or timing. Erin’s time with the program has only strengthened her already amazing levels of compassion, tenacity and resiliency. As a program director, I know that when I ask her to assist a student, that student is going to learn something new, be heard, and overall have a wonderful experience. Erin has not only gone out of the way to help students in our program as a peer mentor, but has become an advocate in her own studies. As part of an assignment in her social work class this semester, Erin began a study of the space, time and materials needed to create a relaxation space on campus, entirely inclusive and designed to meet the emotional and sensory needs of all students. What started as a process designed to help students in Integrated Studies specifically became something new, inclusive and thoughtful all because Erin had an original idea, accepted feedback, and was dogged in the pursuit of her goal. Gwynedd Mercy University is lucky to have Erin as a student, but the students of the Integrated Studies program are even luckier to have her as a peer mentor.