LASS Dean's Mentors — Students helping students make the connection

Sometimes the best source of advice comes from someone who has been there. The LASS Mentoring Center features the following student mentors who can offer advice and information from a student perspective about anythng, from specific questions about your major to questions about social activities and much more. Make the most of your college experience by meeting with a Dean's Mentor in CLO 152. Learn about our mentors by reading their profiles below!

LASS Dean's Mentors — Profiles

	Provedencia BLUE
Hometown
Major
Career Objective
Extracurricular Activities / Interests
Why did you come to PUC?
Why did you choose your major?
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?
What is your best PUC memory?
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?
What are your plans for after graduation?
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?
Best advice for student success
Favorite book
Favorite movie
Favorite music
the historical person that I would most like to meet
Favorite websites	http://www.xxx.xxx/
Favorite quote
E-mail	xxx@xxx.xxx

	Rachel Beth CLIFTON
Hometown	Highland, IN
Major	Communications w/ Spainish minor
Career Objective	Still don't know. Maybe an international flight attendant.
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	Scuba diving, skydiving, horseback riding, acting, traveling, reading at Borders.
Why did you come to PUC?	I moved here to be a part of a church youth group and PUC was close.
Why did you choose your major?	It seemed to be the best option since I still didn't know what I wanted to do. I thought I might change it later but I loved it and I stuck with it.
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	Everything because I didn't know what to expect. I was homeschooled K-12. PUC was my first classroom experience and I love it.
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	SPAN 451 & SPAN 481 with the Study Abroad program in Cáceres, Spain.
What is your best PUC memory?	Playing Mary Hatch in THTR 138's production of "It's a Wonderful Life".
What are your plans for after graduation?	A possible trip to England and Rome! Woohoo!
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?	Get to know the faculty and get connected. It makes everything more fun and it opens up great opportunities!
Best advice for student success	Have fun! Don't take yourself too seriously and try to do every project and assignment on a topic that you enjoy.
Favorite book	Oooh, that's tough. The Bible for sure, but after that it gets hard. I like "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. I also like the "Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis.
Favorite movie	Braveheart
Favorite music	Well, it changes almost weekly but right now I'm listening to "Harem" by Sarah Brightman and Cædmon's Call's latest CD.
the historical person that I would most like to meet	Jesus
Favorite quote	"To be, not to seem."
E-mail	rachelbethc@aol.com

	Jo Ellen DENNEHE
Hometown	Hammond, IN
Major	English with option in Professional Writing
Career Objective	To obtain a position working in the Public Relations field
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	Swim instructor at YMCA
Why did you come to PUC?	I live close to campus
Why did you choose your major?	I enjoy writing and reading
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	Working for the LASS Mentoring Center
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	Spanish. The professor made it fun to learn.
What is your best PUC memory?	Playing bingo in Spanish calsses taught by Edwardo Pasko
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?	Demonstration speech for adolescent psychology class on adolescent sexual behavior (demonstrated how to use a condom)
What are your plans for after graduation?	Graduate School
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?	Get involved!
Best advice for student success	Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Favorite book	The Bible
Favorite movie	Bastard out of Carolina, Independence Day, Finding Nemo.
Favorite music	Any contemporary Christian music
The historical person that I would most like to meet	John F. Kennedy
Favorite websites	freetranslation.com, babelfish.com.
Favorite quote	"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined." — Henry David Thoreau
E-mail	dennehej@calumet.purdue.edu

	Scott C. GUFFEY
Hometown	Gary, Indiana
Major	English — Writing (Journalism minor)
Career Objective	I'd like to work at a newspaper or magazine writing or editing.
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	Golf, Fantasy Football, Video Games, Fiction writing, Child-rearing
Why did you come to PUC?	I was unsatisfied with a career as a laborer. I knew I had more to offer, and with the support of my family, I enrolled at PUC.
Why did you choose your major?	I have always enjoyed writing stories. Sci-fi movies and comic books probably warped me at a young age.
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	The candid interaction possible between my peers and the professors. There is an open forum on any possible topic in most classes.
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	So many... I had a great time in Creative Writing and Review Writing.
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?	Any class with Pat Carwell and Julie Winston ends up being both strange and funny.
What are your plans for after graduation?	After some good old-fashioned partying, I figure I'll get my resume prepared and start searching.
Best advice for student success	Never blow off a class because you have to work or party. It's important that you do well now. It'll make it easier for you later in life.
Favorite book	"The Watchmen" by Alan Moore
Favorite movie	Right now, "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy ranks at the top.
Favorite music	Metallica, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden (Yes, Iron Maiden)
the historical person that I would most like to meet	Ernest Hemingway, Frida Kahlo, or Stanley Kubrick.
Favorite websites	www.nfl.com, www.cnn.com, or www.gamefaqs.com.
E-mail	guffeysl@calumet.purdue.edu

	Rachel M. MILLER
Hometown	Merrillville, IN
Major	Psychology
Career Objective	To become a professor of psychology / linguistics
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	Psi Chi, horse training, writing, art
Why did you come to PUC?	It's close to home
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	Getting the chance to tutor through skills assessment
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	Theater Appreciation as an Asthetics class w/ Dr. Finnely
What is your best PUC memory?	Getting voted in as Psi Chi president this year
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?	Working with J. Allen Johnson on the play "Nap"
What are your plans for after graduation?	Graduate school
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?	PUC is very close-knit, you get a sense of family, of belonging
Best advice for student success	Go to class!! Read!!
Favorite book	In the Eyes of Night (David C. Smith)
Favorite movie	A Few Good Men and Finding Nemo
The historical person that I would most like to meet	J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite quote	"In simplicity there is truth"
E-mail	millerr2@calumet.purdue.edu

	Sabrina NAJJA
Hometown
Major
Career Objective
Extracurricular Activities / Interests
Why did you come to PUC?
Why did you choose your major?
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?
What is your best PUC memory?
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?
What are your plans for after graduation?
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?
Best advice for student success
Favorite book
Favorite movie
Favorite music
the historical person that I would most like to meet
Favorite websites	http://www.xxx.xxx/
Favorite quote
E-mail	xxx@xxx.xxx

	William NAST
Hometown
Major
Career Objective
Extracurricular Activities / Interests
Why did you come to PUC?
Why did you choose your major?
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?
What is your best PUC memory?
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?
What are your plans for after graduation?
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?
Best advice for student success
Favorite book
Favorite movie
Favorite music
the historical person that I would most like to meet
Favorite websites	http://www.xxx.xxx/
Favorite quote
E-mail	xxx@xxx.xxx

	Leticia NEVAREZ
Hometown	Hammond, IN
Major	Hospitality & Tourism Management
Career Objective	Manage a resort someday, preferably in FLorida. In the meantime, a job in the industry.
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	I love music — listening, dancing, and singing although I can't really sing well!
Why did you come to PUC?	Transferred from Purdue W.L. for family and finances.
Why did you choose your major?	I love to travel, plus I love cooking and anyhting that deals with food!
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	I have grown pretty clsoe to most of my professors. It's much more personal than at Purdue W.L.
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	HTM 291: Foodservice & Preparation. It introduced me to many new friends.
What is your best PUC memory?	My first semester here — I met so many people in my major through a class (HTM 291)
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?	I skipped class one day and I ran into my professor later that same day!
What are your plans for after graduation?	Get a job in the hospitality industry & save enough money to move to Florida.
Is there anything else about PUC or your experiences here that you would want students to know?	Take advantage of your free time.
Best advice for student success	Class attendance can actually boost your grade.
Favorite book	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Favorite movie	Dumb & Dumber
Favorite music	Hip-Hop
Favorite websites	kazaa, LAUNCH: Music on Yahoo!, and any other music websites.
Favorite quote	"Success is a journey, not a destination."
E-mail	l.nevarez@sbcglobal.net

	Christine Marilyn PARRY
Hometown	Crown Point, IN
Major	Communications
Career Objective	After graduating from PUC, I would like to go to law school.
Extracurricular Activities / Interests	I work with the American Red Cross & local theater groups. I am also very active at my church. At PUC, I am a Student Ambassador, Dean's Mentor, a member of the Purdue Theatre Company, & I hold a position on the LASS Faculty Council.
Why did you come to PUC?	I wanted to go to Purdue, but I wanted to stay close to my family.
Why did you choose your major?	The communications major encompassed my interests & intellectual strengths.
What experience have you had at PUC that you did not expect?	I did not expect the snow storm that hit the area during finals week my freshman year.
What is the best class you've ever taken at PUC?	COM 225, Intro. to Rhetorical Social Influence because of the record player & COM 300, Intro. to Communication Research Methods. These are the hardest classes I have ever taken, but the ones I enjoyed the most.
What is your best PUC memory?	I will always remember working with the student organizations at PUC.
What's your strangest or funniest experience while at PUC?	It is always fun to be invited to the Chancellor's house & play with his dog.
What are your plans for after graduation?	I hope to attend law school.
Best advice for student success	Get involved! This campus gives you so many opportunities to learn and grow as a person & a student.
Favorite book	The Bible.
Favorite movie	Life is Beautiful and Finding Nemo.
Favorite music	I enjoy classical, jazz, musical soundtracks, and Christian music.
the historical person that I would most like to meet	The person / persons who shot JFK.
Favorite websites	babelfish.altavista.com
Favorite quote	"Life is good, God is great."