Engineering Peer Advising Leaders (EPALS)

The Engineering Peer Advising Leaders (EPALS) are a cohort of upper-class College of Engineering students who offer technical and advising support to first- and second-year students who are exploring majors within the College of Engineering. EPALs strive to promote academic excellence and student success by contributing to the intellectual and personal growth of students and by encouraging students to develop self-advocacy skills.

EPALs can provide peer assistance within the LionPATH, Canvas, and Starfish systems and can support students in understanding and utilizing these university platforms. The EPALs can answer general questions regarding university and college level resources and in general, life as a Penn State engineering student.

Please see each EPAL below for their individual schedule.

There are also limited Zoom drop-ins for several EPALs. Refer to each EPAL if there are Zoom hours available. Click the zoom EPAL drop-in link below to join during the posted hours and you will be placed in the waiting room. When you are next in line, an EPAL will admit you to the Zoom meeting.

If you have questions, please contact us at epals@engr.psu.edu.

Click here to join the EPAL drop-in! >>

Interested in being an EPAL? Learn more! >>

Heather Burkholder

Major: Biological Engineering
Email: hab5287@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have 4 horses, 2 mini horses, 1 mini donkey, 1 goat, 3 cats, 2 bunnies, and some chickens!

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	In Person 8:30a - 9:30a Zoom: 9:30a - 10:30a	—	Zoom: 8:30a - 9:30a	—	—	—

Gianna Caputo

Major: Chemical Engineering
Email: gac5405@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have a shih tzu named Skooter Puff.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	In Person 1:30p - 3:00p	Zoom 12:00p - 1:30p	—	—	—

Julia Cusatis

Major: Computer Science
Email: jec5945@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I LOVE crafts! Crocheting and making friendship bracelets are my favorite crafts.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zoom 10:00a - 11:00a	—	—	—	In Person 12:30- 2:30p	—	—

Derek DeFreece

Major: Chemical Engineering
Email: dmd6313@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I used to teach Karate and I like to rock climb.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	—	In person 8:30a - 11:00a Zoom 11:00a - 11:30a	—	—	—

Peter Delmolino

Major: Civil Engineering
Email: pxd5187@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
In person 11:00a - 1:00p	—	In Person 8:30a - 9:30a	—	—	—	—

Austin Gaydos

Major: Biological Engineering
Email: agg5261@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I transferred to Penn State from the University of Arizona.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	In Person 9:30a - 10:30a	—	Zoom 11:30a - 1:30p	—	—

Faith Hansotte – LEAD EPAL

Major: Chemical Engineering
Email: fmh5113@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I love baking bread and got into it during Covid.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zoom 2:00p - 3:00p	—	—	—	—	—	—

Zoe Ike

Major: Industrial Engineering
Email: zmi5008@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I'm an avid hiker!

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	—	Zoom 9:30a - 10:30a	In Person 9:30a - 11:30a	—	—

Eric Jurado

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Email: exj5139@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I like to draw in my spare time.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	In Person 3:00p - 4:00	In Person 10:30a - 11:30a Zoom 11:30a - Noon	—	Zoom 10:00a - 10:30a	—	—

Michelle Kizhakekara

Major: Computer Science
Email: mvk5936@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I’ve never stayed in the same house for more than four years.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	Zoom 12:30p - 1:00p In Person 1:00p - 1:30p	In Person 2:00p - 4:00p	—	—	—

Kiernan Lavelle

Major: Computer Science
Email: kzl5508@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I’ve gone cliff jumping in Hawaii.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zoom 12:30p - 1:00p In Person 1:00p - 2:00p	—	Zoom 2:30p - 3:00p In Person 3:00p - 4:00P	—	—	—	—

Adam Maman

Major: Industrial Engineering
Email: abm6470@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I lived in Israel for three months.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	In Person 12:30 - 3:00p Zoom 3:00p - 3:30p	—	—	—	—	—

James Martinis

Major: Industrial Engineering
Email: jzm6547@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have read all of the Harry Potter books...three times.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	Zm 10:30a-11:30a 12:30p-1p In Person 11:30-12:30	—	Zoom 10:30a - 11:00a	—	—	—

Trisha Poorbaugh – LEAD EPAL

Major: Biological Engineering
Email: tup147@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have traveled to 36 different states.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	Zoom 3:00p - 3:30p	Zoom 1:30p - 2:00p	—	—	—

Michael Robertson

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Email: mjr6688@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I love to workout and play guitar.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	—	In Person 11:00 - 12:30p	In Person 2:30-4:00p	—	—

Emma Rosko

Major: Chemical Engineering
Email: epr5234@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have never been on an airplane!

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	In Person 9:30a - 11:30a Zoom 11:30a - 12:30p	—	—	—	—	—

Leeann Runkle

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Email: lkr5351@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I am an owner of the Green Bay Packers.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zoom 11:30 - Noon	—	In Person 11:30a - 1:00p	—	In Person 8:30a - 9:30a	—	—

Kushagra Sinha

Major: Computer Engineering
Email: kks5926@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I sleep for 3 hours a day.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	Zoom 1:00p - 2:00p	—	In Person 12:30- 2:00p Zoom 2:00p - 2:30p	—	—	—

Sana Tipnis

Major: Computer Science
Email: sat5652@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I love reading. My favorite book I've read so far is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
—	—	Zoom 10:30a - 11:30a	—	Zoom 10:30a - 11:30a In Person 11:30a - 12:30a	—	—

Dominic Touma

Major: Computer Science
Email: dst5197@psu.edu
Fun Fact: Over the summer I hiked the Pemi Loop which is 30 miles with 9 peaks in one day.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Zoom 1:30p - 2:00p In Person 2:00p - 4:00p	Zoom 2:00p - 2:30p	—	—	—	—	—

Alexis Vajda

Major: Computer Science
Email: avv5358@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I have flown a plane.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
In Person 8:30a - 9:30a Zoom 9:30a-10a & 11-11:30a	—	Zoom 1:00p - 2:00p	—	—	—	—

Jaden Weed

Major: Engineering Science
Email: jrw6156@psu.edu
Fun Fact: I do stand up comedy in my free time.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
In Person 9:30a - 11:00 a	—	Zoom 9:00a - 10:30a	—	—	—	—