Cultural Peer Mentors (CPMs)

Hi everyone! My name is Cameron and I'm a junior majoring in Geography with a minor in French. I'm from Los Angeles and some of my interests are thrifting, crochet, horror movies, hiking, watching musical theater, volleyball, and playing the trombone. I became a CPM because I wanted to help others find a sense of belonging on campus and ensure they have the best study abroad experience possible. I'm always available to chat, so please don't hesitate to reach out!

Hello! I'm Catherine, a second-year student majoring in comparative literature with a focus on Chinese and English. I was born and raised in San Jose, CA and my go-to place for a tasty meal is Jubba, a local restaurant back home that serves delicious Somali food. I enjoy reading (add me on Goodreads—I'm always trying to grow my friends' list!), getting my body moving, and going to museums and concerts. I applied to be a CPM so that I can make friends with people from all around the world! As a new CPM, I'm so excited to help you adjust to Cal's academic environment and culture. I'm also looking forward to showing you some local gems, like Albany Bulb and the Berkeley Rose Garden as well as anything, anywhere else you would like to see in the Bay Area! I hope to be a resource and also a friendly face at Cal; please reach out if you need anything or just someone to hang out with!

Hey! My name is Edison and I'm a junior studying EECS and Business. I want to be a CPM because I love learning about new languages and cultures! I'm excited to help everyone assimilate to life here while keeping their home cultures shining for others to see and learn from. When I'm not studying I enjoy sports, reading, or wandering around campus and the fire trails.

Hi everyone! My name is Ilan and I am currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. I was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, and moved away from my hometown for the first time last year to study at Cal! When I'm not obsessing over my chemistry or physics classes, you can find me taking my road bike out for a ride, trying to play my favorite songs on the piano, or reading a random novel at the glade. Moving into the Bay Area came with a lot of shock and excitement, given that it's one of the most spirited and bustling places I've ever seen! From the crowded streets in San Francisco to the peaceful hikes on campus, the Bay Area lived up to my expectations. As a new CPM, I am eager to show you the exuberant experience of living in the Bay Area as well as learning from the cultures and languages that you bring from your home-countries.

Hello everyone! My name is Katherine and I am a rising senior majoring in Media Studies with a concentration in Digital Studies. I love to read, cook, and bake new recipes! I became a CPM because I love to meet new people and learn about their experiences from all over the world. I feel that it is important for people to learn from others to better understand how to work together and support one another. I hope that I can be a resource for all incoming students in helping them adjust into being in America and learn things myself along the way.  Feel free to reach out to me about anything, and I will do my best to help! Welcome to Berkeley!

Hello! My name is Kristie and I am a sophomore from Irvine, CA majoring in Global Studies. I enjoy learning foreign languages, listening to music, and spending time with my family and friends. I have grown so much through my interactions with diverse communities abroad and on the Berkeley campus and I can't wait to give back and help international students navigate life at Cal. These experiences have allowed me to witness firsthand the power of exchange in fostering mutual understanding and motivated me to become a CPM. I can't wait to help foster these connections and form a community away from home.

Hello! I am Leben, a sophomore majoring in Chemical Biology. I grew up in the Bay Area so am excited to learn about other cultures while also in turn sharing some of the beautiful sights that I grew up with. I find intrinsic value in meeting new people who come from different backgrounds and experiences, and I hope to make studying in a foreign country a fun, memorable, and personalized experience; please ask me about activities or places to explore around Berkeley! Outside of classes, I enjoy dancing, reading, baking, and going on walks, especially at dusk or in the early morning. Feel free to reach out with any questions, jokes, qualms, or stories!

I'm a junior and a transfer student so this is my first year here! I recently switched my major to philosophy and I love to read, travel, thrift, and cook. I'm hoping to study abroad in Bordeaux next year and I'm excited to learn more about the experience from my mentees. As a first generation Algerian-American, I grew up around immigrants and I'm always curious to see how cultural patterns uniquely manifest in individuals. Berkeley is lucky to have a lot of international students and working with BISP is an opportunity to gain a sense of these patterns and meet new people. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or just want to chat!

Hello! My name is Makenzie and I am a junior majoring in Sociology with a minor in Native American Studies! I was born and raised in the Bay Area so if you are in need of any fun activity ideas I am your girl! Some of my passions are taking photos (on my film camera), going on picnics, hikes, reading, crystals, astrology, and enjoying my time with friends! I enjoy meeting new people while helping them become comfortable and familiar during their transition to a new area. CPM allows for me to be there for others, create new relationships and give each student the best experience in my hometown! I am always a call or text away so please do not hesitate to reach out!

Hello y’all! My name is Manish, and I’m currently a junior at Cal double majoring in Economics and Data Science. I owe a debt of gratitude to the people who made adapting and settling in exponentially easier which I hope to repay through helping opportunity of becoming a CPM, to be that person for a few others. I would love to further broaden my perspective by meeting people from across the world and can’t wait to hear your stories, feel free to connect with me and ask away. On a more personal note, I enjoy running, soccer, and company of pets.

Heyo, my name is Ryan and I am a first year studying Materials Science and Engineering. I wanted to become a CPM because I am eager to learn about different cultures and languages. I am from Southern California, love the outdoors, and cannot wait to meet everyone!