What do Peer Health Educators do?
The peer health educators provide general health and wellness advocacy and education to the Franklin and Marshall College community in four main areas: COVID-19 Education, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention, Mental Health, and Sexual Health and Sexual Violence Prevention. See bios below!
FALL 2021 Drop In Ours are Mondays and Tuesdays 3-5pm*
During this time you can can drop in both In Person or Via Zoom
In Person: Multifaith room in the Steinman College Center
Virtual Meeting ID: 938 4021 7837
Passcode: 127419
*If you would like to schedule an appointment with the peer health educators outside of drop in hours, complete this form and we will contact you!
Lissangel Martinez (She/Her)
Class of 2024
Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Mathematics and Computer Science
Hi, my name is Lissangel, but you can also call me Lis. I used to live in West New York, NJ, but now I live in Miami, FL. I am passionate about mental health and domestic violence within romantic relationships. Outside of my role as peer health educator, I am involved in Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc and I am on the Alice Drum Women's Center board. During the summer, I did a research internship with NSURP where I analyzed viruses in soil with the Emerson lab at UC Davis. I look forward to going into the field of computer science, specifically artificial intelligence. After F&M, I am thinking about pursuing graduate school. This year, I hope to help other students on campus find resources and be a friend to anyone in need.
Hermela Assefa (She/Her)
Class of 2022
Hometown: Northern Virginia
Major: Public Health (Sociology)
Hi, my name is Hermela! I am a senior majoring in Public Health on the sociology track. As a peer health educator, my goals are to increase the accessibility of health education and awareness of resources to underserved populations at F&M. On campus I am also an active member of the African Caribbean Association. This past summer I had the honor of being a CDC CUPS scholar with the University of Michigan’s Future Public Health Leaders Program. My future goals, though not fully realized, will be aimed at working with underserved populations to eradicate racial health disparities and increase access to quality health resources while empowering and equipping communities to thrive. As I navigate my senior year, I am open to learning more about opportunities in public health focused on developing my skill set around public health interventions and community-centered solutions driven by health equity.
Maritza Marquez (She/Her)
Class of 2023
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Double Psychology and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Major
Hi, my name is Maritza! I am a junior double majoring in Psychology and WGSS. As a peer health educator my main interests are Women’s Safety & Health and Mental Health Awareness for underserved students. This summer I had the privilege to conduct research through the Alice Drum Summer Research Award. My research focused on Latinx Immigrant Mothers and the coping strategies they adapt when leaving their children behind in order to obtain economic freedom in the U.S. Apart from my summer research, on campus I am part of the Alice Drum Women’s Center, First Generation Diplomats, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, and Catastrophic Relief Alliance (CRA). When thinking about my life after F&M, I hope to pursue a MA in Counseling Psychology!
Hala Reeder (She/Her)
Class of 2022
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Major: Public Health and French
Hi, my name is Hala and I also go by “D”. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico! I am in my last year at F&M and I am a declared French and Public Health double major, with a minor in Dance. I spent this summer doing a data analysis project for the NM Human Services Department and I continue to present my findings to state government representatives and senators which serves to help inform health policy decisions. On campus, I have served on several executive boards and I am currently involved in: SISTERS, Mi Gente Latina, Dance Company, African Caribbean Association. As a peer health educator my main interests are health equity, conversations on consent and sexual health, and encouraging intentional language. My dream is to work with Doctors Without Borders and while I am unsure of my immediate plans following graduation, I look to go abroad and enter the field of public health.
Cal Curran (He/Him)
Class of 2023
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Major: Joint Theater and English Literature
Hi, my name is Cal! I’m a junior studying theater and literature, with a history minor. On campus I’m a member of Phi Kappa Psi, The Chessmen, and play in TnD and Green Room Theater productions. In theater my focus is empathy training, learning how to act reactively by listening constantly, in order to find total contact with the moment. As a Peer Health Educator I hope to better develop these vulnerability skills. My goal working with the WEVP is to help FandM students find the perfect intersection between fun and safety. I want FandM to be a place where everyone can find belonging, but no one feels they are being put at risk, or violated. I believe on a small campus no one should feel neglected or left out, but a major goal of mine is also to ensure FandM students everywhere are well informed on respect, consent, issues relating to gender, race, sexuality, safety, health, and are active bystanders.