Visit the Journalism and PR Peer Advisors to learn more about the concentrations we offer, how to get involved on campus, assistance with scholarship applications, what courses to take next semester, and more!
Each peer advisor has weekly office hours in ILC S408 (down the hall as you walk in the main doors to the department, second door on the right).
Peer advisor hours for the spring semester are as follows:
Mondays:
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesdays:
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays:
10 a.m.- 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursdays:
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Fridays:
12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
2025-26 Peer Advisors:
Ezekiel Altman
Major: Journalism (Sports Journalism)
Minor: Business
Campus involvement: WMUA, Massachusetts Daily Collegian
Media internships: UMass Sports Network, Minuteman Command
Office hours: Mondays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Maanasa Dhavala
Major: Journalism (Public Relations)
Minors: Sociology, Information Technology, Medical Humanities certificate
Campus involvement: Rebirth Project, UMass is a Drag, Stonewall Center
Media internships: WRSI 93.9 The River, American Family Insurance, C2 Communications. Carlton PR & Marketing
Office hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Elizabeth Lombardo
Majors: Sport Management & Journalism (Sports Journalism)
Campus involvement: UMass Athletics, McCormack Student Leaders Club
Media internship: UMass Athletics Creative Content Team Intern
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Valentina Ayala-Bustamante
Majors: Journalism (Public Relations) and Legal Studies
Campus involvement: PRSSA and The Daily Collegian
Media internships: Town of Amherst DEI Department and New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Luke Macannuco
Major: Journalism (General)
Minor: Professional Writing and Technical Communication
Campus involvement: Massachusetts Daily Collegian
Media internships: Greenfield Recorder, Harvard Press, UMass Writing Center Tutor Intern
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Thalia Merseburg
Major: Journalism (General)
Minors: Theater, Climate Science
Campus involvement: WMUA Podcasts, UMass Ballroom Dance Team, RecWell Marketing Assistant
Office hours: Mondays, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Fridays, 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Leah Patenotte
Major: Journalism (Public Relations)
Minor: Information Technology
Campus involvement: PRSSA Treasurer
Media internships: UMass Athletics
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Kyla-Journey Womack
Major: Journalism (General)
Minors: Education, Afro-American Studies
Campus involvement: Co-Editor of The Rebirth Project, RISE Fellow, TA for First-Year Journalism Success Seminar
Office hours: Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.