Cassidy Buchanan-Gauthier joined the UMass Amherst and LRC community in Fall 2023 through the School Counseling graduate program in the College of Education. As an Academic Success Coach, Cassidy gets to apply his education and wealth of life experience to his mission: supporting people on their journey. It wasn't until the age of 37 that Cassidy realized what he wanted to be when he grew up. Returning to school taught him that it's never too late and that anything can be accomplished with the right support system. Since that moment his entire life has been devoted to helping people achieve their goals, as the Assistant Director of LRC Academic Success Coaching he gets to live that dream. When not having the privilege of working as an Academic Success Coach and pursuing his education, Cassidy savors time with his incredible wife, three sassy children, eccentric family, and a sprawling constellation of friends.

Cortland joined the LRC as an Academic Success Coach in August 2024 and is pursuing her MEd/EdS in School Psychology. With a strong background in psychology and education, she is dedicated to creating positive academic experiences for students. Cortland has gained valuable experience as an assistant teacher, school psychology intern, and student ambassador, working with diverse student populations ranging from preschool to higher education. This experience allows her to implement evidence-based interventions that support students' academic, social, and emotional growth. As an Academic Success Coach, Cortland works one-on-one with students to help them navigate academic challenges, set achievable goals, and create personalized success plans. She sees her role as a partnership, empowering students to reach their full potential. Outside academics, Cortland enjoys writing and performing music, hiking with her dog Bertie, kayaking, gardening, and spending time with her cat, Millie. 
Fun Fact: She was named after the 'Cortland' apple!

Hi, I'm Leo, I'm majoring in Computer Science and Applied Math, and I'm originally from Park Ridge, New Jersey. I enjoy helping my peers since I personally learn a lot better when talking through problems with friends, and I want to give people that same opportunity with me. My favorite study tip is to start assignments early! The stress of being behind makes assignments so much harder than they have to be.

Ilya joined the Learning Resource Center in Fall 2024 as a peer tutor supporting many engineering courses. He enjoyed helping students to understand their course content and watching them improve their skills each week. Now Ilya is an Academic Success Coach, guiding students past academic hurdles while they aim for success. Having gone through the UMass Engineering program, Ilya is well equipped to understand where students are in their academic journey, and what they can expect moving forward. Outside of school, Ilya likes hiking, biking, and skiing. Additionally, he likes playing video games, figuring out how computers work, and when craving sugar, will make a couple trays of cookies.

Luis Pinto joined the Learning Resource Center in Fall 2025 as the First Year Seminar and Success Toolkit Graduate Student. As a graduate student in Higher Education at UMass Amherst, Luis Pinto is passionate about helping students build strong foundations for their college journey. Growing up, Luis Pinto was unsure of what path to take in life. Coming from a low- income background, opportunities felt out of reach — but teachers, professors, and advisors saw his potential and invested their time in him, even when he couldn’t see it himself. Thanks to their guidance, he is committed to being that same helping hand for others facing similar challenges. Since his undergraduate years, Luis Pinto has been deeply involved in serving his communities. At Holyoke Community College, he worked in the Student Engagement Office, where he fostered connection and involvement. At UMass, he continues supporting students in a variety of roles, which include participating in art installations that spark dialogue about the environment, serving as an Orientation Leader, and working as a clerk assistant in the Humanities and Fine Arts Advising Center. Outside of UMass, Luis Pinto enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, playing video games, exploring arts and crafts, and building models.

Alyssa

Hi! My name is Alyssa, and I'm a neuroscience major and civic engagement and public service student from Merrimack, NH. This is my fourth semester at the LRC, where I am a tutor as well as an Academic Success Coach. One of my favorite learning strategies is to try to teach what you're studying to a friend. If you don't know it well enough to explain it to someone, you don't know it well enough! I enjoy supporting my peers because I value learning and reaching my academic goals very highly, so I want to help others do the same.

Ana

Hi! My name is Ana, I am an international student from Mexico, I’m a junior triple majoring in Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Journalism (PR track) with a French minor. My favorite way to study is with my friends, keeping each other accountable and taking small breaks to make studying more fun. I love working at the LRC and helping students achieve their academic goals as well as learning new things from them.

Kya

Kya is a Psychology major in the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst. As a first-generation student and parent, she brings a unique perspective to academic success coaching, drawing on her own experiences balancing school, research, and family. She’s especially interested in developmental psychology and neuroscience, with research exploring how family stress shapes adolescent risk-taking and cognitive control. Kya loves helping fellow students discover study strategies that build confidence and make learning feel manageable. Outside of academics, she’s passionate about writing, music, and creating inclusive communities for student-parents and nontraditional students on campus.

Zahara

Hello! My name is Zahara and I am a journalism major (hopefully double majoring with Political Science) from Templeton MA. My favorite learning hack is to split big assignments into smaller groups because it's easier to focus on individual puzzle pieces rather than the whole puzzle at once. I like supporting my peers because helping others succeed makes me feel like I am also succeeding.

Ouaad

Hi, I'm Ouaad, a Biomedical Engineering major. I was born and raised in Algeria and currently live in Western Massachusetts. My favorite learning hack is to treat learning as a sport; it's a continuous personal and team effort. I support my peers because when we help each other out, we all improve!