Simmons Academic Mentors (SAMs)
Simmons Academic Mentors (or SAMs) are current Simmons students who assist first-year students with academic acclimation to Simmons University. In this role, SAMs provide peer academic support to first-year students throughout the summer leading up to and during your first year at Simmons University.
SAMs will hold weekly drop in hours throughout the year to answer any questions you might have. SAMs also facilitate programming to support you throughout your first year at Simmons. If you think you might have something in common with any SAM or have a question about one of their majors, please feel free to reach out.
Are you undecided? The SAMs can help! They can help you narrow down which courses to take and help you fill your PLAN requirements along the way. Please feel free to reach out via email to the SAM program, email an individual SAM, or follow them on social media @samsatsimmons!
If you have questions about the Simmons Academic Mentor Program, please reach out to [email protected].
| Name | Role | Fall 2024 Office Hours | Pronouns | Graduation Year | Major(s) | Minor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeena Acharya | Senior SAM | Wednesday 12:00pm - 1:00pm | she/her | 2025 | Neuroscience & Behavior with a focus in Neurobiology | Chemistry and Pre-Med |
| Emily Brown | SAM | Wednesday 11:30am - 12:30pm | she/her | 2025 | Biochemistry | Psychology and Pre-Med |
| Hamdi Dakane | SAM | Tuesday 11:00am - 12:00pm | she/her | 2025 | Finance | Africana Studies, Data Science |
| Micah Joyce Guillermo | SAM | Monday 10:00am - 11:00am Friday 12:00pm - 2:00pm | 2026 | Political Science, Honors, and Communications (Journalism Track) | ||
| Sienna Jeffries | SAM | Monday 11:00am - 12:30pm | 2027 | Political Science | ||
| Sam Mills | SAM | Thursday 10:30am - 11:30am | she/her | 2025 | Writing & History | |
| Maebon Puleio | SAM | Tuesday 3:00pm - 4:30pm | 2026 | Nursing |
Office hours are held in the Center for Student Success (CSS) in LeFavour Hall.
Get to know our SAMs
Zeena Acharya
Zeena is a Senior and uses she/her pronouns. She is a Neuroscience and Behavior with a concentration in Neurobiology and a minor in Chemistry on the Pre-Med track in the Honors Program. Zeena was born and raised in Massachusetts and loves Boston! She is a huge foodie and enjoys trying new dishes, traveling and exploring new cities, and singing! Zeena is highly involved in the Student Government Association (SGA) serving 2 years on the SGA Senate as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, and this year Zeena is the Student Body Vice President for Simmons! Zeena is thrilled to help her peers in any way she can!
Emily Brown
Emily is a senior and uses she/her pronouns. She is from Leominster, MA and is a biochemistry major with a minor in psychology on the Pre-Med track. She is also part of the Honors Program. At Simmons, she is involved in research with Dr. Luth and is an organic chemistry TA! She works in the Surgical and Neuroscience ICU at Boston Medical Center as a CNA. She is part of a dance company, DanceWorks Boston and has been dancing since she was 4. In her free time, she likes to go to concerts with her friends and check out the local Boston music scene! This will be Emily’s second year as a SAM and she is so excited to help guide and support the first-year class
Hamdi Dakane
Hamdi is a senior and she uses she/her pronouns. She is from Lewiston, Maine. She is a Finance & Accounting major with a minor in Data Science. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city, finding new restaurants to try, and going to concerts. She also loves music, cooking, poetry, drawing, and watching movies and TV shows. Hamdi served as a Bridge Mentor and is a part of the Simmons Black Muslim Union. This is Hamdi’s second year as a Sam, and she is so excited to support and contribute to the success of her peers!
Micah Joyce Guillermo
As an international student from a far-flung province of Cagayan, Philippines, Micah was raised in a humble and peaceful community where farming was the lifeblood of my family. Surrounded by nature's tranquility, Micah found solace in writing poems, letters, songs, and creative pieces—a passion that she continues to nurture in the quiet corners of the Simmons Residence Halls Quad. Micah's love for the arts also extends to painting and, more recently, crochet.
On campus, Micah has had the privilege of representing Simmons TPC as part of the Student Government Association and currently serves as an Honors Peer Mentor and Student Fellow in Undergraduate Admissions. This year, she's thrilled to embark on a new journey as a Simmons Academic Mentor (SAM), where she looks forward to guiding and supporting her mentees.
Sienna Jeffries
Sienna is a sophomore and uses she/they pronouns. She’s from southern New Hampshire. She is a political science major, and is in the process of declaring a history minor as well! She loves to read, write, and play video games. They are the current secretary at Simmon’s TANC, and was co-VP of COF theater last year. This is their first year as a SAM, and they’re excited to be a support for first year students!
Sam Mills
Sam is a Senior and uses she/her pronouns. This is her third year as a SAM. She grew up in southern Vermont. She is majoring in History and Writing and is working on her graduate applications for a Master’s in Library Science. She also works as an Advising Office Assistant and at the Banana Republic in Copley Place Mall. She enjoys skiing, reading, trivia questions, and traveling. You may find her exploring vintage fashion pop-ups around the city or at any halfway decent brunch spot. She is the president of the Literature and Writing Liaison. She recently curated a digital exhibit on the literary magazine Sidelines for Simmons University Digital Archives. Sam hopes to meet with students to help them become their most successful selves!
Maebon Puleio
Maebon is a junior and uses she/her pronouns. She is from Hanover, Massachusetts and is majoring in Nursing. Some of her hobbies include camping, hiking, crocheting and cooking. She also loves to travel and explore the city on weekends. On campus, she is involved in Strong Women Strong Girls, Class Council, and an Orientation Leader. She is also a member of the Everyday Leadership Pathway. This is her first year as a SAM and she is so excited to help guide and support her peers and first years throughout the year!
Who Are The SAMs?
Learn more about the Simmons Academic Mentors.