BSPH Peer Mentoring Program

Hi! My name is Hope Bleggi and I am from Raleigh, North Carolina. After completing my Public Health and Health Communications degree in Fall 2025, I plan to attend Physician’s Assistant school. Here at Virginia Tech, I am involved in the Undergraduate Public Health Association club, The Big Event, and Greek Life. I love spending time outdoors and staying active. I thoroughly enjoyed my time during freshman year as a mentee in this program and can’t wait to be your mentor! Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns!

Hey!! My name is Lauren Clough, and I’m from the Houston, Texas area! I’m not exactly sure what I want to do after I graduate (tentatively in the spring of 2026), but I’m leaning towards getting a Masters in Public Health and doing something related to global health or epidemiology. This year, I will also be working with Hokie Wellness as a mental health peer educator and am involved in the Undergraduate Public Health Association. I have a ton of interests outside of healthcare, though, and have tried an absurd number of clubs and intramural sports.

From personal experience, I know adjusting to a brand new place and school can be really challenging at times. As a peer mentor, I hope to be someone that you can look to if you ever have a question, need some advice, are feeling a little lost, or just want someone to talk to. I’m so excited to get to know all of you guys. Please don’t be afraid to reach out if you need anything– I’m here for you!

Hi everyone! My name is Bassmala Elgamal, and I’m from Alexandria, VA. I’m a Public Health major with a minor in Data and Decisions on the pre-Physician Assistant track, and I’m super passionate about making healthcare more accessible and equitable for all communities. As a Public Health Peer Mentor, I’m excited to connect with you all, help you navigate VT, and take advantage of its resources! 

Outside of academics, I’m involved with the Sudanese Student Organization (SSO) and the Undergraduate Public Health club. I love to try new foods, especially if it's spicy. I love to hang out with my friends, listen to music, and want to get into traveling more! Whether you want to chat about public health, student orgs, or just talk, I’m always here to help and listen. Looking forward to a great year together! 

Hi!! My name is Lillani and I’m from Alexandria, VA. I’m a junior in Public Health with a minor in Philosophy graduating Fall 2026. I’m on the pre-law track, and I’m interested in pursuing a career in healthcare law. Apart from being a peer mentor, other organizations I’m part of on campus are Phi Alpha Delta as the LSAT Liaison, VSA, and KASA! Some of my hobbies include reading, thrifting, watching women’s basketball, and hanging out with friends! Can't wait to meet all of you!

Hey! My name is Adrian Kavazovic and I’m a sophomore majoring in Public Health with a minor in Data & Decisions. I’m from Harrisonburg, VA, but I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA. In the future, I hope to go into Epidemiology or something along the lines of that. At Virginia Tech, I’m involved in FLEX as the Director of First-Year Experience, SAA, and the Undergraduate Public Health Association. Outside of school, I love spending time outdoors especially at the beach or up in the mountains as well as doing photography either for fun or for my photography business. As a Peer Mentor for the Public Health program, I’m incredibly excited to connect with fellow students, offer guidance, and help foster a strong, inclusive community within our small tight-knit major. I’m here to support your journey and can’t wait to grow and learn alongside all of you this year!

My name is Gabby, and I’m currently a junior majoring in Public Health with a minor in Data & Decisions from Loudoun County. I’m on the pre-PA track and I work as a CNA. On campus, I’m the Treasurer of the Undergraduate Public Health Association (UPHA) and the Public Relations Director for the National Society of Black Women in Medicine (NSBWM). Pull up to a meeting sometime! In my free time, I like to dance, binge-watch shows, and listen to music (especially R&B).

I’m excited to be a mentor because I know how much having one helped me adjust to college my freshman year. Public Health is a smaller major and having someone who’s been through the classes and knows the ins and outs can make a big difference. I’m always finding and sharing new opportunities with my friends and love helping them plan out their schedules and goals. So, I’m excited to do the same for my mentee(s)! I am here to support your growth, share what I’ve learned, and be a resource for whatever you need. So don't be afraid to reach out!

Hello! My name is Thang Mai, and I am from Manassas, Virginia. I am a senior majoring in Public Health and minoring in Statistics, and I am currently an employee of Dining Services and a research assistant. I enjoy cooking, baking, gaming, and playing table games (billiards, table tennis, foosball). I am thrilled to assist students of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program in discovering opportunities that align with their interests and enable them to achieve their goals. The BSPH program at Virginia Tech is excellent, with great faculty, staff, and interesting courses. I am not much of a talker, but I hope we have some interesting conversations as the semester progresses. If you have any questions about public health or on-campus employment, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Pepaj, and I am from Montgomery, New York. I am a rising junior majoring in Public Health with a Political Science Minor. After graduating I hope to get my MPH/JD degree to work in health policy and legislation. At Tech I am involved in global hunger research through the hydroponics group with TEAM Malawi. Over summers I work for the New York State Department of Health as a health inspector.  Outside of school I enjoy cooking, playing pickleball, and listening to music. I'm excited to be a peer mentor for a second year and am excited to meet more public health students!

Hi, my name is Meghana Putta! I am a Public Health major at Virginia Tech on the Pre-Med track. I chose this major because I am passionate about understanding how social and environmental factors affect health and how we can improve healthcare access in our communities. As a BSPH Peer Mentor, I am excited to support other students by sharing resources, answering questions, and helping create a welcoming and inclusive environment. I am currently earning my EMT certification, which has given me hands on experience in patient care and deepened my interest in a future healthcare career. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, drawing, dancing, and spending time in nature. I look forward to connecting with others and being part of your journey in Public Health!

Hi! My name is Erica Selim, and I am from Northern Virginia. I am majoring in public health and on the pre-med track. My future goal is to attend Medical School, and I am interested in pursuing a career in anesthesiology or orthopedics. I am drawn to this field for many reasons, but a few of them are my desire to help others, my interest in the science field, and the continuous advancements in medicine. Here at Virginia Tech, I am involved in the Undergraduate Public Health Association, Greek Life, and NSLS. I am looking forward to meeting all of you! If you have any questions regarding the BSPH program or questions related to your academic/career goals, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Hey!! I’m Sarah Soltani, and I’m from McLean, Virginia. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Public Health, with plans to get involved in International Public Policy as well. Following graduation, I intend to pursue higher education in both public health and law. I’m especially passionate about the intersection of public health and human rights, and how legal and policy frameworks can be used to protect and uplift communities.

On campus, I am a peer educator with Hokie Wellness, the president of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Club, and the outreach officer for Ethics Bowl. Outside of school, I love exploring new places with friends, listening to music, writing/reading, and spending time outdoors.

Although this past year has been my first at Virginia Tech, I quickly noticed how supportive and welcoming the public health community is, which has only increased my desire to become involved with aiding their mission on campus. I am so excited for the opportunity to give back through this position and pay forward the guidance I’ve been fortunate to have since moving to Blacksburg. I cannot wait to meet everyone in this upcoming FYE class! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you ever have any questions or just want to talk - I’m always more than happy to do so.

Hey!! My name is Cassie Collins, and I am from Richmond, Virginia. I am a junior and I’m planning to graduate with my bachelor’s in public health in the winter of 2025 with a minor in Science, Technology, and Society. After graduation, I want to attend law school and either become a medical malpractice lawyer or an athletic injury lawyer. I came into college believing I wanted to be a dermatologist or orthodontist, but soon figured out I was not skilled at science. This discovery led me to want to be a medical malpractice lawyer because I already have a large background in health/medicine, and I want to incorporate that into my future career without working in the direct medical field. When applying to be a public health major I did not know exactly what that meant, but I am so glad I applied for this major. The professors, advisors, and students in this major are supportive and dedicated to this field. As a student ambassador, I hope to provide advice and support for students with any information/questions they want to know an answer to. I am looking forward to meeting you and hopefully being someone to help you with your college path. If you have any questions or just want to reach out, please send me an email!!

Hi! My name is Sarem Dawit. I am a junior majoring in public health and on the pre-med track. I am from Ethiopia, which is in East Africa. In my free time, I like drawing, reading, and cooking. In addition to being a peer educator, I am on board for the art club, and I also research with Team Malawi. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at saremd@vt.edu. I look forward to seeing you all in fall.

My name is Emma Downs and I am a Junior majoring in Public Health on a Physical Therapy track. I am from New Jersey and spend my time working at a Physical Therapy center and volunteering at my local hospital. I am interested in sports medicine, nutrition, and Greek life. 

Hi, my name is Destiny Ebiasah and I’m a BSPH Peer Educator from Gainesville, Virginia! I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Health Communications and plan to attend Dental Hygiene school and obtain my bachelor’s to be an RDH. Some of my hobbies include cooking, reading, and spending time with family/friends. Please reach out and don't hesitate to email me with any questions, concerns, or just to talk!

Hi! I'm Peniel Tesfamichael from Woodbridge, Virginia. I’m majoring in Public Health and plan to graduate in Spring 2026. After undergrad, I hope to pursue a Master’s in Dietetics, as I’m passionate about nutrition and promoting health equity.

Outside of school, I love staying active with sports like soccer, exploring new food spots, and cooking. I’m also involved in the National Society of Black Women in Medicine (NSBWM), a great space to connect and learn from others. Being part of the BSPH program has been incredibly welcoming and rewarding.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions about the BSPH program, need advice, or just want to talk!