Peer Health Advocates (PHAs) are committed to supporting their fellow students and empowering them to make healthy choices while thinking critically about the Facets of Wellbeing. They do this by connecting their peers to campus resources, creating a safe space for open dialogue, and offering peer education on a variety of important health and wellbeing topics.
The application period for the 2025-2026 academic year is now closed.
Please contact Brailyn Davis (brailyn@uchicago.edu) if you have any questions.
2025-2026 Peer Health Advocates
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Mayuri Anegondi
Peer Health Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major:
2nd Year Master of Public Policy, specializing in Health Policy
Why I chose to be a PHA:
My personal connection to UChicago Student Wellness began during my early months on campus. As an international student, the transition to a new academic, cultural, and social environment came with significant challenges. The care and support I received from Student Wellness—especially around menstrual health and mental health—played a vital role in making that transition manageable. I want more students to feel supported and healthy allowing them to make the best use of their time at UChicago.
Fun Fact:
I collect unique playing cards! Favorite one is a set smaller than my palm.
Melanie Azpeitia
Peer Health Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major:
2nd Year - Theater & Performance Studies
Why I chose to be a PHA:
I became a Peer Health Advocate because growing up in the Bronx, New York, as a Hispanic individual, resources and support for the health and mental well-being of my community aren't always affordable or accessible. Since the majority of us are low-income and come from minority backgrounds, getting support often meant facing barriers and feeling like we aren't valued. Being a PHA allows me to create safe, judgment-free spaces where students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, can talk and connect about wellness, stress, and balance. I want to help others feel heard and supported the way I wish more people back home could have been.
Fun Fact:
I can talk for hours about Thai Y series--they’re my guilty pleasure!
Sammie Candelario
Peer Health Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Major:
Second year at Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
Why I chose to be a PHA:
I chose to work at Student Wellness to help students connect with the amazing wellness resources available on campus. I’m super passionate about mental health and, as a therapist-in-training, I’m committed to providing community-centered and bilingual care for marginalized communities. I believe students are often overworked, and I hope to engage with all types of students to remind them of the support and activities we offer to help them recharge and care for themselves. I’m also excited to meet new faces along the way, please say hi if you see me!
Fun Fact:
I love yoga, over the summer I got my 200 hour yoga certification and I do my own nails.
Norah Hicks
Peer Health Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major:
I’m a second year in the college planning on majoring in neuroscience on the Pre-Med track
Why I chose to be a PHA:
I wanted to become a Peer Health Advocate because I think supporting student and community wellbeing is extremely important. I’m interested in the many ways we can care for our health and make choices that allow us to attain goals in all areas of our life. I’m excited to be a part of Student Wellness and connecting students to resources on campus!
Fun Fact:
Potatoes are my favorite food!
Yelnura Tynysbekova
Peer Health Advocate
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major:
2nd Year Master's in Middle Eastern Studies
Why I chose to be a PHA:
In my 1st Year at UChicago, Student Wellness resources were of great help to me -- the Meditation Classes, Buddy Up Program, Growing Together Dinners etc. It felt like a space for deep breathing and just being, apart from being a student, a student-worker and a foreigner. I thought it would be a great opportunity to be able to give back to that space and possibly be of help to new students who come here.
Fun Fact:
I understand and speak multiple languages, but when I start speaking in only one of them it is hard for me to stay fluent and consistent with it and I keep mixing, making mistakes and constantly searching for the right words :)
The application period for the 2025-2026 acacemic year is now closed.
Please contact Brailyn Davis (brailyn@uchicago.edu) if you have any questions.