Public Health Students Advising Students (PH-SAS) is an initiative of the SDSU School of Public Health (SPH) Undergraduate Program, where undergraduate public health students can get group or individual advising from fellow undergraduate students during the Fall & Spring semesters!
Send us an E-mail: sdsu.phsas@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: sdsu.ph.sas
To request an appointment with one of the PH-SAS mentors, please complete this form
What PH-SAS CAN Help With
- Schedule planning
- Hints and tips for success
- Elective selection
- How to stay on-track
- Professionalism
- Social support
- Advice
- Student insights
- Role-modeling for success
What PH-SAS Cannot Help With*
- Signatures
- Special approvals
- Exceptions
*For these items please see your Undergraduate Advisors
E-mail the undergraduate advisor: PHundergrad@sdsu.edu
Current SDSU PH-SAS Advisors
Laurel Lechuga
“My name is Laurel Lechuga. I am a third-year Public Health major, graduating in May 2021! I am from Orange County, CA. Originally a Psychology major, I switched to public health when I decided I wanted a career in health and prevention. I’ve loved getting involved in on-campus public health efforts such as being a Peer Health Educator for Well-being & Health Promotion and being apart of Students 4 Public Health. Some career goals I have are to be a program coordinator or go into pediatric health. I’d love to chat about anything from on-campus involvement, switching to Public Health, course planning, commuting, etc. I hope I can be of some assistance!
Please contact me at llechuga@sdsu.edu“
Ariana Toretta
“Hello everyone! My names Ariana and I’m a senior this year! I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and spending time with family! I am looking forward to guiding you as best as I can in your public health journey!”
Joie Pfondevida
“Hi Everyone! My name is Joie Pfondevida, I am a fourth year Public Health student with a minor in Sustainability from the Inland Empire, California. On campus, I am also an A.S. Food Pantry Lead in the Aztec Student Union. I have a great passion for environmental health, health equity, and sustainability and I hope to take those interests further into my career in the near future. I greatly enjoy working closely with my peers and colleagues in trying to incorporate their interests and passions into their education and future careers. I am excited to assist you all and do my best to help guide you to any resources you may need in the upcoming school year. I hope to see you soon!”
Katraina Nakamura
“Hello everyone! My name is Kat Nakamura and I am a fourth-year public health major with two minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Child & Family Development from Carlsbad, CA. I am on a pre-physician assistant track and would love to share my journey and help others reach their goals. I hope to have a future in women’s and family health as an OB/GYN physician assistant. While at SDSU, I completed an internship at UCSD Population Health, work part-time on campus as a TA/ grader for American Indian studies, lived on and off campus, and navigated multiple organizations such as the Women in Science Society, SDSU Ambassadors, Greek Life, and Rotaract. I am so excited to help assist you with any questions or concerns you might have and to get to know you all!”
Maggie Zhang
“Hi everyone! My name is Maggie Zhang (she/her) and I am a fourth year public health major from the Bay Area. On campus, I am involved in Public Health Initiative, and outside of school, I am an intern in the County of San Diego. I am currently applying to MPH schools so I’d be happy to talk with you about my experience with that process! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, whether it be about classes you’re taking, clinical working experience, or internship opportunities!”
Sara Rodrigue
“Hi everyone! My name is Sara (she/her) and I am a fourth-year Public Health major, minoring in Personality and Social Psychology. I am a research assistant for the Action Research on Community Health Equity and Stigma (ARCHES) Lab and I am a Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholar. I will be applying to graduate school during the Fall 22′ cycle and would love to talk about the graduate school application process! I am also the Vice President of the Undergraduate Research Committee, if you are interested in research and want to learn more about it and how to get involved, please reach out!”
Serena Fite
“Hi everyone! My name is Serena. I am a fourth-year, undergraduate student, graduating from SDSU in May 2023. I am also a transfer student and a first-generation college student. In the time I have studied at SDSU, I have tried my best to get involved. I am a member of Students for Public Health, Tau Sigma National Honors Society, and I am working towards a Leadership Certificate offered by the university. Now a PH-SAS Mentor, I would love to help out my fellow Public Health lovers and peers. I can give advice on anything from amazing electives to how to get involved at school. In general, I would love to be someone you can come to for advice or support– or even just a friendly face on campus!”
Sierra Payne
“Hi! My name is Sierra Payne. I am a fourth year Biology and Public Health major with minors in Spanish and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. I am involved on campus as a peer health educator along with being the fundraising chair for the Public Health Initiative. In the future I will be pursuing a master’s of public health degree, before attending medical school to become an OB/GYN focused on lessening the higher maternal death rates in low-income and BIPOC communities. I look forward to getting to know you and helping you with any questions you might have!”
Current PH-SAS Alumni Advisors
Nina Herras
“Hi everyone! My name is Nina I. Herras, and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I am an SPH Alumni. I’ve actually been in school for awhile, so I’ve had the opportunity to experience a lot of different things from university dorm life, navigating through San Diego community colleges, to transferring into SDSU. I’m definitely not an expert, but I would love the opportunity to help you in anyway that I can. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions from time management, Public Health, or anything at all. My ultimate goal is be a resource that you can turn to for encouragement and support :). Can’t wait to hear from you! Thank you 🙂
Please contact me at nherras9814@sdsu.edu ”
Talia Kieu
“Hi! My name is Talia Kieu (she/her/hers) is an SPH Alumni, with minors in Women’s Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies. I’m a research assistant at the Center for Research on Sexuality and Sexual Health and I am an NIH Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Scholar. I am pursuing graduate school, so I’d be happy to talk about the entire graduate school application process! I’m also the External Affairs Officer of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, so catch me passing out condoms around campus, stop by and say hello!
Please contact me at tkieu-w@sdsu.edu”
Daylan Chapman
“Hi, my name is Daylan! I am an SPH Alumni. I enjoy going traveling, going to music festivals and binge-watching Love Island. I am passionate about women’s health and hope to become a nurse practitioner. I am looking forward to helping you all this semester!
Please contact me at drchapman@sdsu.edu”
Sahiba Mohan
“Hi there, my name is Sahiba and I am an SPH Alumni originally from San Francisco, CA. I am currently a Project Coordinator for a company that creates a plant-based product. I love traveling and finding new spots within the city, whether they are eateries or not! I look forward to sharing my knowledge about the SDSU Public Health program with you!
Please contact me at smohan@sdsu.edu”
Gabi Hernandez
“Hello Public Health students, my name is Gabi Hernandez and I am a recent alumni from the SDSU Undergraduate Public Health program. During my time at SDSU I was very involved on campus. I am currently working full time at Sharp Rees-Stealy Urgent Care. I have always had a love for the clinical side of healthcare and that is why I am applying to PA school April 2020. Feel free to email me with any questions and know that you are in the best program at SDSU!”
Please contact me at gabi.hernandez15@icloud.com“
Nick Lucido
“Hi! My name is Nick Lucido (he/him/his). I am an SPH Alumni, from the Bay Area. I entered SDSU undeclared and spent a few semesters switching between majors until I found Public Health (the best major)! I am a research assistant for the Cancer Disparities and Cancer Communications lab, and have participated in several summer programs. I will be pursuing a degree in medicine, but will be taking a gap year to study and prepare my application. Please reach out with any questions or if you would just like to talk! I am looking forward to working with you all!
Please contact me at nclucido@sdsu.edu“
