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 | Pronouns | Graduation Year | Major(s) | Minor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suha Elsheikh | Senior SAM | she/her | 2024 | Nursing | Psychology |
| Sophia Moore | SAM | she/her | 2024 | Financial Mathematics (3+2 Engineering) | Software Development, Data Science, and Scientific Computation |
| Sam Mills | SAM | she/her | 2025 | Writing & History | |
| Hamdi Dakane | SAM | she/her | 2025 | Finance | Africana Studies, Data Science |
| Emily Brown | SAM | she/her | 2025 | Biochemistry | Psychology and Pre-Med |
| Sophie McDonnell | SAM | she/her | 2025 | Nursing | Philosophy |
| Zeena Acharya | SAM | she/her | 2025 | Neuroscience & Behavior with a focus in Neurobiology | Chemistry and Pre-Med |
Get to know our SAMs
Suha Elsheikh
Suha is a senior and uses she/her/hers pronouns. She is originally from Manchester, New Hampshire and is majoring in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. Some of her hobbies include cooking, baking, knitting, reading, and playing sports, specifically field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. She also enjoys exploring new places, especially if those places happen to be restaurants. This will be her third year as a SAM and she is delighted to see what the upcoming year has in store for all of us. She along with the rest of the SAMs are thrilled for all the exciting events that they will be hosting in the 2023-2024 year.
Sophia Moore
Sophia is a senior and uses she/her pronouns. She is from Las Cruces, New Mexico and is majoring in Financial Math and is in the 3+2 Engineering program. She is also minoring in Data Science, Software Development, and Scientific Computation. Sophia loves to play volleyball and go to the gym, and you can find her at Caffe Nero most Saturdays! On campus, she is involved in the Business Liaison and Beta Alpha Psi. She understands the balance that needs to be stuck between having an academic and a social life, and hopes to help students find that balance! Sophia is very excited to meet new students and help them find their path at Simmons!
Sam Mills
Sam is a third year student and uses she/her pronouns. She grew up in southern Vermont. She is a writing major who plans on getting her master's in Library Sciences. She enjoys skiing, dancing, reading, and writing. 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 liaisons. Sam hopes to meet with students to help them become their most successful selves!
Hamdi Dakane
Hamdi is a junior and she uses she/her pronouns. She is from Lewiston, Maine. She is a Finance major with a minor in Data Science and Africana Studies. 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 the Student Government Representative for Simmons Black Student Organization. She is now the current Treasurer for Simmons Black Muslim Union. This is Hamdi’s first year as a SAM, and she is so excited to support and contribute to the success of her peers!
Emily Brown
Emily is a junior 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 first year as a SAM and she is so excited to help guide and support the first-year class!
Sophie McDonnell
Sophie is a junior and uses she/her pronouns. She is from Fall River, MA and is majoring in nursing with a philosophy minor in the Honors Program. Sophie currently works in the medical intensive care unit at Mass General Hospital, and hopes to continue there after graduation! In her free time, she loves to spin at the Handle Bar in Fenway, travel, read a feel-good book, and explore the city. Sophie is also a pharmacology TA at Simmons and is involved in the Student Nurses Association. This will be Sophie’s first year as a SAM, and she is so excited to get to know and support you throughout this year!
Zeena Acharya
Zeena is a junior and uses she/her pronouns. She is a Neuroscience and Behavior major focusing in Neurobiology with a minor in Chemistry on the Pre-Med track in the Honors Program. Zeena is a commuter student from Marlborough, MA. She enjoys trying new restaurants, singing and playing the piano, martial arts, bringing her adorable dog to the park, and traveling to explore new cities! Zeena is highly involved in Student Government Association (SGA) and this will be her second year serving as a Senator. She is also a Honors Peer Mentor for first year honors students. This is Zeena’s first year as a SAM and she is thrilled to help her peers in any way that she can!
Who Are The SAMs?
Learn more about the Simmons Academic Mentors.