Peer Project

New program in computer science provides student-to-student mentorship

When East Carolina University computer science student Qanitah Danial began searching for an internship, she didn’t know where to turn.

“I had a terrible experience because I was running across so many things I didn’t know,” she said.

The new Peer Academic and Career Coaching (PACC) program in the Department of Computer Science aims to solve issues such as this. It provides freshmen and sophomore students with a mentor, a senior or graduate student who has been through at least three years at ECU and can offer perspective to younger Pirates.

Now a senior, Danial couldn’t wait to sign up to be a mentor and provide information, advice and answers to newer students.

“I just thought that maybe I could help people through my experience,” she said of signing up to be a mentor. “Things that I couldn’t do, they can do it if I’m able to help them.”

She said the program is like an alumni mentorship program that she said provided valuable information last semester.

“I had a good experience with that program,” she said.

As a PAAC mentor, Danial said she’s been able to help two students facing internship questions similar to her situation.

“They didn’t know how to approach internships or even have a resume to begin with, and now they have a resume and they’ve been actively applying and even getting called back,” Danial said. “I would say that’s an achievement in itself because nowadays it’s so hard to get a job. I was happy I was able to help those two students.”

First year computer science student Devon Myers, left, a mentee in the Peer Academic and Career Coaching program, enjoys time at the Halloween Pizza and Pumpkins party.

She said she’s had particular success with a freshmen mentee.

“It’s her first semester here, so she had no clue,” Danial said. “She didn’t have any computer sciences classes yet, so I gave her an overview of how it’s going to be and what the technologies are that we use, and she has kind of started learning it. I think she’s also happy because she feels like she has somebody to talk to, ask about resources, maybe ask about tutoring services or just to share her everyday problems with, being very new to this field. So, I think that it’s been great so far.”

The program celebrated its mentors and mentees with a Halloween Pizza and Pumpkins party outside of the Science and Technology Building. Program participants enjoyed socializing with each other, received some prizes and had a pumpkin carving contest.

Mentee Devon Myers is in his first year at ECU. The computer science student from Chocowinity came from an early college and already had some college credits.

“I’ve been able to get help on my resume, which is the main thing I signed up for,” he said of joining the program. “(My mentor) went over my resume and then he helped me schedule a meeting with career services.”

Though he’s relatively early in his collegiate career, he’s already looking toward a career.

“I would prefer to stay in North Carolina, but besides that, anywhere — or anything,” he said.

Myers said he has taken advantage of faculty office hours to get questions answered from professors he described as “very supportive.” His mentor has provided valuable information as well, he said.

“I feel like the program is very supportive in terms of my mentor,” he said. “I can talk to him about things.”

From her perspective as a mentor, Danial supports the program.

“It’s been good. I definitely feel that this program has been productive,” she said. “I’ve been part of this program for about two months now, and I feel like there has been growth.”

Any computer science, software engineering or data science student interested in being a mentor or mentee can complete an online form or contact program coordinators Jennifer Andriot or Aleksei Vilkomir via email.