Our Mentors

Hi! I’m Angel, a second-year Pre-Nursing major at Northeast State. I’m excited to serve as a peer mentor and help students to feel confident in navigating their academic journey! I'm happy to answer any questions, give advice, and help in any way possible!

Hi everyone! My name is Ashlee Bennett, and I am thrilled to be part of the peer mentoring team this year at Northeast State! Pursing a degree in Invasive Cardiovascular Technology has shown me how powerful having the right support system can be, and I want to be that support for you. As a mentor, I'm here to help you navigate campus life, share study strategies, and cheer you on as you achieve your goals.

My name is Brittany, I am 29 years old and a mother of one 8-year-old little girl named Harper! I also have a miniature Schnauzer named Daisy and a parakeet named Cocoa. This is my second year at Northeast State as a returning non-traditional student. My major is nursing; it has always been a dream of mine as I would consider myself very nurturing. I love flowers, plants, the color purple, and all things cherry print. I enjoy taking care of my flower beds and when I'm inside, you'll catch me binge watching a good show. My favorite thing to do is spending time with my friends.

I hope to transfer to ETSU in Spring 2027 for their nursing program. I wanted to become a peer mentor because I believe I have learned and utilized a lot of the resources here at Northeast State through my time as a Trio student and student worker. I enjoy helping others and hope that I can make this journey easier for my mentees.

My name is Dustin Tolbert. I’m in my second year at Northeast State for cyber security. I’m a huge nerd. In my free time I have a Dungeons & Dragons game that I have been running for a year and a half. I also play video games and Magic the Gathering. I have two boys that are pretty much small versions of myself. I also work full time for Lexus. I'm excited to serve as a peer mentor this year!

Hey, I'm Joe. I am 39 years old, a father of 2 girls, and have been married to my wife for 16 years. My hobbies include weightlifting, computers, video games, and giving back to the community through service work. I like punk rock music, heavy metal--most music really, but those are my favorite. Favorite snack is Greek yogurt with blueberries. I am in my second year of the Cybersecurity program at Northeast State. I am excited to share my experience and knowledge.

My name is Kristi Rowe, and I am a social work major. I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. I love helping other people! I have a daughter, I'm active in my church, and I enjoy playing the piano. I'm excited to be a mentor to other students this year!

Hello everyone! My name is Logan Blevins (or Hazel if you prefer), and I am glad to be here, giving help to whoever may need it. As I am pursuing a career in Psychiatry, I have learned how much the connections you make can have an impact in many areas; educational, professional, and in your own personal life. As a mentor and a friend, I hope to forge a bond that will last even as you move on to the later stages of life. Do not hesitate to reach out if you need a little push!

Hello! My name is Marcos Andrew Zuniga, and I am an honors pre-nursing major at Northeast State who was born and raised in San Diego, California. As a non-traditional student who has certainly faced much personal adversity throughout his life, I have learned one very important lesson -- life is way too short not to believe. So, let us believe together and see what our dreams look like.

Hello! I am so excited to get to know all of you this year! I am currently working on my System Administration and Networking Degrees; I am on track to graduate Spring 2027. I decided to become a Peer Mentor because I remember back to my first semester and how challenging it felt to navigate all the new experiences and expectations that comes with the first semester of College. There's a lot to learn and, having someone to turn to for questions, guidance or even reassurance would have made that transition much easier. When I learned that Northeast State offers this program to help students feel comfortable and confident as they adjust to college, it felt like the perfect opportunity to help others have a positive start to their college experience. I am looking forward to meeting everyone, answering questions and being someone you can turn to as you find your way here at Northeast State!

Hey y’all! My name is Railey and I am a peer mentor here at Northeast State Community College! A few things about myself are that I love to travel to new places, spend time at the beach and the lake, and spend time with my loved ones. I am majoring in Radiologic Technology and plan to pursue as many certifications in the field as I can. To me, being a peer mentor means being there for students when they need guidance and support, especially upon entering college for the first time! I look forward to the school year ahead!

Hi, my name is Sage! This will be my second year at Northeast State. My current major is Social Work, and I plan to pursue a career in addiction counseling. I joined peer mentoring to get more involved on campus and help my peers! My first year at Northeast taught me a lot about navigating college, and I'm excited to share my experiences with others. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to music, playing video games, trying new things, and spending time with my cat, Nugget. I hope to be a mentor who can help students feel comfortable coming to me for support and advice, while also helping them learn the importance of getting involved on campus.

I’m a Senior Vice President at Citi, working partner initiatives across multiple credit card portfolios, with a focus on digital wallet strategies, partner enablement, and bringing cross-functional teams together to turn ideas into impact. I’m passionate about developing people and love mentoring others both inside and outside of Citi.

Outside of work, community involvement is a big part of who I am. I’m the Volunteer Chair for the East Tennessee St. Jude committee and serve in leadership with Citi’s Hispanic Latino Heritage Network as Communications Chair, along with other employee resource group involvement.

After a 16-year break, I’m also back in school finishing my degree! A reminder that it’s never too late to keep learning and pursuing your goals. Most importantly, I’m a wife and mom of two. When I’m not working, volunteering, or studying, you’ll usually find me sewing, playing guitar, or spending time with my family.

Hi! my name is Ty Crowe, and I am happy to join you in your college journey. I've been pursuing and AS Transfer degree via online, dual enrollment, and in-person opportunities. I'm here to support you through whatever you need. Study help? Finding clubs? I've got you! Feel free to reach out! I can't wait to get to know you this year.

My name is Nikki Minton, and I'm excited to be a part of the peer mentoring team this year! I am crazy busy all the time, but I am very well organized and willing to help. I am a social work/psychology major and will be graduating from Northeast next Spring and will be going off to ETSU next Fall. I am a member of our chapter of PTK and on the officer team, as well as the honors/PTK student worker, so you can always find me in the Honors Commons on the third floor of the library. Excited to be a part of the team!

Hi! My name is Sara Newman, I’m currently pursuing a degree in Business Management with a passion for leadership, strategy, and organization. Outside of school, I love spending quality time with my husband and friends, discovering new local restaurants, and turning my house into a cozy home through interior decorating. I am very excited to pursue a degree at Northeast State and the opportunities that come with it.

Hi, everyone! My name is Destanie Smith, and I am currently a senior in the Radiologic Technologies program at Northeast State. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a peer mentor for the last two years. I truly enjoy helping other students achieve their goals and seeing them grow throughout their academic journey. I'm always happy to answer questions, be a listening ear, and help in any way I can!

Hi, I'm Heather. I love books, painting, talking (I talk a lot), Harry Potter, and helping others. My dream is to be an immigration lawyer, and I'm on my way to accomplishing that. I think everyone should be able to make their dreams come true. I'm 37, so It's taken me a long time to get this far, and I'm very proud of the journey I've been on. Every person's journey will look different. I hope that my journey can inspire others to never give up on their own. My goal in life is to change the world in a positive way. I was once told that changing the world is impossible, but from what I can tell, nothing is impossible. The best way to change the world is one person at a time. I know that sounds sort of cheesy, but I think the world needs a little more cheesy and a little less churlish.