Peer Academic Coaching for Health & Human Physiological Sciences

Ella Kretten '25 - PAC Captain

Major: Human Health and Physiological Sciences   

About me: I am a junior from NJ and I am a member of the Skidmore volleyball team. I plan to continue my education either in nursing or medical school after Skidmore. In my free time, I love to crochet and read.  

Why PAC?: I wanted to join PAC because when I was an underclassman i found it extremely helpful in so many ways such as working on lab reports or helping me study for practical exams. Now that I am an upperclassman I want to provide that same level of support to the new students. 

Favorite class and why: My favorite class at Skidmore must be anatomy and physiology I and II. I am overall a huge fan of how certain functions in our bodies work and both the lecture and lab explored that content so well. I was constantly interested and excited to learn more. 

Academic Advice: Time management is crucial! It’s super easy to lose track of when assignments are due or when tests and quizzes are so try to stay organized! Also, start studying sooner, there are so many things to do in college so studying early for shorter amounts of time will help a lot!

Evan Freeman-Gallant '25

Major: Health and Human Physiological Sciences      

About me:. I am from Saratoga Springs NY, and I plan to continue my education in PT after I graduate. I love anything to do with the outdoors, photography, and fitness.  

Why PAC?: I joined PAC because I want to provide the same level of support I received from PAC as a new Skidmore student. Attending PAC sessions made a huge difference when it came to lab reports, studying for lab practical exams, and my overall understanding in Anatomy and Physiology.  

Favorite class and why: My favorite course so far at Skidmore has been Anatomy and Physiology 1. I loved learning about the structure and function of all the muscles and nervous system. 

Academic Advice: Start your work early! Not saving your work until the last moment will make your life much easier. Some of these courses can feel overwhelming at times, especially with a full schedule, but breaking it down and starting early can make all the difference. 

Hashim Ghias '26

Major: Neuroscience 

About Me: I am a junior from Westchester, New York. After Skidmore, I plan on attending graduate school for Physician assistant program and working as a physician assistant in the field of neurology. Outside of class, I love going on runs, trying new coffee shops, travelling and relaxing. 

Why PAC?: PAC has been very helping in understanding difficult concepts, visualizing materials and models for practical, and getting helpful tips for my research papers. Since PAC has been so beneficial for me, I would like to help other students who might be feeling overwhelmed or stressed by their course materials, and it will also help refresh my knowledge about human anatomy and physiology.

Favorite Class and Why: My favorite class at Skidmore has been Introduction to Neuroscience with Hassan Lopez. I loved learning about how different drugs medicines can affect our brain at a molecular level. The class was made very fun and interesting by Professor Hassan.

Academic Advice: I would recommend getting things done ahead of time. Taking good notes in classes and pay close attention to lectures so you have less work and study to do outside of class. Start studying for exams ahead of time, make study guides, flash cards, or find people to study with, as exams at Skidmore are weighed heavily for your grade and can be quite challenging if you don't study enough. 

Jane Moosbrugger '26

Major: Health and Human Physiological Sciences  

About Me: I am a junior from Potsdam, NY, hoping to earn a graduate degree in physical therapy or a PhD in rehabilitation science (maybe both). I like to walk, nap, drink tea, and thrift in my free time. I am also a big fan of hiking so I love that our school is so close to the Adirondacks.

Why PAC?: PAC really helped me reinforce what we learned in Anatomy & Physiology lab, especially for the practical exams. I went to PAC the night before every practical and it paid off. I also think it’s a great option for discussing the material one-on-one and asking specific questions if you can’t attend office hours or want a different perspective. Finally, I find that teaching something to someone else helps solidify it for me too.

Favorite Class and Why: My favorite classes have been A&P 1 and 2. They helped me confirm my love of this field and gave me a foundation for the rest of my education and career. I was able to use a lot of the knowledge from A&P in Exercise Physiology and my EMT class.

Academic Advice: You can always ask for clarification. If you’re confused, your classmates probably are too. Raise your chances of success by ensuring you fully understand what’s being asked of you.

Adrian Robledo '27

Major: Health and Human Physiological Sciences and Social Work 

About Me: Hello! My name is Adrian, I use they/them pronouns. I am from Denver, Colorado, so I’ve got high-altitude superpowers. After Skidmore, I plan to get an adult job that hopefully puts my major to use. In my free time, I do all kinds of crafts, regret my spending habits and gather silly things to display in my room. 

Why PAC?: I joined PAC because I was recommended for it and that made me really happy, so I did it. I also wanted more experience helping people, so I can get better at it and put that on my resume. PAC is really helpful, especially with lab reports and general access to models. It’s a great resource and I took the opportunity to be a part of it. Also, I liked the shirt.

Favorite Class and Why: My favorite class at Skidmore so far has been Anatomy and Physiology II. I really liked learning about kidneys and then explaining how kidneys worked to everyone I could and freaking them out just a little bit. 

Academic Advice: Ask questions. I usually don’t, but it’d be great if I did. If you don’t want to ask questions, then pay attention and look stuff up. Or ask someone you’re comfortable with who is either smarter than you or will ask the question for the both of you.

Melissa Severino '26

Major: Health and Human Physiological Sciences         

Minor: Biology

About Me: I am a sophomore from Westchester, New York, and I am on the basketball team at Skidmore. My post-graduation plan is to earn my doctorate in physical therapy and work with athletes. I also love weight lifting and paint by numbers!

Why PAC: I wanted to join PAC because of the impact that this program has had on me. When first taking HHPS classes, I was overwhelmed by the lab reports and practicals. The peer academic coaches helped me understand the material and also taught me how to study for the exams. I would love to assist other students in the way that I was helped. 

Favorite Class and Why: My favorite class at Skidmore has been Principles of Nutrition for Health and Performance with Professor Christopher Kotarsky. It was the first nutrition class I have ever taken so I found it very interesting to learn brand new material. My favorite part was learning how to create healthy, well-balanced meals that were also cost-effective. 

Academic Advice: My advice would be to always ask for help if you need it. There are so many great resources on campus (including PAC) that can help you. Don't be afraid to reach out for help; questions are always welcome!

Jenna Werchen '27

Major: Health and Human Physiological Sciences 

About Me: I am from the Bronx, NY. I am on the ultimate frisbee team at Skidmore and I play on a club team over the summers. I spent my summer coaching gymnastics and in my free time I love to rock climb and eat good food. 

Why PAC?: I started going to PAC week 1 of my freshman year and it was incredibly helpful for lab practicals. Working with the models hands on really helped me excel in those tests and I want to help others succeed in the same way. 

Favorite Class and Why: I loved Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with Professor Reynolds. Learning about all of the parts of my own body felt so cool and the classes were super engaging. 

Academic Advice: Try to get things done early, especially studying for practicals! Even just a couple minutes a day helps with retaining the information and lowering stress. 

Lex Zacheis '27

Majors: Health and Human Physiology and Biology 

About me: I am a sophomore from Fairbanks, Alaska. After Skidmore, I plan to become a physician's assistant specializing in OBGYN. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping, and hanging out with friends. 

Why PAC?: I loved taking anatomy and physiology with Professor Reynolds and when I was presented with the opportunity to become a PAC, I saw it as a great chance to continue my exploration of health and human phys while also helping others gain a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Favorite Class and Why: I'm split between anatomy and phys I/II with Professor Reynolds and Nutrition with Chris Kotarsky. Both professors are super engaging and have an infectious good attitude that makes you want to learn more about the topic. 

Academic Advice: Get into a studying routine. You don't have to do homework for every class every day, so it's great to plan ahead to allow yourself to have some days off instead of cramming in all assignments right before they are due.