Become a Peer Educator

COPE

What is a Counseling Outreach Peer Educator?

Do you want to promote education and awareness about mental health and common college student stressors? Become a COPE Peer Educator! You will benefit from receiving training and mentoring from Counseling Center Clinicians in topics related to personal and professional growth. At the Counseling Center, we believe students are the experts on what other students want to learn! As a member of COPE you attend weekly meetings to plan and executive program initiatives that YOU choose. As a Peer Educator, you will gain valuable leadership experience while making a difference in your community.

How to Apply to Become a COPE Peer Educator?

The current application for COPE membership will open on Friday, September 26, 2025, and close on Friday, October 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. We will also be hosting optional information sessions. These sessions will be held virtually. The date/time and Zoom link will be available on our Instagram (@cope_umiami) or by email request (COPE@miami.edu).

Submit your application here: Apply.

Meet the COPE Executive Board!

Lauren Dziedzic

She/Her
Position: Chair   
Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Why did you join COPE?
COPE aligns with my values of kindness, patience, and compassion by fostering a community where no one feels alone in their struggles. I believe all students should have access to the resources they need to care for themselves and grow. Being part of COPE allows me to share those resources and encourage a culture of support on campus.

Maya Griffith

She/Her
Position: Vice-Chair
Hometown: St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Why did you join COPE? 
COPE has helped me to build confidence in myself and my abilities. It has given me the chance to connect with others who share my passion for mental health, creating bonds with people I may not have met otherwise. Through these experiences, I've seen how powerful and fulfilling it is to be part of a supportive community dedicated to advocating for mental well-being.

Fife Akande

She/Her
Position: Recruitment and Alumni Engagement Chair
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Why did you join COPE?
COPE represents community, compassion, and the strength that comes from showing up for one another. To me, it is a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health, and it deserves to be cared for and prioritized on campus.

Radwan Alqaisi

He/Him
Position: Outreach Program Chair
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee by way of Hillah, Iraq
Why did you join COPE?
COPE has shown me no matter where you come from, there is always a space to recognize mental health. As someone from a community that does not usually uphold or prioritize mental wellness, I feel blessed to be able to learn and expand my knowledge on how I can be an advocate and a point of resource to any friend, family, or person that may need it.

Bella Feijoo

She/Her
Position: Outreach Program Chair
Hometown: Mundelein, IL
Why did you join COPE? 
COPE has taught me the importance of showing up as my authentic self, knowing that the right people will always accept and respect me. It has also highlighted how essential human connection is for all of us, while fueling my passion for supporting and uplifting others.

Jonathan Jean Charles

He/Him
Position: Outreach Program Chair
Hometown: Miami, FL
Why did you join COPE? 
I am deeply passionate about educational equity, health equity, and mental health advocacy. I take great pride in my Haitian heritage and view education as a powerful tool for mobilizing communities and driving social change. On campus, I prioritize integrating COPE with my other leadership roles - as a President's 100 Student Ambassador and as the Student Experience Coordinator for the Butler Center for Service & Leadership - to foster collaboration and amplify impact.

Emily Lavin

She/Her
Position: Special Events Chair
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Why did you join COPE? 
COPE, my most meaningful experience on campus, has shown me that I'm not alone in my mental health struggles. It taught me that there is a community of peers who share my interests and passions to help others understand their mental health. COPE has allowed me to build advocacy skills that I'll bring to my future career as a doctor.

Zoe MacKenzie

She/Her
Position: Public Relations Chair
Hometown: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands by way of Pleasanton, CA
Why did you join COPE? 
I joined COPE to advocate for greater awareness and meaningful action around mental health, particularly as it intersects with diverse identities such as disability and LGBTQ+ communities. I'm passionate about creating inclusive spaces that recognize and support the unique challenges faced by these groups.

Isabella Ribeiro

She/Her
Position: Communication Chair
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
Why did you join COPE? 
I joined COPE not only because I wanted to make a positive impact on our community but also to learn more about myself and interests through outreach. COPE has not only introduced me to amazing people and friends but also taught me so much about different communities.

Charlotte Smith

She/Her
Position: Internal Relations Co-Chair
Hometown: Madison, NJ
Why did you join COPE? 
I joined COPE because COPE has shown me what a true welcoming, inclusive, and accepting community looks like. I have never been surrounded by a group of people so mutually passionate about mental health. Being a part of this organization has genuinely given me such deep connections with my peers as well as a meaningful purpose on this campus.

Saskya Tyndall

She/Her
Position: Co-Internal Relations Chair
Hometown: Naples, FL by way of Toronto, Canada
Why did you join COPE? 
COPE has helped me connect with incredible people who share my passion for promoting mental health awareness. Being part of COPE has allowed me to deepen my understanding of mental health while sharing that knowledge with students across campus.

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