Peer Leaders are undergraduate students who support their peers in WISCIENCE programs and courses while learning valuable leadership skills. Find out more about Cole and his experience as a returning Peer Leader!
Pronouns: He/him
Year: Fourth (in spring 2024)
Major: Neurobiology (Certificates: Health Policy, Global Health, Folklore, Leadership)
Hometown: Janesville, WI
If you could choose anyone to be a mentor to you, who would it be?
Michelle Obama.
What is your favorite place on campus?
The top of Observatory Hill overlooking Lake Mendota by Waters Residence Hall, or Picnic Point.
What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
The Swim Club, American Medical Student Association, volunteer at Meriter Hospital, and cancer immunology research at WIMR.
What do you like most about Madison?
The people!! I have met my best friends here.
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
An elephant, they’re my fav animal and I got to see some in the wild in Tanzania in January of 2023 and they definitely lived up to the hype. 10/10 experience, hmu if you wanna see pics!
What is an academic accomplishment that you are proud of?
Receiving the Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
What sparked your interest in STEM?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in STEM and planning on pursuing it. But what really cemented that this is exactly what I wanted to pursue was a combo of starting to do my research and then taking Immunology my Junior year—I really loved that class.
What is your vision for life after graduation?
I am taking a gap year and living in a city while applying to medical school. So hopefully a gap year in a city like Chicago and then med school!
What advice would you give a friend considering becoming a peer leader?
If you are even considering it a little bit, do it! I have loved my time being a peer leader and have met some really amazing people along the way.
What have you learned through your experience of being a peer leader?
So much! I have learned how to be a better public speaker, how to be better at having difficult conversations, how to work with all different types of people, and how amazing collaboration can be!
Meet the rest of the WISCIENCE Peer Leaders.
Learn more about the WISCIENCE Peer Leader program.