Engineering Peer Advisors

The Engineering Peer Advisors are knowledgeable, trained, and friendly engineering students who connect peers to the support they need. Engineering Peer Advisors are students assisting students with everything from deciding what major is right for them, customizing their college experience, discovering student societies and organizations, tips on talking with faculty, and much more! 

Peer-to-Peer programs are shown to promote persistence, provide opportunities that encourage academic success, and foster a sense of belonging.  Engineering Peer Advisors are here to help students thrive in the College of Engineering & Applied Science at CU Boulder.  

The Engineering Peer Advisor Program strives to:

  • Encourage successful academic and personal development
  • Promote student involvement
  • Enrich the connections among engineering students, the college and the CU Boulder campus

Below are some of the types of conversations students may have with an Engineering Peer Advisor:

  • Connecting with resources to assist with understanding major requirements, course selection, and drafting a customized degree plan
  • Navigating the mechanics of the course registration system
  • Recommendations for math help
  • Exploring opportunities to customize your degree
  • Learning about academic support resources
  • How to create or join a study group
  • Discussing differences in similar courses 
  • How to approach a professor about research opportunities in their lab
  • Preparing for a meeting with an academic advisor

Connect with an Engineering Peer Advisor!

Contact an Engineering Peer Advisor via email at Engineering.Advising@colorado.edu (available year-round).

You can find Engineering Peer Advisor drop-in hours and other helpful sessions in your Academic Advisor's calendar in Buff Portal Advising!

Chat with an Engineering Peer Advisor

Have questions as you get started at CU Boulder? Stop by our drop-in hours to chat with a current Engineering student! Peer Advisors are here to help with registration, understanding campus resources, navigating your degree audit, or just sharing what it’s really like to be an Engineering Buff.

No appointment needed—just drop in and ask us anything!

These are open drop-in hours, so no registration required.

All sessions are hosted in Mountain Time (MT). Schedule is subject to change.

Wednesday, August 20, 20252:30pm - 4:30pmEngineering Center Lobby (In-Person)
Wednesday, August 20, 20255:00pm - 6:00pm

"How-To" Videos

Engineering Peer Advisors help students navigate university tools & processes they come into contact with on a regular basis:

New Student Workshops

Engineering Peer Advisors recorded a series of workshops meant to help new students navigate the summer before their first semester.

Access the Recordings

Included...

  • Enrollment Essentials: Get ready to register with this virtual workshop led by Engineering Peer Advisors (current students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science). We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to build your first semester schedule using CU Boulder’s registration tools.
  • "How to..." Sessions: Our “How To…” sessions are short, focused workshops that address common questions from new students. Led by Engineering Peer Advisors, these sessions include demonstrations, real examples from their experience, and time for your questions on the featured topic.
  • Making the Most of Your CU Engineering Experience: Start your CU Engineering journey with a plan! This virtual workshop – designed for new students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science – will be led by current students who know what it’s like to navigate the transition to CU. Whether you're still deciding what excites you most or already have big goals in mind, this session will give you tools and inspiration to build your CU Engineering experience from day one.
Meet Your Engineering Peer Advisors
Hannah Duncan

Hannah is a sophomore majoring in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado. Prior to transferring, she earned her Associate of Science degree from Pikes Peak State College. She also holds a certification in Office 365. Hannah is an Engineering Honors student and an active member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where she continues to grow her professional and technical skills. Before becoming an Engineering Peer Advisor, Hannah worked as a lifeguard for her local YMCA and at the Williams Village Dining Hall.

A Colorado native, Hannah was born and raised in Colorado Springs. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, swimming, reading, and cooking.

Sara Fekadu

Sara is a current sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in applied mathematics. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with friends.

Kristin Fitzcharles

Kristin is a current sophomore majoring in Applied Mathematics, with minors in History and Economics. She is originally from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, and holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Reading Area Community College. Her academic path reflects a strong passion for analytical thinking, a love of learning, and a commitment to exploring the connections between math, history, and economics.

With plans to become an actuary, Kristin is actively involved in opportunities that support her career goals. She is currently preparing to take her first actuarial exam and enjoys challenging herself through problem-solving and statistical analysis. On campus, she serves as the Vice President of the Actuarial Club and is a member of the Women in Finance Club, where she engages with a community of peers who share her enthusiasm for mathematics and finance. Known for her love of statistics, Kristin never misses a chance to bring up the normal distribution curve — even in casual conversation.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Kristin brings energy and curiosity to a wide range of interests. She grew up playing volleyball, bowling competitively, and fishing with her family, and she’s always excited to try something new. She's especially interested in the mathematical foundations of ancient cultures, with a particular fascination for ancient Egypt. When she’s not studying or exploring historical insights, Kristin enjoys working on cars, watching Professional Bull Riding (PBR) with friends, and is hoping to attend her first live rodeo this semester — possibly even giving line dancing a try with her roommates.

Emme Larsen

Emme is a current senior studying Mechanical Engineering. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, playing soccer, being outdoors, and spending time with friends.

Sara Oza

Sara is a senior studying Mechanical Engineering with minors in Economics, Leadership Studies, and a certificate in Quantitative Finance. In her free time, Sara likes to spend time with her dog, Molly, do yoga, and go on walks!

Niko Ortega

Niko Ortega (they/he) is a first-generation engineer from Denver, Colorado, with Guatemalan and Salvadoran heritage. Niko earned their B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (’25) and is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management at CU Boulder.

Niko has a diverse professional background, including roles as a Crew and Payload Systems Engineering Intern at Sierra Space, a Deep Space Exploration Systems Engineering Intern at Lockheed Martin, and a Space Flight Operations Command Controller at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). On campus, they have served as Vice President and Secretary of CU Boulder’s chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), worked as a Peer Mentor for the Lattice Scholarship Program for two years, and held additional roles as a Smead Ambassador and Undergraduate Research Assistant. He’s also been active in student organizations such as Engineers Without Borders and SHPE.

Drawing from his own journey, Niko is passionate about mentorship, community-building, and empowering students to reach their goals on their own terms. Outside of engineering, Niko produces music, enjoys creative and technical writing, and loves spending time in nature skiing and hiking Colorado’s trails.

Zita Zitalantyra

Zita is an international student from Bali, Indonesia, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. Her journey into leadership and service began early—during middle school, she co-founded and served as the Public Relations Manager for The Street Smart Society, a student-led NGO that taught business and entrepreneurial skills to orphans. Opting for a nontraditional academic path, Zita earned a degree in Business Administration and Information Technology from a community college. She later moved to the United States to pursue her bachelor’s degree at CU Boulder.

Currently, Zita is involved in multiple research and student support roles. She works in the BAIC Lab (Brain, AI, and Child), contributing to the development of a large language model connecting brain-computer interfaces and neuroscience. She also serves as a Pre-College Engineering Support Student at the Integrated Teaching and Learning Lab (ITLL), supports operations at a biotechnology facility, and is an incoming Community Assistant.

Zita is passionate about leveraging technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to tackle complex medical and neurological challenges. Outside the classroom, Zita enjoys snowboarding, painting, surfing, cooking for friends, and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She is also a classically trained pianist, holding a certification from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), and shares her creative passions through vlogs and videos online.