Staff Peer Counselor
Phillip Diouf (he/him/his)
Major, Year
Psychology and Social Sciences, Senior
Other Campus Roles
Sustainability Council Student Member; Developing Native Pollinator Garden on campus; Former Editor for Abington Review
Hobbies/Interests
Gaming, playing piano, exercise, meditation, mindfulness, and collecting gemstones
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
I have some experience with counseling in the past, deeply enjoy helping other people live their lives, and consider myself qualified to help.
Languages
Languages Spoken in Addition to English: Russian, some German
Peer Counselors
Molaea-Rene' Goodman (she/her/hers)
Major/Year
Psychological and Social Sciences, Senior
Other Campus Roles
SEAL student worker
Hobbies/Interests
I'm the former president of the Black Student Union and have goals to be accepted into a Psy.D. program, in which I will receive my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. I am also the current Miss Black Pennsylvania 2023 and will compete for Miss Black USA in 2023
Abington senior named Miss Black Pennsylvania, platform highlights mental health
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
I became a peer counselor to help my community in a positive way. Also, I became a peer counselor in order to gain experiences with counseling. My main career goal is to become a clinical psychologist so, having this experience prepares me for my career progression and helps me to achieve my career goals. I think the mental health of the students at any institution should be of importance. This role gives me the opportunity to be someone who can be of support to someone in need.
Patrice Manasse (she/her/hers)
Major/Year
Rehabilitation and Human Services with Certification in Chemical Dependency and Counseling in Social Justice, Minor in Psychology, Senior
Other Campus Roles
Resident Assistant; Lion Guide
Hobbies/Interests
I love to Paint sunsets, palm trees, and draw. I love talking about anything and everything.
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
I know how it feels for people not to understand or even take your mental health seriously so I wanted to be able to be there for anyone that may need someone to talk to and trust. Everyone needs a support system.
Languages
Languages Spoken in Addition to English: Haitian Creole
Joe O’Brien (he/him/his)
Major/Year
Rehabilitation and Human Services, Senior
Hobbies/Interests
I am a really big fan of music and love to collect/listen to vinyl, play guitar, and go to concerts. I enjoy going to the gym after I finish my morning shift at work and will sometimes get in the pool to relive my high school swimming days. In my free time, I like watching true crime/sci-fi/fantasy shows and movies, as well as playing the occasional video game or going for hikes.
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
Peer counseling offered me the opportunity to get involved at the Penn State Abington campus while allowing me to work on skills vital for a career in a helping profession. I believe peer counseling would have been greatly beneficial when I first had to face the challenges college can present, so I am extremely happy to be able to join this program and support my peers however I can.
Maria Tunney (she/her/hers)
Major/Year
Psychological & Social Sciences, Senior
Other Campus Roles
Penn State Abington Women's Soccer Team
Hobbies/Interests
I love sports and all things sports. I am especially big into football and I am a stereotypical "Philly fan" #gobirds. I also enjoy playing sports such as (obviously) soccer, but I also enjoy playing flag or pickup football for fun. I am also a gamer. In the past, I was mostly into XBOX first-person shooter games for the most part but about a year ago I bought a PC and have gotten into PC gaming more, specifically League of Legends.
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
I became a peer counselor because I wanted to find a way to get involved on campus that would actually make a difference in the lives of all students on campus and being a peer counselor gives me that opportunity.
Lexie Williams (she/her/hers)
Lexie Williams photo
Major/ Year
Psychological and Social Sciences, Senior
Other Campus Roles
This past year I worked as a research assistant on campus, in which I ran studies in the Psychology Laboratory. I will happily be continuing my role as a research assistant in my senior year!
Hobbies/Interests
I love to read, thrift, take my dog to the park, do dog training, research, work as a nanny, and of course— be overwhelmingly passionate about all things psychology. I am finishing my final year at Penn State before moving onto graduate school— in which I plan to expand both my research and clinical experience as a doctoral student in a Clinical Psychology PhD program.
Why I Became a Peer Counselor
Psychology is a discipline that completely captivates me, and has been an area I have dreamed to work in since I was 4 years old (yes, 4 years old). Mental health is incredibly important— yet often very stigmatized— so I jumped at the opportunity to become involved and offer support to other students looking for someone to talk to.