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UT AUSTIN
Welcome to the Peace of Mind Foundation at The University of Texas at Austin.
We are a student-led mental health support group dedicated to providing peer-
to-peer listening services to offer support and guidance to those in need.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
DROP-IN SESSIONS
Find us on campus at these locations and times.
TUESDAYS
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Student Activity Center (SAC) Room
2.102
THURSDAYS
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) Group
Study Area
OUR LISTENERS
Meet the passionate students who are here to listen, support, and help you navigate through challenging times at UT Austin.
Clark Edson
Founder
Biology
Senior
San Diego, CA
"I became a peer listener because I am passionate about helping others through challenges with their mental health as I faced and continue to face these challenges. I think having strength to share how you are feeling can not only impact you but others as well."
Adi Dass
Public Health
Senior
Cypress, Texas
"I became a peer listener because being in a school as prestigious as UT can come with a lot of pressure and students need someone to just listen to them with complete care. It also allows me to empathize with the student community on campus!"
Akshay Kelkar
Neuroscience
Senior
Flower Mound, TX
"I want to help provide a space where people feel safe to express how they feel without judgement."
Alexis Alarcon
B.S. Psychology
Sophomore
San Antonio, Texas
"I'm passionate about mental health because everyone is going through something, and sharing our lived experiences helps foster connections and makes us feel less alone."
Andrew Debnam
Chemical Engineering
Senior
Houston, TX
"I became a peer listener because I am passionate about creating a community built on vulnerability at UT and I want to be a person that other students can feel comfortable talking with."
Avishag (Shugie) Shvil
Psychology
Sophomore
Westchester, NY
"I became a peer listener because I've seen how powerful it can be when someone feels genuinely heard and understood. I'm passionate about mental health because I believe everyone deserves a safe space to talk openly without judgement, especially during moments that feel overwhelming or isolating."
Derek Kouch
Psychology
Sophomore
Richardson, TX
"I became a peer listener because I wanted to improve my interpersonal skills as someone looking into becoming a clinical psychologist. Working towards that goal and making an honest effort to help those struggling mentally felt like a great way to dedicate my free time."
Eesha Gowda
B.S. Human Biology
Senior
Carterville, Illinois
"I became a peer listener because I know how much it means to feel truly heard without judgement or advice being forced on you. I'm passionate about mental health because I believe that growth begins in small, brave conversations, and I want to help create spaces where people feel safe, understood, and never alone."
Kai Robinson
Mathematics
Senior
Dallas, TX
"I became a peer listener to give fellow classmates an accessible place to talk confidently and casually with someone who is also a college student. Everyone deserves to have a safe place to express their feelings."
Landry Miller
Biology
Junior
San Antonio, TX
"I got involved with the Peace of Mind Foundation at UT because I wanted to be there for people dealing with mental health struggles. College can get heavy at times, and I've seen how much it helps to have someone who actually listens and understands. I just want to help make it easier for people to talk about what they're going through."
Melanie Challberg
Advisor (LCSW)
"Melanie is a licensed counselor and social worker (LCSW) who works at Hyde Park High School and she generously donates her time to support our counselors and train students to become Peer-to-Peer counselors."
Norah Jurkovic
Psychology
Senior
San Antonio, TX
"I became a peer listener because I know what it's like to need someone who just gets it. I wanted to give those who struggled with getting help a safe space to talk without judgment. We are all navigating this chaotic world together and everyone deserves to be heard. Sometimes the smallest act of listening can make the biggest difference in someone's life."
Sofia Bernitt
Outreach Chair
Advertising
Senior
San Diego, CA
"Sofia is a student at Boston University who generously helps us with logistics, outreach, and advertising for our University of Texas at Austin location."
KAI ROBINSON
MATHEMATICS
SENIOR
DALLAS, TX
"I became a peer listener to give fellow classmates an
accessible place to talk confidently and casually with
someone who is also a college student. Everyone
deserves to have a safe place to express their
feelings."
ANDREW DEBNAM
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
SENIOR
HOUSTON, TX
"I became a peer listener because I am passionate
about creating a community built on vulnerability at UT
and I want to be a person that other students can feel
comfortable talking with."
LANDRY MILLER
BIOLOGY
JUNIOR
SAN ANTONIO, TX
"I got involved with the Peace of Mind Foundation at
UT because I wanted to be there for people dealing
with mental health struggles. College can get heavy at
times, and I’ve seen how much it helps to have
someone who actually listens and understands. I just
want to help make it easier for people to talk about
what they’re going through."
NORAH JURKOVIC
PSYCHOLOGY
SENIOR
SAN ANTONIO, TX
"I became a peer listener because I know what it’s like
to need someone who just gets it. I wanted to give
those who struggled with getting help a safe space to
talk without judgment. We are all navigating this
chaotic world together and everyone deserves to be
heard. Sometimes the smallest act of listening can
make the biggest difference in someone’s life."
DEREK KOUCH
PSYCHOLOGY
SOPHOMORE
RICHARDSON, TX
"I became a peer listener because I wanted to improve
my interpersonal skills as someone looking into
becoming a clinical psychologist. Working towards
that goal and making an honest effort to help those
struggling mentally felt like a great way to dedicate my
free time."
AKSHAY KELKAR
NEUROSCIENCE
SENIOR
FLOWER MOUND, TX
"I want to help provide a space where people feel safe
to express how they feel without judgement."
EESHA GOWDA
B.S. HUMAN BIOLOGY
SENIOR
CARTERVILLE, ILLINOIS
"I became a peer listener because I know how much it
means to feel truly heard without judgement or advice
being forced on you. I'm passionate about mental
health because I believe that growth begins in small,
brave conversations, and I want to help create spaces
where people feel safe, understood, and never alone."
AVISHAG (SHUGIE) SHVIL
PSYCHOLOGY
SOPHOMORE
WESTCHESTER, NY
"I became a peer listener because I've seen how
powerful it can be when someone feels genuinely
heard and understood. I'm passionate about mental
health because I believe everyone deserves a safe
space to talk openly without judgement, especially
during moments that feel overwhelming or isolating."
ADI DASS
PUBLIC HEALTH
SENIOR
CYPRESS, TEXAS
"I became a peer listener because being in a school as
prestigious as UT can come with a lot of pressure and
students need someone to just listen to them with
complete care. It also allows me to empathize with the
student community on campus!"
ALEXIS ALARCON
B.S. PSYCHOLOGY
SOPHOMORE
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
"I’m passionate about mental health because everyone
is going through something, and sharing our lived
experiences helps foster connections and makes us
feel less alone."
MELANIE CHALLBERG
ADVISOR (LCSW)
"Melanie is a licensed counselor and social worker
(LCSW) who works at Hyde Park High School and she
generously donates her time to support our
counselors and train students to become Peer-to-Peer
counselors."
SOFIA BERNITT
OUTREACH CHAIR
ADVERTISING
SENIOR
SAN DIEGO, CA
"Sofia is a student at Boston University who
generously helps us with logistics, outreach, and
advertising for our University of Texas at Austin
location."
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