To actively educate UC San Diego students on important issues related to their health and well-being by presenting research based and relevant information that empowers them to comprehensively reflect on their choices and engage in healthy behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions. Our goal is to provide support to students during their journey at UC San Diego, and teach them healthy lifestyle habits that will contribute to student success, life satisfaction and a sense of well-being while at the University and in life beyond college.
The Peer Health Educator Program was established to foster an environment of learning and trust in order to address individual and community responses related to physical, mental, and social well-being issues that students at UC San Diego may experience. By integrating empirically-based, comprehensive findings about holistic health and well-being with open and engaging dialogue, we facilitate the development of strong and cohesive partnerships on campus and in the community. We are committed to a balanced approach that applies best practices in the promotion of a healthy campus and community environment.
Haim Shemer, PsyD
GAPSWell Program Coordinator
Psychologist / Assistant Director to Outreach, Graduate and Professional Students
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego
Clinical Interests: Evidence-based treatments for anxiety and sleep problems, adjustment and life transitions, Positive Psychology, stress management, meaning in life and well being, meditation and mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Languages Spoken: English and Hebrew
Affiliations: American Psychological Association
Shukri Aden (she/her/hers)
Master of Public Health Student, Concentration in Epidemiology, UCSD
B.S. in Public Health, UCSD
Shukri is a San Diego native and current graduate student in the MPH program at UC San Diego, concentrating in Epidemiology. She completed her B.S in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management Sciences at UCSD. Shukri is passionate about promoting holistic wellness and ensuring that graduate students have access to the resources and support they need to thrive both academically and personally. She is especially interested in exploring how community well-being initiatives can reduce health disparities and improve quality of life for underserved populations.
As a GAPSWell Associate, Shukri looks forward to fostering meaningful connections, sharing wellness resources, and creating spaces where students feel supported and empowered. In her free time, Shukri enjoys discovering local restaurants, spending time by the beach, and connecting with friends and loved ones.
Anika Sinha (she/her/hers)
MD Candidate, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Stanford University, BA in Human Biology
Originally from the Bay Area, Anika attended Stanford University for undergrad where she studied Human Biology. She was passionate about mental health and eating disorder advocacy, leading several campus initiatives that would later inspire her to join GAPSWell! After college, she spent a year living in San Francisco working at a healthcare consulting company and understanding the business aspects of medicine. Eager to return to a patient-facing role, she came to UC San Diego to start medical school in 2022. Anika remains passionate about student wellness and mental health during graduate school, which can be an isolating time for many. In her free time, she loves playing volleyball and spikeball, exploring coffee shops, and watching San Diego’s lovely sunsets
Nomuna Surkhiisaikhan (she/her/hers)
Master of International Affairs, Concentration in International Politics and China
NYU Shanghai, BA in Social Science
Born and raised in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Nomuna is a graduate student at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UCSD. She received her BA in Social Science with minors in Humanities and Chinese from NYU Shanghai. Having studied and lived in China, Germany, and now the US, she’s passionate about supporting students’ mental health — something deeply close to her heart after navigating her own cross-cultural transitions.
As a GAPSWell Associate, she hopes to help create a campus community where graduate students feel healthy, happy, and genuinely supported. When she’s not diving into her studies, you can usually find Nomuna with a good book, at a jazz bar, on her yoga mat, or wandering through a new museum or gallery.
Kween Agba (she/her/hers)
Neurosciences Graduate Program
Northeastern University, BS in Behavioral Neuroscience
Anshu Andani (she/her/hers)
Masters of Engineering, Medical Device Engineering
Bioengineering UC San Diego
B.E Biomedical Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
Lucienne Arrigoni (she/her/hers)
Masters of International Affairs, International Economics
UC San Diego, BA in International Relations
Jasmin Ashby (They/Them/Theirs or She/Her/Hers)
Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science
UC San Diego, BA in Sociology of Science and Medicine
Aishwarya Balaje
Master's Student, Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, UC San Diego
BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering
Neha Balaji (she/her/hers)
MS Bioengineering
BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, BE in Biotechnology
Lindsay Benster (she/her/hers)
Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, UC San Diego & San Diego State University
Alejandra Chaidez (she/her/hers)
School of Global Policy & Strategy
UC Berkeley, BA in Political Science and Social Welfare
José Delgado (he/him/his)
Bioengineering Medical Specialization MS
UC Santa Barbara, BS in Biological sciences
Emily Ho (she/her/hers)
Medical Scientist Training Program
Neurosciences Graduate Program
University of Chicago, BA in Biological Sciences and Psychology
Qihao (Thomas) Liu (he/him/his)
Biological Sciences MS
UC San Diego, BS in Neuroscience and Physiology
Dania Maldonado (she/her/hers)
Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science
UC Irvine School of Medicine
UC Berkeley, BA Social Welfare, minor in Education
Chloe Margulis (she/her/hers)
Master of International Affairs
Concentration: Environmental Governance and Latin America
UCSD, BA in International Business
Samantha Mendoza (she/her/hers)
Master in Public Health
Kennedy Middleton (she/her/hers)
Political Science Graduate Program
Spelman College, BA in Political Science
UC San Diego, MA in Political Science
Anja Payne (she/her/hers)
Neurosciences Graduate Program
University of Utah, BS in Biomedical Engineering
Dheya Pillai (she/her/hers)
Master of Public Health Program
UC Davis, BS Global Disease Biology, Minor Public Health
Alexis Plazola (she/her/hers)
Global Health Graduate Program
UC San Diego, BS Global Health
Ali Punsalan (she/her/hers)
Public Health Graduate Program
UC Irvine, BA in Public Health Policy
Ro Sandoval (they/she)
Neurosciences Graduate Program
Washington University in St. Louis, BS in Neuroscience, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Gisselle Santiago (She/her/hers)
Masters of Science, Biology
Biological Sciences Graduate Program
UC San Diego, B.S. in Human Biology and Global Health
BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, BE in Biotechnology
Nina Imani Scott (she/her/hers)
Marine Biology Doctoral Program
University of the Virgin Islands, BS in Marine Biology
Seraphina Solders (she/her/hers)
Neurosciences Graduate Program
San Diego State University, BA in Biology & Psychology
Denise Tamashiro (she/her(s)/ella)
Master of Public Health Program
CSU Fullerton, BA in Psychology
Summer Zhu (she/her/hers)
Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science
UC Davis, BA in Psychology and Communication