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Who are the Peer Fellows?
Who are the Peer Fellows?
There are five Peer Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year, all of whom are students at UH Mānoa studying various areas of psychology. Scroll down below to meet them!
Bria
Bria
Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Psychology and Sociology
Why I chose to become a Peer Fellow: I chose to become a Peer Fellow for many reasons, I have a passion for helping others, I have experienced a lot when it comes to balancing school, work, and life here at UH, especially alone since I am a first generation student, so being there for other fellow students and being able to support them through their academic journey would be so fulfilling since that is a resource I wish I had or knew about before. I am also passionate about learning, since I want to go into the psychology field. I believe this position will be a great opportunity to grow and develop skills that will carry over there and in real life to be able to support others around me as well! I would like to be a safe and supportive space for everyone!
Fun Fact: I love books and films, more specifically Gothic films and literature. I am slowly but surely collecting items for some of my favorites like Jekyll and Hyde or Phantom of the Opera!
Cece
Cece
Pronouns: she/her
Class Standing: Junior
Major: Psychology
Why I chose to become a Peer Fellow: As a first-generation student, I understand how intimidating navigating college can feel, especially when you are unsure of where to go for support. I chose to become a Peer Fellow because I am passionate about helping students feel more confident, supported, and connected in their college experience. I am hoping to create a welcoming environment to support student wellness and academic success in the UH Mānoa community. I also became a Peer Fellow to work and connect with other students and faculty who share my passion for Psychology. Through this experience, I hope to grow personally and professionally while making a positive impact on the students around me.
Fun Fact: My favorite thing to do on the weekends is hiking, then getting a poke bowl and going to the beach!
Jacob
Jacob
Pronouns: He/Him
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Psychology
Why I chose to become a Peer Fellow: I chose to become a peer fellow because of my passion that circles around mental health and making sure people have easy accessibility to the resources. Being a psychology major I have an interest in the resources we offer to my fellow peers at UH. I also chose it because I hope to gain the experience of working closely with the counseling department in order to help people and learn more about this field.
Fun Fact: my fun fact is i can juggle pretty much anything
Kaia
Kaia
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Psychology
Why I chose to become a Peer Fellow: I chose to become a Peer Fellow because I am passionate about pursuing a career in psychology, and wanted to use this opportunity to gain professional experience while also contributing to the UH community. In being a part of this program, I am eager to get insight as to what it means to work professionally in a psychology-related field and learn how to better prepare myself for the future. I am also excited to be able to connect with other like-minded students that have interests and goals similar to my own. Making a difference in the lives of others is a professional and life goal of mine, so I am excited at the chance to make this happen through the program!
Fun Fact: I love music, and going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do!
Kaya
Kaya
Pronouns: she/her
Class Standing: Senior
Major: Psychology BS
Why I chose to become a Peer Fellow: Being a psychology major, I am deeply passionate about mental health, especially among young adults. I chose to become a Peer Fellow because I wanted to help create an environment where students feel they are seen and their needs are not only met but understood. Additionally, as a peer fellow I hope to gain hands-on experience with mental health advocacy and peer support. I was also motivated by the prospect of meeting more people with a shared passion for psychology! Through my time as a Peer Fellow I hope to learn more about mental health outreach and grow as a Psychology student.
Fun Fact: My favorite TV show is The Office! I have watched the series too many times to count. :)
Who are the Co-Coordinators of the Peer Fellow Program?
Who are the Co-Coordinators of the Peer Fellow Program?
Jesse Hutchison, Ph.D.
Jesse Hutchison, Ph.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Co-Coordinator of Peer Fellow Program
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, American University, 2014; M.A. in Psychology, American University, 2012; A.B. in Psychology and English, Cornell University, 2006.
Worked at CSDC since: 2022; also at CSDC 2013-2015
Professional Interests: Individual and group psychotherapy; psychodynamic, insight-oriented, and integrative therapies; boundaries and self-care
Julie Nishihira, Psy.D.
Julie Nishihira, Psy.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Co-Coordinator of Peer Fellow Program (Administrative) and Coordinator of Professional Development
Education: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Argosy University, 2017; M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Argosy University, 2011; B.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu, 2004.
Worked at CSDC since: 2016
Professional Interests: Humanistic therapy, transitional/life issues; anxiety; self-esteem; career counseling; and self-care
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