Chemistry SI Leaders

CHEM 1300

Parushi Porwal

Hi everyone! My name is Parushi Porwal and I am a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Biology! I am originally from Dallas, Texas. At NSU, I am a part of the Punjabi Cultural Association (PCA) and Volunteers in Healthcare (VIH). I decided to become an SI leader because I was inspired by my own SI's ability to create an engaging learning environment, and I am passionate about helping and fostering a community where students can thrive together academically. One fun fact about me is that I have travelled to 19 countries! 

CHEM 1300

Megan Bailey

My name is Megan Bailey. I am an SI for General Chemistry 1. I am a biology major on a dental track. I wanted to be an SI leader because of how much I enjoyed the community it develops, and I wanted to help people develop good study habits. A little about me is that I play softball on the club team here at Nova and I also enjoy painting and cooking. 

CHEM 1300

Christina Herrera

CHEM 1300

Lara Kotak

Hello! My name is Lara Kotak, and I am a freshman SI for CHEM 1300. I am a Biology major on the pre-med track and am also a part of the Dual Admission DO and Razors Edge Research programs! I chose to do SI because through attending SI sessions myself, I’ve seen how useful they can be for difficult courses. Therefore, I hope to help other fellow students have a similar experience as they grow and succeed in challenging academic settings. A fun fact about myself is that I’ve visited 20 countries! 

CHEM 1300

Kenneth Supersano

Hi, my name is Kenneth Supersano. I’m a sophomore neuroscience and chemistry major with dual admission into the pharmacy program, and I’m originally from Shelton, Connecticut. This semester I am going to be the SI for General Chemistry I with Professor Bahsas. I chose to be an SI because I’ve always enjoyed teaching my peers and helping them to succeed. A fun fact about me is I play on the Ultimate Frisbee team here at Nova and plan to for the rest of my undergraduate. 

CHEM 1300

Amanda Roth

Hello! My name is Amanda Roth, and I am an SI for Chem 1300 with Professor Brown. I am a sophomore majoring in biology, with minors in business and honors transdisciplinary studies, and I am on the pre-dental track. This is my first year as an SI Leader, but I had a fantastic experience with SI during my freshman year, which inspired me to join the team. I am passionate about helping others learn and understand difficult topics. At Nova, I am very involved on campus, serving as the president of Alpha Phi Omega, the IOC Chair of the National Marrow Donor Program, and as a member of both the Pre-Dental Society and the Club Softball Team. A fun fact about me is that I was a state champion for skiing in high school. 

CHEM 1300

CHEM 1300

Emily Guirguis

My name is Emily Guirguis and I am an SI Leader for CHEM 1300! I am majoring in Biology with minors in Public Health and Psychology for Health Sciences and I am on the pre-med track. Some of my hobbies include shopping, traveling with my family, playing volleyball, and watching the sunset. I chose to become an SI Leader because attending SI sessions for my own classes had such a positive impact on me, so I wanted to be able to create that same impact for others and their learning! 

CHEM 1310

Avisha Thota

Hi! My name is Avisha, and I am excited to be SI leader for Chem 1310. I am a public health major on the pre-med track, and I chose to be an SI leader because I am passionate about mentoring and creating a collaborative learning environment where students can thrive. I am also involved in NSU Down to Dance and UPHSA as an e-board member. A fun fact about me is that I participated in a world record for dance. 

CHEM 1310

Vanya Gupta

Hi everyone, my name is Vanya Gupta, and I am going to be an SI for CHEM 1300 (General Chemistry I). I am a Neuroscience major on the pre-medical track. I chose SI because attending SI sessions has allowed me to do well in my own STEM courses, and by becoming a part of this program, I hope to be able to create the same positive experience for other students. I am a part of RESULTS, the Homeless Outreach & Awareness Organization, and City Girl Bhangra. A fun fact about me is that I LOVE iced matcha lattes!

CHEM 1310

Anthony Marzouk

Hi, my name is Anthony Marzouk and I am an SI for CHEM1310. I am a Junior Biology major in the D.O. medical program with minors in Honors Transdisciplinary Studies, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Pre-Health. I chose to be an SI because I want to help empower students to be successful in difficult courses at NSU and share my passion for chemistry with others. In addition to being an SI, I am a First-Year Senator in USGA, I am the IOC Chair for the Education for Refugees Association (ERA), I am on the fundraising committee for Pre-SOMA, and I am a member of Delta Epsilon Mu. Lastly, a couple of things I enjoy are traveling the world and listening to music from my home country of Egypt. 

CHEM 1310

Hansi Parmar

My name is Hansi Parmar, and I am an SI for BIOL 1310. I am a Biology major on the pre-med track. I chose SI because I have always enjoyed teaching challenging topics and helping peers understand them in creative ways. Whether with friends or classmates, I love simplifying complex concepts down to their roots so that others are able to grasp the overall topic, rather than fall into the cycle of giving up. One fun fact about myself is that I love reading; I cannot go a single day without absorbing myself in a book! Other passions I have are singing and gaming. 

CHEM 1310

Adhvika Saravanan

Hello! My name is Adhvika Saravanan, and I am a current junior. I am majoring in Biology and Neuroscience on the pre-med track. I am an SI for General Chemistry 2. I was interested in becoming an SI Leader because mentorship is something I am extremely passionate about, especially in an academic sense. I also love learning and helping others and found the purpose behind SI something that I resonated with. There also have been many times SI has helped me in my previous classes, and I wanted to do the same for incoming students. Some organizations I am a part of on campus include being President of American Sign Language Club, Secretary of IAHD, Treasurer of IAHD, and a member of Delta Epsilon Mu. A fun fact about me is I have been learning ASL for over 3 years and I know how to play 5 instruments!  

CHEM 1310

Nitya Gourishetty

Hello! My name is Nitya Gourishetty and I am a CHEM 1310 SI this semester for Dr. Abbasi's course. I am a Junior Biology major with minors in Nutrition and Honors on the pre-med track. On campus, I am on the board of two clubs: Junior Pediatrics and HOSA. I originally wanted to become an SI because I truly see and have experienced the value of focused group study. SI is a reliable and effective academic program for students, and I am proud to be a part of it. A fun fact about me is that I am allergic to both cats and dogs but love both! 

CHEM 1310

Dylan Mavlyanov

Hello! My name is Dylan Mavlyanov and I’m an SI leader for CHEM 1310 (General Chemistry II). I’m currently a junior majoring in Biology with minors in Public Health and Pre-Health, and I am on the pre-med track. I joined the supplemental instruction program because I’ve had my own experiences with how difficult or overwhelming certain courses may seem, and I’ve noticed so many students feel the same way. I hope to help my peers navigate and overcome those same challenges and see that a subject is only impossible to learn if you make it that way. I also couldn’t have succeeded in my own courses without the benefit of SI, and I’ve seen how impactful going to sessions can be in breaking down and grasping the course material. On campus, I’m also a peer consultant and fellow at the Writing and Communications Center and involved in Homeless Outreach and Awareness and GeriTech. Some fun facts about me are that I’m from Brooklyn NY, I’m obsessed with anything Game of Thrones related, and I love to swim! 

CHEM 2400

Sathvi Gandra

Hi, my name is Sathvi Gandra, and I am a SI leader for Organic Chemistry I! I am a double major in Neuroscience and Biology, and I chose SI to be a leader in the NSU community and aid other students in their academic journeys. As someone who is not naturally a fast learner, going to SI sessions helped me grasp difficult concepts faster and gave me an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and test my knowledge. At NSU, I am a part of the Pre-SOMA, MEDLife, Homeless Outreach and Awareness Organization, and City Girl Bhangra. Two things on my bucket list currently are going skydiving and getting a tattoo! 

CHEM 2400

Aashi Chhabra

Hi! My name is Aashi, and I am an SI for CHEM2400 (Organic Chemistry 1). I am a Senior SI and a Public Health Major in the dual admission B.S./D.O. program. I chose SI because I am a firm believer that a large part of doing well in a class is believing that you can in the first place, and I want to help build other students' confidence in commonly difficult classes like organic chemistry. I also have a passion for education. I am the president of ApplyU here at NSU; we provide free college counseling to high school students who may not be able to afford such resources. I am also involved in the Undergraduate Public Health Student Association. A fun fact about me is that I aspire to publish a poetry book and that I like to bake eggless desserts! 

CHEM 2400

Ajitesh Sompalli

My name is Ajitesh Sompalli. I am a junior majoring in Biology and minoring in Public Health at Nova Southeastern University. I am in the 4+4 BS/DO program here at NSU, and I am a part of ApplyU, a club focused on helping high school students with college applications. I am from Johns Creek, Georgia. A fun fact about myself is that I have climbed the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states of the US. I chose to become an SI because I enjoyed assisting my classmates with learning concepts they struggled with in class and because I know how helpful it is to have a helping hand who isn't a professor and can directly relate to you.

CHEM 2400

Mahi Patel

Hey everyone! My name is Mahi Patel, and I am a biology major on the pre-dental track with minors in pre-health, business, honors, and psych. I chose to be an SI leader to help my peers be more academically engaged and help them succeed in historically difficult courses. Outside of being an Organic Chemistry I SI, I am the President of VIH and WIS as well as the PR/Marketing chair of GirlUp Florida and WPDO. Some fun facts about me are that I love to travel and have been to 30 countries and that I love cherry coke. 

CHEM 2400

Kaitlin Whalen

Hi! My name is Kaitlin Whalen, and I am an SI leader for Organic Chemistry 1. I am a biology major on the pre-med track, minoring in psychology and business. Additionally, you can find me at the NSU's writing and communication center! I chose to become an SI leader because I struggled in this class myself and experienced first-hand how this program changed the game for me. It is my goal to be that game changer for others and facilitate similar success stories. Fun Fact: All of my favorite activities are on the water! Fishing, tubing, paddle boarding, you name it! 

CHEM 2410

Rhea Hede-Sakhardande

Hi! My name is Rhea Hede, and I am so excited to be an SI Leader for Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 2410) this semester. I am a Public Health major with a minor in Research and I am on the pre-med track. I am also a part of the Dual DO program as well as Razor's Edge Research. I chose to become an SI leader because last year I got to see first-hand just how impactful a peer leader in a challenging subject having can be. I also hope to support students through difficult course work and encourage them to continue to work hard and give them the confidence to succeed. Aside from being an SI this semester, I am also the President of the Public Health Outreach Club and on the executive board of Girl Up Florida here at NSU in addition to being a dancer on NSU Maasti! A couple of fun facts about me are that I love Pilates and my favorite drink at Starbucks is matcha! 

CHEM 2410

Vishal Ahuja

Hello! My name is Vishal Ahuja, I am a senior majoring in Human Nutrition, and I am also in the 8-year Dual D.O. program. I am a SI leader for CHEM 2410 or Organic Chemistry II. The reason I decided I wanted to be a part of the SI team is because I remember all the struggles and difficulties I faced while trying to succeed in many of my classes, I want to give back to my peers and do what I can to help them with what I’ve picked up in a class that I know I struggled in. In addition to being a SI leader I am a mentor in the mentorship program and I’m also apart of club tennis. Some fun facts about me are that I love thrifting/vintage fashion and I also love to bake!  

CHEM2410

Katrina Arndt

Hi! My name is Katrina Arndt, and I am a Biology major / Business minor. I am the SI for Dr. Aukszi's CHEM2410, and I chose SI because I fell in love with the course and Dr. Aukszi. Also, my SI leader was vital to my success, and I hope to help others in this historically difficult course. I am a part of VAW Volunteers Around the World, Pre-Dental Society, and Down to Dance. A fun fact about me is that I have played golf since I was 5 years old. 

CHEM 2410

Jeeven Srivastava

Hi! My name is Jeeven Srivastava, and I am an SI Leader for Organic Chemistry 2. I am a junior majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. I chose to be an SI because I want to help students overcome challenging obstacles, similar to what I experienced while taking the course. Outside of SI, I am apart of NSU Pre-Soma. A fun fact about me is that I love to sing and play piano in my free time!  

CHEM 2410

Sahil Sheth

Hello, my name is Sahil Sheth, and I am an SI leader for Orgo 2. I am a neuroscience/biology double major and on the pre-med track. I chose SI because I love the tutoring environment of NSU and wanted to focus on one subject more in depth. I am part of NSU Pre-Soma. Some fun facts about me are I love to run and eat sushi. 

CHEM 3650

Philo Ibrahim

Hello, my name is Philopatier Ibrahim. I am a Neuroscience Major on the Pre-Med track and am an SI for Chem 3650. I chose to be an SI because I genuinely want every student to reach their full potential in the class. Throughout my time as an SI last semester, I truly have become really passionate about my job and see it as a learning experience for me and the kids I help. I truly want to be a reason that the kids get an A in the class and someone they know they can talk to if they have questions or concerns. I am a leader in is Science Alive and I am the IOC chair of MENA and a member of OCCM. An interesting fact about me is that I love working out!

CHEM 3650

Nandini Pandrangi

CHEM 3650

Riya Davar

Hi! My name is Riya Davar, and I am a Neuroscience major currently in the 3+4 B.S./D.O. program (on the pre-med track). I am an SIL for CHEM 3650 (Biochemistry) and am super excited to spread my love for this subject to incoming biochemistry students! I chose Supplemental Instruction because I recognize the inherent challenges of biochemistry and the significant impact that peer mentorship can have on the learning process. Having experienced the benefits of SI firsthand in courses like General Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II, I understand the value of consistent practice and non-judgmental support. I believe that having a recent course graduate as a mentor can alleviate stress and facilitate a more effective learning environment. My goal is to provide the same level of support and guidance that proved instrumental in my own academic success. Some fun facts about myself are that I am a Bollywood and hip-hop dancer, and I love the arts in general -- I enjoy singing, playing the piano, and *attempting* to play the guitar in my free time. I look forward to meeting all of y'all! 😊