Public Speaking Center

Josie Olson (Lead Consultant - Scheduling Coordinator)

As a peer consultant, I believe that communication plays such a crucial role in every aspect of life, which is why I strive to give my fellow students helpful feedback so that they can feel more comfortable and confident with public speaking. My goal is to shine a light on each speaker’s strengths but also help them acknowledge their weaknesses so that they can reach their full potential.

Minor: Spanish

Quote to live by: “Happiness is a mindset”

Specialty Area: Sciences, persuasive speaking 

Sabrina Ruffalo (Lead Consultant - Social Media Coordinator)

As a peer consultant, my goal is to help others feel more comfortable in all public speaking aspects and confident when doing so. Public speaking is an important skill to possess in various aspects of your life and I hope to help other's find their potential when practicing their speaking abilities. 

Minor: Anthropology 

Quote to live by: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou 

Specialty Area: Topic development and APA citations

Alexa Thurmes (Lead Consultant - Human Resources Director)

As a peer consultant, I believe that both confidence & skill are essential for effective public speaking. My goal is to build a foundation for my fellow students and help them become comfortable with public speaking, in order to build their best speech possible. 

Minor: International Business

Quote to live by: "Throw kindness around like confetti" -Bob Goff 

Specialty Area: Business presentations

James Lejeune (Lead Consultant - Hiring)

As a peer consultant, I strive to give other the skills necessary to help them to achieve success in the areas that require presenting. My goal is to provide students with a constructive environment in which they can feel comfortable and confident in themselves and their ability. 

Minor: Unknown 

Quote to live by: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do" -Steve Jobs 

Rebecca Kohlmeyer

As a peer consultant, my goal is to make you feel comfortable with any part of the speech writing process. I hope to help you become a confident speaker not only in the classroom, but in the real world as well. I think everyone has the potential to be a captivating speaker, and I want to help you realize that as well!

Minor: Legal Studies

Quote to live by: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou

Specialty Area: While I feel confident in my ability to help students in almost all areas surrounding public speaking, I love to help students who may have prior public speaking experience and would like to be pushed to a point they didn’t know existed for themselves!

Megan Sarauer

As a peer consultant, I want to be able to give back and help my peers. Public speaking can be difficult and scary at times, but with a little help and guidance, it is not half bad.  I hope to help my peers become more comfortable and confident in their public speaking skills.

Minor: Leadership Development & Organizational/Professional Communication

Quote to live by: "Not everyone thinks the way you think, knows the things you know, believes the things you believe, nor acts the way you would act.  Remember this and you will go a long way in getting along with people." - Arthur Forman

Specialty Area: Developing transition sentences and brainstorming topic ideas

Julia Koenitzer

Kyra Neuser

As a peer consultant, I hope to instill a sense of confidence in my fellow peers who may not be comfortable with public speaking and to give them the tools to succeed in something that is outside of their comfort zone. Everyone deserves to enjoy the feeling of acing a well-prepared, eloquent speech and I strive to do everything in my power to help fellow students achieve that feeling.

Minor: Psychology & pre-professional occupational therapy

Quote to live by: "Success isn't about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives." - Michelle Obama

Specialty Area: Anything related to therapeutic fields (recreational therapy, occupational therapy, etc. Basic sciences (biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology

Amanda Lee

As a peer consultant, I will do my best to assist you with anything from brainstorming a topic to the preparation of the presentation the night before it's due.  When I took CST 110, I was very worried about having to give a speech, but I visited the Public Speaking Center so often that I became confident in my public speaking abilities.  In fact, CST 110 is the class that made me realize I wanted to major in Communications.   

Quote to live by: "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln

Specialty Area: Psychology presentations or Communication speeches

Nate Meihak

Josh Koenecke

As a peer consultant, I am here to help you become more comfortable with writing, presenting, or anything else related to speaking at all. Speaking isn't such a horrible thing, and I can help you start to think that too!

Quote to live by: "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." - Douglas Adams

Specialty Area:  Interpersonal topics, generating speech ideas, and helping with the general delivery and flow of a presentation.

Holly Korfmacher

 As a peer consultant, I want to help other students feel comfortable and confident in presenting speeches in class. 

Quote to live by: Live happy, pure, and bliss.

Specialty Area: I feel confident in assisting with outlines, considering I was just a freshman last year and excelled in outlines

Savannah Rygiewicz

As a peer consultant, my goal is to give students the proper knowledge and skills in regard to public speaking so that they feel more comfortable communicating in all areas of life whether that be for presentations, speeches, interviews or simply talking with a professor/classmate.

Minor: Pre-PA Track

Quote to Live By: “Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.”

Specialty Area: I feel comfortable assisting students with persuasive speeches in particular, as well as science-related presentations due to my Pre-PA track and my knowledge from those courses. 

Natalie Sims

As a peer consultant, I want to help students gain confidence in their abilities to speak in front of others. I understand that it can be intimidating to be in front of others, however, I believe anyone is capable of this skill and I would love to work with students on any concern they have around public speaking. The Public Speaking Center is a welcoming place to work towards any goals students want to work towards!

Quote to live by: “Do What You Can With All You Have, Wherever You Are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Specialty Area: Working on developing ways for each person, individually, to become one step more comfortable in getting up in front of others. Public speaking concerns are different for everyone and I enjoy catering skills to each person's needs.

Shay Puidokas

As a peer consultant, is to help assist you in any way that I can and make you feel comfortable and confident asking any questions you have! Before leaving the Public Speaking Center, my hope is that you leave confident in your abilities and more knowledgeable of the class material. 

Minor: Leadership Development

Quote to live by: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" -Lao Tzu 

Specialty Area: Outlines, APA formatting, or any additional questions for all levels of CST speeches. 

Tyler Sidders

As a peer consultant, I hope to help individuals better understand effective methods in speech communication. 

Minor: Interpersonal Communication

Quote to live by: "Life is too important to be taken seriously." Oscar Wilde

Specialty Area: "Anything in relation to the exercise sport science major, as I feel I have extended knowledge in that area. I feel confident in assisting with persuasive speeches.

Grant Latus

As a peer consultant, I am to give students the knowledge and tools to succeed and feel confident in their speaking and communicating abilities. 

Minor: Leadership Development

Quote to live by: “Leave people better than you found them” -Marvin J. Ashton

Specialty Area: Delivery and critiquing the way someone is bringing a compelling topic to an audience. Most notably, speaking with a conviction that is most helpful in persuasive speaking.

Sophia Sovenson

As a peer consultant, my goal is to provide a welcoming environment to help students grow more confident with their public speaking abilities along with providing them with information to lead them to success.

Quote to Live By: "Live and let live."

Specialty Area: Organization of topic ideas and transitions 

Timmy Kissel

As a peer consultant, my goal is to help you at any step of the public speaking process. From brainstorming topic selection, creating outlines, fixing APA citations, and speech delivery, I know that I can give you the proper feedback you need to feel more prepared. When I was a freshman, I was so worried about giving speeches in front of the whole class. I realized that I had a little bit of public speaking anxiety. I think it is essential to recognize that you may feel uncomfortable in certain situations. It is even better if you are willing to go seek help from us peer consultants who are properly trained and experienced with managing stress in these most difficult times. Because I learned how to get through these stressful times, it made me realize I love CST! I am hoping to help you overcome the same fear I went through and hopefully show you how awesome Communication Studies is!

Andrea Zalac

As a peer consultant, I believe that asking for feedback is a huge part of growth in any area, but especially in public speaking! I hope to create a safe inclusive environment that allows you to bring any questions you might have to the table. I hope to help you succeed in class, but also gain skills to take beyond the classroom. I believe everyone has the potential to grow in public speaking ability and am excited to help that process as you gain confidence in your abilities!

Minor: Leadership Development and Social Justice

Quote to live by: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” – Maya Angelou

Specialty Areas: I feel passionately about topics involving justice and helping students pick appropriate topics that they are excited to present on. Also, effective delivery of a speech and transitions!

Mia Rentmeester

As a peer consultant, my goal is to help students get over their fear of public speaking. Many of us are afraid to stand in front of a group of people and talk but it is an essential life skill. I will do whatever it takes to help make your CST 110 experience as enjoyable as possible!

A Quote to Live By: “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are”-Kurt Cobain

Specialty Area: Presentation tips, delivery, and outlines.

Katie Banie