Emily Cooper

Emily Cooper is from a small town next to Joliet, IL called Channahon. She is a junior majoring in Journalism with minors in Environmental Studies and English at SIU Carbondale. Before her role as an SIU Carbondale, First Saluki Center Peer Mentor, she served as the Daily Egyptian's Editor-in-Chief. Coming into her freshman year at SIU, she would have never thought that she could one day say that. However, coming to SIU was one of the best decisions she has made. Being a first-generation college student, she was unsure of how to be a college student and in general, how everything in college works. Three years later, she better understands how SIU has cultivated creativity within herself and her peers. Peer Mentors have built confidence in that creative culture that SIU houses. For Emily, being a Peer Mentor is being able to encourage students in the way others have encouraged her during her time at SIU. She is honored to help show that to other first-generation college students who need guidance to show that they have what it takes to be successful, in and out of the classroom.