This story is part of a series highlighting the university’s outstanding graduates crossing the stage on May 16.
As an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing, Michaela Cobb loves great stories with complex characters. Since the Spring of 2024, Cobb has served as a Peer Educator at the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) Student Success Center. In this role, her empathy and communication skills help fellow students navigate their own nuanced character arcs as they move through university life.
For Cobb, the work is personal. Having faced her own challenges with mental health and the isolation of the pandemic era, she recognized the hurdles her peers often face. She frequently connects students with resources like the university’s Wellness 360 counselors and the Timely Care app.
“So many students need to know that they’re not alone, and that college is a place where they belong,” Cobb said. “Whether I’m helping students find clubs on campus or just checking in on them as a friend, I want them to know they have a community here.”
The COLFA Peer Mentoring Program is designed to bridge the gap between academic requirements and the lived student experience. Peer Educators like Cobb are absolutely crucial to that mission, according to Clarissa Martinez, director of the COLFA Student Success Center.
“Our center is focused on removing barriers, helping students access resources, and creating meaningful opportunities for connection and success,” Martinez explained. “Peer Educators play an important role in that mission because they provide a peer-to-peer perspective. They help make the center more welcoming and approachable.”
One of Cobb’s most significant contributions as a Peer Educator has been her leadership in the Student Success Center’s Well-being Series. By developing programming around the eight dimensions of well-being, she has helped students understand that academic performance is inseparably linked to personal wellness.
“Michaela’s leadership in our Well-being Series is a great example of this intersection,” Martinez said. “She has supported students in understanding that personal wellness, academic success, and professional growth all work together. Her contributions will continue through the programs she helped develop and the example she set for future Peer Educators.”
This culture of care has transformed the COLFA experience for many. Cobb noted that when she first arrived, the campus felt isolated due to online learning. Now, she sees a community that is stronger than ever — one where students attend events specifically because of the welcoming environment the Peer Educators have helped cultivate.
As she prepares to cross the Commencement stage at the Alamodome, Cobb cherishes the sincere, everyday moments in which she helped others as her most significant achievements. One memory that stands out happened last spring, when a former mentee stopped her in the Arts Building to show her an original artwork series he had completed.
“Seeing the excitement and joy on his face was just as rewarding as hearing him thank me for being his mentor,” Cobb recalled. “It’s little moments like that, where I can celebrate my mentee’s successes, that really bring me joy.”
Looking forward, Cobb plans to pursue a PhD in Literature and eventually become a university professor. She views her time at the Student Success Center as her “practice run” for a life dedicated to education, teaching her how to listen with empathy and guide others toward their goals.
When asked what wisdom she would offer to those just starting their journey at UT San Antonio, Cobb’s advice reflects the resilience she has modeled throughout her four years at the university.
“Failure is part of learning,” she said. “Know that nothing you do will be perfect, that you have time to learn and grow, and that you always have something valuable to contribute.”
