Honors Student Advisory Committee
The Honors College has an official voice for students: the Honors Student Advisory Council (HSAC). This group works to connect students with faculty and staff, foster communication, influence Honors College policy, and address action items related to a variety of academic and social opportunities within the Honors College. HSAC meets every Monday from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Please contact HSAC@honors.utah.edu for more information. You may also contact Dominic Pecoraro (D.Pecoraro@Honors.Utah.Edu), the HSAC advisor with questions.
Get to know HSAC Executives
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Anika Rao is a third-year student from Salt Lake City, Utah, who has been involved with the Honors Student Advisory Committee since Fall 2023. She is honored to have been elected to serve as President of HSAC. Anika is majoring in Political Science and Quantitative Analysis of Markets & Organizations with a minor in Philosophy. Outside of academics, Anika loves to travel (her favorite place is Mexico City, where she interned this summer!), read, listen to podcasts, and spend time with friends and family.
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Alex Shelton is a second-year student from San Diego, California. He is majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology, and can frequently be found under a microscope at the College of Pharmacy with aspirations of gaining a PhD and becoming a professor. In the Honors College, Alex is honored to serve as HSAC’s Recruitment Ambassador after joining in Spring 2025 as well as a peer mentor for Honors 1010. He is passionate about including all honors voices and broadening HSAC’s reach across campus. In his free time, Alex enjoys participating in dance clubs, reading and writing, watercolors, and video games.
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Dayanara Ruiz is a fourth-year student from Boise, Idaho. She is double majoring in Psychology and Criminology, with three minors in Human Rights and Resources (Honors Integrated Minor), Sociology, and Human Development and Family Studies. After she graduates, she hopes to continue on to graduate school to study Child Psychology. Dayanara is so thrilled to serve as Events Chair and can’t wait to host fun, engaging events for this school year!
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Matthew Chiazzese is a third-year student majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Classical Civilizations. He has been a part of the University’s campus in organizations like the Freshmen Ambassador Board and Development Board for the Union Programming Council. Matthew likes to watch movies, listen to music, and build Lego sets (specifically Star Wars ones). Although he is new to the Honors Student Advisory Committee he is excited to help out and take the Honors College to the next level!
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Quenna Yuan is a third-year student majoring in Mathematics with an emphasis in Statistics and minors in Cognitive Science and Honors Integrative Health. After graduation, she hopes to get a PhD in biostatistics and do research in the field of infectious disease and public health. She has been involved with HSAC since Fall 2023 and is excited to continue advocating for student needs and getting more people involved with the Honors College. She is an undergraduate researcher at a neuroscience lab, College of Science Ambassador, and volunteers at the FeedU Pantry. Outside of academics, Quenna loves to read, learn new recipes, chase waterfalls, and spend time with friends and family.
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Ferne Chirachanakul is a third-year student from Draper, Utah majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology and minoring in Chemistry and Psychology on the Pre-Medical track. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in radiology or neurology. Outside of academics, she enjoys spending time with friends, exploring new foods, and figure skating. Ferne joined the Honors Student Advisory Committee in Spring 2024 and is now delighted to serve as the Director of Campus Affairs. In this role, she looks forward to engaging the Honors community through creative social media outreach, promoting upcoming HSAC events, and representing the voices of students and faculty within the Honors College.