The Student Partners Program connects Boise State faculty with trained undergraduate students who serve as thought partners in teaching and learning. Together, faculty and students explore how classroom experiences can be more inclusive, engaging, and effective for everyone. Each partnership is unique, but all share a common purpose: to strengthen learning by bringing student perspectives directly into course design and reflection.
Student Partners are not teaching assistants or graders. Instead, they collaborate with instructors outside of class to review course materials, observe learning dynamics, and discuss how students experience the course. These partnerships give both students and faculty a space to think creatively about what helps learners thrive. Partnerships are coordinated and supported by the Center for Teaching and Learning. The CTL provides orientation, training, and ongoing mentorship for both students and faculty. Each semester, pairs meet regularly to discuss goals, share observations, and reflect on progress. Many participants describe the experience as one of the most rewarding forms of professional development they have taken part in.
Working with a Student Partner can help faculty:
- Gain an authentic window into how students are experiencing their course.
- Reflect on the design and structure of learning activities with a supportive collaborator.
- Identify small, practical changes that make a big difference in student engagement and belonging.
- Build confidence in trying new teaching approaches, knowing they have a student ally to provide feedback and insight.
- Serving as a Student Partner gives students the opportunity to:
- Develop professional skills in communication, collaboration, and facilitation.
- Contribute meaningfully to a faculty member’s course and to the university’s learning culture.
- Learn to analyze teaching and learning from a scholarly perspective.
- Build confidence as leaders who can represent student voices thoughtfully and constructively.
How to Get Involved
Faculty interested in partnering with a student can contact the CTL to learn more about upcoming application periods and matching processes. Students from any discipline are welcome to apply. Selection emphasizes curiosity about learning, openness to collaboration, and commitment to equity in education.
Meet Our Student Partners
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Mya Boyd
Assistant Coordinator
Hello, my name is Mya Boyd and I am the Assistant Coordinator for the Student Partnership program. I am a double major in Biology and Psychology and am planning on graduating in the spring of 2027. I absolutely love this work and am so proud to be a part of the CTL. In my free time I enjoy being outside and doing arts and crafts! I also volunteer at the Idaho Humane Society every week to take pictures of the cats and small animals!
Hello, my name is Mya Boyd and I am the Assistant Coordinator for the Student Partnership program. I am a double major in Biology and Psychology and am planning on graduating in the spring of 2027. I absolutely love this work and am so proud to be a part of the CTL. In my free time I enjoy being outside and doing arts and crafts! I also volunteer at the Idaho Humane Society every week to take pictures of the cats and small animals!
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Zahraa Alharbyah
Student Partner
My name is Zahraa Alharbyah, I am a junior majoring in a BA in English Teaching, and a minor in Arabic Studies. I am from Iraq, where I have gained my Arabic language fluency, and I am also fluent in English. I enjoy teaching others Arabic, because it can be hard to learn the language in the beginning. In the future, I hope to return to my country after graduating, to teach my community English, as well as opening a school to help with the English language. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my son, cooking delicious Iraqi food, and reading Arabic novels. What has drawn me to work with the CTL is because it pertains to my major, I get to see and observe how to become a better instructor. I want to learn methods of new teaching, ways to help students engage, have student led environments, all of these factors fit in the job description that will help me with my future career.
My name is Zahraa Alharbyah, I am a junior majoring in a BA in English Teaching, and a minor in Arabic Studies. I am from Iraq, where I have gained my Arabic language fluency, and I am also fluent in English. I enjoy teaching others Arabic, because it can be hard to learn the language in the beginning. In the future, I hope to return to my country after graduating, to teach my community English, as well as opening a school to help with the English language. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my son, cooking delicious Iraqi food, and reading Arabic novels. What has drawn me to work with the CTL is because it pertains to my major, I get to see and observe how to become a better instructor. I want to learn methods of new teaching, ways to help students engage, have student led environments, all of these factors fit in the job description that will help me with my future career.
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Jessica Anderson
Student Partner
I’m a dog loving Linguistics major/French minor at Boise State. I’m passionate about language learning and teaching. I plan to pursue a TESOL certificate and a graduate degree in Speech Pathology. I have a passion for working with foreigners on their English-learning journey. I love teaching and finding ways to optimize learning in any kind of classroom. I love being a student at BSU and it’s cool to have the opportunity to help professors improve their students’ learning experience through the Student Partnership program!Â
I’m a dog loving Linguistics major/French minor at Boise State. I’m passionate about language learning and teaching. I plan to pursue a TESOL certificate and a graduate degree in Speech Pathology. I have a passion for working with foreigners on their English-learning journey. I love teaching and finding ways to optimize learning in any kind of classroom. I love being a student at BSU and it’s cool to have the opportunity to help professors improve their students’ learning experience through the Student Partnership program!Â
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Ashlynn Mahoney
Student Partner
Hey everyone, my name is Ashlynn and I was born and raised here in Idaho. I’m a Communications major here at BSU and super excited to graduate in the upcoming spring! I have a love for all things nerdy including reading, playing D&D, drawing, and writing if I’m not too busy with school. I was interested in the Student Partnership program partially because I’m a comms major but also because I believe in being an active participant in my own education. I want to see both students and professors succeed here at BSU and am looking forward to making that change.Â
Hey everyone, my name is Ashlynn and I was born and raised here in Idaho. I’m a Communications major here at BSU and super excited to graduate in the upcoming spring! I have a love for all things nerdy including reading, playing D&D, drawing, and writing if I’m not too busy with school. I was interested in the Student Partnership program partially because I’m a comms major but also because I believe in being an active participant in my own education. I want to see both students and professors succeed here at BSU and am looking forward to making that change.Â
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Faustina Altamirano
Student Partner
My name is Faustina Altamirano and I am from the Bay Area, California! I am a junior studying Health Sciences and minoring in Psychology. I love hiking, camping, and running, and Boise is the perfect place for that! I was drawn to working in the CTL because of their mission to support student learning and success. As a student, I felt inspired to do what I can to improve the learning experiences of my fellow classmates. The CTL does a fantastic job of prioritizing student growth and success, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of!
My name is Faustina Altamirano and I am from the Bay Area, California! I am a junior studying Health Sciences and minoring in Psychology. I love hiking, camping, and running, and Boise is the perfect place for that! I was drawn to working in the CTL because of their mission to support student learning and success. As a student, I felt inspired to do what I can to improve the learning experiences of my fellow classmates. The CTL does a fantastic job of prioritizing student growth and success, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of!
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Madison Jacobs
Student Partner
My name is Madison Jacobs and I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but my family recently moved to Park City, Utah. I am a sophomore and I am studying forensic anthropology. I enjoy reading, playing sports, and spending time with my friends and family. I wanted to work in the CTL because I care a lot about the student experience and helping improve it in any way I can. The type of work I am able to do here can leave a lasting impact on Boise State, which means a lot to me. I am excited to support the success of both the students and the professors!
My name is Madison Jacobs and I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but my family recently moved to Park City, Utah. I am a sophomore and I am studying forensic anthropology. I enjoy reading, playing sports, and spending time with my friends and family. I wanted to work in the CTL because I care a lot about the student experience and helping improve it in any way I can. The type of work I am able to do here can leave a lasting impact on Boise State, which means a lot to me. I am excited to support the success of both the students and the professors!
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Matthew Spall
Student Partner
Hello! My name is Matthew Spall. I’m from Pocatello, Idaho. I’m a senior studying Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication as well as having interests in User Experience Design and Data Science. The Center of Teaching and Learning was a natural extension of this background, especially thinking about how subject matter experts communicate their expertise effectively and are able to provide a strong and engaging user experience that provides value to students. In my free time I usually bike around town, follow city planning and zoning(pro bike lanes of course), and do a bit of people watching.
Hello! My name is Matthew Spall. I’m from Pocatello, Idaho. I’m a senior studying Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication as well as having interests in User Experience Design and Data Science. The Center of Teaching and Learning was a natural extension of this background, especially thinking about how subject matter experts communicate their expertise effectively and are able to provide a strong and engaging user experience that provides value to students. In my free time I usually bike around town, follow city planning and zoning(pro bike lanes of course), and do a bit of people watching.
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Savannah Werner
Student Partner
My name is Savannah Werner and I am from Garden City, Idaho! I’m a transfer student from The College of Western Idaho, and am now a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in applied data science. I love reading, drawing, and petting cats in my free time. I want to teach psychology at a university level in the future, and I hope to use the experience I gain from the CTL to learn more about teaching and improving the student experience.
My name is Savannah Werner and I am from Garden City, Idaho! I’m a transfer student from The College of Western Idaho, and am now a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in applied data science. I love reading, drawing, and petting cats in my free time. I want to teach psychology at a university level in the future, and I hope to use the experience I gain from the CTL to learn more about teaching and improving the student experience.
Instructor Testimonials
- “My Student Partner gave lots of actionable feedback in areas of presentation, active learning, student belonging, and addressing learning disparities. Working together I felt we made improvements to the course structure by emphasizing and experimenting with more active learning approaches. Just having the chance to meet regularly and reflect with a classroom observer was valuable in itself.”
- “Working with a student partner was incredibly beneficial. It gave me greater confidence in my course and reassured me that I was moving in the right direction. The experience helped me become more open to receiving feedback, reflecting on it thoughtfully, and making meaningful changes to better support student learning.”
- “For me, there were two main benefits. 1) It got me out of my head a bit and helped me to understand what students actually perceive from me versus what I build up/obsess over in my own mind. 2) It helped me to start understanding the generational differences that exist between me and my students.”
- “I was reminded of a few simple things I can do to significantly impact how students receive the course. The student partners had a very different perspective on the classroom, and could focus on how students react rather than the content I am presenting.”
- “The benefit for me was the access to feedback that is less susceptible to the power dynamics that surround the student-professor relationship. I feel like it was the closest to a ‘neutral’ student feedback that I have received as an early career faculty.”
- “My student partner was able to collect opinions/experiences that are seldom communicated directly from student to instructor.”
Sign-up
Hiring for Academic Year 26/27 will begin in Spring 2026; keep an eye on Handshake or check back here.