Matt Trybus, M.Ed.

PASS Coordinator, Instructional Faculty

trybusmj@jmu.edu
Contact Info

Matt Trybus is the Coordinator of PASS. Matt holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Administration from the University of Vermont, a teaching license from Saint Michael’s College, and a B.A. in History from the University of Montana. Prior to coordinating the PASS program, Matt served as Assistant Director of James Madison’s Office of Disability Services for 7 years. In addition to working with members of the JMU community to realize their potential, Matt is passionate about his family, friends, cycling, food, and balance.

Yang Liu, Ph.D.

PASS Coordinator, Instructional Faculty

liu38yx@jmu.edu
Contact Info

Yang Liu is the Coordinator of Peer Assisted Study Sessions and an Assistant Professor in Psychology. She received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. Her research interests include risk and resilience factors on the academic success of college students, socioemotional development in childhood and adolescence, and the effectiveness of educational technology. She is passionate about supporting student success both academically and emotionally. Outside of work, she enjoys playing educational and psychological games with her husband and three children.

Becca Bailey (She/Her)

Becca is a first-year graduate student in the MA/Ed.S. School Psychology program. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, complemented by double minors in Behavioral Neuroscience and Music. Becca aspires to work as a school psychologist in a public school setting, where she aims to be an advocate for equitable educational opportunities for all students. In her free time, Becca enjoys adventuring with her dog, hiking, music, and creating art.

Kyler Gray

Hey there, I’m a senior Biology major with a double minor in pre-medicine and medical Spanish. I am originally from Haymarket, VA and in my free time I enjoy dancing, hiking, playing guitar, and spending quality time with those who matter most. At school I am heavily involved in LDC and BYX. Outside of school, I volunteer at the university health center and the local rescue squad. I am excited for this upcoming semester to share my knowledge and create a great experience! 

Koya Chandler

BIO 140 - Doyle

Hi! My name is Koya Chandler and I’m a sophomore from southern Virginia. I’m majoring in Health Sciences with a minor in Pre-dental. I love hanging out with my friends and being outdoors. Please feel free to come to any sessions, even if you do not have Dr. Doyle as a professor. I am so excited for this semester and to meet all of you!

Ryan Sauer

BIO 140 - Halsell

Hi! I’m a sophomore biology major with minors in political science and pre-law from Virginia Beach, VA. This is my second semester as a PASS leader for BIO140 with Dr. Halsell. Beyond PASS, I serve as a tour guide in Student Ambassadors, 2024 Orientation Peer Advisor, and hobbyist photographer – you can catch my photos in The Breeze newspaper, The Bluestone yearbook, and the PASS website.

Kyler Gray

BIO 140 - Tracy Deem

Hey there, I’m a senior Biology major with a double minor in pre-medicine and medical Spanish. I am originally from Haymarket, VA and in my free time I enjoy dancing, hiking, playing guitar, and spending quality time with those who matter most. At school I am heavily involved in LDC and BYX. Outside of school, I volunteer at the university health center and the local rescue squad. I am excited for this upcoming semester to share my knowledge and create a great experience!

Tyler Goldstein

BIO 140 - Terrie Rife

Hi! I’m a sophomore biology major with a pre-med minor and I'm from New Jersey. In my free time I enjoy hiking, going to the gym, and playing sports. Outside of school, I volunteer at the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, and I am excited to meet everyone and start this semester! 

Taylor Burnette

BIO 140 - Jaira Vasconcellos

Hi everyone! My name is Taylor Burnette and I am a Junior Biology major with a pre-dental minor. I am originally from the Virginia Beach area and in my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and listening to music. I am a PASS leader for Dr. Vasconcello’s BIO 140 class this semester. I am looking forward to meeting you all during my sessions! 

Madisyn Trout

BIO 150 - Katrina Gobetz

Hello!! I’m a junior biology major with a pre-vet minor. I’m from Lexington Virginia. I love hanging out with friends, watching movies, and listening to music. I work at a local animal hospital back home and enjoy mostly all kinds of animals. I am so excited to work alongside you guys as a pass leader!! 

Renee St. John (she/her)

BIO 150 - Oliver Hyman

Hi! I’m a senior biotechnology major with a minor in chemistry. I’m from Reston, Virginia. I’m in JMU’s club cross-country and track, and I enjoy baking, hiking, and hanging out with my friends. I would love to get to know everyone, so please stop by my PASS sessions!

Libby Morris (she/her)

BIO 245 - James Herrick

Hello! My name is Libby! I am a junior Nursing major with a medical Spanish minor, and I am from NoVa. You can find me in the SSC studying, hanging out with my RUF buddies, or in a group exercise class at Urec. I loved taking microbiology and I hope you all do too! 

Gabriel Padilla

BIO 245 - Pradeep Menon

Hi everyone! I’m a Junior Microbiology major from Weston, CT. The transition from CT to VA has been an experience which has made coming to JMU a much larger and greater experience than I could’ve imagined. Outside of school I love to read, listen to music, I compete in Snowsports and cook and am always here to help if anyone has any questions about getting situated at the university. I’m looking forward to meeting you all during my sessions!  

Ella Harman (she/her)

BIO 270 - TJ Hynd

Hello! My name is Ella, and my pronouns are she/her. I am a junior kinesiology major with minors in pre-pt and pre-at, and I am from Gainesville, Virginia. Along with being a PASS leader, I am also in Saferides, CHAARG, and the Pre-PT Society. I am looking forward to working with everyone this semester! 

Andrew Harman

BIO 270 - Jess Marquardt

Hi, my name is Andrew, and I am a senior biology major with a pre-med minor. I am from Harrisonburg, VA. Outside of PASS, I am involved in InterVarsity, and I enjoy watching and playing sports with friends. I am excited to work with you all this semester! 

Addie Irvin

BIO 290 - Velayudhan 

Hi, my name is Addie! I am a senior health science major with a pre-pa minor. I am from Lynchburg, VA. I love working out, traveling, and hanging out with friends. I fell in love with anatomy when I took it last semester and I’m excited to see everyone this semester! 

Elizabeth Casey

BIO 290 - Marquis Walker

Hi, my name is Liz! I am a senior biology major with a pre-PA minor. I am on the club gymnastics team and I’m in Phi Epsilon Kappa. I’m from Northern Virginia and I have been a certified nurse aide for the past two years. I am a super big cat person and love to watch the bachelorette! I really enjoy learning about anatomy and all things health related and I am so excited to meet everyone this semester!!  

Kelsey Washlack

BIO 290 - Extra 

Hi, my name is Kelsey! I am a senior health science major and pre-PA minor from Fairfax, Va. Outside of school you can most definitely find me at urec or spending time with friends. I’m very passionate about science and medicine and can’t wait to work with everyone this semester! 

Natalie Adams

CHEM 120 - Trost

Hi! My name is Natalie Adams, and I am a sophomore Nursing major from Sykesville, Maryland. I am involved in CHAARG and NSA (Nursing Student Association) on campus. Outside of school, you would most likely see me taking workout classes at UREC or spending time with my friends. I am looking forward to meeting everyone this semester!! 

Ava Wehr

CHEM 120 - Trost

Hey, I’m Ava! I am a junior biotechnology major minoring in statistics, pre-pharmacy, and Honors. I am a part of the Marching Royal Dukes (on piccolo), InterVarsity, and Alpha Omega Epsilon. This will be my second semester as a PASS leader, and I am super excited to meet everyone!

Jaimin Ashra

CHEM 131 - Wilson

Hi! I’m Jaimin, I’m a junior chemistry major from Charlottesville, VA. This is my first semester as a PASS leader, and I’m excited to work with all of you. During my free time, I like hiking, playing video games, and listening to music. 

Emily Euler

CHEM 131 - Zhang

Hi! I am a sophomore from Virginia Beach, VA majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Math and Honors. A few organizations I am a part of are the Madison Honors Leadership Council, Alpha Omega Epsilon, and Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society. In my free time I love to read, watch TV, and listen to music. I am super excited to help you all have a great and successful semester in CHEM 131!

Landon Gray

CHEM 131 - Funck

Hi! I’m Landon, a biology major from Haymarket, Virginia. I am excited to help you all have a successful semester in Chem 131. In my free time I love to hang out with my friends and family, work out at UREC, listen to country music and watch sports. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!

Erin Garvert

CHEM 131 - Wilson

Hi! My name is Erin Garvert, and I am a sophomore Health Sciences major with a Pre-Medicine minor. I’m from Vienna, VA, and I love playing and watching sports, spending time with my family and friends, and going to the beach. I’m excited for a great semester with everyone!

Taylor Newman

CHEM 131 - Tam

Hello everyone! My name is Taylor Newman, and my pronouns are she/her. I am a junior health sciences major with a minor in pre-dentistry and honors interdisciplinary studies, and I am from Doylestown, PA. I am so excited to be a PASS leader for the first time! Outside of being a PASS leader I work at the SMLC as a chemistry tutor, and I am a part of student ambassadors. I love spending time with friends and family, theater, and getting to know people. Please don’t be afraid to reach out, I am here to help in any way I can! 

Sumu Vadrevu

COB 291 - Atef-Yekta

Hi everyone! My name is Sumu Vadrevu and I am from South Riding, Virginia! I am a Junior Finance major with a soon-to-be minor in Business Analytics. On campus I am involved in Greek life and the President of the Self Care Club! Outside of school you’ll find me in a Pilates class, making videos, and hanging out with friends. This is my first semester as a pass leader, and I am so excited to share my love for the subject and to work with all of you! 

Kelsey Allen (she/her)

COB 291 - Tchommo

Hi everyone! My name is Kelsey, and I am a Senior Accounting major from Baltimore, Maryland. This is my second semester as a PASS leader and I cannot wait to meet everyone as we adventure through the journey that is business analytics. When I’m not in class, I love cooking/baking, seeing my friends, and going to the gym. Let’s make this semester a great one!

Carson Tighe

COB 291 - Novoa

Hello! My name is Carson, and I am a Senior CIS major with a concentration in Business Analytics and European Business. On campus, I’m involved with the Madison Consulting Club, Student Government, SafeRides, the CoB Student Advisory Council, ENT, and also work in UREC Marketing. I took COB 291 with Dr. Novoa two years ago, and am excited to help Dr. Novoa’s students succeed in this course!

Reese Thornton

COB 291 - Jewett

Hey y'all! My name is Reese Thornton and I am a CIS and Accounting double-major in the College of Business with a minor in Business Analytics! I am currently a Junior at JMU and in my free time I enjoy lifting at UREC, reading, and playing with my cat 😊 

Luke Fisher

COB 291 - Stevens

Hey everyone! My name is Luke, and I am a Senior Computer Information Systems major with minors in Economics and Business Analytics. I am from Covington, Virginia. In my free time you’ll find me working out, attending club meetings, or just relaxing with my cat. This is my first semester as a PASS leader, and I couldn’t be more excited! Although this course can be difficult, I hope to help you all come to love the subject as much as I do. 

Katie Powers

MATH 110 - Zig Sigfried

Lainey Eveges

MATH 210 - Gibson

Michelle Lyons

MATH 205 - Koch

Hi, my name is Michelle Lyons and I’m a sophomore finance major and mathematics minor from Herndon, VA, or NOVA. This is my second semester leading calculus and I’m super excited. In my free time, I enjoy lifting weights and running a lot, cooking, comedy TV shows, going to the movies, and playing the cello. On campus, I am a part of CHAARG, club orchestra, and the professional chair for Epsilon Nu Tau. I am super excited to meet everyone and work with you all this semester. 

Ella Maines

MATH 220 - Watson

Hello!! My name is Ella Maines, I am a sophomore psychology major with a Pre-PA minor from Montgomery County, MD. At JMU I am involved in Greek life and am a founding member of the self care club. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, running, and cooking. I am so excited to work with all of you this semester and share my love for statistics!

Hallie Dillion

NUR 353 - Lam & Elkins

Hi! My name is Hallie Dillon and my pronouns are she/her. I’m a 3rd semester senior nursing student with a minor in Chronic Illness and I’m originally from Leesburg, VA. Outside of school, I love to go out with friends, read, exercise, and I’ve recently been learning how to crochet! I am so excited to work with you all in pharmacology this semester! 

Danielle Brill

NUR 356 - Landes & Childers

Hi everyone! My name is Danielle Brill, I am a senior Nursing Major and Health Sciences Major with a minor in Chronic Illness. I am originally from Ashburn, Virginia (Northern Virginia), but moved to Topsail Island, North Carolina with my family two years ago. I love going to the beach, hence why we moved to the beach, exploring new cities, cooking, being outdoors, and being with friends and family! I also love any and all dogs. I look forward to meeting you all and working alongside you throughout this semester. 

Quintin Smith

NUR 452 - Weeks & Heron

Hi there! My name is Quintin Smith, a senior nursing student from Gate City, VA. On campus, I am involved in the Governance Committee, Sigma Theta Tau, Student Ambassadors, and the Nursing Student Association. Outside of school, I love to hike, scuba dive and play pickleball! I’m really looking forward to working with everyone this semester. This course was my favorite, and I hope that you will enjoy it just as much as I did!