GET TO KNOW OCC CONSULTANT Lucy Schneider
February 25, 2026
By Emma DeSantis
Lucy Schneider
Junior, general communication major with minors in Jewish studies and nonprofit leadership & social innovation, fourth semester as a peer consultant at the OCC.
Lucy Schneider is one of the enthusiastic, reliable and knowledgeable peer consultants at the Oral Communication Center (OCC) who is ready to help every client grow as a public speaker. She answered some questions for me regarding her role as a mentor in the OCC.
Why did you choose to become a part of the OCC?
“I love public speaking and want to share the skills and confidence I have with other students.”
What is your favorite movie?
“Crazy Rich Asians!”
What is your worst habit when presenting/speaking publicly?
“I tend to fidget a lot, so I purposely use my hands for emphasis instead of playing with my hair or jewelry.”
How do you think an OCC session is more beneficial to a client than practicing on their own?
“Practicing in front of a trained tutor can help identify room for improvement and minor public speaking errors that may not be considered by yourself.”
How can a client apply what they learned in an OCC session to future situations?
“Public speaking is something everyone is going to have to do at one point in their life whether it’s for their job, graduate school. Interviews, or just meeting new people!”
What is a tip that you give to almost every client?
“Smile! Smiling shows emotion and can convey confidence even if you do not feel it!
Lucy’s right! According to communication coach Ellyn Wulfe, smiling while giving a speech or presentation can not only make you appear and feel more confident, but it can also help build rapport with your audience and calm your nerves.
What would you say to a client who says they’re embarrassed to practice their presentation or speech with you?
“Totally valid! I am not here to judge but to help. But if you are even too embarrassed for that, you can bring in a video, and we can help point out places for improvement.”
What advice do you have for a client who feels like they aren’t prepared for the meeting?
“Come with whatever you have got! We help from every stage of the public speaking process from coming up with speech ideas to delivering the speech!”
What would you do to help a client whose presentation is unfinished?
“I would give feedback on what they have so far and give advice on the types of ways they can keep adding, as opposed to doing it for them.”
Lucy highlights that peer consultants can offer you a personalized experience. She makes it clear that no matter where you are in your process, no matter your level of confidence, no matter the topic OCC peer consultants are there and happy to help.
Book your appointment with the OCC today!