Health Promotion
Peer Education at DU HCC
Peer Education within the Health and Counseling Center's Department of Health Promotion is made up of two teams: the Intervene Peer Educators and the Thrive Peer Health Educators. Each team employs 10 peer educators annually. Learn more about each of the programs and how to get involved below!
Intervene Peer Educators
The Intervene Peer Educators are a select group of students who educate the DU community on gender violence prevention and active bystander skills through outreach, programs, and training. Intervene Intervene Peer Educators receive over 40 hours of professional development training in gender violence and trauma topics, inclusive excellence practice, and effective facilitation.
Intervene Peer Educators facilitate "Intervene: DU," the active bystander trainings for all new, incoming first year students as well as the "Unpacking Gender Violence" training for returning students, in addition to other trainings requested by the DU community at large. The position is a 1 year commitment, with offers typically extended to students who are not graduating (i.e., you can return to this position as a junior, senior, etc).
View the full position description here. Information about applying can be found under the "Interested in Becoming a Peer Educator?" tab below.
Meet the Intervene Peer Educators!
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Courtney Cuff
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Psychology, Gender and Women's Studies
Personal Interests: Netflix, doing yoga, and spending time with friends
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I became a peer educator because I think it is our responsibility as students on this campus and people in general to watch out for each other and I want to be a part of giving others the tools to do so.
Favorite way to intervene: I think my favorite moments intervening come when I can step in when people make a problematic comment and I can see that by saying something I was able to help them stop and think and will hopefully influence their actions in the future.
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Gracie Jacobson
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Theatre, Finance
Personal Interests: Running, playing guitar, big fan of old horror movies
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I believe awareness and the spreading of information is an effective way to encourage intervening.
Favorite way to intervene: Sticking close to my friends if they look like someone is making them uncomfortable so the other person knows I’m there.
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Isabella Kent
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Psychology, Gender & Women's Studies
Personal Interests: I love hiking and being outside.
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I am passionate about creating change in my own community.
Favorite way to intervene: My favorite way to intervene is directly addressing the issue at hand by approaching people as a friend, with care.
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JJ Khan
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Major: Psychology, Socio-Legal Studies
Personal Interests: Soccer, movies, crossword puzzles
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I believe in how powerful peer intervention can be and I see it as more important than ever on our campus and across the World as a whole when it comes to issues surrounding identity-based bias and violence. I hope to utilize my identities and experiences to empower my peers to intervene in difficult situations as well.
Favorite way to intervene: While out at a party Freshman or Sophomore year, I noticed two individuals that I was concerned about. I went over to see if they were doing alright and much to my delight, they both stated that they were fine and were super appreciative of my concern. It was really cool to have that validation and realize how appreciative intervening is on our campus.
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Kate Maegly
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Psychology, Communication Studies
Personal Interests: Yoga, reading, movies, cooking
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I wanted to be able to make a positive difference in our DU community by getting the word out about bystander intervention, something I wholeheartedly believe in.
Favorite way to intervene: I really love moments when I am able to help someone realize that a behavior being perpetrated against them is not okay and being able to guide them through all the options they have of how to improve the situation.
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Ken Fowler
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: International Studies
Personal Interests: Hiking, camping, painting and fitness
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I became an Intervene Peer Educator because I believe in what the Intervene course teaches and that the access to such information for our community has the power to change culture surrounding sexual assault, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse as well as other important topics.
Favorite way to intervene: My favorite way of intervention is group intervention. I love seeing a group of people working together to stand up for what is right and putting a stop to harmful behaviors on our campus.
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Kayla Franklin
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Major: Sociology, minors in Spanish, Gender & Women's Studies
Personal Interests: Wire wrapping crystals, yoga, hiking, writing, spending time with family and friends
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I decided to become an Intervene Peer Educator because gender violence is a very prevalent issue among U.S. universities and has personally impacted both mine and many of my peers' lives. I just want to help change a culture that normalizes gender violence and allows for it to continue.
Favorite way to intervene: My favorite type of intervention is when I don't even have to intervene, because my presence in a room is enough for people to correct themselves. On several occasions I have witness people correcting their use of derogatory terms simply because I was there and they knew I would say something if they did not.
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Lois Shih
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Theatre, Communication Studies, minors in Leadership Studies, Chinese
Personal Interests: Coffee, long romantic walks (indoors), and crying over Meryl Streep
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: At its simplest level, I care about people. I think it's basic human decency to look out for one another and it's not enough, nor okay, to be a passive bystander.
Favorite way to intervene: THE CHIP GUY. If you don't know about the Chip Guy, please YouTube him. Classic.
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Paige Otto
Intervene Peer Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Socio-Legal Studies, Public Policy
Personal Interests: A capella (in the on campus all female group!), musical theatre, yoga
Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: To be a part of this impetus for change.
Favorite way to intervene: Sitting down with someone and explaining to them why something that’s been said to them is problematic and they are valid in feeling how they are.
Thrive Peer Health Educators
Thrive Peer Health Educators are a select group of student leaders who promote the health of the DU campus community through inclusive education and engagement. As part of the HCC Health Promotion team, Thrive Peer Health Educators develop programs and implement outreach efforts regarding sexual health, mental health, and alcohol and other drug topics. In addition, Thrive Peer Health Educators serve as HCC ambassadors, as well as liaisons between the DU community and health professionals. This paid position is a 1 year commitment, typically working 30-40 hours per quarter along with a 20 hour mandatory Spring training requirement.
View the full position description here. Information about applying can be found under the "Interested in Becoming a Peer Educator?" tab below.
Meet the Thrive Peer Health Educators!
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Austin Johnson
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Major: Biology; Minors: Psychology, Medical Physics, & Leadership
Public Health Interests: Medicine, dual degree MPH/MS
Personal Interests: Fitness/nutrition, sci-fi movies, anything technology, foodie
What health means to me: Health means a sound body and mind that are synchronized in a way that allows one to pursue their dreams unencumbered by sickness, fear, or anxiety.
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Jane Zunamon
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Strategic Communication & Art
Public Health Interests: Mental healthcare
Personal Interests: Soccer & jigsaw puzzles
What health means to me: Health means to care for yourself mentally and physically in a positive way.
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Julia Norton
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Psychology; Minor: English
Public Health Interests: Mental health & sexual health
Personal Interests: Skiing, hiking, and making art
Why I'm interested in health education: I am interested in health education because I am particularly passionate about mental health advocacy and education.
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Kate Petty
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Molecular Biology; Minors: Math & Chemistry
Public Health Interests: Mental health advocacy
Personal Interests: CrossFit, painting, knitting, flute, cooking, hiking, Star Trek, elephants
What health means to me: Being able to live without any physical, mental, social, or emotional problems that limit what a person would normally do. And finding a sustainable balance between these four areas in life.
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Maddy Klaysmat
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Molecular Biology; Minors: Psychology, Chemistry, & Spanish
Public Health Interests: Sexual & mental health
Personal Interests: Hiking, camping, traveling
Why I'm interested in health education: I think it is very important that everyone has all the information and knowledge to live a healthy life. I've noticed many gaps in the DU community and would like to do my part in helping give people the education they need to be healthy and successful.
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Naitra Ramchander
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Majors: Molecular Biology & Psychology; Minors: Chemistry, Leadership, and Gender & Women's Studies
Public Health Interests: Mental health, women's health, sexual health
Personal Interests: Hiking/backpacking, traveling, reading
Why I'm interested in health education: I believe that it is so important for students to be aware of their resources that are available to them and to utilize these resources to better themselves.
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Rae Woody
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Psychology; Minor: Sociology & Communication
Public Health Interests: Health inequities and public health
Personal Interests: Playing softball and chess
Why I'm interested in health education: I am interested in health education because it has many factors that aren't just limited to medical services but includes social engagement and outreach.
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Victoria Rubio
Thrive Peer Health Educator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Major: Bio Chemistry; Minors: Psychology, Math, & Medical Physics
Public Health Interests: Mental health
Personal Interests: Skiing & painting
What health means to me: Health means maintaining a balance of life choices for your mind and body in order to feel your best.