The Intervene Peer Educators are a select group of student leaders who educate the DU campus community on gender violence prevention and bystander intervention through outreach, education, and training. Intervene Peer Educators also serve as liaisons between DU students and the Health and Counseling Center. Intervene Peer Educators receive over 40 hours of professional development training in gender violence topics, trauma response, inclusive excellence practice, and effective facilitation.

Interested in Becoming an Intervene Peer Educator?

Do you want to educate your peers and end gender and power-based violence on our campus? Would you like to develop effective facilitation skills and further your social justice development? Apply to be an Intervene Peer Educator!

Intervene Peer Educators facilitate the active bystander trainings for all new, incoming first year students in addition to 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). In order to qualify to be an Intervene Peer Educator, you must attend training in the Spring Quarter. Training will be held for 2 hours, one day per week for 10 weeks. A booster training will be held prior to Discoveries Orientation in Fall.

We hold hiring for new peer educators annually in the Winter Quarter. Did you miss out this year? Contact [email protected] to see how you can be involved!

Meet the Intervene Peer Educators!

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  Cable Jackson

  Intervene Peer Educator
  

  Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs

  Major: Philosophy, Theatre

  Personal Interests: Hammocking with a good book, cooking, going to concerts, watching plays

  Why I became an Intervene Peer Educator: I felt the impact of toxic masculinity in my life, and it made it harder for me to figure out who I was, and how I could be confident in myself. It took a lot of intervening in my friends' choice of words or jokes to find a space in which I felt at home. I wanted to make sure that I could help ensure this was a reality for as many people as possible in my shared community.

  Favorite way to intervene: Favorite intervention style is distraction.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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 are a select group of student leaders who promote the health of the DU campus community through 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.

Interested in becoming a Thrive Peer Health Educator?

The application period for 2018-2019 is now closed. Thank you to all who expressed interest! Hiring for 2019-2020 will take place in Winter 2019. For more information, contact Eva Esakoff.

Qualifications

• Current University of Denver undergraduate student in good academic standing
  Thrive Peer Health Educators must maintain student status throughout their entire year of service
• No active or unresolved conduct violations
  Thrive Peer Health Educators must remain in good conduct standing throughout their year of service
• Ability to serve for the full upcoming academic year
  If you are studying abroad during the upcoming academic year, we cannot consider you for the position.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to serve as a proactive, supportive team member
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with diverse communities on campus
• Passion and commitment to improving the health and well-being of the DU community

Meet the Thrive Peer Health Educators!

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

Have a health question? Ask us!

We understand that sometimes health topics can be sensitive or awkward to talk about, or that you might just need a refresher on what you've learned before! As Thrive Peer Health Educators, we want you to feel comfortable asking your questions, so we've provided this anonymous outlet for you to ask any health-related questions (ex. What's the difference between a male condom and a female condom?):
Ask a Peer Health Educator

We'll review your anonymous question and post responses on our @healthypios Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as well as in campus publications like The Pulse. If you'd like direct follow-up from us, you'll have the option to provide your e-mail address.

We are a group of trained undergraduate peer health educators. Responses should not be considered medical advice. For medical or counseling services, please contact the Health & Counseling Center at 303-871-2205. For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911 or call Campus Safety at 303-871-3000.