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Health Promotion

Peer Education at DU HCC

The Thrive Peer Educators are a team of undergraduate students who work as a part of the Department of Health Promotion at the University of Denver's Health and Counseling Center. The team employs about 20 paid Peer Educators annually. Learn more about the program, and how to get involved, below!

Thrive Peer Educators are a passionate group of student leaders who promote the health and well-being of the DU campus community through education and engagement. As part of the HCC Health Promotion team, Thrive Peer Educators develop programs and implement outreach efforts surrounding sexual health, mental health, alcohol & other drug education, and gender-based violence prevention. They also facilitate DU's required active bystander intervention training for all new undergraduate students (Intervene: DU), serve as HCC ambassadors, and act as liaisons between the DU community and health professionals. This paid position is a 1 year commitment, with offers typically extended for students who are not graduating (i.e., you can return to this position as a junior, senior, etc.). Peer Educators are required to work in their positions 30-40 hours per quarter.

Information about applying can be found under the "Interested in Becoming a Peer Educator?" tab below.

Meet the Thrive Peer Educators!
    • Anit Tyagi photo

      Anit Tyagi

      Pronouns :  He/Him/His

      Majors: Chemistry, Political Science; Minors- Biology, Math

      Personal Interests: Playing pickleball, reading current events, watching TV

    • Dyna Arriaga photo

      Dyna Arriaga

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Gender and Women's Studies, Psychology

      Personal Interests: Scary movies and boba

    • Gracie Jacobson photo

      Gracie Jacobson

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Theatre & Finance

      Personal Interests: Guitar, backpacking, mountain biking

    • Jackson Burow photo

      Jackson Burow

      Pronouns : He/Him/His

      Major: BA/MA candidate in International Studies

      Personal Interests: Politics, sports, social justice, skiing, hiking, music

    • Jill Girardeau photo

      Jill Girardeau

      Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers

      Major: Undeclared

      Personal Interests:  Running, hiking, being outside, making art

    • John Haddock photo

      John Haddock

      Pronouns : He/Him/His

      Majors: Political Science, Public Policy; Minors: Leadership Studies, Statistics

      Personal Interests: Politics, dogs, meditation

    • Kameron Gottlieb photo

      Kameron Gottlieb

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Major: Molecular Biology, Minors- Chemistry and Sustainability

      Personal Interests: Playing guitar, dancing, knitting, skiing, and doing pretty much anything outdoors

    • Kate Maegley photo

      Kate Maegley

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Major: Psychology

      Personal Interests: Yoga, cooking, reading, menstrual equity

    • Kendrick Choong photo

      Kendrick Choong

      Pronouns:   He/Him/His

      Major: Business Analytics

      Personal Interests:   Weight-lifting, video games, college education

    • Lanie Cohen photo

      Lanie Cohen

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Gender & Women's Studies, Strategic Communications/ Intercultural Global Studies

      Personal Interests: Travel, skiing, childcare, reading, fashion, politics

    • Maya Bhowmik photo

      Maya Bhowmik

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Major: International Studies; Minors- Biology, Leadership Studies, Critical Race & Ethnic Studies

      Personal Interests: Reading, art, walks, live music, learning, deconstructing systems of oppression, cooking new things/family recipes, quality time with loved ones

      Megan Morrell photo

    • Megan Morrell

      Pronouns : She/Her/Hers

      Major: Political Science

      Personal Interests: Reading, debate, environmentalism

    • Morgan Martin photo

      Morgan Martin

      Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

      Major: Molecular Biology; Minors- Spanish, Chemistry, Leadership Studies

      Personal Interests: Singing, playing the guitar, writing, reading, politics, listening to podcasts

    • Naitra Ramchander photo

      Naitra Ramchander

      Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Molecular Biology & Psychology; Minors: Chemistry, Leadership, and Gender & Women's Studies

      Personal Interests: Hiking/backpacking, traveling, reading

    • Paige Otto photo

      Paige Otto

      Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Public Policy & Socio-Legal Studies

      Personal Interests: Cross stitching, yoga, dogs, & a cappella

    • Sara Loughran photo

      Sara Loughran

      Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers

      Major: International Studies; Minors: English & Spanish

      Personal Interests: Writing, improv, video games, listening to music (k-pop especially), spending time with animals

    • Sarah Liang photo

      Sarah Liang

      Pronouns:  She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Psychology, Chinese; Minor- Marketing

      Personal Interests: Baking/cooking, shopping, reading, playing piano, listening to music

    • Susanna Skaran photo

      Susanna Skaran

      Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

      Majors: Psychology, Communication

      Personal Interests: Crafting, journaling, watching TV, sometimes reading

    • Victoria Rubio photo

      Victoria Rubio

      Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

      Major: Bio Chemistry; Minors: Psychology, Math, & Medical Physics

      Personal Interests: Skiing & painting

    • Wesley Mysinger photo

      Wesley Mysinger

      Pronouns : He/Him/His

      Majors: Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience concentration), French

      Personal Interests: Making/drinking coffee, working out, cooking, reading research literature

Interested in Becoming a Peer Educator?

Thrive Peer Health EducatorsThe Thrive Peer Education team interviews and hires new members in the Winter Quarter each year. To apply, you will fill out an online application (link below). If you are selected for an interview, a staff-person from Health Promotion will reach out to set up an interview with you. Once you complete the in-person interview, a decision will be made and someone from Health Promotion will let you know if you've been hired!


Check out the info below to learn more about the hiring process and to submit your application!

How to Apply

Do you care about college health issues such as mental health, sexual health, gender-based violence prevention, and alcohol and other drug topics? Do you have a passion for educating your peers about these issues and working to create a culture of care on our campus? Then apply to become a Thrive Peer Educator!

Applications for the 2021-2022 Thrive Peer Educator program will open on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 and will close on Friday, February 19th, 2021. Interviews will be scheduled upon invitation on Thursday, February 25th and Friday, February 26th on a sign-up basis. Position offers will be made on Monday, March 1st and we will ask that final decisions to accept or decline these offers will be returned by Friday, March 5th, 2021.

In order to qualify to be a Thrive Peer Educator, you must attend mandatory training in the Spring 2021 Quarter. The Thrive Peer Educator team will meet on Fridays from 10AM-12PM each week during Spring Quarter. Training will cover designated focus area content and professional development related to the position.

View the full position description here.

Ready to apply? Click here to apply to the Thrive Peer Educator position!

FAQs

What happened to the Intervene Peer Educators? Why is there only one program now?
The two former Peer Educator teams have been merged under one program as of Fall 2020, still providing the same trainings and focus on Health Promotion topics. The Thrive Peer Educators will be facilitating the Intervene: DU training requirement like they have before, the RSO training requirement, and providing additional programming for the same focus areas through subcommittees.

I am not able to attend the required Spring training for the peer education program; should I still apply?
The Spring 2021 training is required for all new Peer Educators. It will be a time to learn content and build relationships with the rest of your team. If you are unable to attend the Spring training, you will not be eligible to be hired. We invite you to reapply next year!

Can I use my work-study award toward the Peer Education position?
Yes! On the application, there is a question that asks if you qualify for a work-study award. You can indicate "Yes", and whether you would like to apply that award to the Thrive Peer Educator role.

I will be studying abroad next Fall; can I still apply?
If you are applying as a new Peer Educator for the 2021-2022 year, we unfortunately cannot consider you for the position because we require a 1 year service commitment. We invite you to reapply next year!

I am not available on the interview day; can I still apply?
We can be flexible on the interview date and time. Please contact Katie Johnson, Graduate Assistant Peer Education Supervisor, at katie.johnson739@du.edu to set up an alternate time within 1 week of the original interview date. Please notify us promptly about your interest in setting up an alternative interview time.

What is the hour commitment and/or compensation for being a Peer Educator?
Each Peer Educator can expect to work approximately 30-40 hours per quarter, averaging 3-4 hours per week, with the expectation of working some evening and weekend events. Peer Educators will be compensated at $14.77/hour for work related to the position.