Peer Education supports UNH’s academic mission by providing students with opportunities to design and implement health promotion activities for peers by peers on campus. Our peer educators are trained to help their fellow students make lifestyle choices that support academic success and enhance personal wellness.
At UNH, peer educators help implement:
- Educational programs for classrooms, residence halls and student organizations
- Special events such as Eating Concerns Awareness Week, Body Positivity Week, Nutrition Month, and Wellness Fest/Fresh Check Day
- Outreach activities at homecoming, concerts, and other campus events
- Educational tables around campus
- Social media and social marketing campaigns
- Peer-to-peer mentoring
Become a Peer Educator
All UNH students who have an interest in wellness and helping others are eligible to become a Health & Wellness peer educator. Peer educators are supervised by Living Well Educator/Counselors.
We offer three unique peer education groups:
- Alcohol, Nicotine, & Other Drugs (ANOD) Peer Educators (applications open on a rolling basis)
Educational programming to support peers in making informed choices regarding use and non-use of alcohol, tobacco, & other drugs. - Nourish UNH (applications closed)
Educational programming and outreach about eating well. - Eating Concerns Mentors (ECMs) (applications closed)
Confidential peer-to-peer support and information about body image, eating concerns and eating disorders.
Training
Peer educators gain skills in:
- Development, implementation, and assessment of health promotion practices
- Oral communication skills, including group facilitation and public speaking
- Interpersonal skills based on compassion and empathy for helping others
- Creative problem-solving strategies, including helping peers understand behavior change and developing attainable action plans
- Leadership skills, including helping other peer educators stay motivated to meet the program’s goals
- Culturally competent programming and outreach
- Creating community change through education, support, and advocacy
- Marketing and communications skills, including social media and social marketing
Peer educators gain expertise in the Wellness Wheel:
- Emotional
- Social
- Physical
- Spiritual
- Environmental
- Occupational
- Intellectual
- Financial
Benefits
- Certification as a UNH Peer Educator
- Skills to build your resume
- Opportunities to network with variety of professionals and students
- Become a part of the Health & Wellness team
- Knowledge to enhance your own personal health and wellness
- Opportunities to be creative and have FUN!
Expectations
- Commit to being a UNH Peer Educator for at least 2 semesters
- Complete Health & Wellness peer education training and orientation program
- Work collaboratively with Health & Wellness staff and other peer education groups
- Signed agreement to be a part of the Health & Wellness team
- Weekly time commitment (approximately 3 hrs/week)
- Weekly meeting (1 hr/week)
- Participation on sub-committee (1 hr/week), as needed
- Implementation of health promotion activities (1 hr/week)
- Monthly time commitment
- Monthly training on health-specific topics (1 hr/month)
- Attend Health & Wellness events as a peer educator (1x/month)
Application Details
Current open positions:
Students from ALL colleges and majors are encouraged to apply.
