The 2023-24 application for Graduate Peer Mentors is open. 

The Graduate Peer Mentoring Collaborative provides one-year fellowships to 20+ Ph.D. students in CALS, CHASS and CVM. Fellows learn peer mentoring skills, develop support networks and strengthen their leadership abilities.

CALS is recruiting 12 graduate peer mentors for the 2023-2024 academic year to help new students understand the norms and expectations of their departments, share information on resources such as travel grants, and support students in balancing their academic and research responsibilities. Peer mentors will attend about 30 hours of virtual and in-person training, serve as their department’s or program’s key mentor, and support 4+ students per semester.

As a peer mentor, students will:

• receive a stipend of $1,000 for the year
• make and strengthen connections with students within and across departments
• become a trained peer mentor
• contribute to the well-being of fellow graduate students

Join us

If you’re a Ph.D. student (or know of a student) with 18+ hours of coursework and a strong desire to support fellow graduate students, we encourage you to apply for the 2023-24 academic year.

The application portal closes on March 20. If selected, peer mentors will be notified by April 20—Contact Rebecca Dunning with questions.

Reflections from current and past CALS graduate peer mentors

“Participating in the GPM Program allowed me to grow so much as an individual and mentor. The programming allowed me to feel confident, and I had an entire year of practical experience with mentoring and community building.”

“The workshops and training not only helped with my interactions with mentees, but they made me more aware of my holistic role as an educator. I used the learnings and skills in my classrooms- active listening, dialogue, and identifying a distressed student.”

“I have learned a lot from my mentees. I have become a better mentor and listener. Serving as a mentor gives me a sense of purpose and motivation.”

“The program has helped me make new connections with faculty in my college who have a similar interest in and passion for graduate student success.”

“This program has opened my eyes to what a productive and appropriate mentor/mentee relationship looks like.”