Fostering Inclusive and Brave Conversations
Diversity Peer Educators (DPEs) are Rutgers–New Brunswick students committed to educating their peers on topics of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. DPEs serve as a resource to students, provide workshops/educational sessions, and facilitate dialogue spaces. Session topics are tailored to educate students on identity development, race, class, gender, sexuality, abilities, and more. DPEs are trained to facilitate inclusive and brave conversations, and are an integral part of enhancing our student affairs commitment to building inclusive communities across the New Brunswick campus.
Diversity Peer Educators host several educational opportunities throughout the year, including:
- Training Programs
- Research, Scholarship, & Current Event Showcases
- Activism & Service Programs
- Conversation & Processing Spaces
- Passive Engagement (social media, web, etc)
- Ad-hoc Workshop Requests
Request a Diversity Peer Education Session
DPE Workshop Offerings
- America: An Indigenous & Native Land
This session examines the true history of the land we live on, centering Indigenous voices and experiences. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of colonization, land acknowledgment, and what it means to honor Indigenous sovereignty today.
- Disability & Ableism
This session encourages participants to grow an increased understanding of the people who identify as having a disability. Participants will be able to identify examples of ableism in social, medical, and systemic contexts, reflect on how ableism shows up in everyday language, behavior, and institutions, and strategize how to build more accessible and inclusive spaces.
- Diversity Across Faith, Spirituality, & Justice
The purpose of our Diversity Across Faith, Spirituality, & Justice session is to develop an understanding of how different faiths represent themselves worldwide, analyze how their experiences with religion have shaped their views on justice, and understand unjust experiences within faith communities.
- Diversity in Media
In this session, we will review the importance of diversity in movies, television, books, and other forms of media. We will discuss what it means to be more diverse, why diversity is important, and how to incorporate diversity respectfully.
- Gender in Society: Feminism
This session is an introductory conversation about feminism. It covers different nuances of the feminist movement and sheds light on its evolving nature. We will go over the history of feminism, different theories of feminism, and important national and global feminist movements.
- Gender in Society: Transphobia
This session provides a safe space to understand and confront transphobia in our communities. We will discuss how to be a better ally, the importance of using correct pronouns and names, and how to spot and challenge harmful stereotypes and policies to create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
- Immigration in America
This session has been developed as a direct response to the increase in harmful rhetoric that impacts the experiences of immigrants in America. Participants will learn about the history of immigration, the positive contributions that immigrants have made to American society and culture, and strategize ways to support immigrants during the current national climate.
- Mental Health & You
This session explores the importance of mental health and self-care, especially for students navigating stress, identity, and community pressures. Participants will learn practical strategies for maintaining emotional well-being and fostering supportive spaces for themselves and others.
- Police Brutality
This session was developed as a direct response to the increased instances of police brutality that directly harm communities of color and other marginalized communities. Participants will investigate specific instances of police brutality while having open and respectful dialogue about the history and potential future of the police force in America.
- Power & Privilege
This session explores how power and privilege shape individual experiences, relationships, and systems. Through discussion and interactive activities, participants will build awareness of social dynamics and develop tools to support equity and inclusion.
- Pronouns are Words, Too
This session explores what pronouns are, why they matter, and how using them respectfully helps create more inclusive communities. This interactive workshop explores pronoun diversity, common misconceptions, and practical ways to confidently share and use pronouns in everyday interactions.
- Race in America
This session will explore both the history and present-day impact of the role that race plays in the U.S. We will go over the differences between race, ethnicity, and what it means to be racialized. We will also discuss the impact of white supremacy and racism in institutions, systems, and other aspects of society.
- Racism in Leadership
This session encourages participants to reflect on, identify, and analyze how racism appears in interpersonal and institutional/systemic practices, especially in leadership settings. Participants will strategize ways to create more inclusive spaces and practice allyship in leadership roles.
- Courageous Conversations
This workshop is meant to be customized to the specific needs of your organization or team. Courageous Conversations provides a brave and protected space for students to engage in difficult dialogue across different perspectives while centering respect and the collective well-being of the community.
- CLARA: A Tool for Navigating Contentious Conversations
This hour-long workshop unpacks the CLARA (calm, listen, affirm, respond, add) method of communication as a tool for engaging in difficult conversations respectfully.
*DPEs are trained CLARA facilitators. Request a CLARA Training through the Tyler Clementi Center's request form: go.rutgers.edu/tccrequest
Contact Us
The Diversity Peer Educators program is coordinated through the Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities.
If you have questions or inquiries, please contact Paolo Miyashiro Bedoya, Assistant Director of Education, at ru.dpe@rutgers.edu.
Follow the DPE Program on Instagram @rutgers_DPE.
Apply to be a Diversity Peer Educator
The application to become a Diversity Peer Educator for the 2027 - 2028 academic year is now open! Visit go.rutgers.edu/dpeapp to apply. Any questions can be directed to ru.dpe@rutgers.edu.
Recruitment Timeline
- Priority Application Deadline: November 18th, 2026
- Application fully closes on November 25th, 2026
- Eligible applicants will be invited to interview during the week of November 30th via Zoom.
- Candidates are notified of their acceptance to the position during the week of December 7th.
- Upon notification of their acceptance, all candidates are required to enroll in 01:904:392 - Topics in Social Justice at their earliest convenience.
- The course runs as a minicourse from March 10, 2027 to April 3, 2027. Wednesdays, 2 pm - 5 pm, College Ave Campus
- This course is a requirement for all prospective Diversity Peer Educators.
Learn more about the DPE role and application process at upcoming info sessions and tablings!
Eligibility
- Be a full-time Rutgers University–New Brunswick student
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75
- Be in good academic and judicial standing at the time of application and for the duration of employment
- Upon selection, DPEs must enroll in and pass a 1.5-credit course (01:904:392 - Topics in Social Justice) in the spring semester before their appointment (ex: to be a DPE for the 2027-2028 academic year, the course must be completed in the Spring 2027 semester).
Responsibilities
- Organize and execute at least three educational offerings per semester.
- Facilitate ad-hoc workshop requests, with a primary focus on student audiences.
- Collaborate with fellow DPEs to conduct outreach and build strategic relationships with student groups and University departments.
- Attend bi-weekly DPE meetings.
- Be available for other duties as needed, such as open/drop-in hours, planning meetings, professional development sessions, and scheduled retreats
DPEs will utilize their training in basic facilitation skills to engage participants in brave conversations. They will guide debrief discussions on a chosen topic and challenge participants to take what they learned into their communities across campus.
For a complete job description, visit go.rutgers.edu/DPEJD.
Required Training - 01:904:392 - Topics in Social Justice
01:904:312 - Topics in Social Justice is mandatory for all prospective Diversity Peer Educators and meets in person once a week during the second half of the spring semester. The course will consist of a series of activities, discussions, readings, and writings that will be used to expand the participants' knowledge about diversity from a historical and contemporary perspective. Additionally, the course covers facilitation techniques and best practices. Throughout the course, DPEs will work to develop workshops and programs that center on topics of interest as they relate to the mission of the DPE Program.
Compensation
The annual stipend for 2027 - 2028 is currently $2,038, paid out biweekly at minimum wage throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Contact Us
The Diversity Peer Educators program is coordinated through the Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities.
If you have questions or inquiries, please contact Paolo Miyashiro Bedoya, Assistant Director of Education, at ru.dpe@rutgers.edu.
Follow the DPE Program on Instagram @rutgers_DPE.
