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 Sessions
- Power & Privilege
- Race in America
- Gender in Society: Transphobia
- Gender in Society: Feminism
- Immigration in America
- Mental Health & You
- Diversity in Media
- Diversity Across Faith, Religion, & Justice
- America: An Indigenous & Native Land
- Courageous Conversations
Contact Us
The Diversity Peer Educators program is coordinated through the Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities.
If you have specific questions, please contact Paolo Miyashiro Bedoya, Assistant Director of Education, at pm976@echo.rutgers.edu. You can also email ru.dpe@rutgers.edu for general questions and inquiries.
Follow the DPE Program on Instagram @rutgers_DPE.
Apply to be a Diversity Peer Educator
If you would like more information about the DPE program or the application process for the 2027 - 2028 academic year, please contact pm976@echo.rutgers.edu.
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
Responsibilities
- Organize and execute at least three educational offerings per semester.
- Attend bi-weekly DPE meetings.
- Participate in social media campaigns and other passive educational opportunities.
- 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.
Recruitment Timeline
- Applications for the 2027 - 2028 year will open towards the start of the spring 2027 semester.
- Applications close in late February.
- Interviews will occur between March and April of 2027.
- Decisions will be sent in late April 2027.
Upon selection, DPEs must complete online training modules over the summer before participating in a required in-person training retreat before the first week of school. The trainings are mandatory and 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. At the completion of the course, DPEs will work to develop programs for their respective functional areas.
Compensation
The annual stipend for 2026 - 2027 is currently $2,038, paid out biweekly at minimum wage over 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 specific questions, please contact Paolo Miyashiro Bedoya, Assistant Director of Education, at pm976@echo.rutgers.edu. You can also email ru.dpe@rutgers.edu for general questions and inquiries.
Follow the DPE Program on Instagram @rutgers_DPE.
