Peer Leaders
In a given academic year, hundreds of students are employed as Peer Leaders across eleven Carleton offices. These roles allow students the platform to work with staff to create programming, resources, and peer support for the campus community. Students are provided opportunities to analyze data, attend leadership trainings, collaborate across departments, gain feedback, and think critically about their own professional development and skill attainment.
The Peer Leader Program
While each office provides a unique personal and professional experience for its student staff, the Peer Leader Program serves to synthesize the work of all eleven offices. This effort is coordinated by a dedicated group of staff supervisors working together under the title of Peer Leader Committee to promote and develop the student leadership experience at Carleton.
Generally, Peer Leaders can expect the following responsibilities in their roles:
- Lead programs and services with peers, staff, and faculty to help create a welcoming and inclusive campus community.
- Serve as ambassadors for their offices and connect students to vital resources offered by the college.
- Act as additional support for new students during New Student Week, including by leading discussions with groups of new students related to CarlsTalk topics.
- Participate in training, such as Title IX Training, Fall Peer Leader Training, New Student Week Training, Peer Leader Winter Conference and Spring Celebration.
- Positions may also involve the opportunity to mentor other students and peers, depending on the office in which the Peer Leader position is hosted.
- Peer leaders receive intentional coaching, engage in on-going self-reflection, and participate in other opportunities to grow into outstanding young leaders fully prepared to succeed in life after graduation.
Open the office descriptions below to learn more about each specific Peer Leader office and responsibilities of the position.
Career Center
Student Career Assistants (SCAs) support students with career content and work with them to create compelling application materials. Topics include: exploring majors and occupations, pursuing internships and jobs (both domestic and international), writing and editing cover letters & résumés, preparing for interviews, networking effectively, applying for funding for internships, etc. SCAs also do campus outreach through programming throughout the year. The SCA position will allow you to develop a wide range of transferable skills for your future!
Contact: Sarah Rechtzigel, Shannon Lehwald
Career Center – position description
Gender & Sexuality Center
The Gender & Sexuality Center Associates (GSCAs) are responsible for fostering campus community through programs, education, outreach, and student support as it relates to gender & sexuality and LGBTQIA+ communities. Each GSCA will hold one of our three roles: Marketing & Communications, Campus Education & Resources, and Coordination & Belonging. GSCAs will gain experience in peer education, event planning, resource management, facilitation, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and community-building.
Contact: Kalena Thwaits
Gender & Sexuality Center – position description
Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR)
Becoming an Accessibility Resource Peer Leader is an opportunity to positively impact Carleton and the greater community. Our peer leaders have the opportunity to mentor and support first-year students, provide academic support to peers, promote a positive disability culture through the implementation of campus activities, and help with program development.
Contact person: Elijah Genheimer
Accessibility Resources – position description
Office of the Chaplain
Chaplain’s Associates (CAs) are a vital part of the team working to enhance religious diversity and deepen the spiritual and ethical life of the campus. CAs attend weekly Chapel services and staff meetings; work on special projects (e.g. discussion groups, religious road trips, meditation or prayer groups, social justice activities, etc); meet with representatives of student religious groups. CAs should be supportive of religious diversity without compromising their convictions. A Chaplain’s Associate must possess initiative, openness to the new or unfamiliar, a willingness to share and speak out about his/her/their faith, an ability to listen to others, and an eagerness to grow and learn.
Contact person: Christa Carlson, Rev. Schuyler Vogel ’07
Office of the Chaplain – position description
Office of Health Promotion
Within the Office of Health Promotion (OHP), Student Wellness Advocates (SWAs) utilize evidence-based public health approaches to support the well-being of Carleton students via educational programming, creation of resources, and connection to services. SWAs have broad public health responsibilities and also participate in one specific priority area based on their preferences, with the options of 1) sleep, 2) mental health, 3) sexual violence prevention, 4) sexual health and well-being, and 5) alcohol, cannabis, and other drug prevention.
Contact: Cassandra Worner
Office of Health Promotion – position description
Office of Intercultural Life
The Office of Intercultural Life provides resources and programs on issues of equity, inclusion, and diversity. OIL centers the experiences of students of color while working collaboratively to create a campus-wide culture of understanding and authentic living. The OIL Peer Leader program supports first-year students’ smooth transition to Carleton through mentorship, social events, and skill-building workshops. OIL Peer Leaders offer new students a personal perspective on the experience of living, growing, and succeeding in the Carleton community.
Contact Person: Edwinna Johnson
Office of Intercultural Life – position description
Office of International Student Life
International Student Life provides resources and programming for international students to help provide an equitable and successful experience at Carleton. Our goal is to foster global citizens who excel inside and outside of the classroom and will represent Carleton around the world. International Peer Leaders help new international students and global nomads transition to life at Carleton, providing mentorship, friendship, and cultural support to a cohort of first-year students. Peer Leaders are expected to focus on strengthening our community that celebrates individual differences and inclusivity.
Contact person: Jason Ford
Office of International Student Life – position description
Residential Life
Resident Assistants (RAs) play a vital role in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and dynamic living environment at Carleton. They help create a community where students feel safe, engaged, and empowered to grow both personally and academically. RAs assist residents in adjusting to shared living spaces, promoting mutual respect, civility, and an appreciation for diversity. Through educational and social programming, they encourage meaningful connections, identity exploration, and holistic development, ensuring a positive residential experience for all.
Contact: Melaney Kamenick
Residential Life – position description
Student Activities Office
The Student Activities Office (SAO) develops and coordinates a variety of social, recreational, cultural, and developmental programs and services. In conjunction with The Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB) and The Carleton Student Association (CSA), we offer and support programs and services designed to challenge beliefs, educate others, inspire the individual, entertain the soul, and create a sense of campus community and pride.
Contact person: Grace Esselman
Student Activities Office – position description
Sustainability Office
Sustainability Assistants (STAs) help to carry out campus-wide sustainability initiatives and serve as a resource for students, faculty, and staff. STAs report to Carleton’s Director of Sustainability. Each STA generally focuses on 1-2 areas of expertise, but all STAs are expected to assist with major events such as Climate Action and Earth Week planning efforts. We build sustainability literacy and support cultural and structural change at Carleton and the surrounding community.
Contact person: Demetrius Blackmon-Jimenez ’24
The Sustainability Office – position description
TRIO / Student Support Services
The TRIO peer leaders help fellow TRIO students thrive at Carleton through a variety of efforts. Peer leaders plan and coordinate many activities, mentor first-year students, and assist TRIO staff with office tasks and the lending library.
Contact person: Neil Winberg
TRIO – Student Support Services – position description
The Peer Leader Committee was created to unify and strengthen the Peer Leader program. This Committee has two main goals:
- To develop a successful and inclusive combined Peer Leader training program; and
- To identify how to best utilize the talent, energy and spirit of the Peer Leaders in assisting fellow students in a collaborative manner.
In pursuing these goals, the committee hopes to build camaraderie among Peer Leaders, promote greater understanding of the varied resources available to students, and ultimately lead to a higher level of student satisfaction and development.
Goals of the Peer Leader Program
Carleton’s peer leader program provides leadership development experiences to more than 200 student employees across 11 campus offices. Peer Leaders develop skills in a collaborative work environment and are involved in leading programs and services with peers, staff, and faculty to help create a welcoming and inclusive campus community. They serve as ambassadors for their offices and connect students to vital resources offered by the college. Peer leaders receive intentional coaching, engage in on-going self-reflection, and participate in other opportunities to grow into outstanding young leaders fully prepared to succeed in life after graduation.
Mission
Provide intentional opportunities for student employees to develop leadership and practical skills during their time at Carleton.
Vision
Carls are engaged in life-long learning that prioritizes their individual growth and continued development.
Values
As a collective of Student Life offices and friends of the division, the Peer Leader program strives to embody these values:
- Holistic Development: We focus on each Peer Leader as a whole person, providing ongoing personal and professional development opportunities and support through their successes and failures.
- Connection: We foster individual connections for mentorship as well as community connections through opportunities to interact with Peer Leaders from other campus offices.
- Critical Reflection: We encourage office supervisors and Peer Leaders to engage in critical reflection on their skill development and experiential learning.
Learning Outcomes
By participating in the Peer Leader Program, Carleton Peer Leaders will:
- Develop tools for effective communication
- Demonstrate a valuing of difference
- Practice ethical reasoning
- Exercise collaboration
- Demonstrate self-awareness
- Manage complexity effectively
By the Numbers
Carleton’s peer leader program provides leadership development experiences to 200 student employees across 11 campus offices. There were 254 unique applicants for the 2024-2025 academic year and 109 returners were hired. Residential Life has the largest group with 81 Peer Leaders while other offices range from 3 to 18.