Grad Peer Mentors at Iowa

Why become a peer mentor to another graduate student? For graduate students mentoring a peer provides space to develop your leadership skills, understand your mentoring style, and support a first-year student during their transition to Iowa.

Core skills you will develop include:

  1. Deep knowledge of campus resources including health, disability services, academic, teaching and inclusion supports.
  2. Reflection on your own mentoring style though special training focused on supporting peers and grad school transitions and mentoring practice.
  3. Insights into being a mentee. Our mentors report insights into how they can best leverage time with their own mentors.
  4. Opportunities to make a difference in the life of a new graduate student and set the scene for an inclusive and impactful grad school experience.

“I remember how difficult it was for me to adjust to a new city and a new department when I first started, so I am glad I can support first-year students in that endeavor and be a safe resource for them to come to with any challenges they may be facing…my experience as a mentor will allow me to be a more effective leader in whatever I choose to do following graduation.”

Sydney (5th year PhD student mentor)

Expectations

To participate as a mentor:

  • 2nd year or later graduate student in good standing
  • Commitment to attend at least 1 mentor training (Spring session or August 21st)
  • Ability to attend the meetup on August 21st
  • Commitment to mentor at least 1x/month Sept-May* 

*Free events and activities will be provided, but mentor pairs can also choose to meet up outside these events.

“The P2P program has helped me gain perspective on the experience of those who come into a PhD program with little knowledge of what it entails…it has also made me a better mentee myself - by knowing what a mentor needs in order to effectively help me, I am better able to communicate with my own mentors what they need to help me.”

Jeff (3rd year PhD mentor)

Sign up to be a mentor today

Sign up to be a mentor by filling out this short survey to tell us a little bit more about yourself. We use this information to help make the best possible matches.

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