Peer Mentor Program

History and Evolution of the Program

Thomas Conway and Elwood Becton created a formal mentor program for African American freshmen at NC State University. The program, which began in 1980, paired freshmen with faculty and staff who served as mentors by contacting them and offering assistance throughout their freshman year.

As a result of a 1981 campus telephone survey indicating student preference for an upper-class peer as a mentor, the program experienced a period of review and reorganization during 1981-82. Individuals instrumental in this planning and advisory process were Brenda Allen, Winser Alexander, Elwood Becton, Lawrence Clark, Thomas Conway, Bill Grant, Wandra Hill, Don Locke, Wilma Peebles, Evelyn Reiman and Gus Witherspoon, to name a few. Thus, in fall 1982, the Peer Mentor Program was born and the concept of “students helping students” became the guiding philosophy. Michael Headen and Andre Givens, graduate assistants, were the first coordinators for the program.

The Peer Mentor Program Today

Today, the Peer Mentor Program is stronger and more effective in aiding the academic, emotional, and social adjustment of not only African Americans but has transformed into a culturally affirming program that serves first-year students from all cultures and ethnicities.

The Peer Mentor Program aims to foster a network of support for first-year students (“mentees”) at NC State University.  The peer mentoring relationship is designed to aid in the academic, emotional, and socio-cultural adjustment to college life for mentees.  Peer Mentors serve as peer support personnel for mentees and share program goals and responsibilities to ensure student participant retention at NC State. The Mentors contribute to the advancement of first-year students by aiding their academic, emotional, and social adjustments to college.

Join Us!

This year, the Peer Mentor Program will kick off on September 11, with application deadlines for Mentors on August 12 and Mentee applications due by September 3. The Peer Mentor Program and all MSA-sponsored/supported programs and initiatives are open to all students from all backgrounds. 

If you are interested in joining the program as a mentor for 2024

If you are a first-year student or transfer student interested in joining the program