From doing a LEAD event in WWU’s Burton Hall to speaking at a hall meeting in one of the residential halls, the university’s peer educators are a group of students that deliver presentations and discuss with their fellow students the best way to handle a variety of challenging campus issues they may face during their college years. Still a relatively new organization at The Woods, peer educators advise others by exploring various scenarios, utilizing research and from their own experiences.
According to the Director of Student Involvement and Peer Educators coordinator Lacey Sweeten Randall, the program is a group of students that lead engagement with their peer William Woods students concerning challenging issues such as healthy sexual relationships, substance abuse, emotional and physical health. The program started in 2016.
“The Peer Educators will have the opportunity to become leaders in our campus community on a range of critical issues that impact the daily lives and experiences of students,” Sweeten Randall said. “In doing so, they themselves will gain invaluable program development and presentation skills, group facilitation skills, and primary prevention techniques on a range of relevant issues.”
Learn more about Lacey Sweeten Randall and her role on campus.
Meet the Peer Educators for Fall 2018:
Alexis Armontrout ’19 from Centralia, MO
Major: Biology
Why did you want to get involved in peer educators? I wanted to learn more about important topics that affect many college students and help make a difference on campus!
What is the best part of being a peer educator? I love working with the team to come up with fun events that will benefit the campus by providing students with important information.
Why is it important to have peer educators on campus? I think discussing things together as a student body can help make the campus a better place.
What is one fun fact about you? I had a pet hedgehog named Hurley!
Ben Farrell ’21, from Fayetteville, AR
Major: Exercise Science with a concentration in Athletic Training
What is the best part of being a peer educator? Probably hanging out with the peer educator team. We all like to have fun, and hopefully make a difference in the lives of students who may need it.
Why is it important to have peer educators on campus? Due to the importance of the topics we cover. Not many students know the issues we face on campus every day. The peer educators help to educate everyone, so we can keep the campus safe.
What is one fun fact about you? I spend my summers working at a Christian Summer camp, where I grew up attending and love developing friendships with the kids and showing them they are loved.
Bryce Fletcher, ’21 from Saint Charles, MO
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Why did you want to get involved in peer educators? I wanted to become a Peer Educator because of the concept of continued education for both myself and my peers. I come from an area where topics like alcohol, drugs, sex, and mental health are topics that should be taught at home. I had to take it into my own hands to educate myself and form my own thoughts and ideas about these topics. I know there is a lot that I still don’t know, and I believe this position helps me gain that knowledge.
What is the best part of being a peer educator? I enjoy talking to students about topics they don’t typically talk about or know much about in general. It helps them form new opinions on the topics and makes them more well-informed individuals.
Why is it important to have peer educators on campus? College-age students are exposed to a lot of different scenarios and challenging situations on campus. It is super important to make sure we inform and educate our students, so they know how to handle these situations.
What is one fun fact about you? My favorite type of shoes are Chacos.
Hannah Cronin, ‘20 from Wauconda, IL
Major: Secondary English Education
Why did you want to get involved in peer educators? To make a difference on campus!
What is the best part of being a peer educator? Getting to meet new people and talk about controversial topics.
Why is it important to have peer educators on campus? I think it’s important to have peer educators because we are peers and know what fellow students go through because we go through it ourselves. We are being proactive with campus efforts and forcing controversial topics out in the open in a safe environment.
What is one fun fact about you? I have a twin sister.
