Become an Undergraduate Peer Mentor

Economics Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Ebonya Washington, invites undergraduate students to apply for a peer mentor opening for the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Peer mentors meet with majors and prospective majors to provide advice on the economics and math-economics majors. They should expect to encounter questions about what it’s like to major in economics, how to choose courses and how to find a research opportunity. Peer mentors may also host community-building informal get-togethers for prospective and current majors.  The Yale College Deans Office has some funding for food for such get-togethers.

Peer mentors receive training from the Yale Center for Teaching and Learning on how to mentor students and from me on departmental information about the major.  Peer mentors should expect to spend about four hours per month on their mentoring tasks. The position is unpaid, but of course may be included on a resume.

During 2019-2020 the peer mentors have hosted bluebooking events, held an internship panel and helped to organize study groups. And there is a virtual event in the works. Lara Gajewski and  Jingyi Cui, are two of this year’s mentors, and are both happy to speak with anyone interested in being a peer mentor (lara.varelagajewski@yale.edu and jingyi.cui@yale.edu).

If you wish to be considered for a position, please send Professor Ebonya Washing a brief email indicating your interest along with your CV and a written statement (100 words) on why you want to be a peer mentor. The deadline for application is April 24, 2020. Peer mentors begin their work in September 2020.

More information can be found on the Peer Mentor Program page.