A formal mentor program for African American freshmen students at North Carolina State University was the brainchild of Thomas Conway and Elwood Becton. The program, which began in 1980, paired freshmen with faculty and staff who served as mentors by making contact with them and by 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.

Today, the Peer Mentor Program is stronger and more effective in aiding the academic, emotional, and social adjustment of not only African American students, but all culturally diverse first-year students, and we are proud to be home to the Peer Mentor Program. The purpose of the Peer Mentor Program is to foster a network of support for culturally diverse first-year students (“mentees”) at North Carolina State University.  The peer mentoring relationship is designed to aid in the academic, emotional, and socio-cultural adjustment to the college life for mentees.  Peer Mentors serve as peer support personnel for mentees and share program goals and responsibilities aimed at ensuring the retention of student participants.

This year, the Peer Mentor Program will kick off on February 16, with application deadlines for Mentors and Mentees on February 12.

If you are interested in joining the program as a mentor for 2022
Mentor Sign Up

If you are a first-year student interested in joining the program
Mentee Sign Up