Peer Education Initiatives

Health, Safety, and Well-being Health, Safety, and Well-being Initiatives Mid-Level New Professional Undergraduate

Welcome to NASPA's Peer Education Initiatives! Since the 2014 merger of the BACCHUS Network with NASPA, our team has worked to promote student leadership and support peer educators and their advisors. 

About Us

Peer Education Initiatives' provides training and support to both professional staff and student peer educators who contribute to an environment where peer-led programs, events and workshops can be a catalyst to elevate holistic well-being.

Check out the information below and please email pei@naspa.org to connect with our team.

Celebrating 50 Years of Peer Education

Be Part of History: Help Us Celebrate 50 Years of Peer Education!

We’re building a living archive to honor the legacy, growth, and impact of peer education over the past five decades. Your memories, stories, and snapshots are vital to capturing this journey. Whether it's a powerful quote, a treasured photo, or a story that shaped your experience, we want to hear from you. Share your piece of the past and help inspire the next 50 years!

Peer Education Awards

2024 Peer Education Awards Group Picture

Every year, the Peer Education Initiatives, a part of the Health, Safety, and Well-being Initiatives of NASPA and carrying forward the legacy of BACCHUS, proudly recognize outstanding achievements in peer education. These awards honor peer educators, advisors, peer education groups, and programs that exemplify the innovative spirit and commitment to student well-being that BACCHUS pioneered. Award finalists will be featured and winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the annual Peer Education Conference

Award Descriptions
Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education
Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education
Outstanding Peer Education Advisor Award
Outstanding Peer Educator Award
Outstanding Peer Education Program Award
Outstanding Peer Education Group Award

The Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education recognizes a single peer education advisor, annually, for work that exceeds the expectations of the role and deserves unique attention.

 

 

The Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education recognizes a single graduate student working in a leadership role as part of a peer education group.

This award recognizes peer education advisors' commitment to peer education efforts, unique talents as a peer education advisor, leadership ability, and presence as a positive role model for peer educators.

This award recognizes students’ contributions to campus peer education efforts, academic successes, and leadership.

This award recognizes creativity and overall effectiveness in campus awareness and education. Selected programs will represent the diversity of health, safety, and well-being topics. 

This award recognizes peer education groups that have done exceptional work on their campuses. Awards will be granted to peer education groups that have consistently provided health, safety, and well-being education for students on their campuses in the past year.

Peer Education Award Winners

2024
Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education
  • Leslie Haxby McNeill, Miami University-Ohio

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education

  • Ashlynn Malone, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

 

Outstanding Peer Education Advisor Award

  • Erika Marshall, Suffolk University
 
Outstanding Peer Educator Award
  • Sarah Watson, Ashland University
 
Outstanding Peer Education Program Award
  • Being NOBULL: Putting bystander intervention into action, University at Buffalo
 
Outstanding Peer Education Group Award
  • Peer Advisory Council on Title IX (PACT), Stetson University
2023

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education

  •  Charlotte Robbins, The University of Alabama

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education

  • Anna Comer, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

 

Outstanding Peer Education Advisor

  • Gil Perez, College of San Mateo

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Megan Van Vort, University at Albany, State University of New York

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Students Fight Back: Stepping Up Against Violence, Miami University, HAWKS Peer Health Educators

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Peer Wellness Advocates, Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

 

2022

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education 

  • Aaron Maracle, University at Buffalo

 

Outstanding Advisor

  • Ryan Anderson, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis

     

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Sarah Supplee, West Chester University

  • Jorgann Holgersen, Texas Tech University

  • Huntyr Hill, Florida Gulf Coast University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Euphoria Exposé, Florida Gulf Coast University

     

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Healthy Dawgs Peer Educators, Mississippi State University

2021

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education 

  • Kerri Mahoney, Stony Brook University

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education

  • Kay Igyor, Millersville University

 

Outstanding Advisor

  • Alex Faris, Texas Tech University
  • Tiffany Lawson, The University of Alabama 

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Casandra Sanchez, Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Miguel de Peralta, Miami University (OH)

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Film: A recipe for disaster: Talking about cooking the way we talk about sex, University of Maine
  • Asking for a Friend, Springfield College
  • Art 6 Feet Apart, Bellarmine University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • GoodKnights, Arcadia University
  • Sandler Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education Peer Educators, University of Miami
  • Health Promotion Division (HPD), Rutgers University- Newark
2020

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education 

  • Robert Cardom, University at Albany, SUNY 

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education

  • Emma Valvo, SUNY, University at Buffalo 

 

Outstanding Advisor

  • Charlotte Petonic, The University of Alabama 
  • Lori Bishop-Ley, University of Cincinnati 
  • Nicole Giglia, Seton Hall University  

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Alexis Raysik, University of Central Missouri 
  • Joyous Njoku, Texas Tech University 
  • Bethany Tracy, University of Montana- Western

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Golden ARCHES’ Sex Week Program, University of California- Riverside
  • Trojan Outreach’s Interpersonal Violence Awareness Week Program, Troy University
  • High(er) Education, University of Miami 
  • It's On US, Newberry College

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Student Advocates for Wellness, Springfield College
  • HEROES Peer Educators, Montana State University- Billings
  • PAWS (Peers Advocating for Wellness and Safety), Mount St. Joseph University 
  • ROARS Peer Educators, Langston University
2019

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education

  • Mandy Parente, University of Alabama at Birmingham

 

Fifty Years of Exemplary Peer Education

  • Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program, University at Albany, SUNY

 

Outstanding Advisor

  • Melanie Perry, Saginaw Valley State University
  • Natalie D’Azzo, University of California, Irvine
  • Kelsey Lueck, Texas Tech University

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Kace Garcesa, Georgia Gwinnett College
  • Emily Kollar, Bowling Green State University
  • Jordyn Livingston, University of South Carolina
  • Danielle Greenberg, Florida Gulf Coast University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Can I Kiss You? Featuring Educator Mike Domitrz, Miami University
  • What's your Love Language?, Saginaw Valley State University
  • Got Your BAC & Positive Consent Orientation Workshops, Babson College
  • Stomp Out Stigma 5K for Suicide Awareness, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Health and Wellness Educators, Roger Williams University
  • Peer Wellness Advocates, Mount Saint Mary's University
  • SHORE Peer Educators, Coastal Carolina University
  • Health Promotion Division, Rutgers University-Newark
2018

Tom Goodale Award for Exceptional Advising in Peer Education

  • La' Tesha Hinton, Tulane University

 

Gerardo Gonzalez Award for Graduate Student Service in Peer Education

  • Arianna Camel, Millersville University

 

Outstanding Advisor

  • Kendra Gaillegos-Reichle, Fort Lewis College
  • Jayme Trogus, Millersville University
  • Christina Cetti, Stetson University
  • Kennybel Pena, Manhattanville College

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Katie Barnhardt, Appalachian State University
  • Lynn Jean-Louis, Stony Brook University
  • Matthew Koehl, Texas Tech University
  • Blake Archer, University of Alabama

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • LGBTQ&A, Boston University
  • You Can’t Save The World Alone, University of West Florida
  • Social Identity, Weber State University
  • Be The Creed, Bowling Green University
  • 4th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk, Coastal Carolina University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • POWER (Peers Offering Wellness Education and Resources), Villanova University
  • Peer Health Advocates, University of Chicago
  • OWLS Care Leaders, Florida Atlantic University
  • Changing Carolina Peer Leaders, University of South Carolina
  • Health Education and Awareness Team, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2017

Outstanding Advisor

  • Jessica Gargus, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Christine Ditter, Montana State University Billings
  • Cortney Heileman, Saginaw Valley State University
  • Aaron Maracle, University at Buffalo SUNY
  • Alicia Cambron, University of West Florida

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Meghan Sullivan, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Suzannah Kal, Montana State University
  • Alexandra Harris, Radford University
  • Madison Turner, University of Cincinatti
  • Nicole Bulanchuk, University at Albany SUNY

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Project Condom, Millersville University
  • Sex in the Ballroom, Pittsburg State University
  • Message in a Bottle, Roger Williams University
  • So What's All the Buzz About?, University of Miami
  • Humans of UNLV, University of Nevada Las Vegas

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Project Health, University of Alabama
  • Red Watch, Stony Brook University
  • STEP UP BC, Bridgewater College
  • Bradley HEAT, Bradley University
  • Wellness Ambassadors, Ohio State University
2016

Outstanding Advisor

  • Leslie Haxby McNeill, Miami University
  • Lexi Benson, University of Montana Western
  • Craig Kimmelblatt, University at Albany SUNY
  • Trisha Tinney, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Sandra Adams, Furman University

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Robert Lemaire, Frostburg State University
  • Kelsey Miller, Coastal Carolina University
  • Tara Wong, University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • Margo Leitschuh, University of Missouri
  • Michael Romano, DeSales University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • HIV Hi/Low/No Risk, Georgia Gwinnett College
  • Red Watch Band Bystander Intervention Training, Northwestern University
  • UA Wellness Week, University of Alabama
  • Fall Harvest Festival, Valencia College East Campus
  • Wellness Fair, Radford University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Joe's PEERS, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Gorilla Peer Education, Pittsburg State University
  • Health and Wellness Educators, Roger Williams University
  • RESPECT (Rape Education Services by Peers Encouraging Conscious Thought), University of Arkansas
  • UWF Peer Educators, University of West Florida
2015

Outstanding Advisor

  • Kristy Sillay, Villanova University
  • Brittney Vigna, University of Alabama
  • Emily Werner, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
  • Don Swogger, Frostburg State University
  • Anna Sotelo-Peryea, University at Buffalo

 

Outstanding Peer Educator

  • Brandon Piazzola, University of Montana Western 
  • Devin Smith, Bowling Green State University
  • Krystle Griggs, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Brittany Hensley, University of West Florida
  • Maria Thaman, Butler University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Program

  • Love Your Body Day, University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • 420 Forum, Millersville University
  • P.S. I Love You: Stalking Awareness Evening, Pittsburg State University
  • Campus Clean Up, Montana State University Billings
  • Step Up: Bystander Intervention, Miami University

 

Outstanding Peer Education Group

  • Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program, University at Albany SUNY
  • Peers Reaching Out, University of Montana
  • Millersville University Peer Educators, Millersville University
  • MU Student Wellness Advocates, University of Missouri
  • WellPAC, Fort Lewis College
  • HAWKS Peer Health Educators, Miami University

Peer Education Blogs

Peer Education Advisors Continuing Education

Schedule

Registration rates for the NASPA Peer Education Advisors Continuing Education Sessions are based on NASPA individual membership status. Check out our Membership page to learn more about the benefits of membership, and how to sign up!

Registration Rates

 Member Rate  FREE!
 Non-Member Rate  $39

 

Each continuing education session will be hosted via zoom. Participants are highly encouraged to attend each session continuing education session since the topics and presenters are going to be different each time. Active participation is highly encourcaged.

All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Spring 2025 Webinars
The Okanagan Charter, Health Promoting Campuses, and the Role of Peer Education

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 1 PM - 2 PM ET

Discover how Peer Health Educators can drive health promotion on campus by embracing the Okanagan Charter's call to action. This webinar explores best practices, actionable examples, and strategies to integrate peer education with the Charter’s mission, empowering students to create healthier campus communities.

 

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand the two calls to action of the Okanagan Charter
  2. Learn three best practices in peer health education
  3. Explore 3 examples of integration between the Charter and a peer health education program

 

Click HERE to register. 

Peer Education Advisor Faculty

The Peer Education Advisor Faculty work alongside NASPA to advance the field and improve the impact of peer education. Faculty members share their knowledge and experience to help NASPA provide the best training, development, support, and mentorship for peer education advisors. Our sincere thanks go out to the current members of our Peer Education Advisor Faculty!