R-LEAD Peer Mentors

R-LEAD Peer Mentors serve as small group facilitators and mentors for program participants who are incoming first-year Buckeyes. Peer Mentors (PMs) arrive early on campus to undergo training before their mentees arrive. PMs facilitate community building, program activity debriefs, and participate in all aspects of R-LEAD. This is a volunteer undergraduate student leader position.

The 2026 Peer Mentor Application is now open & closes Mon. 3/2 at 11:59pm

Apply now to serve as an R-LEAD Peer Mentor!

Peer Mentors will...

• Move to Columbus/Campus early
• Co-lead or lead a Legacy Group of approximately 10-20 first-year students. 
• Be able to share their college experiences with first-year students and serve as a role model. 
• Assist first-year students in familiarizing themselves with campus resources and involvement opportunities.

Peer Mentor Job Description

• Serve as a mentor and role model to R-LEAD participants 
• Co-lead a Legacy Group composed of 10-20 first-year students  
• Help students get to locations during the R-LEAD program
• Facilitate community building among your legacy and others in the program 
• Facilitate small group discussions about college life, campus resources, and involvement opportunities 
• Facilitate conversations about current events and Housing and Residence Education Core Values with Legacy Groups 
• Remain engaged during the entirety of the R-LEAD Program, including program sessions 

Dates of Program (Subject to Change) 

Peer Mentor Training 

• Peer Mentors can plan to move in on Saturday, 8/15.
• Peer Mentors are required to move in on Saturday, August 15. Training will begin at that afternoon. Sunday you can expect to be busy all day as well. 
• HRE cannot provide temporary housing for off-campus PMs.

R-LEAD Program Sun. 8/16 - Wed. 8/19

• OWL Program (All R-LEAD participants will also participate in the OWL program) R-LEAD participants will participate and be trained as OWLs once the R-LEAD program ends.
•  ** Peer mentors are NOT required to be a part of the OWL program once the R-LEAD program ends.**
• R-LEAD participants will be required to participate in the OWL program, but as a peer mentor, you will not. If you're looking to also participate in the Ohio State Welcome Leader (OWL) program, you'll need to apply to that program here separately.

For more information, please contact Leah Wheeler, Assistant Director of Residential Leadership & Involvement at wheeler.1110@osu.edu.