Berry College - Counseling Center

The Peer Educators

Who are we?

The Peer Educators are Berry College students specially trained to communicate with young people about student well-being and responsibility. We are supervised by the Director and Associate Director of Counseling at Berry.

What do we do?

The Peer Educators lead educational programs designed to foster responsible attitudes and behavior. Our topics (listed below) cover a range of physical and mental health issues with an emphasis on substance abuse. We also serve as a resource persons to individuals seeking information for personal or academic reasons.

Whom do we serve?

In addition to our main programs for Berry Students, we lead programs at local schools (grades K-12), colleges, hospitals, church youth groups, and any other group where young people gather to grow and learn. There is no fee for our services.

Contact Information:

The easiest way to contact us is through our email: peereducator@berry.edu. On campus, our extension is 2379. Off campus, calls can be directed through the Counseling Center at 706-236-2259. Our office and resource room are in room 13 in the Ladd Center near the counseling wing. If you want us to plan programming, please contact us long in advance of your desired date, because our programming schedule can fill up quickly.

Past program topics include:

Drunk Driving
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Depression
Stress
Alcohol, Sex, and Advertising
Racism and Prejudice
Eating Disorders
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Dating
Sexual Assault
Nutrition
Exercise
Study Habits
Body Image

Most common types of programs include:

Guest Speakers
Movies and Discussion
Hall Socials
Information Booths
Restroom Flyers ("Pot Thoughts")
Classroom Visits
Panel Discussions
Publication Distribution

Each year, the Peer Educators reach well over a thousand students with their programs. In the Fall of 2004, Can I Kiss You?, a program about dating and sexual assault led by guest speaker Mike Domitrz, attracted an audience of over 800. In the Spring of 2005, the Peer Educator's Invincible Me, a program about drunk driving led by Erik Krug, won the award for best educational program of the 2004-2005 year.

The Peer Educators participate in the BACCHUS/GAMMA Peer Education Network and have won a number of regional awards.

The Peer Educator Resource Room has books, scientific journals, and brochures on many topics, especially drug and alcohol abuse. Please stop by the Resource Room in the Ladd Center to see what we have. All of our holdings are also included in the library's electronic catalogue WebVoyage.

Online Resources:

BACCHUS/GAMMA Peer Education Network
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
Berry College Health and Wellness Center
Berry College Campus Safety
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)