Purpose in Practice: Wolves RISE Helps Peer Educators Prepare for Careers in Care Share this page
At the University of West Georgia, Wolves RISE is doing more than creating space for conversations around mental health, substance use, recovery and wellness. It is also giving student peer educators the opportunity to build real-world skills that connect directly to their future careers.
Through tabling events, organization meetings and weekly support-based programming, Wolves RISE peer educators help create a welcoming environment where UWG students can ask questions, access resources and participate in conversations that may otherwise feel uncomfortable. The role allows peer educators to support their campus community while also developing skills in communication, leadership, advocacy and care.
For many of the students involved, that experience is closely tied to what they hope to do after graduation.
Maya Fortenbaugh, a junior nursing major with a psychology minor, has served as a peer educator for five months. Fortenbaugh hopes to begin her career in labor and delivery before eventually attending graduate school to become a nurse educator. For her, the peer educator role is already helping her learn how to work with student populations in a way that is both informative and approachable.
“Even when we are covering serious topics, we try to make the experience approachable and engaging for students,” Fortenbaugh said.
That balance is an important part of the Wolves RISE mission. Peer educators often address serious topics, including alcohol and drug education, mental health, suicide prevention, consent and other wellness-related issues. By making these conversations more accessible, students are able to engage with difficult topics in a less intimidating way.
Meresa Christian, a sophomore psychology major with a minor in health and community wellness, has been a peer educator for a year and a half. Christian hopes to pursue faith-based counseling, therapy or substance abuse counseling. Through Wolves RISE, she has gained experience having conversations that are often connected to the same topics she hopes to address professionally.
“Just being out on campus breaks the stigma and allows students to have uncomfortable conversations,” Christian said. “It is alright to seek help. It is normalized to binge drink or be depressed, but no one talks about how serious it is.”
For Christian, the work is about visibility. By showing up on campus and creating a space for open dialogue, peer educators help normalize asking for help and connecting with resources.
Eva Johnson, a sophomore nursing major who has served as a peer educator for two years, said the role has helped her grow personally and professionally. Johnson hopes to become a travel nurse and specialize in neonatal intensive care. Before becoming a peer educator, she described herself as introverted and said it was sometimes difficult to start conversations. Through tabling events and student outreach, she learned how to put herself out there and not shy away from conversations that carry stigma.
The experience has also helped Johnson think about the kind of nurse she wants to become. She said peer education has helped her develop good bedside manner and become more aware of signs that may point to deeper concerns, especially related to substance use.
For Rylee Shade, a graduate student studying applied behavior analysis, Wolves RISE connects closely with the work she is already doing. Shade began serving as a peer educator in August 2025 and currently works as a therapist. Her goal is to become a board-certified behavior analyst.
Shade said health education applies directly to the clients she works with, including high-risk behavioral adolescents. Through Wolves RISE, she is able to use what she knows to educate both the campus community and individuals who may benefit from additional support.
Vernard Whitley, a sophomore nursing major who has volunteered with Wolves RISE for two years, hopes to become an RN case manager. In that role, he would help connect patients to resources – a skill he is already practicing through peer education.
Whitley said his experience has helped him identify signs of distress in others and understand how to provide resources when someone may need support.
Wolves RISE offers several opportunities for students to connect throughout the week. Programming includes Mental Health Mondays with activities such as journaling, art therapy, and tea making; All Recovery meetings on Tuesdays; “Unplugged” gaming and crafternoon events on Wednesdays; and Loved Ones Coffee Hour on Thursdays for students who have family members or loved ones affected by substance use.
Together, these programs help create a safe space for students to relax, find support, and feel less alone. For the peer educators, the work is meaningful because they can see how important it is for students to have a place to go when they are ready to talk.
Wolves RISE peer educators see their impact on campus through the discussions they have with community members and by helping students connect with the resources they need – all while gaining experience that will help strengthen their skills as they enter their careers. Learn more about UWG’s Health Promotion events, initiatives and education today.