Building a foundation for socially just peer leaders.

Abstract

Peer leaders have shown a significant impact in the support they offer their peers. Due to this, many institutions have increased the initiatives that peer leader are utilized in to strengthen student experience and development. However, even though social justice has grown as a priority in higher education, many peer leaders do not experience any type of social justice training throughout their development. In this qualitative study, peer leaders of all types were interviewed to explore how they currently serve as socially just leaders and what support they are looking for from their institution to help them feel prepared as socially just leaders. This research is explored through the culturally relevant leadership learning model as we look at the support that peer leaders offer their institution, the impact peer leaders can have as socially just leaders, and the support that can be provided by institutions for socially just peer leader development.