Mission
Mason’s LGBTQ+ Peer Mentoring Program promotes the personal and academic success, health, and well-being of its queer, trans, non-binary, LGBTQ+, and/or questioning student participants.
If you are interested in being paired with one of our LGBTQ+ Peer Mentors in Fall 2025, let us know here: Mentee Interest Form If the form isn’t open, then we are not accepting additional applicants. Please email to check-in though if you are interested in getting paired with one of our LGBTQ+ Peer Mentors, because sometimes they are willing to take on an additional person (even though we aren’t advertising that we are looking for additional mentees).
If you are interested in applying TO BE one of our LGBTQ+ Peer Mentors for the 2025-2026 academic year, let us know here: Peer Mentor Interest Form If the form isn’t open, then we are not accepting additional applicants.
Read on for more information about the program and please direct any questions you might have to the LGBTQ+ Resources Center at [email protected]!
Peer Mentors have
- Completed at least one semester at the university by the start of the Fall 2025 semester
- Been involved in student leadership, community, or mentoring previously
- Interest in supporting the growth of LGBTQ+ community at Mason
- Current undergraduate or graduate student status at Mason
- 2.5 GPA or higher
Peer Mentors will
- Serve as a Peer Mentor to no more than two mentees during the 2025-2026 academic year
- Develop mutual expectations for communication and engagement with mentee(s)
- Attend LGBTQ+ Peer Mentoring Program Kickoff (Fall 2025) and Closing (Spring 2026) events
- Receive a $600 scholarship ($300 during Fall 2025 and $300 during Spring 2026)
- Meet with their mentee(s) three times over the course of each semester
- Attend LGBTQ+ Peer Mentor training and regular meetings with the Peer Mentor cohort throughout the year
- Participate in monthly check-ins with the Program Director throughout the year
- Keep up regular communication with their mentee(s) (as defined by the mutual expectations set between each peer mentor and mentee pairing) throughout the 2025-2026 academic year
- Collaborate with the LGBTQ+ Resources Center professional staff to make referrals and navigate any crisis situations
Mentor Learning Outcomes
- Express how personal and social identities show up in varying contexts
- Understand identity development theories for LGBTQ+ individuals
- Identify best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ peers
- Facilitate effective communication strategies to navigate a university setting in their mentees
- Co-create a support network of peers, faculty, and staff at Mason
Mentees are
- New to LGBTQ+ communities at Mason in some way (could be first year, transfer, contemporary, and/or just starting to explore their own gender and sexual identities)!
- Looking for connection and community around LGBTQ+ identities and experiences
- Current undergraduate or graduate students at Mason by Fall 2025
Mentees will
- Develop mutual expectations for communication and engagement with their peer mentor
- Meet with their peer mentor three times over the course of each semester
- Keep up regular communication with their peer mentor (as defined by the mutual expectations set between each peer mentor and mentee pairing) throughout the 2025-2026 academic year
- Reach out to the LGBTQ+ Resources Center staff with any questions or issues with the program
- Participate in an end of semester check-in with the Program Director and/or Associate Director of the LGBTQ+ Resources Center for the Fall 2025 semester
Mentee Learning Outcomes
- Express how personal and social identities show up in varying contexts
- Locate community resources to support personal and academic well-being
- Articulate goals for their time at Mason and beyond
- Practice effective communication strategies to navigate a university setting
- Identify a support network of peers, faculty, and staff at Mason
Program Dates TBA
The LGBTQ+ Peer Mentoring Program will host two exclusive program events per academic year, including a kick-off in the Fall and closing in the Spring. Outside of these events, Peer Mentors and Mentees will be encouraged to attend the LGBTQ+ Resources Center’s regular programs or other George Mason on-campus activities together. Onboarding into the program as either a Peer Mentor or mentee will include some questions around expectations and availability — so please be prepared to think through your reason for joining and commitments prior to those conversations.