Photo of students in UHC Nutrition Kitchen cooking class

Peer Nutrition Educator Job Description and Application

Deadline for applications is March 22, 2012

Interviews will be held the week of April 2.
More information will be sent via email following the March 22 application deadline.

The Peer Educator program provides students the opportunity to educate their peers about health issues and to model health enhancing behaviors. Peer educators demonstrate and encourage commitment to health through their ongoing participation in the community. Peers also act as a communication channel between students and health educators.

The Peer Nutrition Educator Program is coordinated by the Registered Dietitians in University Food Services and the University Health Service in cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Department. Peer Nutrition Educators (PNEs) must successfully complete a summer course designed to translate scientific nutrition principles into practical food and nutrition applications for University of Georgia students. Throughout the course the PNEs improve their skills in researching topics, developing programs, and in presenting this information to an audience. PNEs also assess their personal health behaviors and examine processes involved in health behavior change.

After completing the course, Peer Nutrition Educators fulfill requests for nutrition programs for dorms, sororities, fraternities, student groups and community groups. PNEs also promote healthy eating and good nutrition through media interviews, newspaper articles, and staffing health fairs and screenings. PNEs participate with University Health Services and University Food Services for special events and conferences.

As representatives of the University and the Dietetics profession, Peer Nutrition Educators are expected to display professionalism and sensitivity in their endeavors. PNEs are expected to develop competency in basic nutrition education, but they are also expected to know their limitations. A knowledge of local resources is essential for those times when referral is appropriate.

Name:

Class: Expected date of graduation:
G.P.A.:

Campus mailing address:

Permanent mailing address:

Cell phone: Other phone:

Email address:

1. Why do you want to become involved in this program?

2. Please explain any background experience you have which would relate to the Peer Nutrition Program (personal, organizational, employment, volunteer work, courses, etc.)

3. Briefly discuss your career interests.

4. This program requires a 40 (total) hour work commitment during the fall and spring semesters in addition to the course offered in the summer. Many of the programs that you will be offering to dorms and student groups will be during the evening. How do you plan to manage this time into your schedule? (For example, what extracurricular activities are you involved in, how many credit hours do you plan to take, how many hours per week are you employed?)

5. Feel free to add any additional information here concerning your talents, personality and capabilities that you believe would be of benefit to us.

In addition to your application, you will need to submit the recommendations form to be completed by one FDN faculty. Upon receipt of your application and letter, an individual interview will be arranged.