The PEERs course empowers students to explore and practice inclusive leadership skills through the lens of their own diverse experiences and perspectives.
Through weekly collaborative discussions and a culminating team project, students examine topics such as bias, identity, mental health, allyship, and cross-cultural communication. Designed for all engineering students across disciplines, this course fosters a community of reflective, empathetic, and equity-minded leaders prepared to create inclusive cultures in engineering and beyond.
My experience with the PEERs class gave me the background, tools, and knowledge to address inequities that exist at my place of employment. This year, I was asked to join the company's equity committee - and I am using my platform to continue to advocate for both awareness as well as meaningful actions to eliminate inequities in our workforce, policy development, and service delivery.
Past PEERs student and leader
Why PEERs?
Engineering and other STEM fields thrive on creativity, innovation, and persistence. These fields need a broad array of perspectives and experiences to generate the most creative and innovative solutions.
PEERs course objectives
- Recognize and describe how bias, identity, privilege, and mental health shape experiences and culture in engineering contexts.
- Reflect on our own identities and lived experiences to inform our personal leadership development.
- Practice inclusive leadership skills in a supportive environment through cross-cultural communication, collaboration, and teamwork.
- Create a community of engineering students across different disciplines through weekly engagement and shared learning.