Student Leaders

The Rutgers Democracy Lab is recruiting a team of paid student leaders to support the Talking Across Difference initiative’s in-person and virtual programming across Rutgers University. Talking Across Difference is a university-wide initiative meant to equip educators, staff, and students to have productive conversations about difficult and sometimes divisive issues. Talking Across Difference Student Leaders are responsible for organizing and leading small-group discussions and larger scale workshops to foster respectful dialogue on campus.

This paid opportunity begins January 2026 and will run until May 2026. Student Leaders will receive a stipend of $1,500.00 for their participation.

• • Identifying and administering at least 2 in-person talking across difference student workshops for Rutgers undergraduates during the fall semester

• • Creating multimedia videos and graphics for the Talking Across Difference and Rutgers Democracy Lab social media platforms and website

• • Researching trends and information on civil discourse and campus climate

• • Participate in weekly in-person meeting with TAD staff and students

• • Serve as an ambassador of the initiative for on and off-campus events and meetings

• • Must be a current undergraduate student at Rutgers University – New Brunswick; as this is a pilot year, students from Camden and Newark will be eligible in future cycles; incoming first-year students are not eligible to apply

• • Must be available to support in-person programming on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus, with potential travel to off-campus events

• • Once trained and with supervision, comfortable facilitating small-group discussions on topics that will foster disagreement.

• • Must be available to attend weekly in-person meetings with program staff and fellow student leaders

• • Available to attend an in-person training on Tuesday, January 13th on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus

• • Experience with Canva a plus

Applications for the Spring 2026 cohort are now open! Please submit your application by December 5th at 5:00 PM.