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 August 2025 and will run until December 2025. Student Leaders will receive a stipend of $1,500.00 for their participation.
Responsibilities
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- Identifying and administering at least 2 in-person talking across difference student workshops for Rutgers undergraduates during the fall semester
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- Creating multimedia videos and graphics for the Talking Across Difference and Rutgers Democracy Lab social media platforms and website
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- Participate in weekly in-person meeting with TAD staff and students
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- Serve as an ambassador of the initiative for on and off-campus events and meetings
Eligibility Requirements
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- 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
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- Must be available to support in-person programming on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus, with potential travel to off-campus events
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- Once trained and with supervision, comfortable facilitating small-group discussions on topics that will foster disagreement.
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- Must be available to attend weekly in-person meetings with program staff and fellow student leaders
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- Available to attend an in-person training on Friday, August 29 on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus
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- Experience with Canva a plus
Submit Your Application
Apply by Friday, August 15th at 5:00PM with a copy of your resume as a PDF and a writing statement sharing your interest in the position and providing an idea for a large-scale and small group discussion event you would facilitate through the program. Please also offer the name and contact information of one faculty member or staff supervisor who can speak to your responsibility and fit for this role. Please submit your application via email to civildiscourse@eagleton.rutgers.edu with the subject line:
“TAD Student Leader Application: [First Name] [Last Name]”