Graduate Student Peer Mentor Program

About

The AAR Graduate Student Peer Mentor Program is a year-long opportunity for graduate students to build community, expand their professional networks, and engage in conversations about navigating graduate school and careers in religious studies. Rather than a traditional one-to-one mentoring program, this initiative brings together graduate students from across institutions for peer mentoring, resource sharing, and professional development.

Participants will meet monthly throughout the academic year virtually, with the exception of November. Each virtual meeting includes a guest speaker – typically an advanced graduate student or junior faculty member – followed by facilitated small-group discussions with peers at a similar stage in their programs. These cohort-based conversations are designed to foster connection, share strategies and resources, and create a supportive community across institutions.

The 2026–2027 program includes:

• September 29: Welcome, orientation, and community brainstorming session to identify topics and priorities for the spring semester.
• October 27: Beyond the Academy—exploring careers outside higher education and the skills graduate students in religious studies bring to a wide range of professions.
• November: Optional in-person gathering at the AAR Annual Meeting Graduate Student Happy Hour.
• February 23, March 30, and April 27: Professional development sessions shaped by participant interests. Potential topics include publishing, networking, conference participation, teaching, grant writing, public scholarship, work-life balance, career planning, and navigating the academic job market.

All virtual meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month from 4:00–5:30 PM ET.

While the program offers structured opportunities to connect throughout the year, participants are also encouraged to build additional community in ways that best support their goals – whether through writing groups, accountability partnerships, reading groups, conference preparation, or other informal collaborations.

Eligibility

The program is open to all current graduate student members of the American Academy of Religion.

Applications are open August 17 – September 7 and will be reviewed by the AAR Graduate Student Committee to create balanced cohorts organized by stage of graduate study.

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