Tag: peer mentorship

Categories
First-Generation Initiative Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Finding Her Place: Jacqueline’s Journey to Mustang Mentors

Meet Jacqueline Sastre, a first-year transfer student and the Mustang Mentee Ambassador whose journey to SMU began before she ever stepped on campus.

Not too long ago, Jacqueline was at Dallas College preparing her application to SMU when an email landed in her inbox. It featured a story of a Mustang Mentors transfer pair, and the story quickly caught her attention.

“When I got the email with the story highlighting a transfer Mustang Mentors pair, it really pulled me in. Just knowing the school was letting me know there was an organization willing to help me get accustomed to SMU, and that it would be a one-on-one experience, made it really easy to sign up (for Mustang Mentors).”

She knew that she was going to need support as she transitioned to a bigger school and she ended up being matched with a peer mentor who knew exactly what she needed. “Having a mentor that was pursuing the same marketing major as me was such a big help, because they themselves were also a transfer student from a community college,” she shared. “They knew about figuring out your community and what classes best suit you. She gave me tips not only socially, but academically.”

That early support not only made the transition feel more manageable but also sparked something in Jacqueline. The positive experience encouraged her to apply for the Mustang Mentee Ambassador role, eager to help other students feel the same sense of grounding and confidence. Stepping into this position has also allowed her to bring forward pieces of her Dallas College experience that she once thought she’d left behind.

“Back in community college, I wrote for the school paper and thought I would be letting that go,” she explained. “But now, being able to write for the blog and for Mustang Mentors allows me to really shape my writing skills as a marketer.”

Jacqueline’s commitment to supporting fellow transfer students extends beyond Mustang Mentors. As Vice President of the Mustang Transfer Student Organization, she hopes to create even more connection between the two communities. “I really want to plan something with Mustang Transfers and Mustang Mentors,” she said. “I do take being a transfer student personally, and it was a big effort to transition from community college to university, so I definitely want to do something for transfer students.”

For Jacqueline, Mustang Mentors wasn’t just a resource but a catalyst in her transition to the Hilltop. Now, as an ambassador of the Mustang Mentors program, she’s working to make sure every student, especially transfer students, feels that same sense of belonging from the moment they arrive.

When asked about why someone should join the Mustang Mentors peer-mentoring program, she said, “There’s really nothing to lose and so much to gain. You either gain a new friend, a new mentor, learn new things, or even learn soft skills just by conversing with someone about your life here. There’s always something to learn.”

Do you know a student transferring to SMU in January? Reach out to mustangmentors@smu.edu for questions about how they can get plugged in like Jacqueline did.

Categories
Honors and Scholars Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning President’s Scholars Student Academic Engagement & Success University Honors Program

Building Connection: Inside SMU’s Mustang Mentors Program

Written by Jacqueline Sastre ’27 – Mustang Mentee Ambassador

The first year of college can feel like stepping into another world with new people, new routines and endless possibilities. For Valentina Barros Velin, a freshman from California majoring in International Studies, Mustang Mentors became a guiding light during that transition.

“I knew college was going to be a huge change,” Valentina said. “I wanted someone who could give me advice, wisdom and just be a friendly face on campus.”

That someone turned out to be Lelin Spriggs, a senior International Studies major who joined the program hoping to share her experience with new students. “I’ve always been like a big sister,” Lelin said. “When I heard about this program I thought it was the perfect way to give back and help others the way I wish someone had helped me.”

The two met for coffee chats, attended campus events together and even bonded over discovering they both worked for The Dialogue, SMU’s student publication. “We didn’t even realize it until we saw each other at a meeting,” Valentina said. “It made the mentorship feel even more natural.”

Beyond the shared laughter and conversations over coffee, the program gave Valentina a sense of direction. “Lelin helped me find clubs and organizations to join,” Valentina said. “She even made a spreadsheet after our first conversation to help me stay organized and manage my time.”

For Lelin, mentoring brought a renewed sense of purpose to her senior year. “It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to graduate and move on,” Lelin said. “But being a mentor reminds me of why I love being here. It’s about community and helping others grow.”

Both students agree Mustang Mentors stands out because it feels genuine. “A lot of programs talk about connection,” Lelin said. “But this one actually gives you the space to build it.”

Valentina said the experience has shown her what is possible. “Seeing how far Lelin has come reminds me that I can get there too.”

Their story captures what Mustang Mentors is all about, creating a space where guidance turns into friendship and where a little advice can go a long way in helping new students feel at home.

At SMU, the Mustang Mentors program connects first-year and transfer students with upperclassmen who can guide them through their college transition. The program pairs students based on shared interests, majors and goals, giving newcomers a chance to learn from those who have already navigated campus life. Discover how your students can build connections that last beyond the Hilltop. Visit the Mustang Mentors page for more information.

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning

Mustang Mentor Spotlight: Cydney Leach

The Mustang Mentors peer mentoring program is designed to help first-year, second-year, and transfer students feel right at home. We match incoming Mustangs with upperclassmen peer mentors who share their academic interests, hobbies, and goals for the future.

Cydney Leach, a junior Music Education major from Frisco, Texas, first served as a peer mentor last year. This year, she has returned to the program not only as a peer mentor but also as the very first Mustang Mentors Ambassador.

In this new leadership role, Cydney will serve as a key representative and advocate for the program. Her role will help increase peer-to-peer engagement, support event planning, and foster connections across the cohort. 

Q: What initially intrigued you about returning to the Mustang Mentors Program this year? 

I wanted to create more organic connection throughout the program. The connection I built with my mentee last year was a great opportunity to meet and connect with someone outside of my major who shared similar interests.

Q: How has being a peer mentor shaped your career readiness? 

This program has really shaped me as a leader. It’s been cool to have a mentee and learn to identify and encourage their strengths that they may not be aware of. I’ve learned how to help guide people in the right direction.

Over the summer, my job was a music education summer camp counselor, and I got to employ those skills that I learned as a Mustang Mentor and help the kids grow musically and personally.

Q: What are some tangible skills that you have developed since being a peer mentor? 

Organization for sure! Always having to prepare for my meetings with my mentees and think through what I’m going to talk about requires me to stay organized so that I can better help them.

A soft skill that I’ve developed is empathy. Especially being paired with someone who is on a different major path than I am as a music major, I’ve had to learn how to relate to the academic struggle as a whole even though my path as a music ed major looks very different.

I’d also say just learning how to be a coach is something I’ve developed. Like I said, being able to see the strengths in my mentee and pull them out of them is something I’ve gotten better at in my peer relationships.

Q: How are you hoping that being the Mustang Mentor Ambassador will spark growth in you, personally and professionally? 

I am hopeful that this opportunity will make me the kind of leader that not just meets other people, but can then foster connections between others. I think connection is a very important part of feeling welcomed anywhere, so I just want to be that person for others.

Q: What advice would you give to a first-year who is in Mustang Mentors?

Go to all of the events, it’s a great way to meet new people. I’d say connect with different organizations on campus, even if it only piques your interest a little bit. It’s better to say that you tried something and it wasn’t your cup of tea, than to be questioning whether or not it would’ve been a good fit for you.

Q: Can you share a favorite memory from being a peer mentor last year? 

My mentee and I were really big foodies. So we would use our mentorship meetings as an excuse to try all of the restaurants that would rotate in the revolving kitchen in Hughes Trigg.  We would do taste tests and pretend that we were giving food reviews.

To learn more about the Mustang Mentors Program and upcoming events, visit our website or email us at  mustangmentors@smu.edu.

 

 

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Celebrating the Inaugural Year of Mustang Mentors!

Mustang Mentors Pair: Xzavier Washington (Mentee) and Kamile Cerna (Mentor)

This academic year marked the exciting launch of Mustang Mentors, a peer mentorship program designed to support first-year, second-year, and transfer students as they transition to the Hilltop.  The program’s core goals are to recruit, engage, and retain students by fostering meaningful connections at the university.

In its inaugural year, Mustang Mentors matched 92 students, pairing mentees with peer mentors based on shared academic interest, professional goals and hobbies.

With over 351 conversations logged, mentors provided guidance on everything from course selections to involvement in student clubs to career planning. One sophomore mentor reflected on how participating in Mustang Mentors has positively impacted her connection to SMU, saying, “It has helped me feel more connected not only with my peers in Mustang Mentors, but also with communities outside of this program. I feel like it has inspired me to be more involved on campus.”

Mentees too benefitted academically and personally from their mentorship. One student shared, “I was confused about how to know what route I should take within the CCPA field, and [my mentor] has given me some guidance on how to know where I should go by exploring more in depth of each aspect and what I feel most interested in.”

Moving into the second year of the program, Mustang Mentors plans to deepen its impact:

  • Re-engaging current cohort members as returning mentors.
  • Expanding partnerships with departments like English, Film, History, and PREP.
  • Creating a Mustang Mentors Student Ambassador as a third tier of leadership.
  • Recruitment of incoming first-year and transfer students.

A special thank you to all faculty and staff who have played an essential role in program recruitment. We thank you for supporting this work and championing the program.

Know of a student that would serve as a great peer mentor? Email us at mustangmentors@smu.edu to recommend them!

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Tim and Sebastian: How Mustang Mentors Sparks Belonging and Builds Networks

Meet Sebastian and Tim – two Finance majors in the Cox School of Business and one of the first mentor-mentee pairs in the inaugural Fall 2024 Mustang Mentors cohort.

The Mustang Mentors Peer Mentoring Program pairs incoming first-year and transfer students with experienced peers who share similar academic and career interests. For Tim, a first-year student navigating the excitement and complexity of starting college, this connection provided him with guidance and opportunity.

After being matched in September, Tim and Sebastian realized they were in some of the same clubs. “After receiving an email from Mustang Mentors to join, I thought it would be cool to help someone out coming in as a freshman,” said Sebastian. “I really wanted to help someone through the things that I just went through.”

Tim discussed how the peer-to-peer model helped him define and set academic goals related to his major and career path. “When I first started the mentoring program last fall, I had a goal of getting an internship,” Tim said. “Sebastian helped me figure out what options were realistic, and I was able to ask questions about different programs and the different recruitment processes.”

Along with their mentorship being impactful academically, the benefits of the program extended beyond the classroom. Sebastian shared how being a mentor has helped him develop another component of his leadership style. “I know that I want to be able to lead by example. I don’t want to be someone who says don’t do ‘x’ but then I do ‘x’. Mentoring Tim has also built my managerial skills by being able to share my experience and guide him through this year.”

Both Tim and Sebastian emphasized the value of authentic connection and networking through mentorship. “A good way of formulating connections is by establishing a mentor-mentee relationship. This whole mentorship experience has taught me how to navigate relationships. I’m mentoring Tim right now, but maybe one day down the line, he might be working somewhere I want to be and might be able to reciprocate the mentoring relationship we have,” said Sebastian.

Tim echoed that “networking is super important. With Sebastian being my mentor, it opened me up to more information. Just having someone who has been through the process who can give tips and tricks about what you should do, or shouldn’t do, is helpful,” said Tim.

When asked about why a student should join Mustang Mentors, Sebastian said: “When you come to college, it’s a whole new world, and there is a lot being thrown at you at once. If you can have someone who’s already had it thrown at them and can give a digestible version of their experience, it’s super beneficial.”

Tim agreed, highlighting how welcoming Mustang Mentors is. “It can be hard to find a community when you come to college. This program is a good way to get to know someone in a way that feels less intimidating.”

Want to hear more inspiring stories like Tim and Sebastian’s? Discover the experiences of other students in the Fall 2024 Mustang Mentors cohort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Beyond Guidance: The Power of Two-Way Peer Mentorship at SMU

The best version of peer mentorship is built on mutual growth, authentic connection, and eventually, a formed friendship. Mustang Mentors pair Gracia Suppogu (’27) and Austin Toubassi (’28) exemplify just that.

They discuss in their recent interview how their mentor-mentee relationship began like many others in the program, but quickly deepened as they discovered shared interest outside of academics.

“When you’re matched with your mentee, you might know their major or what year they are,” Gracia explained. “But connecting with Austin over film and history has helped us form a more personal connection and even a friendship.”

Their experience reflects the benefits of mentoring as a high impact practice. Peer mentorship really is a two-way street. While Gracia was excited to offer guidance and support to Austin, she also gained fresh perspective on her own college experience through mentoring him.

“Not only am I able to teach Austin from my experiences, he has also taught me a lot about being a leader, a teacher, and building connection with others,” said Gracia.

Austin echoed those same sentiments, further emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentorship versus relying solely on faculty support. Having a peer mentor “is like having another student who is going through the same things that you are going through,” he said. “There is a lot more access to another student, and I think that’s the thing that I value the most. So I’d stress the importance of [peer mentorship] is about having another friend and getting the same resources that you’d get from a professor or professional without having the intimidation factor.”

Gracia and Austin’s mentorship journey embodies the heart behind the Mustang Mentors program – fostering connections that go beyond academic guidance to cultivate true friendship.

Curious about more Mustang Mentor stories? Read more student stories here and learn about the program.

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Mustang Mentors Spotlight: Hayley and Fenix

Meet Hayley and Fenix, one of the first mentorship pairs in the Mustang Mentors peer mentoring program.

Fenix, a freshman at SMU, arrived on campus in Fall 2024 excited to explore every opportunity to invest in herself. As an undecided major, she was looking for guidance from someone who had been in her shoes and shared her academic interest and goals. Who better than a peer?

After receiving an invitation to join Mustang Mentors, Fenix was matched with Hayley, a senior majoring in Applied Physiology and Sport Management. Initially, Hayley said, “I was so nervous to be a mentor, and then once I met Fenix and realized how much we had in common, I knew I could actually help her with the things she needed.”

Fenix’s academic and career interests ranged from business to advertising, marketing to communications, and everything in between – very similar to Hayley’s.

“When I would talk to Hayley about her experiences with applications to Advertising and to Cox, then making her shift to sports management, it gave me confidence to say ‘Okay, I’ll end up where I need to be at the end of the day. There is so much I can do at this school,'” said Fenix.

For Hayley, the leadership opportunity to be a mentor during her senior year came at the perfect time. When the program came across her email, she knew “this could be a good opportunity to keep me accountable and to also meet someone I would’ve never met in any other setting.”

Both Fenix and Hayley shared the impact of peer mentorship on their college experience. “Having a peer mentor is motivating — especially knowing you are not alone and that you can ask for help. It gives you a foundation to keep you grounded in yourself and make more friends,” says Fenix.

“Being on the other end of this as a mentor, it’s a good way to see where I’m at with my leadership skills. I’m not one to normally put myself out there for positions like this, so it’s an experience I wouldn’t have ever gotten without this program,” says Hayley.

Peer Mentorship Matters

Hayley and Fenix’s mentorship highlights the important role of peer mentorship at SMU. Click here to watch their brief interview on youtube!

If you know a student who could benefit from Mustang Mentors, encourage them to email us at mustangmentors@smu.edu or visit our website smu.edu/mustangmentors!

 

 

 

 

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

An Unexpected Friendship: Walker and Bianey’s Journey with Mustang Mentors

Sometimes the connection you need is one you don’t go searching for – just ask SMU transfer students Walker Homan and Bianey Rojas. As members of the inaugural Mustang Mentors Peer Mentoring cohort, they’ve found in each other not only a peer mentor and mentee, but also a friend who has enriched their college experience.  

Walker, the peer mentor, and Bianey, the mentee, were first paired together in September 2024 through the Mustang Mentors’ matching survey, which pairs mentors and mentees together based on shared academic interests, hobbies, and backgrounds. Both transfer students majoring in Economics, Walker with a Math minor and Bianey with a double minor in Business and Spanish, the pair quickly found commonality in their academic experiences and transition to SMU. However, it is the different perspectives they each share with each other that makes their mentorship truly unique.  

Reflecting on her academic experiences, Bianey recalled how close-minded she felt towards math as a subject until she met Walker. “Walker will just do math for fun! Being mentored by him has shifted my mindset about math and he always encourages me to not give up in my classes,” says Bianey.  

Meanwhile Walker, who initially felt unqualified to be a mentor, says, “with it being only my second semester at SMU, mentorship to Bianey has given me another way to define myself. In the context of SMU, it’s given me another SMU identity. Yeah, I’m an Econ student, and I do undergraduate research, but I’m also a Mustang Mentor.”  

Bianey also describes how Mustang Mentors has deepened her sense of belonging at SMU. “I love SMU, but I thought being a transfer and commuter student would really make it different for me. Being a commuter, I just would come to campus just for class and then go back home, but through this mentorship program and the events, it has given me a reason to stay and meet other people in the program,” says Bianey.  

The two agreed that there is no way they would’ve met if not for Mustang Mentors. “This program connects you to people you otherwise wouldn’t have met. If you can be a peer mentor in Mustang Mentors, just do it. Especially if you’re a transfer student, it’s just nice to have one more friendly face on campus,” says Walker.  

The Mustang Mentors program goes beyond academics. Through shared insights and consistent encouragement, peer mentoring empowers students like Walker and Bianey to make the most of their SMU journey.  To learn more about Mustang Mentors, visit our website at smu.edu/mustangmentors.

 

Categories
Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Celebrating the Inaugural Mustang Mentors Cohort Lunch

The Mustang Mentors peer-mentoring program, through the Office of Engaged Learning, had its first-ever cohort lunch, bringing together new mentors and mentees from across campus. The lunch served as an opportunity for mentors and mentees to build relationships with their peers in the program.

The inaugural cohort currently has 41 match pairs that represent a diverse range of academic disciplines, career interests, and involvements in extracurricular activities. The mentors, comprised of upperclassmen students who have been successful on the Hilltop, meet with their mentees at least once a month for goal setting in their collegiate career and to further peer-to-peer connection.

The Mustang Mentors Program is an essential, university wide retention tool for students at SMU who do not belong to an academic community or a larger group of affiliation. You can be a part of this campus wide effort as a faculty/staff member by nominating a student to serve as a mentor or be a mentee with this form. 

More updates to come as the Mustang Mentors program progresses, showcasing the stories of mentors and mentees who are making connections at SMU.

Categories
Office of Engaged Learning

New mentorship opportunities with Mustang Mentors

Two students looking at laptop computers

This past month, a select group of students were invited to participate as a mentor or mentee in the SMU Mustang Mentors program. The Office of Engaged Learning is working with Mentor Collective, a peer mentoring platform that creates one-on-one connections between students to enhance the college experience. Students are paired with a peer mentor based on common interests, skills, and academic goals who can provide guidance and support as they transition to life at SMU. Students will learn what to expect in school, how to approach challenges and gain career advice. At the same time, mentors will build their networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.

Mustang Mentors will be hosting info sessions this spring for students to learn more about the program and what it has to offer. In the fall, the program will welcome a full cohort of mentors and mentees. To learn more about the program, contact mustangmentors@smu.edu and stay tuned for more information at smu.edu/mustangmentors.