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  2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  3. DEI Programming
  4. BIPOC Alumni-Student Mentoring Program

BIPOC Alumni-Student Mentoring Program

Mentoring is a strategy that crosses settings and timelines in an educator’s career, as several studies have connected mentorship and retention in the profession. For BIPOC educators in the field, connections with colleagues and mentorship have proven particularly important as they navigate job demands and role ambiguity. These relationships and subsequent mentorship can help ensure an educator's commitment to the field, which has the potential for long-term impact and change to the profession.

The BIPOC Alumni-Student Mentoring Program provides up to 25 BIPOC undergraduates in EHD each fall with individual guidance and support from alumni educators as they navigate the early stages of their program and/or career. The program’s goal is to improve BIPOC undergraduates’ program experiences, career opportunities, and retention through pairing these learners with alumni mentors. Through this sustained engagement, mentors will establish individualized relationships with their mentees, engaging in activities such as observation, feedback, co-planning, and skill refinement.

Mentee Interest Form   Mentor Interest Form

This program is made possible by the generosity of the UVA Parents Program and is overseen by EHD's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI).

Program Details

The inaugural program participants will begin in the fall of 2024. 

Mentor/mentee pairs will commit to meeting monthly (either in-person or on Zoom), facilitated by prompts and mentorship materials. Through this sustained engagement, mentors will establish individualized relationships with their mentees, and engage in activities such as observation, feedback, co-planning, and skill refinement. 

The mentoring program is an opportunity for our BIPOC alumni to share opportunities with students while reducing barriers that prevent them from entering and remaining in the K-12 teacher and educator pipeline.

  • August 2024: Initial program meeting kickoff (in person)
  • January 2025: Mid-year program meeting/check-in and assessment (in person)
  • May 2025: End-of-year program meeting/closing (in person)
  • Mid-June 2025: Program evaluation and assessment and mentor recruitment (online survey) and retention and training for the second year of the pgoram

Prospective mentees (EHD undergraduate students) can apply here.

Prospective mentors (EHD alumni) can apply here.

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