Last year, Colorado State University’s Department of Construction Management successfully launched a new program to support first-generation and multicultural students. Over its first year, the CM First-Generation and Multicultural (FG & MC) Mentorship Program employed a mutual aid approach where construction management alumni, who are first-generation and/or from multicultural backgrounds, mentored undergraduate CM students who have similar backgrounds and experiences. The mentorship focused on career development, academic support, and navigating the CM major and industry.
Alongside the industry mentors, first- and second-year students were paired with a peer mentor, who is a current student in their third or fourth year of the CM major. The intent of the program is to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment within CM to foster meaningful relationships between the students and construction industry leaders.
When asked to reflect on the FG&MC program, Miguel Lopez, a first year CM student said, “I am very grateful for getting the chance to be a part of this organization because I got a mentor who really does care about how I am doing, both academically and personally.”
First cohort
The first cohort of student mentees and industry mentors built meaningful connections this spring semester while supporting students’ success. From working together to create an impact in their community through hands-on construction to engaging in one-on-one career preparation support from industry leaders, the program is making a difference. As the mentees and mentors build rapport, they achieved the program’s goal to provide an inclusive and welcoming educational and working environment for everyone within the community.
“As a first-generation college and multicultural identifying student, I knew my journey in a post-secondary institute would be challenging,” said third-year CM student, Joel Ibarra, one of the founding members of the mentorship program. “At Colorado State University, I found support networks that made my experience more welcoming and supportive. Yet, I knew within my chosen field of study in the Construction Management Program I would face additional barriers that make my educational and career pursuit more difficult than that of my counterparts. Similarly, I knew my peers with shared identities and with varying degrees of intersectionality experienced similar challenges. This motivated me to push out efforts in establishing a supportive mentorship program within the CM Department!”
Matching mentors
Ibarra and CM Outreach and Student Recruitment Coordinator, Gianna Bueno, were very intentional in recruiting alumni mentors who identified as multicultural and first-generation college graduates, and who also had a minimum of two years working in industry.
Sofia Mora Rodriguez (’17), one of the CM mentors said, “As a CSU alumna, I always lacked a sense of belonging. I want to help students find a sense of belonging in the industry, in order to improve retention of multicultural and bilingual individuals.”
Pairing alumni with current students who had similar intersecting identities, allowed the current students to feel recognized, and to also see potential for themselves. Additionally, the industry mentors were able to empathize with the students, recognizing themselves in their mentees.
“Representation matters,” said Evelyn Sagastume, a second-year CM student, “and it’s important to have role models who look like you and have similar experiences. That’s what this mentorship program gives me – having a mentor who understands my background and can relate to my challenges is empowering.”
One community to another
One way the CM mentorship program helped foster the mentor/mentee relationships was through a community service event. CM students teamed up with Volunteers of America to help with their Handyman Program. The students helped build two ramps for individuals in need within the Fort Collins community. On the project build days, mentees and mentors collaborated, learned, and celebrated together.
“Throughout the day there was a very symbiotic atmosphere where everyone was able to give as much as they were able to take,” said Bueno. “At the end of the day there was a completed product, which produced both a source of pride and a sense of accomplishment.”
Mentorship impact
As the semester progressed, the mentorship bonds continued to grow. It was interesting to note that as students found ways to be supportive, they all branched off and grew in the way that suited each pair best. Many students were able to reach out and gain input by creating connections in industry.
One of the first semester pre-CM students, Binti Abdikadir, turned to her mentor for help navigating the CM career fair. “My mentor impacted me in a big way because she helped me revise my résumé to prepare me for the career fair,” said Abdikadir, a first-generation student. This help was something beyond what her parents could provide, but her industry mentor could offer.
The support that the students received during this process was truly transformative for some. Daisy Dominguez Lopez, a first-year pre-CM student said of her mentor, “One way Bryan’s mentoring impacted me was through helping me obtain an internship. Due to this, I will be working with him at Swinerton.”
Continuing growth
CM extends heartfelt appreciation to this first cohort of students and alumni mentors. “It’s been great to observe the incredible impact the mentors have had on the students; but also, it’s rewarding to see how the students were able to cultivate a space of their own,” said Bueno.
This is perhaps best reflected by one of the mentors, CM alumna, Vanna Hosanny (’20). “It is critical that our first-generation students understand how to navigate formal education, so they understand how to gain all the benefits that generations before them didn’t have,” she said. “It is one important way students can create generational change within their families.”
With the beginning of a new academic year in the fall, CM remains excited to see how the mentorship program will grow and deepen its roots within the construction management department and industry. It cannot happen without both students and mentors, alike. “It will be exciting to see where next year leads!” said Bueno.
The Department of Construction Management is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
