Students Gaining Invaluable Insights From Faculty, Staff and Community Members
Oct. 10, 2022
By Mike Emery, 713-743-7197
Good advice can go a long way in the lives of college students. That’s especially true for Latinas and women of color seeking role models from similar cultural backgrounds.
Still, a good mentor is often hard to find.
Recent studies have demonstrated that 63 percent of women have never had a formal mentor, and women of color in particular often struggle with identifying mentorship opportunities.
At the University of Houston, sage advice and a friendly ear are never too far away thanks to Las Comadres. This mentoring program is tailored toward UH’s first-generation Latina student population and remains open to Coogs from all cultural backgrounds seeking academic and professional guidance.
Through this program, students are assigned professional mentors that include faculty, staff and other members of the UH community. These pairings are often based on students’ career interests or academic disciplines.
“Latinas often face two barriers in the world as women and women of color,” said Hope Pacheco, assistant dean of students. “Having support from someone familiar to them is important. Through Las Comadres, our students can see a reflection of themselves within their mentors.”
Pacheco, a UH alumna herself, co-founded this initiative with Raven Jones, director of the UH Center for Student Empowerment. She said that it is particularly impactful when students engage one on one with campus and community leaders.
Former UH System Regent Paula Mendoza agrees. She knows firsthand the importance of receiving support from a trusted adviser.
“I was so fortunate to have mentors in my life that I want to make sure to pay it forward,” Mendoza said. “Now, I am happy to participate in a program where our Latina students can collaborate with others who look like them and share similar backgrounds. I truly believe in giving back to our younger generation.”
Las Comadres offers opportunities for group mentoring sessions, but Pacheco (who also serves as a mentor) said that one-on-one mentoring is the program’s backbone. Mentors and students meet monthly in person, on the phone or through virtual platforms. Likewise, they remain in contact through friendly texts or on social media.
One-on-one mentoring sessions can focus on career advice, family and life in general. Pacheco developed a bond with one of her mentees after discovering they both attended the same high school. Beyond basic professional counseling, Pacheco and other mentors helped this student when her home was devastated during a flood.
“We delivered some supplies to her home,” she said. “It was great to come together and support this student in need, but we quickly realized the other issues students are facing right now.”
Stress and mental health also affect students, Pacheco added. Weather events such as the one that impacted her mentee, and the pandemic, are just two of the many stressors students face. In addition to offering insights related to college life and careers, mentors can also simply lend an ear to students’ concerns.
An example of Las Comadres in action can be found in the connection between UH staff member Margarita Pérez Frinsco and student Stephanie Rendon.
Frinsco, senior director of advancement in the Cullen College of Engineering, was
a first-generation student herself and recognizes the challenges faced by those new
to the university experience. When Pacheco approached her to become a mentor, Frinsco
said it was a “no brainer” to become a part of Las Comadres.
“Serving as a mentor is a unique opportunity to shape the experience of someone who shares similar experiences to my own, especially as a first-generation Latina from humble beginnings with big dreams,” Frinsco said.
Through Las Comadres, she met a kindred spirt in Rendon. Like Frinsco, Rendon is a first-gen Latina student who was overwhelmed in navigating the college experience. She first attended community college, then transferred to UH and discovered Las Comadres and her mentor Frinsco.
Frinsco was instrumental in providing details on mentorship opportunities to Rendon. Likewise, she served as a support system and constant source of critical information.
“Through her, I’ve gained a network of engineering and tech professionals, and developed my interpersonal and technical skills,” Rendon said. “I’ve received valuable advice that I will carry with me throughout my career.”
Las Comadres is presently serving 56 students this semester with 58 mentors signed on as supporters. Interested faculty and staff are encouraged to contact Pacheco to learn more about the program and how to become mentors.
“This program has grown far beyond what I expected,” Pacheco said. “It continues to evolve, which is a beautiful thing.”