Abstract:
Involvement in student leadership provides opportunities for student development (Foubert and Grainger, 2006) and is linked with higher rates of persistence (Astin, 1984), making leadership programs an important tool for increasing the retention and success of students of color. Unfortunately, traditional leadership paradigms often used in student leadership programs are incongruent with the values and experiences of many students of color, leading to under-participation of these students (LaVant & Terrell, 1994).
As mentoring has been identified as one potential tool for improving the leadership experiences of this population (e.g., Komives, Longerbeam, Owen, Mainella, & Osteen, 2006), this qualitative research project explores the mentoring experiences of student leaders from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds. Themes emerged from the data in three headings: leadership, mentoring experiences, and race and ethnicity. These themes reflect the stories and values of the participants and provide valuable insight for student affairs professionals seeking to better serve student leaders of color.
