The University of St. Thomas offers a mentoring program to incoming first-year students.

Multicultural Student Services coordinates the LINKAGES Mentor Program, which is a formal peer mentoring initiative designed to support the retention of students of color and immigrant students at the University of St. Thomas.  Participants will have an opportunity to be matched with a mentor based on common interests such as:  academic major, hobbies, or cultural background.  Upperclassman mentors serve as a resource to help first year students successfully transition from high school to college.  By participating in this program, students will have an opportunity to meet new people, network and build relationships with UST faculty and staff.  Throughout the year, students will participate in a variety of student success workshops, attend social activities and engage in interactive community outreach activities.

LINKAGES Team

The LINKAGES Team consists of 30 undergraduate student leaders who will serve as mentors.  This program is led by a team of staff consisting of Tonia Jones, MSS Program Manager, Nastasha Fuentes and Njenga Kariuki who are the
2009-2010 undergraduate LINKAGES Interns. 

LINKAGES with Faculty

LINKAGES with faculty is an important component of the program. Linkages hopes to encourage, support, and sustain unique and meaningful relationships between students of color, faculty and staff through workshop facilitation and the existing MSS Network program.

The LINKAGES Mentor Program will also help provide first year students with a smooth transition to college and help participants acquire skills essential to a successful college experience.  LINKAGES was established to broaden efforts to increase the retention of underrepresented students and support the University strategic priorities of Access and Excellence.

LINKAGES aims to…

• Increase the retention of underrepresented students
• Enhance students’ experiences at the University of St. Thomas
• Help create meaningful relationships with students, faculty and staff
• Increase student access to important information, resources, and services
• Provide  a meaningful experience for volunteer mentors and undergraduate interns

What students are saying about LINKAGES:

Ø  “The LINKAGES Mentor Program provided me with a sense of community on the UST campus.”

Ø  My mentor was always there for me when I needed her.  She always gave great advice!”

Ø  “I always knew I would have an impact on a first year student, but I didn’t imagine how much my mentee was going to impact my life.  This was an amazing experience.”

Ø  “LINKAGES wasn’t just a program or something I had to attend, it became a big part of my life.”

Meet our 2009-2010 LINKAGES Mentors...

	Amilyn Worlobah		Kriti Kumar
	Ana Maya		Linda Nininahazwe
	Andrea Jauli		Mai Eng Lee
	Ariel Kendall		Minh Hoang Le
	Ashley Bailey		Mondraya Howard
	Bisrat Fekadu		Nyajuok Wur
	Bitsy Brazill		Paul Odera
	Foua Khang		Sika Lawson
	Kayden Bui		Sillys Gonzales Santos
	Jennifer Wilkins		Stephanie Olmedo
	Jenny Xiong		Will Roberson
	Kourtney Brooks		Ying Yang
Not              Pictured	Mohamed Hussein	Not            Pictured	Sean Navin
Not                  Pictured	Bukky Ajagbe	Not            Pictured	Greg Morse

Meet our 2009-2010 LINKAGES Mentors...

Natasha Fuentes

Njenga Kariuki