RISE Peer Mentoring Program (Retention through Interpersonal Student Engagement) is here to help! We aim to positively impact the experience of Black students and their allies at Cal State LA who are either first-time freshmen or transfer students during their first year. We pair new students with continuing students to help them successfully settle into their home away from home. RISE is open to anyone regardless of race, color, and national origin and also sex and sexual orientation.
Join RISE
There are two paths to join RISE: as a Mentee or Mentor. Read through both and consider which option you would like to explore.
Prospective mentors should display the following qualities:
- A team player
- Articulate
- Eager to help others
- Energetic
- Enthusiastic
- Responsible
- Self-motivated
- Willingness to learn
Mentor Responsibilities
- Attend all training dates and meetings.
- Establish and maintain regular contact and communication with your mentees.
- Provide support for mentees and fellow mentors where appropriate/possible.
- Facilitate small group discussions/meetings with mentor/mentee groups.
- See additional responsibilities under 'Time Commitments'.
Benefits
- Mentors receive a monetary stipend each semester.
- Exclusive Cal State LA gear.
- Access to special events and campus opportunities.
- A great time working with a team and developing your leadership abilities.
Time Commitments
- Mentors must commit to participating in RISE for the entirety of the academic year (August to May).
- Summer availability is also strongly desired.
- Mentors are required to attend training during the spring semester.
- Mentors are expected to maintain weekly communication with their mentees, via phone, email, social media, etc.
- Mentors are expected to attend the mentor meetings once a month.
- Mentors are expected to meet with their mentees in person at least twice per semester, and more frequently where possible.
- Mentors are expected to attend RISE-sponsored or promoted programs, which will take place multiple times throughout the semester.
Get matched with a mentor!
When you complete the application, RISE will match you with a peer mentor. We will do our best to match you with a mentor who shares your interests.
Get to know your mentor!
Mentors want to be in contact with you! Talk to your mentor and decide on the best way to communicate. Most importantly, make time to meet up with your mentor, over lunch, between classes, etc.
Attend campus events and activities!
RISE will invite you to mixers, speaker events, and workshops. But we also want you to attend other campus events with your mentors, such as movie nights, sporting events, and other fun on-campus opportunities.
Mentees will be selected and matched on a first-come, first-served basis.
Student Story
"As a mentee with the RISE program, I felt that I could be open and felt welcomed. Personally, my mentor goes above and beyond to make me feel like family. Along with others in the program, I feel like I have a welcoming place to go when I need to at Cal State LA. It’s a home away from home."
— Aniyah Stanley
RISE Mentors
Our Cal State LA students who gracefully share their knowledge with their mentees to grow throughout their university journey.
Mulaikah Abdullah
Undergraduate in Accounting
Alyse McIntosh
Graduate in Accounting
Louisa Imafidon
Undergraduate in Pre-Nursing
Jaionna Holmes
Undergraduate in Biology, Minor in Child Development
Christiana Keibally
Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering
Alexia Smith
Undergraduate in English
Za'ir Jackson
Undergraduate in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship
The RISE Team
Our dedicated team who ensure that RISE delivers thoughtful and engaging learning outcomes.
Chriztopher Johnson
Director
323.343.3195
[email protected]
Andrew Blanco
Assistant Program Coordinator
323.343.3587
[email protected]
Rose Ikechi
Lead Transition Programs Assistant
CONTACT US
Have questions about RISE? Please feel free to email us at [email protected]
The RISE Peer Mentoring Program is open and available to all who are interested to apply and/or participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Los Angeles provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. California State University, Los Angeles complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
California State University, Los Angeles is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At California State University, Los Angeles, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.