171: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mentorship Strategies in Supporting Underrepresented STEM Students

Mentorship is critical in supporting underrepresented STEM students, yet evaluating its effectiveness remains challenging due to inconsistent methods. This study assesses a mentorship program for 33 undergraduate civil, architectural, and mechanical engineering students, examining three strategies—career, faculty, and peer mentoring—through a mixed-methods approach. Survey ratings (career: M = 4.00, SD = 0.84; faculty: M = 3.43, SD = 1.05; peer: M = 3.22, SD = 1.23) and thematic analysis of reflections reveal career mentors excel in professional guidance, faculty mentors align academics with career goals, and peer mentors foster emotional support. The evaluation introduces a replicable framework integrating quantitative and qualitative data to standardize mentorship assessment. Recommendations include increasing mentor-mentee interactions, refining matching processes, and balancing structured and informal activities. This model enhances program impact and offers actionable insights for institutions aiming to optimize mentorship for underrepresented STEM students.

Alicia Jane Peras; Adriana Cimetta