Student Mentoring and Development Program
Rainbow Connections Started at Arizona State University (ASU) is a mentorship program created to foster meaningful connections between LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students. Because representation matters, this program aims to create spaces where people can recognize and affirm each other's lived experiences, which helps individuals to know that they are not alone. Rainbow Connections brings together members of the LGBTQ+ community, while recognizing that intersecting systems of privilege and oppression have shaped our identities and experiences. All mentors and mentees are encouraged to approach these mentoring relationships with curiosity, humility, respect, and a commitment to learning from one another.
Our Goals
Foster Meaningful, Person-First Relationships
The program prioritizes relationships built on mutual care and understanding, ensuring both mentors and mentees feel supported as whole people, beyond academic or professional roles.
Cultivate an Awareness of Intersectionality and Oppression
The program will create space for honest conversations about identity, privilege, and oppression, equipping participants with tools to support one another in navigating these realities.
Promote Reciprocal Learning and Holistic Well-Being
By supporting one another's well-being and sharing lived experiences, participants will build a community of mutual empowerment and resilience.
Overview
The Rainbow Connections Mentoring and Development Program is a year-long commitment and consists of one-on-one mentoring, as well as community events. Through one-on-one meetings, mentors and mentees may build a relationship that engages topics of career pathways, navigating the world as a member of the LGBTQ community, and more. Mentors and mentees are expected to meet once a month for the program duration (November–May) Rainbow Connections aims to offer a rewarding and enriching experience for both the mentees and the mentors in the program.
Expectations of Mentors and Mentees
To participate in this program means that individuals are committing to engaging in several types of interactions upon a regular frequency. If mentors and mentees want to go above and beyond said expectations, that is more than fine, but at the baseline, participants agree to the following.
Mentee Expectations
- Commit to being communicative of desires for this program;
- Be open to receiving advice and guidance from your mentor;
- Be mindful of a mentor's capacities and commitments.
Mentor Expectations
- Learn about your mentee's interests and tailor interactions based on these areas;
- Speak to the current professional responsibilities that you are navigating;
- Be open to sharing one's personal experiences, including those tied to LGBTQ+ identity;
- Serve as a 'sponsor' and 'connector' for mentee, making connections and passing along opportunities they may be interested in;
- Being comfortable sharing boundaries and expectations of the pair.
Mentor & Mentee Expectations
- Commit to be responsive via the agreed mode of communication (e.g., phone, email, Discord) within 72 hours;
- Attend the mandatory mentor-mentee events and make effort to attend the recommended programs;
- Go to 1 ASU or local area/virtual event together a semester, in addition to your regular mentor-mentee meetings;
- Participate as an ambassador for the program;
- Communicate with the program lead if you need to end your mentor-mentee relationship before the end of the academic year;
- Discuss any issues or feedback for the program to program lead, Antonio Duran, at antonio.duran@asu.edu.
Matching Process
The Rainbow Connections mentorship program strives to create thoughtful and meaningful matches between mentors and mentees. During the application process, participants will be asked to share information about their professional/academic experiences, personal interests, strengths, and goals for the mentorship relationship. This could include areas such as exploring identity, receiving career guidance, accessing mental health support, or simply connecting over shared hobbies or lived experiences.
Using this information, the Rainbow Connections team will thoughtfully pair mentees with mentors who we hope can support their interests and needs. We understand that mentorship is most meaningful when both people feel comfortable and seen, so after your first meeting, if either the mentor or mentee feels the match isn't the right fit, we'll work with you to find a new connection. Ultimately, this program is about creating supportive, affirming relationships that reflect the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.
History of Rainbow Connections
Development of the Program
During the 2024-2025 academic year, members of the LGBTQ+ FSA named the need to better support LGBTQ+ students at ASU in the absence of institutional programs designed to do so. Then-President of the LGBTQ+ FSA, Dr. Antonio Duran, reached out to leadership of ASU's Rainbow Coalition to gauge interest in a formalized mentorship program that would exist across students, staff, and faculty. After receiving positive feedback on the idea, a group formed to develop a robust framework and design of the program for the following year. This manual represents the envisioning of this committee, while at the same time, leaving room for the program to be continuously updated as needs of the LGBTQ+ community at ASU evolves.
Tentative 2025-2026 Calendar of Events
Below, we have listed on the tentative schedule for the mentor-mentee program. Any dates are subject to change but changes will be communicated via email. Beyond having your mentor-mentee meetings, we ask that mentors and mentees go to 1 ASU or local area/virtual event together a semester.
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