Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Find ASU resources here: LGBTQ+ Student Resources
I'm a graduate student. Should I sign up to be a mentee or mentor?
Graduate students are able to sign up to be a mentee or mentor.
I'm a postdoctoral scholar. Can I participate?
Yes, we welcome postdoctoral scholars to apply to serve as mentors!
Can I participate in this program even if I am not located in the Phoenix/Tempe area?
Yes, any of the mandatory events will have a virtual component or alternative. In the application form, you will note any preferences based on locale.
Am I eligible to be a mentor as a student?
Yes! We encourage students to apply, and our committee will make sure you have the resources to be a successful mentor.
What types of activities do we do?
We encourage mentees and mentors to communicate about their desire for activities. This can look like grabbing coffee, having a meal, or going on a walk around campus.
Will activities be paid?
Any activities that occur outside of the planned events held by the FSA/RainCo will have to be personally funded. If there are any concerns about financial commitments, please speak to your mentor or program lead, Antonio Duran.
What happens if I ever need to report an interaction that happened in my mentor-mentee pair?
If at any point you would like to report a negative interaction that has occurred in your mentor-mentee pair, please see the reporting options offered at ASU (https://urr.asu.edu/reporting-options). Our program leads, Antonio Duran (antonio.duran@asu.edu) and Kylie Wynaker (kylie.wynaker@gmail.com), are also available to support you.
Can I switch my mentor or mentee pair?
Switching a mentor or mentee may not be possible, but if you reach out to our program committee via email (azrainbowconnections@gmail.com), they will tell you about what options are available to you.
Can I continue on with my mentor—mentee relationship after the year has concluded?
Yes! You can either submit an application together the following year or continue the mentoring relationship informally.
What happens if I can no longer continue in my mentor-mentee relationship during the year?
If extenuating circumstances arise and you can no longer continue in the program, please alert your mentor or mentee and notify the program committee via email (azrainbowconnections@gmail.com).
Resources on LGBTQ+ Mentoring
The founding committee has organized the following resources that may be helpful for you to read before engaging in your mentorship relationship:
Academic Articles
- Holloway, I. W., Ochoa, A. M., Wu, E. S. C., Himmelstein, R., Wong, J. O., & Wilson, B. D. M. (2019). Perspectives on academic mentorship from sexual and minority students pursuing careers in the health sciences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89(3), 343-353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ort0000410
- Orozco, R. C., Duran, A., & Pulido, G. (2024). Creando mundos y futuros de joteria: Ofrendas of queertorship for and by queer and trans Latinx/a/o people. Journal of Latinos and Education, 23(4), 1362-1374. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2023.2268732
- Przybylo, E. (2022). Mentorship phenomenology: Queer sharing, opposition, and generosity. In C. Mahn, M. Brim, & Y. Taylor (Eds.), Queer sharing in the marketized university (pp. 173-188). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003203254-14
- Revilla, A. (2022). Resisting spirit murder: Nurturing spirit restoration and healing through Muxerista and Jotería mentorship. Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, 47(2), 191-203. https://doi.org/10.1525/azt.2022.47.2.191
Thought Pieces/Blogs
- Berg, J. (n.d.). Mentoring for mutual benefit. LGBTQ leaders in higher education. https://www.lgbtqleaders.net/2023/07/mentoring-for-mutual-benefit.html
- Mentoring.com. (2025). Celebrate LGBTQ+ pride. https://www.mentoring.org/campaigns/pride/
- MentorInk. (2024, June 4). From pride to empowerment: The influence of mentoring in the LGBTQ+ community. https://www.mentorink.com/blog/mentoring-in-the-lgbtq-community/
Tentative 2026-2027 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.
October |
|---|
Coffee Meet-Up at Brick Road CoffeeOctober 10th | 10:00 a.m. Night of Inclusion with Changemaker PolytechnicOctober 21st | 6:00 p.m. LGBTQ+ Faculty, Staff & Student MixerOctober 27th | 5:00 p.m. |