Peer mentor program
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work reinforces their dedication to student success and expands their peer mentor program. The program now has 4 B.S.W. mentors and the 7 M.S.W. mentors and has matched almost 300 prospective and current students with mentors since August of 2012.
The program connects students in search of mentorship with an energetic, passionate B.S.W. or M.S.W. student who can help with everything from advice on scheduling courses to how to juggle school with work, family and a social life.
“Our peer mentors provide prospective and current students an insightful and knowledgeable look into the challenging, yet invigorating reality of being a student in one of the nation’s top schools of social work.” – Kim Flournoy DiJoseph, M.S.W., Director of the Office of Student Success at VCU School of Social Work
Every peer mentor is academically successful, empathetic and has great communication skills. Flournoy DiJoseph routinely meets with the mentors and provides them professional development and mentorship training. She also developed a matching system to ensure that each student is paired with a compatible mentor. This system allows students to find academic and social support from a peer who knows the ropes.
“My mentor was very available to me, and helped me to work through many of the problems that I faced in my first year. She was also an excellent listener and helped in my adjustment to graduate school. She and I met outside of school several times. She gave me a tour of the school and showed me all of the places that students go. She was also very available as a friend and I appreciate her so much for incorporating me into her world and making me feel welcome!”
With no time or length commitments, the peer mentor program experience is tailored to the needs of the mentees. They have the option to ask their mentor a few quick questions or form a bond that lasts.
Meet the mentors
B.S.W. peer mentors
Omi Eaddie
Year: Senior
Social work interests: Administration and policy, nonprofit management and adolescents
Allie Bashkoff
Year: Junior
Social work interests: Communication, clinical social work, pediatric oncology and interactions with others
Eddy Richards
Year: Senior
Social work interests: Mental illness, LGBTQIA, persons with HIV, community work and refugees
Hollen Tillman
Year: Senior
Social work interests: Intimate partner violence intervention and therapy, women’s policy work and helping men and women coming out of the prison system with community-based assistance
To learn more about our B.S.W. peer mentors click here.
M.S.W. peer mentors
Brett Synder
Concentration: Social Work Administration Planning, Policy and Practice
Internships held: Commonwealth Catholic Charities
Paula Crooks
Concentration: clinical, Distance Education
Internships held: Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Alex Carter
Concentration: clinical
Internships held: Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Refugee Resettlement and Virginia Treatment Center for Children
Shayla Betts
Concentration: clinical
Internships held: Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, Kids in Focus, Virginia Union University and Chesterfield County Public Schools
Anna Regan
Concentration: clinical
Internships held: Henrico Doctors Hospital
Hope Porter
Concentration: clinical
Internships held: YWCA of Richmond and ChildSavers
Johanna Schmidt
Concentration: clinical
Internships held: MetroCASH and Dreamel Henry, LSCW, LLC
To learn more about our M.S.W. peer mentors click here .
Categories Program news, Students