Click HERE to complete the Interest Form for Mentees!

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion invites you to join the STEP Peer Mentoring Program for the 2025-2026 academic year. STEP stands for Succeeding Through Empowerment and Proactiveness because we believe in empowering our students from the moment they step on campus to be proactive individuals in three specific areas: personal, social, and professional. 

STEP is open to incoming first-year and transfer students and is especially helpful for students from underrepresented populations (racial, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBQ TGNCI and international students, etc.) to assist in effectively connecting them to the Illinois Wesleyan community. Once in the program, new students (mentees) will be paired with trained, continuing students (sophomores – seniors) as their peer mentors. Mentees will be matched with peer mentors based on several criteria and preferences, e.g., race, gender, religion, academic major, interests/hobbies, etc.

Objectives:

• Provide assistance and direction to incoming first-year and transfer students
• Introduce students to Illinois Wesleyan and Bloomington-Normal resources  
• Support and encourage students to maintain a good academic standing and participate in university and ODI sponsored activities
• Encourage team building and leadership development among mentors
• Facilitate networking activities among peer mentors and mentees
• Provide support and resources to help students adjust academically and socially to the campus community.

Program Benefits:

Mentor – leadership development, enhanced awareness of campus and community resources and services, networking, personal satisfaction
Mentee – feeling of belonging, academic/personal/social resources and activities, positive campus experience, higher level of confidence

 

-To join STEP as a mentee, complete the interest form by Aug 22nd, found here. If you have any questions about the program, please email student-diversity@iwu.edu. 

 

Congratulations to the 2024-25 STEP Mentors

• Kiera Henderson
• Aman Brown
• Swetha Veluvolu
• Kayla Ellis
• Tyrin Sykes
• Jessica Navarro
• Mansi Shah
• Keeli More
• Michael Ashton
• Marcos Sanchez
• Jackie Moreno
• Elidia Apolinar