Our mentorship program pairs students who identify as LGBTQ+ with another LGBTQ+ student at Penn State. Mentoring is open to all students regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, or any other protected class, and is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Student mentors offer mentees emotional support, assistance setting goals and choosing a career path, and guidance through sexual and gender identity development while encouraging health and wellness through campus and community engagement.
I gained a greater level of comfort in my identity from being able to talk to someone about my issues that I felt really cared about them.
Become a Mentee
Mentees are Penn State students who join the LGBTQ+ mentor program to talk one-on-one to someone about their sexual orientation and gender identity as well as discuss issues related to academics, career, family, coming out, dating, and relationships, other marginalized identities, and campus involvement. Mentees can be undergraduate or graduate students.
Become a Mentor
Mentors are Penn State students, undergraduate or graduate, in the LGBTQ+ community who are looking to assist other LGBTQ+ students with their journey through Penn State with special considerations to the student's sexual orientation and gender identity. Mentors also have an opportunity to make strong connections with other students in the community.
Become a Pod Director
Pod Directors are Penn State faculty or staff members in the LGBTQ+ community who supervise several mentor and mentee pairs. Pod Directors help create strong campus-wide connections within the community between students and staff. Pod Directors must have completed both workshops of Safer People Safer Places, including the Foundations Workshop and the Transgender & Gender Inclusion 101 Workshop.
I gained a completely different understanding of being a support system. I learned a lot from my mentee, especially about his discoveries and how well he is embracing them. We talked a lot about clothing and fashion and how our wardrobe is a huge part of our identity.
