Pedagogy and Professional Development

Supporting Student Success among Underrepresented Apparel Students through Peer Mentoring

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Abstract

Peer mentoring is a widely accepted approach in higher education due to its associated benefits, including improved social support, self-esteem, stress coping abilities, and improved academic performance and retention rates. This pilot study proposes a novel approach to include apparel undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni at different stages in their academic and post-academic career as an inclusive approach based on varied lived experiences. We conducted culturally relevant peer mentoring approaches during Spring 2023. Two successful alumni with lived experiences in the undergraduate and graduate apparel programs developed peer mentoring training, and graduate-to-undergraduate peer mentorship was led by one graduate student. Four undergraduate apparel students were successfully mentored. Survey data indicates strong agreement regarding the cultural relevance of the peer mentoring, the peer mentor's qualities and abilities to effectively mentor, as well as social integration and academic support from the mentoring experience. This study can inform future apparel peer mentoring initiatives.

Keywords: peer mentoring, cultural relevance, apparel, student success, education

How to Cite:

Trejo, H. X., Villanueva, I. D., Medina, C. & Whang, C., (2025) “Supporting Student Success among Underrepresented Apparel Students through Peer Mentoring”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18911