Two years ago, California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State) students gave rise to the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program on campus. Alumni, Steph Landeros, who is now in graduate school and Jon Grammatico, who is now in the Masters of Social Work Program (MSW) at Stan State, approached Dr. Vickie Harvey, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, in hopes of starting an LGBTQ+ program which now serves the campus community.

Soon, this proposal was drafted and addressed to the former Vice President of Faculty Affairs, who then gave the go-ahead to start the program. The program was then taken to the President’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion, where they talked about the different issues that affect the University and its students, in terms of inclusion and diversification.

The LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program started back in Spring 2016 and the program prides itself through its faculty and staff mentors and student mentees. It seeks to connect LGBTQ+ students with LGBTQ+ faculty and staff to provide support and really help students express who they are.

Rachel Grimshaw, a Professor in the English Department and a Mentor in the LGBTQ+ Program stated, “I can’t think of a single reason someone wouldn’t want to be a part of this amazing program. When I was an undergraduate on this campus, there wasn’t a lot of LGBTQ+ visibility, and there weren’t a lot of ways for these students to feel supported or to be engaged.”

Dr. Harvey, who is the director of the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program, explains that it is more of a social program, rather than it just emphasizing academics.

The great aspect of the program is that they are inclusive of the community and do not solely focus on campus life.

“We have luncheons, we have game nights, we play cards, we carve pumpkins, we have seasonal events. The Modesto Pride Center has events that we go to, also, the Modesto Nuts had [an] LGBTQ+ Night that we went to,” Dr. Harvey added. 

When the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program started a few semesters ago, a great amount of students had joined. However, the most challenging part, even today, is that not a lot of students know this program even exists on campus.

Amrit Sooch (senior, Business Administration) recalls only hearing about an LGBTQ+ prom last year but has not heard anything about the Mentorship Program that is offered on campus.

“I think if they are on social media, they can reach a lot more people, like on Instagram, especially if they post more,” Sooch suggested.

Moreover, there are a lot of efforts to put flyers out in various parts of the school so that more students can be aware of the program and its resources. Dr. Harvey states that developing the program at school was not challenging, it was just making people aware of it and getting the word out to students and faculty members. Many Professors are also making an effort to mention these kinds of programs to their students in various classes to get the word out. 

“It is really an opportunity for students and faculty to come together, for people to come together, in a safe place, to just hang out and be who they are, and to create a climate of camaraderie with like-minded people,” Dr. Harvey said.

Professor Grimshaw believes that, “as mentors, we have the opportunity to connect with students on an individual level and to impact them positively. The relationships I’ve built with the five students I’ve mentored mean a great deal to me, and I’d like to think they feel the same way. I think anything we can do as faculty to help support and encourage students is something worth doing, and if we can also allow them to connect with faculty at the same time, that’s even better.”

“Lastly, I think it’s important for students to see and know LGBTQ+ faculty who are healthy and happy and whole-heartedly embrace who they are, and this is particularly important for students who are not yet out or who worry what life after coming out might be like,” Professor Grimshaw added.

If you would like to know more about the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program and want to become a member, you can contact Dr. Harvey at [email protected] or at her office located in Demergasso-Bava Hall (DBH) Room 130.

UPDATE: This story was updated to incorporate a quote from a mentor of the LGBTQ+ Mentor Program.