Students praise mentors

By Argelia Lara, Special Projects Coordinator
Faculty Mentoring Program

Photo by Gregorio Matias
Student Diana Birruete, left,
with her faculty mentor,
Dr. Mamta Rawat (Biology)

On April 6, the College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP) and the Faculty Mentoring Program (FMP) held a reception in honor of the 2004-2005 Faculty Mentors who generously volunteered their time to guide, support and encourage first-year students. 

Seven of the approximately 90 CAMP students were selected to pay a “Tribute to My Mentor,” acknowledging how their mentor had been helpful to them. The students selected  were Christian Bravo, Roberto Castro, Nicte-Sazil Chavez, Celeste Corona, Maria Jimenez, Salvador Salazar and Maria P. Vargas.

Dr. Saeed Attar, professor in chemistry mentored Christian Bravo, a psychology student. Christian described that what really helped her was his optimism and his advice.  She said, “There was nothing I couldn’t do while I was in his classroom but at the same time he told me something that has kept me centered through the semester: – ‘You can’t run before you can crawl.’ ” 

Dr. Maria Sanchez, professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering was appointed to mentor Roberto Castro, a student majoring in engineering.  Roberto expressed that  Sanchez helped him by bringing out his skills and abilities. He said, “She tried her best to keep in contact and provide me with the information necessary to make my major change.”

Dr. Dennis Nef, Dean of Undergraduate Studies was assigned to Celeste Corona, a freshman student majoring in International Business. Celeste reported that one thing that she was very thankful for was not anything “educational” but had to do with what she loves to do. She stated, “Last fall I didn’t have the opportunity to meet with the soccer coach at Fresno State and meeting Dr. Nef helped me to reach the soccer coach and arrange a date to try out for the Fresno State soccer team.”

Dr. Laura Alamillo, professor in Literacy and Early Education mentored Maria P. Vargas, who has not declared a major.  Maria explained that Alamillo was there for her when ever she needed help. Whenever Maria went into Alamillo’s office, she dropped what ever she was doing to listen to her. Maria also mentioned, “The best thing about our relationship is that I haven’t known her for a long time, but I really feel that I can trust her, not just with personal things but with anything, anything at all.”

These tributes are just a few examples of how mentoring can help students. These mentors have built very valuable relationships that have assisted their students in many different ways. The program provides mentors to students in hope that these relationships will carry on throughout their years at Fresno State and will contribute to their continuation in college and lead them to obtain college degrees.

Faculty who would like more information and an application for the Faculty Mentoring Program may call 8-7766 or visit the Web site www.csufresno.edu/univ1_fmp.