Leading the Way: First-Generation Students Serving as Peer Mentors

ABSTRACT

This article reports on a study that investigated the benefits derived from a formal leadership development program where first-generation undergraduate college students serve as peer mentors for other first-generation college students. Seven students participated in the exploratory study. Data generated from a four-question open-ended response survey were analyzed using content and thematic analysis. Findings provide new understandings about the positive outcomes that may result from developing and implementing first-generation leadership programs.

KEYWORDS:

• First-generation college student
• leadership development
• identity development
• professional development
• academic development
• peer mentoring

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).