By Mia Portillo
January 2026 marked the 24th year of National Mentoring Month. Established by nonprofit organization MENTOR, this month is a celebration of the impact that meaningful mentor relationships bring to fruition.
Mentorship makes a significant impact throughout people's lives:
- At the elementary and middle school level, empirical research shows mentoring programs may lead to an increase in social skills and a decrease in behavioral problems.
- In higher education, students who are part of a formal mentoring program tend to have higher grades, retention rates, and attendance levels when compared to students of similar backgrounds who do not participate in such programs.
- In the workforce, according to the American Psychological Association, “mentored individuals often earn higher performance evaluations, higher salaries, and faster career progress than non-mentored individuals.”
Understanding the critical importance of mentoring, the Cisneros Institute has built mentorship into every component of its programming. In the Cisneros Scholars program, each Scholar is paired with a near-peer mentor during their first year. Mentors and mentees meet regularly and become part of a larger familia of mentors who support each other socially, academically, and professionally. First-year Scholars also receive one-on-one academic success coaching to learn how to navigate demanding schedules and manage their time wisely.
Throughout their undergraduate academic journey, Cisneros Scholars complete research under the supervision of expert faculty members and/or participate in internships (such as Comunicadores for the Future) with guidance from Cisneros faculty, staff, and industry leaders across Washington, D.C. In their final year, Scholars participate in tailored professional development programming with a professional career coach which prepares them for success in their field of interest post-graduation. After college, many alumni remain engaged with the Cisneros Institute and continue to serve as mentors of new generations of Scholars.
In honor of National Mentoring Month, I sat down with current Scholars to hear about their experiences, both as mentors and mentees:
“To me, being a mentor means uplifting, supporting, and using my experiences to help others learn. Mentorship goes two ways and a mentor can learn a lot from their mentee. ”
- Malyna Trujillo, Cisneros Scholar, Class of 2027
“My mentee can learn from me and my experiences, even if it’s from my mistakes. I like to think that it’s about paying it forward from all the mentors that came before me and showing my mentee that same kind of support.”
- Marko Sanchez, Cisneros Scholar, Class of 2027
“The Institute’s mentorship programs have given me so many connections that have helped me ease into a larger community—coming from a small one—and better understand the resources of the school and DC as a whole."
- Satu Pajkos, Cisneros Scholar, Class of 2029
“As a first-generation student, mentoring has made it easier for people like me, or in a similar situation, to navigate spaces that weren't initially built for us. It gives people the opportunity to have a connection and a familiar face to handle professional or collegiate settings.”
- Brandon Santiago-Ramos, Cisneros Scholar, Class of 2028
I also had the opportunity to speak with Cisneros Institute Executive Director, Dr. Elizabeth Vaquera, asking her why she designed the Cisneros Scholars Program with mentorship opportunities in mind.
She said, “If you look at the research, you can clearly see a correlation between mentorship and long-term attainment and achievement. Aside from these tangible impacts, mentorship allows students to develop a sense of community and orientation toward service that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Mentees also practice how to ask for help from different individuals, from their peers, to alumni, to their professors. And we all learn from this process, both mentors and mentees.”
Mentorship is a valuable asset for all students, but is particularly essential for low-income, first-generation, and immigrant students who have not been exposed to the hidden curriculum of universities and the corporate world. By learning from those who have come before them, students are more likely to be successful when navigating these unfamiliar spaces.
Mia Portillo is a Cisneros Scholar majoring in Political Science. Mia's views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.