Legacy and Support in HBCUs: Mentorship as a Collective Thread

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are vital launchpads for social mobility, cultural empowerment, and generational impact. These institutions embrace a philosophy of “lifting as we climb,” nurturing leaders who have made indelible marks on society. Central to this ethos is mentorship—a practice that shapes the lives of students, faculty, and alumni alike.

Dr. Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Dean of the Graduate School at Penn State University, and a prominent voice in the HBCU community, states, “Mentorship is about giving back and paying it forward. It’s a thread that ties generations together and ensures a legacy of support.” This sentiment underscores the mission of Mentor Collective, which partners with thirteen HBCUs to scale culturally relevant, high-impact peer and alumni mentorship programs. These initiatives aim to improve student persistence, sense of belonging, engagement, and career readiness while ensuring that staff with limited capacity are not overburdened.

“Mentorship is about giving back and paying it forward. It’s a thread that ties generations together and ensures a legacy of support.”

The Enduring Mentorship Legacy of HBCUs

Mentorship at HBCUs is not just a program,  but an enduring way of being, deeply woven into the institutions’ cultural fabric.

This strategy manifests in powerful ways:

• Cultural Affirmation: HBCUs foster connections between students and mentors with similar experiences. Dr. Esters reflects: “A lot of who I am was cultivated on the campuses of two HBCUs.” This affirmation strengthens students' identities and equips them to navigate predominantly white industries.
• Leadership Development: Through consistent mentorship, HBCUs help cultivate leaders ready to excel in fields where Black professionals remain underrepresented. Philip Wilkerson III, M.Ed, Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason University Career Services, asserts, “People are the greatest resource; their experience is the greatest learning tool.”
• Community Resilience: The bonds formed through mentorship often extend well beyond graduation, creating a self-sustaining support cycle. Dr. Esters emphasizes the importance of representation: “Every day I could look forward to seeing someone who looked like me, and we could talk about everything from academics to life experiences. That shared identity was sustaining.”

Addressing Modern Challenges with Timeless Solutions

Despite their significant impact—producing 40% of Black engineers, 40% of Black Congress members, 50% of all Black lawyers and doctors, and 80% of Black judges*—HBCUs face systemic challenges. Limited funding strains support services, leaving first-generation students, 20% of those enrolled at HBCUs, without adequate resources. 

Historical underfunding has led to a myriad of financial issues for HBCUs, resulting in much smaller endowments compared to their peers, even as these institutions have set the standard for expanding college access for Black and low-income students. Although they represent only three percent of higher education institutions, HBCUs produce nearly 20% of Black college graduates, while enrolling almost double the percentage of low-income Pell-eligible students (62% vs. 39%) and first-generation students (60% vs. 33%), compared to colleges nationally**.

Mentor Collective addresses the challenges faced by HBCUs, particularly the barriers to student persistence, by formalizing mentorship practices that ensure equitable access to support. By partnering with trusted institutions such as Florida A&M University and Clark Atlanta University, Mentor Collective collaborates with visionary leaders dedicated to proactively identifying the obstacles students encounter. This approach allows institutions to intervene effectively, ensuring students receive the necessary support from peers or alumni who relate to their lived experiences. These initiatives focus on improving persistence, engagement, and overall career readiness, helping prevent students from falling through the cracks.

"You really learn about what it means to be a Black person in America at an HBCU, and that not all Black people are monolithic—we are all different."

Investing in the Next Generation

Mentorship serves as a bridge to understanding the hidden curriculum of higher education and career development, equipping students with vital networking skills. Mentor Collective’s scalable initiatives ensure that students have access to mentors who can guide them in achieving their goals. At HBCUs, mentorship goes beyond strategy; it embodies empowerment passed from generation to generation. By scaling access to mentorship, HBCUs can identify barriers to student persistence in real-time and support students in transitioning into the workforce as confident, connected leaders.

Dr. Esters reminds us, “You really learn about what it means to be a Black person in America at an HBCU, and that not all Black people are monolithic—we are all different.” For HBCU leaders, now is the time to invest in mentorship infrastructure, while alumni can empower future generations by joining mentorship networks that provide invaluable guidance and connections.

Join Our HBCU Community Experience Series on April 23rd

We invite you to learn more about the essential bridge between education and career readiness at HBCUs: mentorship. Join us for our upcoming HBCU Community Experience Series webinar on April 23, 2025, featuring DeMario Bell, an award-winning community strategist and founder of Gatherful. This third installment of our three-part series will delve into the importance of community and mentorship at HBCUs, providing an opportunity to learn from thought leaders and engage with peers.

This series has previously highlighted esteemed leaders like Dr. Levon Esters, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School at Penn State University, and Philip Wilkerson III, M.Ed, Employer Engagement Consultant at George Mason University Career Services, creating a rich dialogue around the role of mentorship. Through interactive discussions and shared experiences, Mentor Collective aims to build a community that values mentorship and its impact on future leaders.  Join us as we continue to champion mentorship and its vital role in shaping the future of higher education.

Register now to contribute to the conversation and explore the transformative power of mentorship!

Link to Webinar Registration

Citations:

*Source: UNCF, Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Partnership for Education Advancement Announce Historic Collaboration to Improve Socioeconomic Outcomes for Black Communities. Retrieved from UNCF Annual Report 2023.

**Source: HBCU Transformation Project Receives $124 Million Investment to Increase Enrollment, Improve Efficiency, and Expand Pathways to Economic Mobility. Retrieved from UNCF HBCU Transformation Project.