1. Using Research to Foster College Women’s Community Engagement and Academic Service Learning: The Young Women Leaders Program Edith “Winx” Lawrence, Nancy L. Deutsch, Joanna Lee Williams, Lauren J. Germain, Jenna H. Marshall, Afi Wiggins Inaugural Academic Symposium April 14, 2011 Charlottesville, VA 1

2. Youth Mentoring and College Student Community Engagement Popular option ▫Over 4,500 programs College students well- suited to be mentors ▫Proximity in age ▫Similar issues ▫Available

3. Concerns from Mentoring Field Not tied to community (Tierney & Branch, 1992) Different race and social class than mentees (DuBois et.al., 2002) Inconsistent and insensitive mentoring can have negative effect on mentees (Rhodes, 2002; Spencer, 2007)

4. Young Women Leaders Program Uses an academic service- learning format (Astin et al., 2000; Eyler & Giles, 1999; Rhoads, 1998) ▫Integration of knowledge and service ▫ Reflection ▫Supervision & support

5. Big Sister Activities Big Sister Meeting Mentoring Group One-on- one Mentoring Class YWLP Structure for Mentors Facilitator Little Sister Academic service-learning: Class Big sister meeting Group & one-on-one time (6-8 pairs in a group)

6. YWLP Research Design Mixed Methods ▫Pre/Post Surveys ▫Observations ▫Interviews 6

7. Research Findings 1.Mentor commitment ▫Community engagement format  2005-07 (n=104) 88% ▫Academic service learning format  2007-09 (n=127) 95%

8. 2. Integration of knowledge and service ▫Course evaluations from 2008-10 (2 cohorts)  Course worthwhile: 94% agreed or strongly agreed  Learned a great deal in course: 92%  Program and course supported navigation of issues related to cultural diversity: 69% “This class is an invaluable supplement to the YWLP mentoring program. Not only do program mentors get the opportunity to interact with middle school young women on a weekly basis, but they are prepared through academic readings and study, allowing for a more effective, knowledgeable and prepared mentor role model.”

9. 3. Navigating difference (Lee, Germain, Lawrence & Marshall, 2010) Study using 2005-08 sample (4 cohorts) compared mentors to college women on self-reported behavioral change (YWLP = 256; control = 261) Chi square test revealed mentors significantly more likely than comparison group to report positive change in ability to: ▫Listen to people with different views than self (χ 2 =25.58, df = 2, p= <.05 ) ▫Interact with people different from self (χ 2 = 23.34, df = 2, p= <.05) ▫Support their friends (χ 2 = 8.61, df =2, p= <.05) ▫Deal with problems (χ 2 = 5.98, df =2, p= <.05) Small effect sizes (.12 to.25; Cohen 1988)

10. Self-Reported Tolerance 10 Changes in self-reported tolerance among YWLP mentors and the comparison group. (Lee, Germain, Lawrence, & Marshall, 2010)

11. Qualitative analysis of 33 interviews from 2008-09 a.Over half commented on structural diversity and learning in YWLP ▫From other mentors in group: “I learned that I can be friends with different people because all the Big Sisters are so different.” ▫From mentee: “So that’s what I’ve learned from her-that no matter where you grow up there’s so many different types of people out there that don’t just think like I do. It opened my mind, my eyes. It was good.”

12. b.Program level support for intergroup contact ▫Class 36.4% (n=12) ▫Big sister group 75.7% (n=25 )

13. Conclusions 13 Academic service learning class can enhance college students’ commitment to community service

14. 14 Provides college students opportunities to: ▫Integrate knowledge & service ▫Reflect ▫Receive supervision & support

15. And successfully navigate cultural differences

16. Next Steps What program factors promote mentor effectiveness? ▫Program Structure  ASL format  Integrating knowledge & service  Reflection  Supervision & support  Group & one-on-one mentoring  Promoting vs. inhibiting dialogue  Modeling solutions ▫Training  Topics (mentoring skills, cultural competence)  Format (video, web-based) 16

17. Key Figures & Funders Edith “Winx” Lawrence, Director Jennifer Merritt, Assoc. Director Melissa Levy, Asst. Director Nancy Deutsch, Director of Research Graduate Student RA’s ▫Lauren Germain, ▫Angela Hennberger ▫Jennifer Leyton ▫Jenna Marshall ▫Amanda Sovik-Johnston ▫Janelle Summerville ▫Clare Vierbuchen ▫Afi Wiggins Sources of Funding: US Department of Education US Department of Justice W.T. Grant Foundation University of Virginia: ▫Jefferson Public Citizens ▫Commission on the Future of the University* ▫Vice-Provost’s for International Programs YWLP is sponsored by UVa’s: Women’s Center Curry School of Education Youth Nex