The Palm Desert campus of Cal State San Bernardino put out the call Monday for Coachella Valley locals with a college degree who may be interested in talking to university students about their experiences.
The University Alumni of the Coachella Valley group was created by three CSUSB Palm Desert campus staff members in order to assist students with mentorships and professional networking.
“We hope that our university students will identify with alumni in the Coachella Valley, while making a long-lasting change in our community,” said Avi Rodriguez, one of the co-founders. “The goal is for our current students and university alumni to share experiences and make professional connections and mentorship opportunities outside the classroom.”
To qualify, prospective mentors must have graduated from a Coachella Valley high school and earned at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Participants must not have graduated from the CSUSB Palm Desert campus, however, organizers said.
Each month, the group will highlight mentors on its website and Instagram page by showcasing their individual journeys. Students can then network with them.
The program is purely virtual for now due to coronavirus pandemic, although organizers said they hope to add a leadership conference and in-person networking events in the future.
On Thursday, mentor Carol Barry will be giving a talk over Instagram Live starting at 5:30 p.m. She is the operations manager of Desert Insurance Solutions Inc. She gradated from both La Quinta High School and the CSUSB Palm Desert campus.
Additional information can be found by emailing pdcengagement@csusb.edu.