UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1043

Mentoring Philosophy I view mentoring as a sacred, reciprocal relationship rooted in trust, cultural care, and joy. Informed by eco-womanism, my mentoring practice honors the interconnectedness of land, lineage, and liberation. I support the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—not just the academic identity.

Whether mentoring through research, writing, or intergenerational storytelling, I encourage students to bring their full selves into the work. Their lived experiences, ancestral memory, and emotional insight are not side notes—they are sources of knowledge and power. I help students recognize that their stories matter and that scholarship can be soulful.

My style is affirming yet accountable. I walk alongside mentees, offering guidance that is grounded in deep listening, clarity, and collaboration. I center joy as both method and outcome—because when students feel seen and safe, they flourish.

Projects like SoulClap and Dear Beloved SoulFlower (a secondary UROP experience) invite students into a model of scholarship that is healing, embodied, and impactful. Whether we’re cataloging submissions or curating research for publication, I teach that publishing is not just a product—it’s a process of becoming.

Ultimately, my goal is not to replicate myself but to help each student uncover and amplify their unique voice. Mentorship, to me, is about creating space where confidence can grow, authenticity can lead, and joy can take root.