University of Denver Autumn 2025

Shape Us The People Who By Heather Hein | Photography by Dave Pavlina

At DU, mentorship is at the heart of the student experience. Here, students don’t just make connections—they find the people who spark discovery, open doors, and help them thrive long after graduation.

drivers that connect students to the dimensions of intellect, character, well-being, and purpose. From their very first day, students are paired with a 4D peer mentor, a First-Year Seminar (FSEM) faculty mentor, and an academic advisor. They also have access to a wide network of alumni mentors through the Crimson Constellation platform and tools like mentor mapping, which helps them see where their support is strong and where it could grow. “We know mentorship helps students by improving their skills, expanding their networks, and giving them a sense of belonging and confidence to reach their goals,” says Anderson Lehman. “So, we want to make sure students have a certain number of mentors by the time they graduate, and that there are unavoidable opportunities early on and throughout their time here to make those connections.” Nowhere is the power of mentorship more evident than in the stories of DU’s mentors and mentees. What follows are the stories of four pairs—spanning disciplines, degree programs, and backgrounds—that show how these relationships are transforming lives and careers. To read more about mentorship at DU, check out our digital exclusive story, “Connections That Count,” at magazine.du.edu.

Ask almost any DU alum about their time on campus, and you’re likely to hear about someone who changed their life: a professor who steered them toward a major or career, a peer who teamed up with them on a big project, a connection that opened unexpected doors, or simply a friend who offered encouragement at just the right moment. “We’ve always been great at connecting people. It’s a big part of what makes DU, DU,” says Sam Anderson-Lehman, associate director of 4D mentoring and planning. “Relationships shape the college experience for our students.” Those connections happen naturally at DU. Small class sizes mean more chances for meaningful faculty-student interaction, and the teacher-scholar model draws faculty and staff who care deeply about student success while offering unique opportunities for collaboration. In recent years, DU has taken that tradition a step further, creating a more intentional “constellation” of mentorship opportunities designed to ensure every student has the relationships they need to thrive—during their time here and long after graduation. Mentorship is also a cornerstone of the Four Dimensional (4D) Experience, DU’s holistic approach to education. Along with reflection and experiences, it’s one of the three key

30

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2025