Morgan State HESA Graduate Students and Morgan State Student Affairs Professionals Present Peer Mentoring Innovations at 2025 NODA Regional Conference

A team of dedicated professionals from Morgan State University’s Division of Enrollment Management and Student Success, including two current master’s students in the Higher Education & Student Affairs (HESA) program, recently presented at the 2025 NODA Region VIII Conference. The annual conference brings together professionals and students focused on orientation, transition, and retention in higher education.

The session, titled "Developing and Implementing a Full-Year Peer Mentorship Model," explored how peer mentoring efforts that begin during summer orientation can be expanded into a comprehensive year-long initiative. The team presented a detailed look into the development of their Tri-Peer Mentorship Model, a structured, tiered approach that supports first-year students through holistic engagement, leadership development, and sustained peer-to-peer mentorship.

Presenters included:

• Alana Gregory, Peer Mentor Program Coordinator and HESA master’s student
• Richard Kearney, Retention Specialist and New Student Programs Coordinator and HESA master’s student
• Kriston Chambers, Undergraduate Staff / Peer Mentor Manager
• Amir Wiley, Undergraduate Staff / First-Year Peer Mentor

Their presentation highlighted how this innovative model enhances student retention and fosters a strong sense of belonging during the critical first year of college. Attendees also learned about the program’s leadership development components, peer training strategies, and future plans for expanding campus partnerships to further institutionalize the initiative.

The Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy applauds Alana Gregory and Richard Kearney for embodying the mission of our graduate programs by serving as scholar-practitioners who bridge theory and practice to drive student success. The HESA program at Morgan State University is designed to prepare leaders who contribute to the field of higher education through research-informed practice and equity-centered leadership.

For more information about the HESA program and other graduate offerings in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy, visit: www.morgan.edu/seus/aslp