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RISE Mentoring Program will Promote Student Success

April 29, 2025

When Delora McQueen learned about the RISE mentoring program at Delaware Tech, she was immediately interested in participating as a mentor.

“I’m deeply committed to student success, both inside and outside the classroom,” said McQueen, chair of the Business Department at the College’s Dover campus. “I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship can bridge gaps that academic instruction alone can’t always fill. When I learned about RISE, it felt like a natural extension of the work I already do in helping students navigate challenges, build confidence, and stay focused on their goals.”

The new program kicked off on May 14 with an event on the Terry Campus in Dover and includes 29 mentors and 78 student mentees collegewide. The RISE acronym stands for resilience, inclusion, support, and empowerment.

Deneice Berry, the College’s Equity Committee co-chair overseeing the program, said the groups on the four campuses will meet monthly in HyFlex classrooms that allow all of them to hear from a guest speaker who will appear in person at one campus and join the rest via video.

Bria Clark, a marketing major from the College’s Wilmington campus, is one of the mentees participating in the RISE program, and appreciates the opportunity to learn from the experience.

“I got involved because I’m passionate about personal growth and building strong networks, and this program felt like a great fit,” Clark said. “I’m hoping to gain mentorship that helps me grow both professionally and personally.”

Berry said the program will include professional, academic, and personal mentoring for students.

“We will guide them to the correct resources to help them,” she said.

McQueen is looking forward to providing that guidance.

“My greatest motivation is the opportunity to help students feel supported, empowered, and understood, especially those who may not always have that support system elsewhere,” she said. “In my current role, I often guide students in achieving their academic and professional goals, but mentorship allows for deeper, more personal connections that can change the course of someone’s life. I want to be a presence who reminds students of their potential even when they can’t see it for themselves.