Mentorship Opportunities in Science & Agriculture for Individuals of Color is an organization on campus that fosters community by connecting Black, Indigenous, and graduate students, postdocs, and mentors of color in science and agriculture departments at the University of Wisconsin.
Inspired by the [event], Korede Olugbenle, a 25-year-old Black man from Georgia and a graduate student at the time, aimed to highlight the lack of Black representation in Moore Hall-Agronomy at UW. Collaborating with fellow graduate students Jenyne Loarca and Becca Honeyball, Olugbenle introduced a solution known as MOSAIC.
Statistics from the University of Wisconsin reveal that 59.9% of the entire student body and 47.9% of the graduate student body identify as white.
A study conducted by [organization] examined the persistence and retention rates in public four-year institutions, consistently showing higher rates for Asian and white students compared to Latinx and Black students. These disparities in early post-secondary education persist at higher academic levels.
Dr. Lauren Hernandez, the Director of the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Graduate Program and a mentor at MOSAIC, suggests that the lack of diverse representation in academia’s upper echelons may contribute to these disparities.
MOSAIC, a student-led organization, collaborates with faculty in the College of Agricultural Life Sciences to advance their mission. Dr. Hernandez, who was part of the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee at the organization’s inception, emphasizes the crucial need for graduate student support in addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion concerns.
The MOSAIC initiative provides professional mentorship, graduate peer support networks, and community events to establish a platform for Black, Indigenous, and graduate students of color to connect within the campus community. Co-coordinators of the MOSAIC mentorship program, Ph.D. candidates Ana María Vázquez-Catoni and Daniela Orjuela Díaz, play instrumental roles in its implementation.
Ana María Vázquez-Catoni highlights MOSAIC’s professional mentorship program as a valuable resource for students seeking academic guidance and support. In addition to this program, MOSAIC offers the Graduate Peer Support Network and community events to foster stronger bonds among its members.
Daniela Orjuela Díaz emphasizes the importance of aiding fellow graduate students on their academic journey, underscoring the shared objective of navigating graduate school successfully despite diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The MOSAIC team follows an anonymous matching process, ensuring that both mentors and mentees align on their expectations before formalizing the mentorship. Francisco Campos-Arguedas, a Ph.D. candidate and admin board member, highlights the significance of these mentor-mentee relationships.
Former mentee and current admin board member Ophelia Tsai emphasizes the community aspect of MOSAIC mentorship, noting the additional support and understanding that extends beyond professional realms to personal well-being.
In addition to fostering a sense of community, MOSAIC aims to reshape conventional mentorship practices, emphasizing the importance of representation in higher education and academia. Ana María Vázquez-Catoni stresses the prevalence of toxic mentoring experiences and the need to redefine mentorship for a positive and inclusive environment.
Originating from Costa Rica, Francisco Campos-Arguedas found a sense of belonging through MOSAIC by connecting with a faculty member from Guatemala who shared similar roots and experiences. This connection reinforced the importance of representation and mentorship in academic settings.
MOSAIC recently collaborated with UW’s Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences and the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee to host a summit focused on [event], providing a platform for students to engage with food justice issues.
Looking ahead, MOSAIC aims to expand its network, forge alliances with campus partners, and broaden its reach to a wider audience. Ophelia Tsai envisions MOSAIC becoming an integral part of every department at UW in the future, emphasizing the significance of identity and representation in achieving academic success.
Dr. Hernandez underscores the critical role of representation in academic environments, emphasizing that seeing oneself reflected in a space is pivotal for success, while the absence of such representation poses significant challenges.