Mentoring among Latina/o Scholars: Enacting Spiritual Activism to Navigate Academia

This qualitative study examined how a national program, established by Latina/o faculty, engaged in socialization efforts to foster persistence in doctoral degree programs. The study used spiritual activism as a framework to examine the mentoring relationships fostered among program participants. Data derived from interviews with 19 program alumni and document analysis. Findings revealed that the selection of graduate scholars entailed screening for a commitment to Latina/o communities, which supported the development of bonds among graduate scholars. As emerging scholars, the participants experienced academic validation. Finally, participants fostered a national mentoring network that was rooted in reciprocity. The findings result in the conceptualization of a mentoring framework entitled "spiritual mentor-activism."