Inside a Cal State Northridge program that helps women and Latinos in STEM

Ed Source

Ashley A. Smith

April 21, 2021

One nationally recognized mentoring and research program has found success in helping women and Latino students excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math college programs.

The AIMS² program, or Attract Inspire Mentor Support Students program, at California State University Northridge’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, uses mentorships and partners with community colleges to help transfer students to successfully navigate college and graduate.

Ashley Kuhnley, who transferred into CSU Northridge as an electrical engineering major, said the mentorships in the AIMS² program are the reason she’s “been able to stick it out” in college. In addition to her studies, Kuhnley is raising a 4-year-old son.

Despite a year of mostly online mentoring because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kuhnley said the program has continued to help her work toward graduation. Instead of in-person forums, the program has offered virtual symposiums and regular Zoom meetings between students and faculty. Faculty and peer mentors meet with students at least once a month. Kuhnley said she and one of her faculty mentors meet weekly over Zoom.

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