SAFE Mentors: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

LGBTQ Banner: We see you, we support you, we welcome you

The SAFE Mentor program aims to connect LGBTQA+ students with LGBTQA+ staff, faculty, and administrators from NKU. This program is open to all LGBTQA+ identifying, closeted, and questioning students. Mentee-Mentor pairs are based on their identities, specific needs or requests of the mentee, and mutual interests, skills, or career focus.

The SAFE Mentor program is designed for mentoring queer students, supporting the development of their voice, leadership, & communication skills, and fostering intercultural understanding, community building opportunities, and an inclusive environment.

The goals of the program are:

To foster mentoring relationships between LGBTQA+ students and LGBTQA+ faculty/staff/administrators that will offer support, guidance, and resources.
To provide support for students who are in the process of coming out, who are closeted for personal reasons, or are questioning their identity.
To provide students with the opportunity to engage with diverse professionals and begin developing their LGBTQA+ networks.
To help connect students to important resources across campus.
To increase visibility of LGBTQA+ professionals and SAFE members at NKU.
To provide mentors with the opportunity to engage with LGBTQA+ students outside of the classroom and to learn from their experiences.
To increase mentors' understanding and awareness of the experiences of LGBTQA+ students at NKU, in order to serve as better allies and advocates.

Apply to be a SAFE Mentor!

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to LGBTQA+ SI Director, Dr. LaVette Burnette, at burnettel1@nku.edu or SAFE President, Caitlin Drouillard-Ahlrichs, at drouillarc1@nku.edu.

Important Mentee Information Below

Mentee Expectations

Mentees will be expected to:

Inform Dr. LaVette Burnette of your interest in participating in the SAFE Mentor-Mentee program via email.
Identify as a member of the LGBTQA+ community (you may still be questioning or in the closet - just let your mentor know what you're comfortable with!).
Be an active QPLUS Scholar or another LGBTQA+ affiliated student group.
Commit to the mentor-mentee relationship for at least one academic semester.
Be interested in building community and a sense of belonging with a queer and/or trans staff, faculty, or administrator at NKU.
Provide feedback to LGBTQA+ office and check-in throughout the semester, as needed.

Mentees will NOT be expected to:

Come out to their mentor or to anyone else on campus.
- State your boundaries with Dr. LaVette Burnette and/or your mentor.
Continue their time with their mentor if they are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
- Please immediately inform Dr. LaVette Burnette.
Go with their mentor off-campus.
- Please immediately inform Dr. LaVette Burnette if you are asked and/or made to go off-campus.

Important Mentor Information Below

Mentor Screening Process

Mentor Screening Process

Submit application interest form
Attend LGBTQA+ SI Ally Training
Attend a face-to-face interview with LGBTQA+ and SAFE leadership between December 4th-December 22nd (in-person and virtual available)

Mentor Expectations

Mentors will be expected to:

Identify as a member of the LGBTQA+ community.
Be an active member of SAFE - if you are not currently a member, submit your interest form and pay the $15 annual fee.
Commit to the mentoring relationship and program for at least one academic semester.
Be interested in building community and a sense of belonging with queer and trans students.
Respect the degree of outness desired by the mentee.
Provide feedback to LGBTQA+ office and check-in throughout the semester, as needed.

Mentors will NOT be expected to:

Serve as your mentee's mental health counselor or therapist.
- Instead, encourage your mentee to utilize NKU's Counseling Services
Spend money on your mentee or purchase gifts.
Transport your mentee.

Mentor Support

Mentor Support

Mentors will be provided access to relevant resources.
Mentors will receive a directory of current and former mentors for additional support.
Mentors will be invited to join the Mentor Sub-Committee in SAFE.
Mentors will have the opportunity to schedule check-ins throughout the semester with Dr. LaVette Burnette or Caitlin Drouillard-Ahlrichs.

SAFE Mentors

LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives