CSUSB’s First-Gen Student Mentors: Guiding the Next Generation
At Cal State San Bernardino, nearly 80 percent of students are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. For many, stepping onto campus – straight out of high school, in many cases — is a bold and unfamiliar choice. Some grew up not even realizing college was an option, unable as children to picture themselves walking across a university campus — which makes their decision to pursue higher education all the more significant. That choice often fills their families with great pride and sets a new course for future generations.
At CSUSB, that first step leads to opportunities that extend beyond academics. Some of these trailblazers even go on to mentor their peers through the university’s Student Mentoring Program, which supports all CSUSB students by creating peer-to-peer relationships that make the transition to college easier. This fall, a new initiative ensures that every incoming freshman is paired with a student mentor. This gives new students a built-in support system from day one — someone who can answer questions, point them to resources, and serve as a first friend on campus.
For the student mentors we’re profiling — Jackson Archuleta, Vanessa Rivera and Harvey Orozco — the story goes beyond their own success as first-generation college students. Each of them chose to step into the role of guide and confidant, helping others find their way at CSUSB, turning their own journeys into encouragement for the next generation.
Vanessa Rivera
Student Mentor
Jackson Archuleta
Lead Student Mentor
Harvey Orozco
Student Mentor
Jackson Archuleta, Lead Student Mentor
When Jackson Archuleta first came to Cal State San Bernardino, he wasn’t sure what college would look like for him. As a first-generation student with ADHD and dyslexia, academics had always been a challenge. But with support from CSUSB’s Services to Students with Disabilities and the welcoming campus community, Archuleta not only earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2024, he also returned to pursue a Master of Science in Counseling degree.
"CSUSB has so many resources — sometimes it feels like I’m swimming in them. That’s made all the difference."
Jackson Archuleta
Master of Science in Counseling
Along the way, a chance reply to a class group chat led him to join a research team, an opportunity that resulted in his first published work and inspired him to keep going in higher education. “CSUSB has so many resources — sometimes it feels like I’m swimming in them,” he said. “That’s made all the difference.”
Now, as a lead mentor in CSUSB’s Student Mentoring Program, Archuleta finds joy in seeing new Coyotes grow from nervous freshmen into confident graduates. “The most rewarding part is watching my mentees succeed,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough to see some of them graduate, and being even a small part of their journey is amazing.”
Vanessa Rivera, Student Mentor
For Vanessa Rivera, being a first-generation student has meant learning to navigate new territory — from commuting nearly an hour to campus to balancing two jobs while pursuing her degree in business analytics with a minor in pre-law. She is on track to graduate in fall 2025, fueled by three academic scholarships and support from CSUSB faculty and staff who, she says, have been instrumental in guiding her toward her next step: law school.
“As a big sister at home, this feels like being a big sister to my mentees, too. Seeing them succeed is what makes me happiest.”
Vanessa Rivera
Bachelor of Arts in Administration, Concentration in Business Analytics
Rivera is also deeply involved in the CSUSB community, from the honors program to the Law Society, and she credits those opportunities with sharpening her research and networking skills. However, one of the most meaningful roles she has taken on is serving as a student mentor. “The most rewarding part is knowing I’m helping someone else pave their own way,” she said. “I get to be another support system so they don’t feel lost or alone.”
Mentoring, she added, has enriched her own college experience, giving her a sense of purpose and connection. “As a big sister at home, this feels like being a big sister to my mentees, too," she said. "Seeing them succeed is what makes me happiest.”
Harvey Orozco, Student Mentor
Growing up in San Bernardino, Harvey Orozco never imagined the difference college could make until he enrolled at Cal State San Bernardino. A psychology major on track to graduate in spring 2027, he says his acceptance was a significant milestone. “My family was very happy I got accepted,” he said. “They were never given a chance to go to college, so for them it was a great accomplishment.” His parents, in particular, were proud to see him continue his education, knowing how meaningful that step was for their family.
“Mentoring has helped me open up, meet new people, and connect. The most rewarding part is letting students know they’re not alone — sometimes we’re the first friend they make at CSUSB.”
Harvey Orozco
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Once on campus, Orozco discovered resources that eased his transition and supported his success. The Obershaw DEN provided weekly groceries for his family, reducing financial strain, while the Writing Center gave him confidence in essays and research papers. Most meaningful of all was having a mentor through CSUSB’s Student Mentoring Program. “At first I felt like I was here alone,” he said. “But after joining the program as a mentee, I realized I had someone who’d been in my shoes before.”
That support inspired Orozco to become a mentor himself. He describes the role as life-changing — not just for his mentees, but for him. “When I first started, I was introverted and in a little shell,” he said. “Mentoring has helped me open up, meet new people, and connect. The most rewarding part is letting students know they’re not alone — sometimes we’re the first friend they make at CSUSB.”
CSUSB’s Student Mentoring Program
The Student Mentoring Program has grown into one of the most impactful support systems at Cal State San Bernardino. Each year, 75-100 student mentors guide hundreds of their peers through the challenges of college life, offering encouragement, resources and a steady reminder that students are not alone on their journey. By fall census, between 500 and 700 mentees are actively engaged with the program, building connections that strengthen both academic success and a sense of belonging.
This fall brought a major milestone: for the first time, every incoming freshman at CSUSB is being paired with a mentor. These one-on-one connections give new students a built-in support system from the moment they arrive – someone they can turn to with questions or simply to feel more at home.
The program is transformative not only for mentees, but also for the mentors themselves. Many who begin as shy or uncertain students grow into leaders through the experience. They gain confidence in public speaking, learn to collaborate with peers, and discover their own leadership style by supporting others. In time, those who were once mentees often return as mentors, motivated to give back by offering the same support that once made a difference in their own lives.
At its heart, the Student Mentoring Program is about connection and courage — giving students the confidence to step forward and the reassurance that someone will be there to walk beside them. For first-generation college students like Archuleta, Rivera and Orozco, it is also a chance to turn their own journeys into a source of inspiration, helping others succeed at CSUSB just as they are doing themselves.
Cal State San Bernardino, set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, is a vibrant hub of education and culture in Inland Southern California. The university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master’s degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctoral program, all housed within five academic colleges and the Palm Desert Campus.
Not only is a degree from CSUSB affordable and attainable, it is also a pathway to a brighter future. Ranked No. 3 nationally for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, CSUSB helps students rise to great opportunities, securing high-paying jobs while keeping costs low.
The university is consistently recognized for its academic excellence, affordability and commitment to empowering students and communities to achieve their fullest potential.
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