Mentoring

Mentoring is a powerful tool in fostering both student success and inclusive environments that promote equity and justice in higher education. I am trained in culturally aware mentorship practices through the National Research Mentoring Network, and am involved in training staff, faculty, and undergraduate mentors on campus through various classes and centers. I lead workshops for various mentoring programs associated with summer research experience programs aimed at increasing representation in underrepresented groups in STEM. 

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Transfer Ambassador Program

I created the Psychological and Brain Sciences transfer ambassadors program which pairs near peer senior transfer student mentors with incoming transfers. As part of the mentors training I co teach a class that delves into learning theory, mentoring practices including wise feedback, as well as a focus on assets based pedagogy and cultural capital. The incoming transfers take my course in Fall –College Student Development where we explore primary research related to college student success factors, with an asset based approach. This course is designed to foster students efficacy in reading and discussing primary literature in Psychology.

Staff and Faculty Workshops Culturally Aware Mentorship Practices

I organized and co-led, with Katya Armistead,  a series of workshops called Curious Minds: Culturally Aware Mentorship Practices, that is aimed at increasing cultural competence in mentoring underrepresented students  Over the course of two years (2018-2020) we offered various workshops for 200+ staff and faculty members. We had over 100 people join us in the first set of workshops (over 2 years), and we created a follow up for the first workshop (2.0 version) for over 100 returning staff and faculty.  

Armistead, K & Woods, V.E. (2021)  Fostering and Developing Culturally Aware Mentorship Practices: Connecting People and Promoting Action to Dismantle Institutional Barriers to Equity and Inclusion. Chapter in the Handbook of Research on Leading Higher Education Transformation With Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion.

Student Mentoring to Foster Student Success Workshops

I organized and led workshops to explore student success factors (e.g. belonging)  that can inform mentoring for mentors in the following programs: (1) Summer Institute in Math and Science (SIMS) program (2) Transfer Student Center (3) Opening New Doors Accelerating Success (ONDAS) Student Center serving first generation students and the (4) Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) that serves students from low income backgrounds.

Woods V.E. & Wilton, M. (2022) Effective Undergraduate Mentorship Practices  Podcast with Office Hours hosted by Sabrina Solanki. 

SEISMIC Summer Scholars Program

I co-created, and organized, a summer research program affiliated with Sloan Equity and Inclusion in STEM Introductory Courses (SEISMIC) with four collaborators: Anna James, Nita Kedharnath, Sabrina Solanki, and Mike Wilton. The SEISMIC scholars program serves undergraduates that have multiple effectors of opportunity in higher education settings, and involves weekly professional development sessions, and coordinated ten-week projects. Each of the leads also served as a one-on-one mentor to three SEISMIC Scholars for the summer personalized development plans for each student. 

ENGAGE: Connecting Students and Alumni in PBS

I co-created ENGAGE (Engage, Network, Grow, Advance, Guide Empower) with Diane Mackie to promote engagement opportunities for undergraduate students and alumni(2017 - 2022) ENGAGE, serving as the project coordinator for two annual events: (1) ENGAGE Fall event, which is designed for graduating seniors in PBS and includes mock interviews with alumni and programming designed to foster  professional skills and networks and (2) ENGAGE Spring event - open to all PBS undergraduates; features alumni speakers in three panels, showcasing career opportunities in the field followed by a department wide mixer.

Resources

Woods, V.E. (2020). Cultivating Diverse Undergraduate Research Experiences. In A. Schwartz & R. L. Miller (Eds.). High Impact Educational Practices: A review of best practices with illustrative examples, Ch 15, pg 255-260. Society for the Teaching of Psychology,.  http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/highimpacted

Undergraduate Conference Presentations 

Curated list of conference presentations from undergraduates in the ACCESS Lab

 

Nguyen, K., Stepanyan, Y., Messenio, D.,  & Woods, V.E. Perceptions Based on Syllabus Office Hour Descriptions. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2025, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2025.

Gajjela, S. & Woods, V.E. How do variations in belonging intervention frameworks influence potential differences in student experiences related to belonging, efficacy, and academic success? Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2025, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2025.

Kuppa, N., Thomas, N., Vu de Leon, D., Esquinas, S., Kooanupong., V., & Woods, V.E. Fostering Positive STEM Outcomes for Women: The Impact of Mentoring K-12 Students.  Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2025, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2025.

Universe, T., Ha, M., Muhammad, A., Strukel, B., Hiremath, S., Blankenhorn, M., & Woods, V.E. Developing and Assessing Critical Thinking and Conclusion-Making through Science Outreach. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2025, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2025.

Utom, C.,  Obiefuna, A., Winter, L. Requejo-Tejada, M., & Woods, V.E. Role Models Matter: Investigating Students’ Science Perceptions and Identity Using Draw-A-Scientist.  Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2024 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2024.

Makatini, Z., & Woods, V.E. Characterizing BIPOC Students Responses to a Social Belonging Intervention: Effects on Belonging, Persistence, and Student’s Experiences of Transition Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2023, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2023, and UCLA Undergraduate Research Conference in May 2023.

Cordett, W., & Woods, V.E. Making Women Feel Welcome: How Volunteering Impacts Undergraduates’ Biases in STEM, Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2023, UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2023, and UCLA Undergraduate Research Conference in May 2023.

DeRosa, B., & Woods, V.E. The Role of Peer Review in Student Success and Belonging, Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2023 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2023.

Kilgore, S. & Woods V.E. Social Belonging Effects on College Students of Color Sense of Belonging, Imposterism, and Persistence. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2022 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2022.

Diaz Gonzalez, P. & Woods V.E. Hidden Challenges of First Generation Latinx College Students: How Social Support Influences Sense of Belonging and Cultural Fit . Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2022 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2022.

McCarty, S. & Woods V.E. Giving Voice to Students of Color’s Racialized Experiences in Large Introductory STEM Courses. . Poster presented at Western Psychological Association in April 2022 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2022.

Curtis, M. & Woods V.E. Examining Pre-Biology Course Effects on Underrepresented Minority Students Pursuing Healthcare. Poster presented virtually at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2021.

Dickerson, L. & Woods V.E. Addressing the Gender-Science Stereotype: Effects of Participation in a Second-grade Science Outreach Program on Students’ Science Identity and Teachers’ Confidence. Poster presented virtually at Western Psychological Association in April 2021 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2021.

Villa, A. & Woods V.E. Effects of Involvement in Greek Life for Latinx Students Pursuing Higher Education. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2020. 

Toch, L. & Woods V.E. Cultural Value Affirmation: Effects on Southeast Asian American and White Students. Poster presented virtually at Western Psychological Association in April 2020 and at the UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2019.

Bermudez, M. & Woods V.E. Exploring Academic Self-Beliefs and Resilience Among First-Generation and Continuing-Generation College Students. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2019.

Harris, P., Cholewa, K., Holmén, J. Lopez, A. & Woods V.E. Mortality Salience and Anxiety Amongst Undergraduate Students. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2019. 

Hall, J. & Woods V.E. Conflict Resolution in Non-Romantic Relationships:Using Primed Feelings of Insecurity to Manipulate Conflict Resolution Styles with Close Others. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2019.

Alberto, O. & Woods V.E. Family Achievement Guilt and Academic Self-Efficacy in First-generation College Students. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2018.

Mora, A. & Woods V.E. The Effects of a Transfer Student Mentoring Program on the Academic Success and Knowledge of Utilization of Campus Services: Is Knowledge Powerful?  Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2017.

Garcia Garcia M. & Woods V.E. Does Belonging and Believing Lead to Academic Success: The Impact of a Mentoring Program. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2017.

Vallejo I. & Woods V.E. First Generation Students’ Sense of Belonging, Service Knowledge and Utilization, and Academic Self-Efficacy. Poster presented at UCSB Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference in May 2017.