A New Chapter
May 15, 2025
By Kristie Allen, UT Tyler Lecturer
The UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology has enhanced its mentor center. Learn more about the changes from center director Kristie Allen.
UT Tyler CEP Enhances Mentor Center
The spring 2025 semester marked an exciting new chapter for the CEP Mentor Center. While the program has been in operation since 2019, recent enhancements have brought new energy and measurable success.
Most notably, the Mentor Center transitioned to a near-peer mentoring model, utilizing undergraduate students majoring in psychology and education to serve as mentors. These juniors and seniors were either self-nominated or recommended by faculty members who recognized their leadership, academic excellence and interpersonal strengths.
This shift to peer mentorship was driven by the belief that students benefit from connecting with mentors who are closer to them in their academic journeys. These mentors are uniquely positioned to relate to the challenges and experiences of those they support, fostering more meaningful and productive interactions and enhancing students’ overall sense of belonging. At the start of the semester, mentors participated in an afternoon training session focused on effective mentoring strategies and became well-acquainted with the wide array of academic and student-centered support services available at UT Tyler.
During the semester, mentors engaged with more than 60 CEP majors—specifically targeting
students who were either new to UT Tyler in fall 2024 or enrolled in introductory
psychology or education courses during the spring. Each student was invited to participate
in a face-to-face appraisal interview aimed at identifying potential barriers to success
and facilitating connections to appropriate resources. Mentors then maintained regular
communication through weekly check-ins, offering ongoing support and encouragement.
“Being a mentor has meant lending a helping hand in any way I can. Also being an undergraduate student, I know what it's like to feel alone or overwhelmed. Being a mentor allows me to use my own experiences to make sure all students know they always have someone,” said mentor Audrey Metts, a psychology senior.
Mackenzie Bier is a psychology major in her second semester of classes at UT Tyler. She came into her freshman year with 60 earned credit hours, having to start in junior-level classes. She plans to attend law school and hopes to one day run her own firm.
“My mentorship has been one of the best things this semester. Not only was my mentor very helpful with my questions but she was also in some of my classes, so she knew exactly how to help,” Bier said.
In addition to individual mentoring, the Mentor Center launched the Spring 2025 CEP Mentor Speaker Series. All six mentors led sessions on timely and relevant topics such as navigating the pre-med path as a psychology major, managing procrastination and balancing academic responsibilities with work commitments.
Christie Hazelwood is a BAAS major earning a minor in psychology. She graduated this spring and will start her MS in human resources this summer.
“The College of Education and Psychology Mentor Speaker Series has had a meaningful impact on my academic progress and overall perspective this semester,” Hazelwood said. “Hearing directly from students and educators who are actively working to accomplish their goals brought a unique bridge between classroom concepts and daily student life in a way that made them feel much more tangible and relevant.”
These events were well attended, and recordings will be available on the CEP website for broader access.