Nine CBCS graduate students served as peer mentors in the Spring 2026 Relate-A-Bull program, representing the college’s social work, communication sciences and disorders, and clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling programs. In addition, four CBCS staff members pursuing graduate degrees in other disciplines at USF participated in the program.
The Relate-A-Bull initiative, facilitated by the Office of Graduate Studies, prepares graduate students to serve as peer mentors who provide holistic, complementary support alongside the more traditional relationships between graduate students and their research mentors. Many participants have built meaningful relationships through the program, and in some cases, former mentees later chose to become mentors themselves.
“There is a deep comfort and empowerment in learning from someone who understands our experiences, who can provide practical advice, share valuable insights, and offer a listening ear during overwhelming times,” wrote Lucy Agbo, a mentor and doctoral student in Communication Sciences and Disorders. “I have come to realize that peer mentoring is not just about giving advice; it’s about nurturing meaningful relationships built on empathy and mutual respect.”
The program originated from the dissertation research of Donna Knudsen, EdD, St. Petersburg campus assistant dean in the Office of Graduate Studies. Her research identified dissatisfaction with mentoring as a factor contributing to graduate student dropout rates. That work led to a collaboration with Sandra Stone, PhD, Sarasota-Manatee campus assistant dean in the Office of Graduate Studies and professor in the Department of Criminology, and the Graduate Student Success Workgroup to examine mentoring practices across USF academic programs.
The program trained 29 participants during the Spring 2026 cohort. To date, four cohorts have completed the program between Spring 2024 and Spring 2026, and approximately 129 students have completed the Relate-A-Bull mentor training program. While some participants have since graduated, the program continues to engage graduate students who remain interested in mentoring. See the list of mentors here.