Mentoring High School Students of Color

sia were, ramya Herman, and tim lewis pose in front of the san dimas high school main office — Sia Were ’25, Ramya Herman ’25, and CEC Program Coordinator Tim Lewis visited San Dimas High School to lead a conversation about college prep with the school’s Black Student Union. That visit led to other ways to work with the high schoolers and help them develop support systems as they prepare for college.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Organizational Studies Marilyn Grell-Brisk collaborated with students in Pitzer’s Black Student Union (BSU) and Community Engagement Center (CEC) to host the San Dimas High School Black Student Union on campus in the fall.

CEC fellows in the Educational Access and Amplifying Black Communities (ABC) programs partnered to welcome the San Dimas students. They included Educational Access fellow Sia Were ’25 and ABC fellows Ramya Herman ’25, Corrine Waters ’26, and Rahim Chilewa Jr. ’27. Grell-Brisk is the faculty advisor for ABC.

Were, Herman, and CEC Program Coordinator Tim Lewis first visited the high school to lead a conversation about college prep. They also discussed the differences between a predominantly white institution versus a historically white institution and how to build a support system for people of color who are first-year college students.

The San Dimas High School BSU students visited Pitzer’s campus and participated in information sessions, a workshop on writing a personal statement, a “real talk” lunch with current Black students at The Claremont Colleges, a campus tour, and a human-centered design session held in Pitzer BSU’s affinity space.