Date of Conferral

8-26-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark Gordon

Abstract

This study was an exploration of how Black male mentors perceived organizational practices, culturally responsive mentoring, relational safety, and systems level barriers shaping their effectiveness and continued participation. The purpose was to examine early mentor-mentee match dissolution and low mentor retention in a nonprofit youth mentoring through the lens of the ecological systems theory and program evaluation framework. The practice-focused research questions were: How do volunteer mentors and program staff perceive the organizational practices and culturally responsive strategies that influence mentor effectiveness and retention in youth mentoring programs, and what organizational and systemic challenges do Black male mentors encounter in youth mentoring programs, and how do these challenges impact their sustained engagement and retention? Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with mentors and staff were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings were that retention improved when programs fostered relational trust, cultural responsiveness, identity affirmation, and community-rooted engagement, supported by structured training, trauma-informed practice, and consistent program fidelity. Barriers included identity-related emotional labor, limited access to supportive systems, time constraints, and burnout. Recommendations included strengthening onboarding, targeting mentor training and support, family engagement, and community partnerships. Implications for public administration included potential development of program design and practices that to reinforce mentor retention in youth programs potentially resulting in positive social change.

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