Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Mark DeVirgilio

Abstract

Youth mentorship has captured the attention of policymakers as a method of addressing societal issues. A review of the literature highlighted challenges that mentorship programs face regarding mentor sustainability. The purpose of this study was to explore and differentiate the experiences, perceptions, and motivations among paid and volunteer mentors within formal youth mentorship programs. This phenomenological study informs public policymakers how funding should be allocated within the nonprofit sector in order to optimize mentor retention. Structural functionalism and Kingdon’s multiple streams approach composed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected utilizing 14 semistructured interview questions. An analysis of the described experiences, perceptions, and motivations of 12 participants was conducted. The study’s findings led to the creation of 10 themes: role awareness, community patriotism, collaboration, collectiveness, awareness, professionalization, support factors, perceived success, motivational factors, and psychological resilience. The results of this study identified that initial motivations between paid and volunteer mentors may differ. However, as mentors become tenured, there becomes greater alignment among the motivations of paid and volunteer mentors to continue in their role. Policy implications from this study indicate that financial compensation may not be a primary component to mentor sustainability, but rather mentors undergo a maturation process that leads them toward altruistic motives. Recommendations from this study are that mentors should be classified as public servants and be subject to similar policies that focus on psychological resilience and commitment to a public service career.

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