Emily Hersch, MA to present at the Society for Digital Mental Health conference

April 17, 2025

BOSTON, MA – April 17, 2025 – The Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring at the University of Massachusetts Boston, in collaboration with leading mentorship technology platform MentorPRO, is proud to announce the acceptance of its research poster at the 2025 Society for Digital Mental Health Virtual Conference, taking place June 9–10.

Titled “Evaluating the Uptake and Impact of a Technology-Enhanced Mentoring Program for College Students,” the study sheds new light on how digital innovations are reshaping student support systems—particularly for first-generation and historically marginalized college students. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 10 at 12:10 p.m. EDT.

Drawing on data from a large Minority Serving Institution (MSI) in the Northeastern U.S., the study evaluated how students engaged with MentorPRO, a digital platform that enables personalized, just-in-time support from trained peer mentors. Findings revealed that students facing greater academic challenges—such as lower GPAs and fewer credits—were more likely to actively use the app. Moreover, frequent engagement with MentorPRO predicted higher rates of retention into the second year of college.

“Colleges nationwide are facing a crisis in student mental health and academic persistence,” said Dr. Jean Rhodes “Our research provides compelling evidence that digital tools like MentorPRO can help close equity gaps by scaling high-quality peer mentoring and supporting students when and where they need it most.”

The poster presentation will highlight:

How digital mentoring platforms can augment strained institutional support systems
The unique benefits of tech-enhanced mentoring for students at MSIs
MentorPRO’s role in tracking engagement and promoting timely mentor interventions
The potential for improving both academic performance and retention

The presentation will be made by doctoral student, Emily Hersch, M.A. The findings contribute to a growing body of literature emphasizing the need for scalable, culturally responsive, and data-informed approaches to student support.

For more information on the Society for Digital Mental Health conference, visit digitalmentalhealthsociety.org.

About MentorPRO
MentorPRO is an evidence-based digital mentoring platform designed to amplify the reach of mentoring programs through real-time student insights, personalized messaging, and data-informed interventions. Developed in partnership with top researchers and institutions, MentorPRO is used by universities, nonprofits, and workforce development programs across the U.S.

About the Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring
Housed at UMass Boston and directed by Dr. Jean Rhodes, the Center brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to advance the science and practice of youth mentoring through rigorous research, innovative tools, and national partnerships.