By: Sabrina Miller, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE, Md. – When middle school girls at Tunbridge Public Charter School gather for their weekly mentorship sessions, laughter and conversation fill the room. The young students are greeted by a group of Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) Bonner Leaders—service-focused college students who have made it their mission to inspire confidence, curiosity, and connection.
The expanded partnership between NDMU and Tunbridge grew out of a shared commitment to community engagement and youth empowerment. In summer 2025, Tunbridge leaders met with members of the NDMU Bonner Program, Transform Mid-Atlantic AmeriCorps ViSTA volunteer, Ciara Jackson, and longtime leader of girl's mentorship programs and all-around mentor guru, Janice Bryant-Baker. Together they designed a mentorship experience that would help middle school girls thrive—academically, socially, and personally.
“We wanted to help our girls build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and see themselves reflected in positive female role models who are pursuing higher education,” said Nitiya Ojuolape, community school site specialist at Tunbridge. “We also wanted to provide a safe space for students to talk about personal growth, friendships, and academic challenges while seeing that college is an achievable and exciting path.”
Though the program is still in its early stages, it’s already making an impression. “NDMU mentors bring a sisterhood energy that’s genuine and relatable,” Ojuolape shared. “They’re close enough in age for the girls to connect with, but mature enough to guide them. Their presence shows our students that college isn’t just a dream—it’s attainable, and it looks like them.”
For Joann Dubois ’26, a liberal arts major in NDMU’s five-year bachelor’s to Master of Teaching program, the experience has been especially meaningful because she saw a bit of herself in the girls she now guides. “I wanted to be the big sister they may or may not have had,” Dubois said. “When I was their age, I was trying to navigate the world and didn’t always have someone to talk to. I wanted to be that person they could come to and ask questions.”
Dubois, an Elizabeth Morrissy Honors and former TMA fellow student and the program’s publicity manager, first became involved through her service with NDMU’s York Road Education Services (YES) Program, which connects Bonner students with local schools. When Tunbridge expressed a need for a girls mentorship group, Dubois and her peers stepped in to make it happen.
Each mentorship session follows a thoughtful structure: check-ins to discuss progress on previous topics, a student-led presentation on a new theme, hands-on activities, and open discussion. The sessions often end with reflections—and snacks.
“One of the most memorable moments for me was when one of the girls was too shy to speak on the first day,” Dubois recalled. “During a session on goal-setting, she wrote that she wanted to go to college in Korea. I had studied abroad there, so I showed her my jacket and some videos from my trip. She immediately opened up. I remember being shy as a kid and saw myself in her—it was really rewarding.”
For Dubois, serving as a mentor is not just about giving back—it’s about growth. “Serving with purpose means putting yourself in the shoes of the individuals you’re serving,” she said. “Learning empathy, respect, and understanding allows you to have more meaningful conversations and make a real impact.”
The mentorship has also helped her prepare for her future career in education. “I’ve learned how young minds work—what they’re afraid of, curious about, and interested in. This experience will definitely help me as a teacher. It’s taught me how to connect, communicate, and collaborate in ways that help students trust and open up.”
For the Tunbridge team, the program’s success lies in moments like these—small but powerful examples of connection, confidence, and community in action.
“Seeing a girl who walked in uncertain about herself leave a session smiling, motivated, and proud—it’s priceless,” Ojuolape reflected. “The program reminds me daily that mentorship matters. It’s about planting seeds of confidence and leadership that will grow far beyond Tunbridge.”
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.