撸先生

Before she stepped onto Towson University鈥檚 campus as a college student, Helen Santos-Melendez 鈥�27 had already started building connections through the College of Business and Economics (CBE).

It was Theodore Thompson 鈥�85 and his business class at Lansdowne High School that sparked her interest in 撸先生.

Then, as a junior, she joined CBE鈥檚 MentHER program, which connects professional businesswomen with CBE sophomores in one-on-one mentoring relationships, who in turn mentor high school students at Lansdowne High School.

MentHER focuses on teaching financial literacy, career planning and life and workplace skills through guided discussions, workshops, mentoring sessions and presentations.

鈥淪eeing there was a program that not only helped students in class but gave a view of what the real world is like really motivated me to come to 撸先生,鈥� Santos-Melendez says. 鈥淚t was nice to get out of the classroom and experience the campus with students who have been here. It鈥檚 really helped me see myself at 撸先生.鈥�

From mentee to mentor

Now a junior business administration major at 撸先生, Santos-Melendez is the one providing mentorship to students at her old high school.

鈥淚t helps me give back to my community, which I really value,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 remember what MentHER did for me. I want to be able to do that with other people.鈥�

Lauren Tigue Meredith, professional development partner in CBE and facilitator for the MentHER program, met Santos-Melendez in high school and has watched her thrive in both components of the program.

Seeing (Santos-Melendez) continue with the program into college is exactly what mentorship is about: giving young women the support and confidence to grow into who they鈥檙e meant to be.

Lauren Tigue Meredith

鈥淪eeing Helen鈥檚 transition from high school to thriving college student has been incredibly special,鈥� Meredith says. 鈥淚鈥檒l never forget visiting Lansdowne High School with our College of Business & Economics students and Helen showing us her Towson University acceptance letter. 

鈥淪eeing her continue with the program into college is exactly what mentorship is about: giving young women the support and confidence to grow into who they鈥檙e meant to be.鈥�

One of the key aspects of Santos-Melendez's continuing participation in college was the opportunity to work with Meredith, who, in part because of her work with the program, was named a 2025 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award winner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Under the direction of Meredith, MentHER also won the Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

鈥淟auren has such a passion for what she does,鈥� Santos-Melendez says. 鈥淪he'll give you the best tools and resources she can, and she doesn't just care for you as a student but as a person as well.鈥�

Helen Santos-Melendez (right) joined MentHER while she was a junior in high school. Now a member as a Towson University student, she works with the group's facilitator Lauren Tigue Meredith to gain valuable mentorship. 

Continuing mentorship

Each academic year, students participating in MentHER are provided with a mentor from a local Baltimore-area business.

For Santos-Melendez, her mentor is Mia Blom 鈥�05, senior director of government and community affairs at Visit Baltimore.

The junior remembered when she attended Insight for Growing Lation Owned Businesses networking event with Blom. This event allowed her to connect with local business professionals while having someone she knows to guide her through the process.

Relationships like that between Blom and Santos-Melendez are the backbone of MentHER.

鈥淢ia has been so open and willing to help me grow,鈥� Santos-Melendez says. 鈥淏eing able to have a mentor as I was networking has really helped me. Sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand at first and help lead you to where you need to be.鈥�