Guiding Growth: LoboGROW®’s Relaunch Expands Student Development Across Campus
March 31, 2026 - Dorene DiNaro
The LoboGROW® (Guided Reflection on Work) program returned this semester with renewed purpose and a permanent home in Career Services. After briefly losing its departmental base following the departure of a previous coordinator, campus leaders agreed the program was too valuable to discontinue. Career Services—already centered on career readiness and holistic student development—proved a natural fit, giving LoboGROW® renewed direction and broader campus engagement.
Modeled after the Iowa GROW program and adopted by UNM in 2017, LoboGROW® helps student employees connect their academic coursework with on‑campus job experiences. At its core is the belief that reflection strengthens learning, an approach that aligns closely with UNM’s priorities around student success and belonging.
This year’s relaunch includes participation from both returning and new departments, such as the Student Union Building, Recreational Services, African American Student Services (AASS), and the Veterans and Military Resource Center. The LoboGROW® team plans to expand gradually across Student Affairs, allowing departments to thoughtfully integrate reflective conversations into existing workflows.
Currently, about 180 young professionals participate in the program. LoboGROW® centers on four guiding questions that prompt students to examine how their work connects to academic learning, transferable skills, and long‑term goals.
“It sounds simple, but those four questions open up real conversations about learning and growth,” said Beverly Bracker, director of UNM Career Services.
Before the semester began, supervisors attended a kickoff training and received a new Supervisor Handbook, complete with follow‑up prompts and strategies for deepening reflection. The updated approach provides flexibility, allowing larger units such as Recreational Services to facilitate group discussions, while smaller units adapt conversations to individual schedules.
For Dennis Ray Armijo, director of the Student Union Building—one of UNM’s largest student‑employing units—the language supervisors use plays a critical role in shaping student identity. His team intentionally avoids the term “student employees.”
“We refer to them as young professionals—you get such a better return from them,” Armijo said.
That shift reinforces one of LoboGROW®’s central goals: encouraging students to view their jobs as opportunities for professional development. Reflective conversations often help participants reframe learning beyond the classroom and build confidence in their abilities.
“LoboGROW® boosted my confidence and helped me realize that no matter the position, showing a willingness and readiness to learn is what matters most,” said Darrian Smith, a junior majoring in Journalism & Mass Communications. “Quality comes through practice—and practice only happens when I show up.”
Alex Wright, a young professional in the Student Union Building, said her first LoboGROW® conversation as a sophomore helped her see the real‑world relevance of her coursework.
“I was able to see how entry‑level courses supported my professional development just as much as upper‑level courses,” Wright said. She later recognized that those competencies aligned closely with UNM’s leadership framework. “That connection gave my coursework and student job far more meaning than I ever expected. I felt supported in every aspect of my student life.”
That sense of respect and support lies at the heart of LoboGROW®. When students feel trusted, they begin to see themselves as emerging leaders with valuable skills.
“Reflective practice gives students the language employers want to hear,” Bracker said.
Through guided conversations each semester, students learn to translate daily responsibilities—answering questions, resolving conflicts, managing projects—into core professional competencies, boosting confidence in interviews, résumés, and future opportunities.
For Reyn Cook, a first‑year Biology major working at AASS, the impact has been both personal and professional.
“I’ve become a resource for my peers—someone they can approach with questions,” Cook said. “This experience connects directly to the career I want to pursue, where being knowledgeable and able to support others is essential.”
Supervisors are already seeing tangible results, with students taking more initiative and seeking new learning opportunities. One student, after discussing skill building during a LoboGROW® conversation, asked to learn Excel and later helped analyze departmental data.
As LoboGROW® continues to expand, the program plans to elevate additional student voices across campus—highlighting how guided reflection helps young professionals build confidence, develop leadership skills, and prepare for life after graduation.
