Role Model Simulation: Virtual Computing Mentors for Underrepresented Students

• Brishna Nazari, Computer Science, University of Delaware

• Roghayeh Barmaki, Computer Science, University of Delaware

Many students from underrepresented groups do not see themselves pursuing careers in computing because they often lack role models they can relate to. The absence of relatable computing role models can reduce students’ confidence, weaken their sense of belonging, and make it harder for them to envision themselves in computing careers. To address this challenge, we present Role Model Simulation, a human-in-the-loop virtual mentoring system that allows students to interact with diverse virtual computing mentors. The system pairs each mentee with a virtual mentor whose responses are selected in real time by a host from a predefined set of conversational replies derived from survey responses. These virtual mentors are based on the experiences of computing students and alumni who completed a survey about their educational journeys, career paths, and mentorship experiences. Forty participants completed the survey, and their responses were used to create mentor conversations. 

We developed an AI-assisted pipeline to convert participants’ survey responses into natural conversational dialogue while preserving the meaning and personal voice of each mentor.  After the responses were generated, we manually compared each one with the original survey to verify its accuracy, assigned pseudonyms to protect participant privacy, and created appropriate general responses for unanswered questions. As part of this project, I created custom mentor avatars from a single headshot and integrated facial animation, lip synchronization, and Unity-based environments to make the interactions feel more natural. Custom mentor avatars and conversational responses create an engaging mentoring experience that helps students connect with relatable computing role models. Future work will evaluate the system’s usability and examine its potential effects on students’ confidence, sense of belonging, and interest in computing.