Mentor Program e-Newsletter

Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Newsletter
May 2018

Another banner year as 2017-18 MUAA Mentor Program comes to a close; Year in Pictures highlights many activities

2017-18 MUAA Mentor Program Finale


Celebrating an outstanding year-long effort, more than 100 alumni mentors, student mentees and campus partners formally concluded the 2017-18 MUAA Mentor Program on April 26 finale at the 707 Hub on campus. Thank you to all participants who helped make this another successful year.

See the Year in Pictures slideshow, ranging from program events and mentor-mentee meetings to job shadowing and visits as far as Massachusett s and California. The Marquette University Alumni Association salutes all program participants.

Continue your mentor partnership moving forward with unprecedented results

Dr. Brian Brown and Brittany WittyAlthough this year’s mentor program has formally concluded, consider these suggestions for a long-term mentor/mentee partnership:
- Agree to stay in touch periodically. Share your latest news. New job? Promotion? New stage in your career? Keep it real.
- Have a question and you don't know where to turn? Mentees, mentors and Marquette staff are an email, phone call or test away.
- If you live in the same town or traveling where your mentee or mentor resides, plan a meeting or consider job shadowing.
- Keep in touch with MUAA staff for career-related questions or introductions to alumni in your field of interest.
- Expand your network by contacting alumni in the MUAA Mentor Directory.

Penny for your thoughts? Share program feedback by May 11

MUAA Mentor Program SurveyThe time commitment and feedback from mentees, mentors and campus partners is considered the cornerstone of the MUAA Mentor Program. Participants are encouraged to provide their experiences and insights through the brief and confidential 2017-18 MUAA Mentor program final survey.

“Mentor and mentee feedback has been a catalyst in the ongoing program evaluation to better serve all participants,” says Dan DeWeerdt, MUAA Mentor Program director.

Participants who complete the survey by May 11 and email Dan DeWeerdt indicating FINAL SURVEY COMPLETE in the subject line will qualify for a chance to win a Marquette gift package. Complete the survey now.  

Share your talents through mentor program and design internships

Students in Milwaukee this summer are encouraged to apply for these University Advancement internships:
- MUAA Mentor Program
- Summer Graphic Design Intern/Copywriter
Contact Dan DeWeerdt by May 14 to learn more.

MUAA Mentor Program salutes mentor Jenna Santoianni as alumni award recipient
Molly Hass and Jenna Santoianni

Congratulations to mentor Jenna Santoianni, Comm ’06 and EVP at Television Series/Sonar Entertainment in Los Angeles as the recipient of the Diederich College of Communication's James T. Tiedge Memorial Award. She returned to campus for the college’s event as part of Marquette University’s Alumni National Awards Weekend, April 26-28. Her communication mentee, Molly Hass, also attended the communication event to celebrate and honor Jenna.
Along with her service in the mentor program, Jenna also serves as a resource to Marquette students and young alumni interested in pursuing a career in the entertaininment industry.  

‘Win-win-win' and mentee landing internship is the result of mentor connections

When mentor Monica Oliver, Sp '81 and principal of Monica Oliver Consulting & Coaching in Bernardsville, N.J., learned her arts mentee Brian Morrissey was interested in exploring a career related to politics, she wasted no time to utilize the mentor program network. She contacted Jason Rae, Arts ’08 and a partner at Nation Consulting, a Wisconsin-based public strategies firm that offers services to local, regional, and national clients (arts mentee Katarina Fischer). The result?

Monica Oliver, Brian Morrissey, Jason Rae, Katarina Fischer“Monica reached out just to talk about options for Brian,” Jason says. “During our conversation, it became clear to me that why not have him come and work with my firm for the semester? It was great to provide the world-experience to a mentee in the program, knowing they are also getting sound advice from their mentor. It was a win-win-win.”

Brian found the experience to be particularly valuable. “It’s been great,” he says. “Creating social media content at Nation has helped me figure out what resonates with people, trying to keep them engaged. I also learned about the need to stay up-to-date on breaking news and how to capitalize on it effectively.”

It was a rewarding outcome for Monica, too, to help Brian expand his network, secure an internship, and develop a professional partnership with a fellow mentor. “One of the most valuable aspects of the mentor program was being able to put Brian in touch with other mentors, including Jason,” she says. “Thanks to him, Brian landed a very productive internship which is opening the door to other connections and opportunities. It was also terrific for me to connect with and learn from other mentors.”

With mentor help and wisdom, mentee accomplishes goal

Through the years, Kevin Bevin Boyd, Comm ’91 and deputy CIO at the University of Chicago, has helped many students like this year's communication mentee, Kaley Rohlinger, in the MUAA Mentor Program. Demonstrating an outstanding mentor-mentee partnership, they benefited from many professional development conversations ranging from career discernment to short-term goals.

Kevin Boyd and Kaley Rohlinger“Among discussion topics with Kaley is the importance of getting experience with a variety of companies and even industries before you get your first job,” Kevin says, noting there are many ways to do this, such as informational interviews/meetings, internships, and job shadows.

“My own career started in broadcast news but after a few years realized it wasn’t a good fit,” he adds. “The first career change was a transition to corporate information technology. I’ve worked in a variety of companies, industries and roles over the years, including at Bank One, United Airlines, Chicago Tribune and finally the deputy CIO at the University of Chicago. While my earlier roles were very diverse, they each helped prepare me for the Chief Information Officer role.” 

MUAA Mentor ProgramKaley is grateful for Kevin’s commitment to support her, including his assistance to secure a summer internship, one of the goals she and Kevin aimed to accomplish at the program’s outset. She will be interning with the New Business and Marketing team
at Carmichael Lynch, an advertising/PR agency in Minneapolis.

“Kevin has been really insightful in helping me secure a summer internship. He's given me great advice on the inner workings of the hiring process, raised important considerations in terms of my future career and been instrumental in strengthening my resume,” she says.

“It's been very rewarding to work with Kaley and help prepare her for an internship,” Kevin adds.  

Mentees give mentors big assist for landing summer internships

Theresa BordenaveProgram mentees regularly laud their mentors playing an instrumental role to prepare for and land an internship, co-op or full-time job.

Arts mentee Theresa Bordenave (mentor Phill McGowan, Comm ’08, director of Media, PR and Communications, Crowell & Moring LLP; Washington, D.C.) and communication Bridget Drufke (mentor Jackie Avail, Comm ’07 and publications editor at Alverno College in Milwaukee) recently shared their good news on the summer job front. 

“I'll be working for a campaign in the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri's 2nd District,” Theresa says. “Phill helped me prepare a professional resume that marketed my communications skills to the campaign manager. I'll soon be earning real world experience and implementing my Marquette coursework into the campaign field.”

Bridget Drufke Bridget also credits Jackie for her internship at Dairy Management Inc. in Rosemont, Ill., where she’ll be responsible for marketing and social media to support the organization’s Fuel Up to Play 60 Program. “Jackie saw this opportunity and encouraged me to apply. I’m so thankful for her suggestion,” Bridget says.

Congratulations to all mentors for supporting their mentees.

Five Questions With…. Mentor Aaron Maybin, Comm '15 (Esmeralda Nungaray, communication mentee)

Mentor Aaron Maybin1. You are the first to have served as a program mentee and mentor. What suggestions do you have for mentees and mentors?
For mentees: Reach out to your mentors consistently, not just when you’re looking for a job. 
For mentors: Remember where your head was at when you were a student.

2. Prior to graduation from Marquette in 2015, you planned to attend graduate school at Columbia but instead decided to go directly into TV. What suggestions do you have for someone considering graduate school vs. the workforce?

In the journalism world, working right after graduation is the smartest move. Each career is different. I suggest reaching out to professionals for guidance.

3. What’s the biggest difference you’ve found as a mentor compared to serving as a mentee?
Someone is relying on me to help propel their career and/or provide industry insight. I’ve felt more invested as a mentor. 

4. What are two things a Marquette student should do before graduation?
Take advantage of the many volunteering opportunities and road trip to a fun destination during a break. 

5.  Something you wish you would’ve done differently at Marquette to help prepare for your career?
I wish I would have networked a little bit more. People are always willing help young people.  

Aaron Maybin, Comm ’15, is a reporter with FOX6 News in Milwaukee. This marks his first year as a MUAA Mentor Program mentor. He previously served as a mentee to Jason DeRusha, WCCO-TV, Minneapolis-St. Paul, during the 2014-15 program.

In the News

Congratulations to these mentor program participants for their recent achievements.

Britta BureauBritta Bureau, health sciences mentee, attended the American Academy of Neurology 70th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles in April to present posters of her Mayo Clinic Neurology Department research studies: “Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) and TBI” and “Amantadine Use in Post-Concussive Headaches: An Exploratory Retrospective Review”. (Mentor Dr. Laura Rosanova Philipp, H Sci ’98, Palatine Vison Center; Palatine, Ill.)

 

Aleisha Jaeger Aleisha Jaeger, Eng ’03, and senior engineering project manager, Kerry Group; Chicago was featured as a Future Leader in RE Journals, which focuses on Midwestern commercial real estate. (Amanda Locascio, engineering mentee.)

 



Victor IkeVictor Ike, arts mentee, has accepted a position as case manager at JusticePoint in Milwaukee. (Mentor Lansen Barrow, Bus Ad ’74, U.S. Department of Energy SPRPMO; New Orleans.)

 

 


Megan NeisiusMegan Neisius, arts mentee, will be joining Fiserv's Human Resources Leadership Development Program, which includes three 8-month rotations, each in a different human resources domain and location. (Mentor Maribel Langer, Bus Ad ’89, Korn Ferry Hay Group; Chicago.)

 

 

Beck TempleBecky Temple, engineering mentee, presented her venture, EaseAlly, a hardware and software solution doing early detection and diagnosis of severe allergic reactions, as part of the Brewed Ideas Challenge, an annual pitch competition hosted by Marquette University’s 707 Hub in partnership with Brady Corporation. (Mentor Dan Merkel, Eng ’06, Texas Air Systems; Fort Worth, Texas.)

 


Kevin WellsKevin Wells, communication mentee, will be serving a summer internship at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. Responsibilities include covering news and sports as well as developing digital content for the station’s social media outlets. (Mentor Rob Hart, Comm ’02, WBBM Radio; Chicago.)

 


If you have a new job, received a promotion, award or volunteered recently, share it with fellow mentors and mentees In the News. Email it with a headshot to daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu.

MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox offers relevant mentor, career resources

From mentor and mentee broad-based questions to timely and trending mentor and professional development articles, visit the MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox.

Mentor program questions or comments? Contact MUAA Mentor Program Director Dan DeWeerdt at daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4740.

 


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