Mentor Program e-Newsletter

Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Newsletter
October 2017

Mentor program kicks off with 160 attendees

2017-18 MUAA Mentor ProgramAlong with Homecoming + Reunion Weekend activities on Oct. 6, the fifth MUAA Mentor Program kicked off with a capacity crowd of more than 160 program participants. Five-time mentor Dr. Michele Bria, Arts '90, faculty partner Dr. Kim Halula from the College of Health Sciences, and past mentee and current engineering student Nic Schmidt provided opening remarks. Mentors from nearly 10 states as far as Florida, Tennessee, Texas and New Jersey returned to campus to meet their mentees.

 

Mentor, mentees identify multitude of goals in coming months

Dr. Kim Halula, College of Health SciencesAs in previous years, program participants established their relationships at the program's outset on Oct. 6 to determine mentee goals during the 2017-18 MUAA Mentor Program.

Submitted goals include:
- Exploring internship opportunities
- Graduate school discernment
- Gaining a sense of future career plans
- Schedule a mock interview
- Job shadowing (Shadow visit above)
- Expanding one's professional network with Marquette alumni and beyond
- Creating a LinkeIn profile

Mentees like engineering student Carlos Gonzalez also shared mentor Kayleen Helms, Eng '88 and customer engagement lead, ATTD Core Competency, at Intel in Chandler, Az., has already made a significant impact to support him. "Not only did we finish our goals and communication documents, but we reviewed my resume and got to know each other better by discussing our passions and interests," Carlos says.  

The road to a successful mentor/mentee partnership

2017-18 MUAA Mentor ProgramWhether you’re a new mentee, mentor or seasoned participant, consider these keys to a mutually beneficial partnership:

- Book it. Schedule meetings, extended conversations, job shadowing and other business well in advance of the actual dates. If you’re considering a job shadow opportunity during holiday break, consider discussing and planning for it now (finals begin in less than 10 weeks).
- Set an agenda in advance of each meeting. Meeting agendas help identify key objectives to be accomplished and help prepare the mentor and mentee for the discussion.
- Identify action items. Outlining responsibilities clarifies roles, helps avoid miscommunication and can help develop the next meeting agenda.
- Goal check. Regularly review the goal document you created and agreed upon. Are you on track to completing the goals? Should goal adjustments be considered in light of a new career interest or an emerging priority? The document serves as a guide and can be changed, if necessary.
- Celebrate successes. Whether it was helpful preparation for an interview, completing an application deadline or any of your outlined goals, take a moment to recognize your good work.

Mentee and mentor begin partnership with shadow visit

Mentor Rob Hart and Kevin WellsMentor Rob Hart, Comm '02, and communication Kevin Wells know the meaning of carpe diem. Just more than one week after the official program kickoff, Kevin traveled to Chicago and shadow Rob, where he's a reporter/anchor WBBM Newsradio. While Sunday isn't a typical day for shadowing, it was done with good reason, "Kevin wants to go into sports broadcasting, so I made sure he was there during a Chicago Bears game to see all aspects of the operation, including in-game programming, highlights and update" says Rob.

Kevin found his shadow visit to be a valuable experience, too. "Rob and WBBM allowed me to get a first glance at my future career. I learned a great deal and made many connections through the visit, Kevin says.

Expand your network through the 2017-18 mentor directory

As shared previously, another mentor program benefit is the opportunity to expand your network by connecting with other mentors who have agreed to serve as resources for other mentees. Learn about their work, career journey and expand your network. The mentor directory will be available in November. Look for details soon.

Five Questions With... Nick Brescia, Arts '06  

1.This is your fourth year in the MUAA Mentor Program. What suggestions do you have for mentees and mentors?Nick Brescia, Arts '06
Mentees - take initiative and dedicate time to maximize the value of your mentor as a resource.
Mentors - facilitate mentees in their process to achieve their goals, don't simply provide answers  
2. If you’ve had a mentor, what’s one piece of advice that has stuck with you?Learn who you are, be confident in who you are, and share your gifts for the benefit of others. 
3. What are two things you think a Marquette student should do before they graduate?
Have a drink or a meal with your favorite professor, take a class or complete an academic project that personally excites you. 
4. Something you wish you would’ve done differently at Marquette to help prepare for your career?
Been more active in my professional and spiritual development. 
5. What have you found to be the most rewarding experience as a Marquette mentor?
Receiving a hand-written thank you note from a mentee after she achieved her primary goal for post-graduation.   

Nick Brescia, Arts '06, is a privacy attorney at Walgreens in Deerfield, Ill.

In the News

Congratulations to these mentor program participants for their recent achievements.

Mary Hunt, Arts '72 Mary Hunt, Arts ’72, received the Peter J. Gomes STB ’68 Memorial Honors at Harvard Divinity School’s 200th anniversary earlier this year. The award recognizes her work at the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER). The organization is based in Silver Spring, Md. She's serving for the fifth year in the MUAA Mentor Program


Steve RushinSteve Rushin, Jour '88, wrote a memoir of his 1970s childhood. Sting-Ray Afternoons was published by Little, Brown in July. He resides in Connecticut and is serving his fifth year in the MUAA Mentor Program.



Mentee Mary ThaoMary Thao, H Sci mentee, was awarded third place by the American Society for Microbiology- North Central Branch in the undergraduate research oral presentation category on Oct. 7.

 


Mentee Nick Wagner Nick Wagner, Eng mentee, received first place at the Rockwell Automation Design Challenge on Sept. 23. His solution combined machine learning, data analytics, virtual reality and the cloud.

 

 

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

MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox offers relevant mentor, career resources

From mentor and mentee icebreaker questions to timely and trending mentor and professional development articles, visit the MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox. This month's featured resource:

3 reasons all great leaders have mentors (and mentees): Forbes

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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