Protégé Abbey Musial '12 poses with her mentor, Alumni Executive Council member, Linda Wagner '85.

The Alumni Mentor Program, a project of the Alumni Executive Council, was launched in January 2010 with seven pairs of alumni and students. The program is being offered more widely in the 2010-2011 calendar year. This program enhances the student services offered by Career Services, Student Affairs and other departments at W&J; it is not intended to replace any of the current academic or student resources. The objective of the mentor program is to develop better students and better alumni through meaningful relationships between the two.

FAQ:

Who can be a mentor? A mentor can be any alumnus of W&J who is willing to put in their time to get to know a W&J student. Current proximity to campus is not a concern if email and phone are able to be utilized to communicate regularly. Of course, face-to-face meetings are encouraged whenever possible.

Who can be a protégé? Any student who has completed one year at W&J is eligible. Ideal candidates are students who are seeking general guidance (professional, collegiate or otherwise).

How much time does being a mentor/protégé involve? Each pairing of alumni and students will determine the frequency and duration of their communications. Some relationships begin with only monthly communication and turn into more frequent discussions. This should be discussed in the very first communication with your protégé/mentor. Plan on dedicating about 2 hours a month to being a mentor or being mentored.

Are the mentor/protégé relationships only about careers? Actually, we prefer that the relationship involve more than just career advice. Providing an open discussion about general concerns and providing encouragement and support in other areas (student involvement on campus, major exploration, study abroad, general advice) are often just as helpful.

What if I have a concern about my student protégé? First, attempt to address any concerns you may have with your protégé directly. You can always share any concerns with Kerri DiGiovanni, assistant director of alumni relations at kdigiovanni@washjeff.edu or 724-223-6099.

What if I don't have time to dedicate to a protégé, but still want to help?  The Career Services Office offers an option for alumni to register as career mentors or to provide job shadowing experiences.  Usually these are just one-time contacts from students to alumni and involve answering career or graduate school-specific advice.  To register, go to the Career Services page to register on College Central.

Want to get involved?

Complete the appropriate application below to get started!
For Alumni:
Mentor Application
 
For Students:
Protégé Application

Resource Booklet for Mentors and Protégés

Questions?
Call 724-223-6099 or email mentor@washjeff.edu