Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Newsletter January 2019 Mentees with out-of-area mentors invited to apply for new travel stipend opportunity As shared in the Dec. 21 email to all 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program participants, mentees with mentors who reside outside of Milwaukee and interested in meeting and job shadowing them are invited to apply for travel stipend consideration. The stipend program is designed to to cover air or train fare, or car mileage reimbursement. “Thanks to the valuable feedback and generous gifts of mentors, including those serving on the MUAA Mentor Program Leadership Council, this opportunity is made possible for the first time in the program’s six-year history,” says Dan DeWeerdt, MUAA Mentor Program director. “The objective is to enhance the mentor/mentee relationship and provide the mentee with a day-in-the life career experience thanks to their mentor.” Mentees are encouraged to discuss potential job shadow and travel dates with their mentors prior to application submission. For more information, including application forms and guidelines, refer to the Dec. 21 email or contact Dan DeWeerdt. Mentors interested in making a gift to the travel stipend initiative and MUAA Mentor Program can also contact him. Now is the time to chart a course for completing your program goals Did you know the the 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program formally concludes in just more than three months on April 25? Consider these tips to help ensure a strong partnership and complete your goals. 1. Goal one: check goals document. A top program priority isn't just for mentees and mentors to outline goals at the program's outset, but to complete them. Discuss your goals and deadline document in the coming weeks to determine those that have been completed and should be adjusted. Then chart your course through the end of April to accomplish them. 2. Plan, plan, plan. You're busy. They're busy. Don't let “I've been really busy,” get in the way of your communication pledge to each other. With work, classes, travel, projects and spring break (March 11 - 17) and busy personal lives, finalize scheduled dates to speak now, including the possibility of a job shadow visit (see travel stipend lead story, too). This is especially important considering class and work schedules for mentees can change with the new semester. 3. Refer to the MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide. Looking for additional discussion topics, haven't explored networking with other mentors (and the many benefits), tips to secure an internship or when class registration takes place for the fall? These items and more can be found in the 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide. We Are Marquette. Expand your network with 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program Directory The MUAA Mentor Program Mentor Directory serves annually as a platform for mentors to be contacted by mentees and fellow mentors. New this year, the directory is available online and includes more than 120 comprehensive mentor bios. Learn about best practices from other participants, expand your professional network, the career journey of other mentors, the job market in a particular city and more.   In addition, mentees will receive the new MUAA Mentor Program Mentee Alumni Directory later this week. This online guide highlights previous program mentees now working professionally or serving an internship or co-op willing to help current mentees. Special thanks to many alumni mentors and alumni mentees who have generously agreed to be included in the directories and serve as another resource to fellow participants. The online directory is accessible from the Dec. 21 mentor directory email sent to all participants. For questions, contact Dan DeWeerdt. Mentees and mentors coast-to-coast meet, shadow during break The holiday season was truly a time for giving by many MUAA Mentor Program mentors who hosted mentees. Shadowing included visits with mentors in law, medicine; psychology; professional and collegiate sports; and entertainment. Learn more about the many mentor-mentee interactions during semester break. Special thanks to all mentors for their continued generosity to support Marquette student mentees, including this mentee's experience of a lifetime to shadow a NHL rink side reporter. Share your shadow visit to help fellow program participants. Send your story and shadow visit photo to Dan DeWeerdt for inclusion in a future program newsletter. Mentee sees there’s more than meets the eye for sports marketing executive mentor     Shadow visit includes visit to post-mortum brain bank         Thanks to mentor, mentees with law interest shadow at U.S. Courthouse   Day in emergency room opens door for mentee to consider new career option         Mentee goes Hollywood for visit with mentor actor         Day in the Windy City offers behind-the-scenes look at psychology career       Participants connect in Chicago at mentor program reception More than 20 mentors and mentees in the Chicago area networked and celebrated Marquette on Jan. 10 at Kivvit in the Merchandise Mart. The event, co-hosted by mentors Maura Farell, Arts ’92, of Kivvit (Arts mentee Catherine McCoy, and Tim Feltes, Bus Ad ’75, of Feltes Holdings Inc. (Arts mentee Jake Kearns), included engaging conversation topicssuch as future career plans for Marquette mentees and leveraging the Marquette network, such as for informational interviews. Share feedback in Mid-Point Survey Mentors and mentee are encouraged to share their feedback in the MUAA Mentor Program Mid-Point Survey. The brief and anonymous online survey, which will be emailed on Wednesday, Jan. 16, is designed to better serve current and future mentor program participants as well as track overall progress. Program participants who complete the survey by Wednesday, Jan. 30, will qualify for a chance to win a gift package that includes Marquette and mentor-donated merchandise. Thank you in advance for sharing your program experiences to date. Nursing mentor salutes mentee for initiative, chance to stay relevant Following her retirement as Chief Nursing Officer of the Department of Veteran Affairs in 2014, Cathy Rick, Grad ’87, Hon ’11, has been committed to giving back, including her first year of service in the 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program. She recently visited the College of Nuring to meet with her Nursing mentee Jenna Brown. “It’s been an honor and distinct pleasure to partner with her,” Cathy says. “She's an energetic, goal-directed individual who makes me feel that there is hope for a transformed USA healthcare delivery system knowing that future nurses like her will be taking charge.” Cathy also acknowledged Jenna’s initiative to shape her professional career. “It’s impressive, and our partnership enhances my ability to stay current with healthcare issues..” Jenna has experienced the benefits of working with Cathy, too. “Considering my future career path is with the VA, the most valuable information I've learned from her is how to better navigate VA resources regarding job openings, connect with VA personnel, including nurse staffing recruiters, and locate other networking resources,” she says. “Cathy’s also taught me the importance and benefit of taking personal initiative to seek out opportunities and make connections to achieve my goals.” Mentors lead the way at New York City “You’re a Marquette Grad. Now What?” panel Ranging from the importance of leveraging the Marquette network and navigating one’s career (including flexibility) to considering important factors beyond salary and why and work/life balance is essential, several mentors offered insights to young alumni and current students Jan. 8 at “You’re a Marquette Grad. Now What?” in New York City. Mentor panelists included host Joseph Schuster, Arts ’10, Law ’12, Goldman Sachs, (Shawn Donahue, Business Administration mentee); Demetrius Liston, Bus Ad ’01, Morgan Stanley (Ernesto Alcantar, Business Administration mentee); Monica Oliver, Sp ’81, Monica Oliver Consulting & Coaching (Lauren Goetz, Communication mentee); and Omo Tseumah Bus Ad ’17, Foursquare and Mentee Alumni Network member (mentored by Chris Murphy Arts ’87, Grad ’89, and Derek Gutierrez, Bus Ad ’04). Current mentees Meghan Rock (communication; Steve Rushin, Jour ’88, mentor) and Ronny Burgers Business Administration; Emilio Arechaederra, Bus Ad ’85, mentor) and mentee alumni, including Claire Nowak, Comm ’16 and digital editor at Reader’s Digest in White Plains, N.Y. (Maura Farrell, Arts ’92, mentor), also attended. “I appreciated the discussion about work/life balance,” Claire says. “I think many new graduates struggle with this. You want to make such a good impression that you forget to take time for yourself as well.” Hazel Sanchez, Comm ’94 and general assignment reporter at CBS-TV in New York City, moderated the discussion and shared her experiences. Save the date for April 25 mentor program finale celebration Mark your calendar from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, to meet and celebrate with fellow mentors, mentees and campus partners at the formal conclusion of the 2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program. The finale will be held on campus at the 707 Hub, 1102 W. Wisconsin Ave., which is part of the university's Office of Research and Innovation. Program finale details will be coming soon. January reflection: New year is a time for new perspectives By Rev. Frederick Zagone, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry The new year is both a time of reflection as well as an opportunity to look to the future. God asks us to see God in all the events of our lives. To thank God for the gifts and graces we have received, and to pray that God will lead us as we strive to better ourselves, our community, our world and particularly Marquette University. This is what an Examen is all about. Read the full reflection. In the News TJ Boehm, Business Administration mentee, is serving an internship with Harley-Davidson’s digital growth and strategic management team in Milwaukee. (Tom Pierce Jour ’86, mentor)    Jeff Richlen, Grad ’07, has been promoted to group chief engineer at Harley-Davidson. He’s serving his fifth mentee in the MUAA Mentor Program and is a member of the initiative’s Leadership Council. (Tim Bobeck, engineering mentee)       Share your latest news such as a new job, promotion, award or service project with program participants In the News. Send a one-sentence description with a headshot (no selfies, please) to Dan DeWeerdt. MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox offers relevant mentor, career resources From Oprah to Churchill, 20 inspiring mentoring quotes See the MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide for helpful tips  From mentor and mentee broad-based questions to timely and trending mentor and professional development articles, visit the MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox. See an interesting mentor or professional development story you'd like to share with fellow participants? Email it to Dan DeWeerdt.