Marquette Mentors Newsletter April 2020 Save the date (again): Thursday, April 23, Marquette Mentors virtual finale celebration Although the originally planned Thursday, April 23, in-person Marquette Mentors finale was canceled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, several mentors and mentees expressed an interest in connecting virtually. In recognition of another outstanding year and appropriately concluding this year's program, the Marquette Mentors virtual finale celebration will take place on the originally scheduled April 23 date from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT. "Marquette mentees, mentors and campus partners put forth a remarkable effort once again this year and it's most appropriate to have a closing celebration," says Marquette Mentors Senior Director Dan DeWeerdt. "We look forward to the debut of this new platform to reflect, share experiences and formally conclude the program while encouraging mentors and mentees to continue their relationships well beyond this year." Look for more details soon- including finale login access, but please save the date on Thursday, April 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT. Mentee, mentor resources offered in light of pandemic Unprecedented times also provide unprecedented opportunities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, consider these resources to help enhance the mentor/mentee relationship. A March 31 mentor conference call featured mentor and Marquette Counseling Center Senior Psychologist Dr. Jodi Blahnik, Grad ’03, Grad ’07. She shared suggestions for maintaining your own wellbeing and strategies/resources to best support your mentee during this pandemic. Hear the session. An April 6 LinkedIn webinar for Marquette Mentors mentees and mentee alumni, students and young alumni was presented by Wayne Breitbarth, Grad '86 and LinkedIn best-selling author, consultant and trainer. Contact Dan DeWeerdt to receive the webcast recording. A new Marquette Mentors LinkedIn group will be launched later this month. Look for an invitation to join and connect with fellow mentors, mentees and previous program participants. New Beyond MU lifelong learning webinar series Utilize the Marquette Career Services Center  How to Build a Great Relationship with a Mentor, Harvard Business Review (Note: While this piece is geared primarily toward mentees, it may provide fresh insights for mentors, too. Mentors and mentees are already practicing several recommendations here as well.) That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief, Harvard Business Review Social distancing doesn't have to interrupt mentorship, Harvard Business Review COVID-19 faith resources Find additional questions and resources through the Marquette Mentors online toolbox. Join the Marquette community with Easter Sunday virtual Mass Celebrate the risen Christ with the Marquette Jesuit Community through this virtually streamed service. All are welcome to join in prayer through the On the Mission at Marquette Facebook page. View the Lenten homily series. Formal mentor program conclusion does not mean the end for partnerships, networking Although the official completion of this year's mentor program is April 23, it shouldn't signify the end of continuing to learn from each other and networking with program participants. After all, this is just the beginning for student mentees preparing for life after Marquette. Consider these discussion topics before the end of the school year: - Revisit and discuss the goals document developed together and submitted earlier in the year. Have the items been completed? Did they change? Plan to complete them by April 23 and consider creating new future goals. - To that end, mentees, what goals would you like to accomplish in the next year? Whether it's exploring internship opportunities, refining interview skills or considering grad school, mentors can still be a valuable resource. - Are you open to continuing the mentoring relationship, even on an informal basis with periodic check-ins? If so, discuss frequency and preferred communication (phone, email, in person, text, Skype). - Take full advantage of the Marquette Mentors online mentor directory and Mentee Alumni directory, which were emailed earlier this year. - Utilize the Marquette Mentors online toolbox and Resource Guide. Apply to be a Marquette Mentors intern Mentees on campus this summer who are still enrolled at Marquette are encouraged to apply for the Marquette Mentors internship. Play a key role to help to ensure a productive and valuable professional development experience for the 2020-21 program participants as well as more than 500 Marquette student mentee alumni, campus partners and University Advancement colleagues. This intern position is housed in University Advancement’s Engagement and Affinity-Based Giving division, reporting to the mentor program senior director. Marquette Mentors is now accepting applications for a summer internship with the potential to continue during the fall semester. Please contact Dan DeWeerdt for more information. In the News Claire Assana, Arts ’19 and Marquette Mentors mentee alumna, is serving as a formulation scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Milwaukee, to make the DNA and RNA reagents that researchers are using to study COVID-19. (2018-19 mentor Dr. Jane Gunther, Med Tech ’83, Nektar Therapeutics; Pacifica, Calif.)   Madison Dunker, Comm ’18, graduate school student at Ball State University and Marquette Mentors mentee alumna, is producing and selling Wash Your Hands t-shirts from her home in Grapevine, Texas. All proceeds provide food and drink aid to medical workers at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center-Grapevine. (2017-18 mentor JJ Alberts, Dean College; Franklin, Mass.) Seamus Herson, engineering mentee, is serving a co-op at Tapemark in West Saint Paul, Minn. He’s involved in many initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including creating ethanol-based wipes and hand sanitizer, and working with a local robotics team to produce face shields for front-line employees. (Mentor Jeff Richlen, Grad ’07, Harley-Davidson Motor Company; Milwaukee) Bridget O’Brien, arts mentee, has accepted the position of Behavioral Health intern at Rogers Behavioral Health in Skokie, Ill., this summer. (Mentor Dr. Jodi Blahnik, Grad ’03, Grad ’07, Marquette University Counseling Center; Milwaukee)   Sarah Rose, communication mentee, has recently been named the developmental ambassador for Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee. (Mentor Marilynn Gardner, Comm ’88, Navy Pier; Chicago)   Kamila Turczewski, engineering mentee, has accepted the position of Structural Engineering co-op intern at HGA in Milwaukee this fall. (Mentor Martha McJilton, Eng ’87, Contessa Construction Services and Ellinwood-Machado LLC; Atlanta)     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.