Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Newsletter November 2017 Best Practices workshops offer peer insights, wisdom and next steps Beginning the second month of the 2017-18 MUAA Mentor Program, a series of Best Practices workshops were held this week. Mentee workshops were held on campus while mentors from as far as Mexico; Texas; California; New Jersey; South Carolina; and Tennesse participated in a teleconference. Mentors and mentees shared their experiences to date, including progress toward goals, enhancing their relationships and planning through the holidays. "I found the workshop very helpful, got some wonderful ideas of what to do next to improve communication," says business mentee Meghan King (Patricia Radlick, Bus Ad '76, mentor). "I'm grateful other mentees are having similar experiences." 'Tis the season for planning ahead Thanksgiving. Travel. Finals. Semester break Christmas and the holiday season. For mentees and mentors alike, the next 45 days can be filled with festivities, friends, family- and a busy schedule. Plan ahead and consider these topic suggestions: - Discuss upcoming communication/scheduled meetings. What needs to adjust, if anything? For mid-month meetings, remember finals week is Dec. 11-15. - Review your goals. Do any have a Nov. 30 or Dec. 31 deadline? - Are application deadlines looming in early January (such as for an internship or graduate school)? Mentees, complete them with ample time for a mentor review. - Are you going to be in the same area during break as your mentee or mentor? If so, discuss shadowing or meeting (and send a photo: daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu). - How is the mentorship is progressing to date? What's gone well (goals accomplished, scheduled meetings, planned agenda in advance of the monthly discussion)? How can it be better (planning ahead, proactive communication, following through)? Be candid. - Take a step back. How do you practice 'self-care' after a long project, busy week or just need some time to rejuvenate? - Mentees, discuss the possibility of interviewing your mentor. There are many benefits, including preparation for future interviews, hearing their story and enhancing your listening skills. Mentee gets first-hand look at City Hall thanks to mentor shadow Mentor Mary Collins, Eng '06 and project manager at Gilbane Building Company in Milwaukee and engineering mentee Thomas Lehnherr recently took their partnership to a new level- literally. Tom got an in-depth tour of the Milwaukee City Hall Foundation Restoration project where Mary serves as the senior project manager. He saw many necessary steps to install the new foundation system along with construction of mechanical and electrical rooms and streetscape. "Our team introduced Tom to some of the standard construction project processes that a project engineer would be performing," Mary says. "He also saw the technology we use, including 3D modeling, project management software and construction document collaboration." Fifty-plus questions and topic suggestions for mentors and mentees Developing and enhancing a mentor/mentee relationship goes beyond identifying and completing goals- with the hopes it continues long after the formal program. Along with achieving your outlined goals, consider these 50-plus mentor mentee questions and topic suggestions as part of the ongoing professional development opportunities.   Visit leads to leadership engagement, service opportunity When arts and sciences mentees Valeria and Veronica Castro visited mentor Dr. Michele Bria, Arts '90 and CEO of Milwaukee's Journey House, the experience was more than just a brief tour. It included meeting the organization's trustees and even volunteering. "Working with Dr. Bria has been wonderful, especially learning more about Journey House and getting involved," Valeria says. "I'm excited to see what's ahead." Dr. Bria has also been impressed by the twin sisters. "Hosting Valeria and Veronica provided an opportunity to learn more about our work and connect with our trustees," Dr. Bria says. "They also demonstrated their generous spirit by volunteering with other Marquette friends at our Holiday Spooktacular." Encuentros mentor program kicks off with mentees mentoring high school students Last week marked the kick-off of Marquette's second Encuentros mentor program. The initiative matches 14 Marquette student mentors- many of whom are mentees in the Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Program- with first generation, low income Cristo Rey Jesuit High School students. Among goals are to introduce Cristo Rey mentees to Marquette, provide them with the tools to navigate the admissions process and the transition to college, and support the university’s Hispanic-Serving Institution initiative. The program is a collaboration with the Marquette University Alumni Association, Marquette's Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.  "The program has grown dramatically since last year's pilot and demonstrates the enthusiasm for Marquette students to mentor and share their experiences, along with Cristo Rey students who are eager to learn about their future college journey," says Jacki Black, associate director of Hispanic Initiatives at Marquette. To learn more, contact daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu or jacqueline.black@marquette.edu. Five Questions With... Mentor Lansen Barrow, Bus Ad '74 1. Why have you served in the MUAA Mentor Program for three consecutive years? It provides an opportunity for me to share with my mentees some of the lessons I’ve learned through my years in the legal profession. Hopefully it will help them as they explore the possibilities of pursuing a legal career. 2. What suggestions do you have for mentees? - Do some homework on your mentor, if possible. Know something about the person to whom you will be assigned. - Be on time for your mentoring session(s); the mentor’s time and the mentee’s time are valuable, so make the time count. - Come prepared with questions/topics for discussion. 3. What’s your favorite Marquette memory? Meeting my roommate for the first time, which began a friendship that has lasted to this day. 4. Book you’ve last read? Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh 5. Your career dream job when you graduated from Marquette was… ...working in the advertising department of Proctor & Gamble. Lansen Barrow, is chief counsel with the U.S. Department of Energy SPRMO in New Orleans. He is serving for the third year in the MUAA Mentor Program and mentoring arts and sciences mentee Victor Ike and engineering mentee Ian Glynn in 2017-18. In the News Congratulations to these mentor program participants for their recent achievements. Madison Dunker, communication mentee and president of Athletics Department Student Athlete Advisory Committee, joined Marquette University President Michael Lovell and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl in the first Marquette in Milwaukee podcast. (JJ Alberts, Arts ’93, mentor) Don Gogan, Eng ’87, has been named vice president of Integrated Operations Management and Customer Care at Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee. This marks his second year of service in the MUAA Mentor Program. (Michael Hayes, engineering mentee) Kari Knopp, engineering mentee, was elected vice president of membership programming for Greek Life at Marquette University. Her role will include planning and executing leadership training for all upper level members of Greek Life and recruitment process for more than 600 students. (Mark Peterson, Arts ’84, mentor) Monica Kuhnert, H Sci ’07, is senior director – North and South America at Mazor Robotics in Chicago. She is serving for the first time in the MUAA Mentor Program. (Monique Pineda, health sciences mentee)   Patrick McQuillan, Arts ’03, is the new Government Relations manager with MNsure, Minnesota’s state-based health care exchange in St. Paul, Minn. This is his first year in the MUAA Mentor Program. (James Ritter, arts and sciences mentee)   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: The (only) three roles you should expect your career mentor to play; Forbes What mentors wish their mentees knew; Harvard Business Review Mentor program questions or comments? Contact MUAA Mentor Program Director Dan DeWeerdt at daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4740.