Mentor Program Success + Advice

Stacy Miller (MS–STEP '05)

“My mentor match was spot on! Mike Taylor invited me to shadow him for a morning, included me in two business meetings, and provided a snapshot of what life after school might be like. In turn, I connected him with special events at the U of M.

"Mike has since moved on, but we stay in touch. He was pleased to learn that I was hired to fill his position less than a year after we met through the mentor program! I firmly believe the mentorship gave me an edge in identifying and speaking to the needs of my new employer.”

Mike Taylor (MA '98)

“Stacy Miller was a fantastic mentee. After I relocated to Washington D.C., to pursue a new career opportunity with the Solar Electric Power Association, Stacy was hired by the Department to fill my former position. We still communicate every so often, as Stacy has questions about the tricks of the trade and participates in some of the activities and information my new organization offers. 

"My advice? Students get out of it what both participants put in. Beyond resume proofing and office tours, mentors can invite the student to sit in on meetings or events and suggest research topics that might have data waiting to be analyzed (a previous mentee of mine wrote her thesis this way). The best thing a student can bring is motivation – ask questions, show interest, and suggest things they’d like to learn about or do.”