Mentoring Program Design - Two Unique Approaches

Career Level: Basic-, intermediate-, and advanced-level career services and university relations and recruiting professionals
Competency: Program design, implementation, and evaluation
Fee: FREE (member); $89 (nonmember);

Summary
Steph Olson, career services coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy, oversees a unique “just in time” mentorship program that uses a mentorship menu of programing that connects to offices and programs already coordinating mentoring to maximize opportunities. The career services office is building supports and guides to connect these opportunities, with the overall goal of teaching students that mentoring comes in many places and how to advocate and find mentors, even when a formal program might not be an option.

Maria Vittone, director of university and workforce partnerships at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklin Park, Minnesota, oversees the "Be Bold-Break the Mold" mentorship program. This program is a professional mentorship program that supports female-identifying students entering high-demand careers where women are underrepresented. Students join a unique group of women and learn together the importance of social capital, networking, and support to help guide the transition from a successful academic career to confident industry professional.

Following this program, you will be able to:
- Understand two unique approaches to mentorship programs;
- Learn about gaining support for creating new mentorship initiatives; and
- Gain insights from program participants.
Presenters

Steph Olson, Career Services Coordinator, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Steph Olson has worked in Higher Education for over 12 years. She earned her Master of Science in Counseling and Human Resource Development with a specialization in College Counseling from South Dakota State University. Steph has a background in student success, orientation, advising, and career services, and loves presenting on innovative approaches in the field of student affairs. Steph currently works for UNC Chapel Hill in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy as a career services coordinator and has built a career services program from the ground up in this position. Steph is actively involved in career services efforts and advocacy within the UNC and larger higher education community serving as a member of the Carolina Career Community leadership team, and serving as an advisory board member of The Placement Exchange.

Maria Vittone, Nontraditional Career, Student Support Consultant, North Hennepin Community College
Maria Vittone serves as the director of University and Industry Partnerships and the director of the “Be Bold-Break the Mold," mentoring program for Women in Nontraditional Careers at North Hennepin Community College in Minnesota. She finds her passion in places where change and reinvention is happening. She holds that space currently for her students where she is supporting those who find themselves as ‘one of few’ in their newly chosen careers. Vittone's gender equity and mentorship program, Be Bold- Break the Mold: Women Succeed in Nontraditional Careers was a notable program singled out at North Hennepin Community College for the National HEED Award 2021 (Higher Education Excellence in Diversity). Having experienced the need to redirect her career numerous times, she can empathize and walk beside those who are brave enough to do the same.