The Student + Alumni Mentorship Program kicked off on Monday, Oct. 10, with five student and alumni groups. Pictured: Katelyn Tittle, Calli Knight, Jake Krumwiede, Jillien Turner, Emily Severe, Jeri Koehler, Jody Reiss, Paula Dally and Ivan Rivera. Not pictured: Sherrie Sherrick, Kalyn Barnoski and Taylar Odle.
A new mentorship program at Rogers State University aims to connect college students with local alumni for one-on-one career development.
The Student + Alumni Mentor Program (S+AMP) kicked off on Monday, Oct. 10 at RSU. Students and alumni met together to discuss educational and career goals, personal and professional backgrounds, and mentorship objectives for the year.
S+AMP is a joint effort between RSU Career Services and RSU Alumni. Katelyn Tittle, the Director of Alumni at RSU, said the program is a great way for alumni to invest in both the campus and the community.
“The S+AMP program is a great way to connect our alumni and students together in a meaningful way,” Tittle said. “Our alumni work in some of Oklahoma’s most in-demand fields, and students can learn a lot from their experience.”
Calli Knight, the Coordinator of Career Services at RSU, said the mentorship program can help students build professional networks before they graduate.
“One of the most valuable resources a person can have is a strong network,” Knight said. “Personal connections can help you find a job, get a recommendation or create a new partnership, and it’s important for students to develop those networks as soon as they can.”
Five alumni and five students are participating in the mentorship program. Participating alumni include Jake Krumwiede, the Assistant Director at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore; Jody Reiss, the HLP Project Director at Volunteers for Youth in Claremore; Jeri Koehler, the Executive Director at the Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority (CIEDA) in Claremore; Kalyn Barnoski, an adjunct professor at RSU who also works as a freelance graphic designer and musician; and Taylar Odle, a high school counselor at Oologah High School. Participating students include Ivan Rivera, a visual arts junior from Guymon; Emily Severe, a history senior from Fairland; Jillien Turner, a history senior from Owasso; Paula Dally, an organizational leadership senior from Claremore; and Sherrie Sherrick, a psychology senior from Claremore.
To learn more about S+AMP, contact Tittle at 918-343-6816 or Knight at 918-343-7864.