At its inception in 2003, the Mentor Jackets program joined 50 pairs of alumni mentors and student mentees. Since then, the program has grown exponentially, with a whopping 900 matches in the 2011-12 academic year.
For those alumni who would like to be a mentor but live far from Atlanta, Mentor Jackets has an easy e-mentoring program that allows alumni to have an impact on a student’s life from New York, Palo Alto and everywhere in between.
The seven alumni listed below all signed up as e-mentors and forged close bonds with Tech students through phone calls, emails and video chats. They helped students earn internships and commiserated about the challenges of academic life at Tech.
As the 2012-13 academic year begins, Mentor Jackets expects to grow to 1,200 pairs and needs 1,500 mentors by Aug. 26. Most pairs between alumni and students will be finalized in September and October.
Alumni from every industry, major and background are needed, but there’s particular interest among students for mentors with quantitative and computational finance degrees, those who work on Wall Street, those working in health care, those with graduate and doctorate degrees and young alumni.
The Alumni Association and student committee send content and discussion suggestions to mentor-mentee pairs, but mostly the partnerships are left to develop on their own. Pairs are encouraged to get in touch two to three times per month. That can be a meeting over coffee or, for alumni outside of Atlanta, a call or Skype session.
Palo Alto, Calif.
Mentor Mike Humphries, EE 70
Mentee Jake Miller, CS student
Miller says joining Mentor Jackets and getting connected with Humphries was the best decision he made during his freshman year at Tech. “With his guidance and wisdom, I secured several co-op and internship offers, and I gained perspective of the professional world,” Miller says.
Las Vegas, NEV.
Mentor Frank Wyatt, CE 76
Mentee Elyse McClure, Arch 12
As she neared graduation, McClure says Wyatt helped her with some big decisions. “He is an amazing mentor and has helped me more than all my previous mentors combined. He has helped me look at situations from all different angles so I can make the best overall decision for me,” McClure says.
Creve Coeur, Mo.
Mentor Peter Wittenberg, MS EE 78
Mentee Gaurav Rajasekar, ECE graduate student
Gaurav said he often didn’t have a clear goal in his classes before connecting with Wittenberg. “I can always find a willing ear at the other end of a phone call when I really need advice,” Gaurav says. “I can’t remember a single time when he hasn’t been there for me.”
Southfield, Mich.
Mentor Walter Sutherlin, MS ME 98
Mentee Jazmine Brite, ME student
Brite signed up for Mentor Jackets with the hope of connecting with someone in the auto industry. Sutherlin, a product design engineer at the Ford Motor Company, helped Brite gain a foothold in the field. “My mentor did an excellent job in refining my resume and interview skills and helping me just get through Tech,” Brite says.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla
Mentor John Morris, IE 65
Mentee Ben Turnipseed, MBA 12
“John has been a tremendous mentor, trusted adviser and friend,” Turnipseed says. “Although we have never met in person, I walk away from each of our conversations better equipped to succeed as my own career path continues to take shape. I feel very fortunate to have been paired with him and look forward to our continued relationship.”
Wyndmoor, Pa.
Mentor Beth Zelasky, ChE 81
Mentee Amanda Francis, ChBE student
Even from several states apart, Zelasky and Francis formed a close bond. “Beth has motivated me through difficult classes and kept my focus on the overall goal of a career,” Francis says. “She helped me understand how women in engineering have grown over the years and how to be successful in my summer internship and future plans.”
New York, N.Y.
Mentor Liz Raisig, Mgt 00
Mentee Maddie Cook, IAML student
Cook and Raisig shared monthly phone calls and regular emails that both found valuable. “Liz was a tremendous help in offering advice on how to perfect my elevator speech and how to network with professionals in my fields of interest,” Cook says. Raisig adds: “Beyond the feeling of giving back, I feel like I’ve personally gained from our partnership. The chance to coach her through the early stages of her career has helped me refine my skills as a manager.”
Want to be a mentor? Find more information and sign up online at gtmentorjackets.com or email [email protected].
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