[image 1]Five members of the NVC Business Council and five NVC faculty members met Friday for an orientation for the new NVC Business Leader Mentorship Program. The program is matching a Business Council member with a Student Development class and NVC instructor and ties in with the NVC Quality Enhancement Plan.
“This program will benefit students as they prepare to transfer to another college or university or for a career. We’re starting with five participants this spring and as we gain experience, we plan to grow and enlarge the program,” explains Denise Tolan, the NVC faculty member overseeing the program. She is coordinating with Lynne T. Dean, NVC director of Institutional Advancement, who facilitates the events and activities of the NVC Business Council.
[image 2]The orientation included an overview of mentorship by Patrick K. Currie, executive director of Boy With a Ball San Antonio. He emphasized that mentorship is sharing a journey and that mentors don’t have to have answers, they should “be present. Share experiences. Affirm your mentee.”
Boy With a Ball is a collaborating partner on this project because of the organization’s experience in mentorship. Its programs and services focus on working with young people and helping to build leadership.
NVC Business Council members participating in the program and serving as contacts for their businesses include Rosantina Aranda, vice president and business banker, Frost Bank; Ted Terrazas, senior vice president, Medical Services, Chenega Corporation; Brian Carter, director, Brand Communications and Interactive Media, SeaWorld and Aquatica; Howard Lundeen, regional manager, Corporate Property Groups, Wells Fargo; and Andrea (Dre’) Hardeman, talent acquisitions manager, Human Resources, Nationwide.
[image 3]NVC Student Development instructors who will work with the mentors and student mentees include Jenny Martin, Adrianna Sherman, Migdalia Garcia, Tamotia Franks and Kelly Blanco.
The program will run through the spring semester with mentorship partners meeting in-person and online and will conclude with a celebration event for the student mentees, instructors and Business Council mentors.
Contributed by Lynne T. Dean, CFRE, Director of NVC Institutional Advancement