I began working as a Pathways mentor because I believe mentorship is one of the most impactful ways to support student success, especially for those navigating complex academic and professional environments. I was fortunate to have had great mentors during my doctoral program at Teachers College, who supported me along the way. Therefore, I wanted to give back and help students not only build technical skills but also develop confidence and purpose in their academic and professional journey.

Officially, I have served as a Pathways mentor since the 2024 academic year. However, over the past few years, I have had the privilege of working with undergraduate and graduate students, providing mentorship on navigating coursework, research, and internships, and professional transitions.

Being a mentor is a reciprocal experience. It offers an opportunity to reflect on my own academic and professional path and to find ways to support students in achieving better results. It also enriches my teaching and research by exposing me to new ideas and perspectives from students with different goals and life experiences.

Absolutely. This year, I am excited to support two mentees who are actively involved in community-engaged research projects and conference presentations. One mentee is exploring the membership trends of a local museum and identifying specific patterns and correlations between different membership types, their usage, and renewal behavior. Another is creating a geospatial analysis to map air pollution trends across Indiana. I feel proud to see how these students take ownership of their work, as this reaffirms the value of the mentoring relationship.

One of my favorite memories was when a mentee shared their first academic poster at a major research symposium. The pride and confidence my mentee gained as a researcher and professional through that experience were unforgettable. That moment captured the transformative power of mentorship.