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College of Health and Human Sciences Professional Mentoring Program

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Mentoring Connection – May 2018 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

 

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

  • Fall 2018 Semester Begins | Monday, August 20
  • Human Ecology Tailgate at K-State Football vs. Mississippi State | Saturday, September 8
  • Human Ecology Tailgate at K-State Football vs. Oklahoma State | Saturday, October 13

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • What is a setback you have had in your career and how did you overcome it?
  • Five years ago, would you have envisioned your career as it is today?
  • Was there ever a role or position you applied for and landed, but weren’t 100% qualified to do? How did you proceed?
  • What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned and how has it proven invaluable?
  • What leadership skills have you found most difficult to develop in your career?

 

Professional Skills – Networking

“10 Important Things Not to Forget When Job Hunting”

 

From Around the Web

“In Pursuit of Work and Life Balance” from The Balance

Strive for balance in your life.

 

 

 

Your Mentoring Experience

PRE-MEETING FORMS

To help guide conversation and give you a road map for your mentoring meetings, we have developed a pre-meeting questionnaire designed to prepare mentors for their next meeting with their mentee. The use of these forms is optional. Mentors should provide this form to their mentee if they would like them to fill it out prior to a meeting. If you have any questions or need a copy of the questionnaire, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

POST MEETING SURVEYS

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. Your responses are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee.

 

TRAVEL GRANT AVAILABLE FOR MENTEES

Students participating in the Professional Mentoring Program may be eligible for funds to travel and visit their mentors. Visit the Travel Grant webpage or contact Austin Anderson (austin33@k-state.edu) for more information.

 

 

Stay Connected

 

Mentoring Connection – March 2018 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

 

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • What do you wish you would have done, but didn’t get the chance to do while you were in school?
  • What experiences or opportunities did you have in college or earlier in life that had the most impact on your life and/or career?
  • What was your first job out of school?
  • What was the best and worst part of this role?

 

Professional Skills – Networking

“The Most Powerful Words to Use During Your Interview”

 

 

From Around the Web

“27 Good Word Habits for a Successful Career” from The Balance

Be Productive, Have Job Satisfaction, and Get Along With Your Boss and Coworkers

 

 

Your Mentoring Experience

MAY 2018 COMMENCEMENT

Congratulations to our 65+ graduating mentees! If you will be graduating in May, you will be receiving an email invitation to the College of Human Ecology’s Honors Reception in the coming weeks.

 

PRE-MEETING FORMS

To help guide conversation and give you a road map for your mentoring meetings, we have developed a pre-meeting questionnaire designed to prepare mentors for their next meeting with their mentee. The use of these forms is optional. Mentors should provide this form to their mentee if they would like them to fill it out prior to a meeting. If you have any questions or need a copy of the questionnaire, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

POST MEETING SURVEYS

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. Your responses are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee.

 

TRAVEL GRANT AVAILABLE FOR MENTEES

Students participating in the Professional Mentoring Program may be eligible for funds to travel and visit their mentors. Visit the Travel Grant webpage or contact Austin Anderson (austin33@k-state.edu) for more information.

 

 

Stay Connected

 

Mentoring Connection – February 2018 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

 

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

  • Business Career Fair | Feb 21 | 11am – 4pm | Union Ballroom (open to all majors, AT encouraged to attend)
  • Design Expo | March 2 | 10am – 3pm | Hilton Garden Inn (Interior Design students only)
  • Education On Campus Interviews | March 5 | 8:30am – 4pm | Bramlage Coliseum (ECE, CSD and FACS students)
  • Spring Break | March 19 – 23

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • What factors do you consider most often when planning for the future?
  • If you could start your career over, what is one thing you would do differently?
  • Do you have any recommendations for useful courses to take or extracurricular activities to be involved in?
  • Do you see any ongoing trends or developments that will affect careers in this field?

 

Professional Skills – Networking

“7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Pick a Fulfilling Career.”

 

From Around the Web

“Are You a Problem Solver?” from The Balance

Why problem solving is an essential skill for your career.

 

 

Your Mentoring Experience – Travel Grant

While long-distance mentoring relationships are highly valuable, meeting face-to-face can assist in strengthening long-lasting professional mentoring relationships for both mentors and mentees. Students participating in the Professional Mentoring Program may be eligible for funds to travel and visit their mentors. Visit the Travel Grant webpage or contact Austin Anderson (austin33@k-state.edu) for more information.

 

Program Updates – Gathering Feedback

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. These surveys are six questions long, and are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee. Links to mentor and mentee specific surveys can be found below. If you have any questions, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

Stay Connected

 

Mentoring Connection – January 2018 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

 

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

  • Apply for Professional or Graduate School Info Session | Jan 30 | 5:30-7pm | Justin 163 (open to all majors)
  • Fine Tuning Your Resume | Feb 15 | 4-5:30pm | Justin 166 (open to all majors)
  • Business Career Fair | Feb 21 | 11am – 4pm | Union Ballroom (open to all majors, AT encouraged to attend)

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • What were the biggest challenges you faced in your first year of employment following college/graduate school?
  • How did you choose to take your current job over other opportunities you may have had at the time?
  • How do you manage stress in the workplace?

 

Professional Skills – Networking

“Five Tips for a Successful Networking Meeting.”

 

From Around the Web

“Tips to Make a Better LinkedIn Profile” from The Balance

Tips to make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd.

 

 

Your Mentoring Experience – Travel Grant

While long-distance mentoring relationships are highly valuable, meeting face-to-face can assist in strengthening long-lasting professional mentoring relationships for both mentors and mentees. Students participating in the Professional Mentoring Program may be eligible for funds to travel and visit their mentors. Visit the Travel Grant webpage or contact Austin Anderson (austin33@k-state.edu) for more information.

 

Program Updates – Gathering Feedback

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. These surveys are six questions long, and are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee. Links to mentor and mentee specific surveys can be found below. If you have any questions, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

Stay Connected

 

Mentor Monday – November 27, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of Kansas State University and the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Jamie Bosse, Financial Planner at KHC Wealth Management.

Degree/Year/College or University:
B.S. Personal Financial Planning / 2004 / K-State
Minor in Business Administration / 2004 / K-State

Current Job Title and Location:
Financial Planner, KHC Wealth Management


Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career:

While at Kansas State, I majored in Personal Financial Planning through the College of Human Ecology and earned a minor in Business Administration.  One thing that sticks out to me is how involved the faculty and staff were in my success.  The Financial Planning major was a pretty tight-knit group and everyone worked together to network, combine resources, and maximize opportunities.  The faculty was always presenting us with ways to connect to seasoned professionals for internships, shadowing experiences, and job opportunities.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

I am currently a Financial Planner with KHC Wealth Management.  I have been doing financial planning since I graduated, but I have been with KHC since 2013.  In my role, I meet with clients to talk about their financial goals, anticipate any potential obstacles and help them put a plan together to reach them.  Some of those goals include paying off debt, saving for retirement, planning to fund their children’s college education, and saving for major purchases like buying a home or planning a big vacation.  I continue to work with clients through the many transitions life can bring – marriage, divorce, starting a family, moving, changing jobs, climbing the corporate ladder, and planning for retirement.  It is an extremely rewarding career to help people reach their goals and better their financial lives.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

I have had the pleasure of working with two mentees so far in the College of Human Ecology mentorship program.  It is really fun for me to get to know them and hear how things have changed and grown at Kansas State and in the Personal Financial Planning Major.  I enjoy giving back and hope that sharing my experience helps them to be successful in some way.


If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Network and get involved!  I always signed up for the extracurricular activities within the financial planning major and that really set me apart when it came time to look for a career.  Employers want to know that you will put forth the extra effort and make the commitment to be successful.  Through extra involvement, the professors get to know you on a deeper level, so they are more apt to recommend you to potential employers and be a reference for you. Network every chance you get!  You know that old saying, “It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know”?  There is definitely some truth to that!  I attended several industry events and conferences when I was a student that led to connections that eventually ended in job offers.  Take advantage of all of the things available to you as a student – the mentorship program, mock interviews, tagging along with a professor to a conference.  Ask to do informational interviews with professionals in the area and get their take on your industry.  Read industry magazines and blog postings to see what the hot topics are and what experienced professionals are talking about.  There are many different avenues that you can take in most majors, so explore as many options as you can and get to know as many people as you can.

 

 

 

Mentoring Connection – November 2017 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

 

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

 

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • How did you land your current job?
  • Think back to five years ago, did you envision this is where you would be?
  • What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned and how is it valuable?
  • What new skills do I need to move forward in this industry?

 

Professional Skills – Networking

“NetWORTHing – Tips on How to Network Effectively.”

 

From Around the Web

“What Mentors Wish Their Mentees Knew” from Harvard Business Review

Knowing what you need is the first step; finding the right person is the second.

Your Mentoring Experience – Travel Grant

While long-distance mentoring relationships are highly valuable, meeting face-to-face can assist in strengthening long-lasting professional mentoring relationships for both mentors and mentees. Students participating in the Professional Mentoring Program may be eligible for funds to travel and visit their mentors. Visit the Travel Grant webpage for more information.

 

Program Updates – Gathering Feedback

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. These surveys are six questions long, and are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee. Links to mentor and mentee specific surveys can be found below. If you have any questions, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

Stay Connected

 

Mentoring Connection – October 2017 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

 

Program Updates – Gathering Feedback

We encourage all of our mentors and mentees to complete the post-meeting surveys following each monthly meeting. These surveys are six questions long, and are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee. Links to mentor and mentee specific surveys can be found below. If you have any questions, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • How have you handled failure or setbacks in your career?
  • How do you encourage innovative ideas in your workplace?
  • How does your organization handle social media policies and representation?

 

Professional Skills – Organizing the Job Search

“Organizing the job search can help students keep on top of everything.”

 

From Around the Web

“Mentorship Is Key to Career Success for Young Professionals”
from Forbes

Ensure that you get the most out of your mentoring relationship.

 

Your Mentoring Experience – College of Human Ecology Hospitality Tent Events in Cat Town

Join the College of Human Ecology in Cat Town starting two hours prior to kickoff at the October 21 K-State Football game vs. Oklahoma and the November 11 game against West Virginia. These tailgates are open to all current Human Ecology students and alumni/friends of the college (including all current mentors and mentees). These events are a great opportunity for you to connect with the Human Ecology family and to get together with your mentor/mentee. Admission is free and no reservation is necessary.

 

Stay Connected

Mentor Monday – September 18, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Jenn MacFadyen, an Instructor and Academic Advisor for the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health in the College of Human Ecology.

Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.

My experiences with the College of Human Ecology first began while I was working as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for K-State Athletics; students from the undergraduate athletic training program were assigned to me as part of their clinical rotation requirements. I began meeting and interacting with a variety of staff which eventually led me to my current position. Both Shawna Jordan and Morgan Rakestraw have been such great mentors and colleagues through my time working with their students and now working alongside them.

 

Getting my Master’s degree in the area I did, as well as completing an advising certificate, really prepared me to make the transition from the clinical side of athletic training to the educational side. The knowledge I gained through the Counseling and Student Development curriculum is utilized in my every day interactions with my students.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

I currently serve as an Instructor and Academic Advisor within the Athletic Training Program. I teach the Introduction to Athletic Training class and lab, as well as a Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries class that is part of the Coaching Certificate offered through the College of Education. I am beginning my third year as an instructor and my second year as an advisor. I work with both students who are in our professional phase and those who are getting ready to apply. With advising, I meet the incoming students over the summer during their Orientation and Enrollment and get them prepared for the upcoming school year and continue to meet with them as they progress through their academic careers.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

This is my first time being a part of the mentor program and I am very excited about it. I think being able to guide students through the uncertainties and stresses that come with planning for the future will result in some really positive outcomes! I have been where these students have been, and it truly was not that long ago, and so I understand how they feel. Having some experience under my belt, in a variety of settings, will allow me to provide some different avenues for my mentee to explore.

 

If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

To know that everything happens for a reason. We can spend days, months and even years planning for something and in a split second that can all go array. You must be able to trust in the process and know your education and your experiences will get you to where you need to be. Life is sometimes funny, but always has a way of working out.

 

 

 

Mentoring Connection – September 2017 Newsletter

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Campus Connection – Human Ecology Student Events & Announcements

 

Program Updates – Gathering Feedback

Over the course of the academic year, we will be introducing several new tools to gather feedback from our mentors and mentees. Following each meeting, we encourage you to complete the “Post-Meeting Survey.” These surveys are six questions long, and are to be based on your most recent meeting with your mentor/mentee. Links to mentor and mentee specific surveys can be found below. If you have any questions, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

“In Your Experience…” – Monthly Discussion Questions for Mentoring Pairs

  • Who has influenced you the most in your career/professional development?
  • How do you practice professional development?
  • How do you manage a balance between work/school and your personal life?
  • What is the greatest piece of advice you have received?

 

Professional Skills – Building Your Personal Brand

“There are many components of our personal brands, and it can be tricky to know which ones to emphasize.”

  • Article by the K-State Career Center: Click Here
  • Discuss with your mentor/mentee the importance of building your personal brand.

 

From Around the Web

“Successful Mentoring Relationships Tips for Mentees” from Insala

Six tips to get the most out of your mentoring relationship

 

Your Mentoring Experience – Pre-Meeting Forms

To help guide conversation and give you a road map for your mentoring meetings, we have developed a pre-meeting questionnaire designed to prepare mentors for their next meeting with their mentee. The form consists of three easy questions, and has been provided via email to all current mentors. The use of these forms is optional. Mentors should provide this form to their mentee if they would like them to fill it out prior to a meeting. If you have any questions or need a copy of the questionnaire, please email austin33@k-state.edu.

 

Stay Connected

Mentor Monday – September 11, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is David Hamel, a 2004 graduate of K-State.

Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.

I graduated in the spring of 2004 with a B.S. in Kinesiology.  During my time at Kansas State I was also a member of the football team as a punter (2002-2003).  Playing sports my entire life I wanted to stay in the sports world and become a coach in strength and conditioning. I saw the benefit I received from my coaches at Kansas State, and I wanted to give back in helping other student athletes.  My degree definitely helped me better understand how to train athletes at a very high level.  Truly understanding what makes the human body perform at optimal levels I learned through class lectures and time in the lab running tests. After graduation I landed a job in Atlanta, GA as a sports performance coach. I worked with kids from 7 years old all the way up to professional athletes.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

Currently I am the Owner/Operator of the local free standing Chick-fil-A restaurant here in Manhattan.  After coaching for two years out of college I decided I wanted to switch careers and I’ve always loved being an entrepreneur.  God brought me to Chick-fil-A where I went to work with an Operator in the Atlanta area and trained for 4 of my 6 years with the other two in Bluffton, SC.  This December will mark 11 years with Chick-fil-A, and next month I will celebrate 5 years as an Operator. I love what I get to do everyday.  I’m still coaching and developing people because we are in the people business.  It just so happens that chicken is the tool that allows me to help people realize their own goals and dreams.  My wife, children and I love being a part of this great community where we are able to give back to so many.  I believe my coaching now is seeing and developing the potential in each one of my team members.  I want each one of my team members to know they are worth being poured in to, and they can have an amazing future if they never give up by expecting excellence of themselves first.  Helping them to grow and become servant leaders is what makes my job such a joy!

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

The mentor/mentee program allows for growth on so many levels. I have had the benefit of already mentoring a student through the program that has now graduated.  The one on one time monthly getting to hear their goals and dreams.  It is truly rewarding getting to see the struggles that they face going through college, and then navigating with them as they approach life after college with their career.  It definitely stretches you as a mentor to make sure you are engaging deeply with the mentee so that they can benefit greatly and be put on a course of leading from the front.

 

If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Never give up and always have a growth mindset.  If you are not growing yourself, then you cannot grow others and help the business grow that you are a part of.  When we give up we stop learning, and then we become complacent and mediocrity sets in.  We must be life long learners and inspire others to excellence.