FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 20, 2003
Contact: Garveate Ray
(662) 329-7119
 

MUW students receive direction from alumni through Compass program
 

COLUMBUS Miss – Only three months after its inception, approximately 80 Mississippi University for Women students have been paired up with alumni as part of the Compass Mentoring Program.

Tracey Ervin, assistant director of alumni relations, said, “Since the kickoff of this program, there has been an overwhelming response by students. Therefore, we are in high demand for mentors.

“This allows alumni to give something back to The W while at the same time encouraging students to make wise career decisions,” she added.

Theresa Green Ervin, MUW director of career services, said the mentoring program is an opportunity for alumni to help guide current students through college into the future.

The implementation of the program by pairing students with mentors was a natural function of the career services office and has evolved into a collaborative effort between career services, alumni relations and the
Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAAs).

Gail Laws, president of the MUW National Alumni Association, said, “Compass initially began as an idea of the Student Alumni Ambassadors.  The Office of Alumni Relations has played a major role for many years in the informal pairing of alumni with students for mentoring purposes.

 Hearing of the SAA’s interest in such a program, I thought it fit right into our plans for bringing the association’s mentoring program to new levels.”

Theresa Ervin said “Alumni who are involved in this mentoring program will assist students and The W by volunteering their services, providing students opportunities to job shadow, take part in an information  interview and serve as a guest speaker or part of a panel for campus events.”

MUW senior Jada Doherty of Waynesboro described herself as a “poster child” for the alumni mentoring program. She and MUW alumna Judge Lenore Prather (’53) formed a relationship during Prather’s service as MUW interim president.

“She took me under her wings after learning I wanted to go to law school,” said Doherty, who works in the President’s Office.

“They (mentors) have a wealth of knowledge, and they are a constant source of support.”

Through Prather’s support and encouragement, Doherty interned in Sen. Thad Cochran’s office this past summer.

There will be a special reception during Homecoming in April to formally recognize Compass participants.

To be a mentor, please contact Tracey Ervin in alumni relations at (662) 241-7483 or email taervin@muw.edu. Students in need of a mentor should contact Theresa Ervin in career services at (662) 241-6967 or email
tervin@muw.edu.


 

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