Stories of success from the CFANS Mentor Program
July 12, 2023
Reflections from our 2022-23 mentees provide a firsthand look into how the CFANS Mentor Program supports students on their path to becoming confident young professionals. We hope these stories of success inspire you to consider participating for the 2023-24 school year in the CFANS Mentor Program.
NETANYA SADOFF, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, BS '25
During the 2022-23 academic year, over 100 pairs of CFANS students and alumni/industry partners were matched as mentors and mentees in the CFANS Mentor Program. In the program, current students ranging from undergraduates to postdoctorates are matched with mentors—professionals with experience and roles closely aligned with the mentee’s future career aspirations. Together, mentor-mentee pairs collaborate to set and work towards goals aligned with the student’s professional development, building meaningful and often lasting relationships with one another along the way.
The CFANS Mentor Program provides an engaging space for students to get an exclusive look into what a future career in their chosen field may look like, all while receiving the well-earned advice and guidance from a mentor with lived experience in said career. In exchange, mentors in the program get the chance to reconnect with the university community while guiding future members of their career field towards professional success.
We here at CFANS naturally believe our Mentor Program is pretty neat, but don’t just take our word for it! Check out the following testimonials from our most recent mentees to see for yourself how the CFANS Mentor Program leaves a positive impact on our students:
Reflections from 2022-2023 CFANS Mentor Program student participants
Meera Sreenikumar, Sophomore, Nutrition
Matched with John Mosher, Retired Pediatric Dentist
Through this program I was able to learn more about myself in terms of what I needed to do further on, and how I need to organize my time to get to where I need to be. I was able to establish goals for myself in terms of what I wanted to learn from my mentor and what I wanted to do on my own. I now have a good plan for my future and what I need to do in order to achieve my goals.
JR Brown, Sophomore, Applied Economics
Matched with Samuel Erwin, Commodity Trader, CHS Inc.
Through the mentor program, I was able to set goals which are essential for personal and professional growth. Through goal setting, we can define our aspirations, identify the actions needed to achieve them, and monitor our progress. Along the way, we may encounter obstacles or unexpected challenges, but these can also be opportunities to learn and grow. Mentors can provide valuable insights, feedback, and connections, but it's also up to the mentee to take ownership of their growth and development.
Ines Reboll, 2nd year PhD student, Applied Plant Sciences
Matched with Gurinderbir Chahal, Pesticide Scientist, MDA
Overall, the mentorship program has been immensely rewarding. It has accelerated my learning, boosted my confidence, and provided support as I pursue my degree and adjust to life in a different country. I am grateful to my mentor for dedicating their time to share professional and life lessons with me, and I extend my gratitude to the CFANS mentorship program for connecting us.
Peter Boudinot, Junior, Animal Science and Intercollege Program Degree
Matched with Katherine Heffernan, Zookeeper, Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History
Overall, I came into this program hoping to make a connection with someone in the field and learn a little more about what is out there beyond the typical veterinarian or agricultural work shown in most of my courses and I came away from the program with a new direction for my academic and professional career. I could never thank my mentor enough for showing me just how vast the field of Animal Science actually is and providing me with some essential skills that I’ll need going forward with my professional career.
From first year students in fisheries to PhD students in plant science, all current CFANS students are welcome and encouraged to apply for the 2023-24 CFANS Mentor Program.
Don’t think we’ve forgotten about you, prospective mentors! While the CFANS Mentor Program is hosted by the CFANS Alumni Society, we invite both alumni and non-alumni employed in CFANS-related careers to apply to be mentors! Interested in mentoring? Check out the CFANS Majors and Minors list to find out if your career or field of work matches with CFANS disciplines of study.
Interested in mentoring for the 2023-2024 school year? Apply now!
The application deadline for the 2023-2024 CFANS Mentor Program is October 2nd, 2023.
See the CFANS Mentor Program webpage for further details and application!
Questions? Email Abby Little, Program Manager at cfansaro@umn.edu.
