Mentor Connection April 30, 2008

Greetings SPH Mentor Program participants,

Summer is just around the corner and the academic year will be coming to a close in a few short weeks. This is an exciting time for students who will be taking on internships, fellowships, summer courses and projects. And for those students who are graduating and entering the professional world of public health we say, “Congratulations!” As both students and mentors make academic and professional transitions, this means change for the mentor relationship.

This e-newsletter of the 2007-2008 SPH Mentor Program is intended to help you determine the direction of your mentor relationship.Some mentor pairs choose to end their formal commitment to the relationship while others stay closely connected. This newsletter will help you take the right steps in whatever route you choose!

In this newsletter you will find:

Mentor Appreciation Dinner Recap
SPH Mentor Program Recognition
The Future of Your Mentor Relationship
MHA Mentor Relationship Reminder
Job Opening: Student Mentor Coordinator
Apply to Mentor Next Academic Year!
Summer Public Health Links & Events
SPH Mentor Program Thanks!

Mentor Appreciation Dinner Recap

The Mentor Appreciation Dinner was another success! This annual dinner was held in recognition of all the alumni and professionals who participate not only in the SPH Mentor Program, but in mentor programs in all colleges at the University of Minnesota.

Over 250 mentors and students attended the event at the McNamara Alumni Center on April 16, which was sponsored by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) Mentor Connection. Mentors and student mentees were able to 'mix and mingle' and enjoy a dinner buffet.

UMAA’s CEO, Margaret Carlson, hosted this year’s event with women’s basketball head coach Pam Borton as the evening’s keynote speaker. Not only did participants enjoy an evening of fine food and pleasurable company, but they also were able to have their picture taken with Goldy! Mentors were honored for their involvement as a mentor with UMAA Mentor Connection certificates.

For those unable to attend, we’d like to extend a special thanks to those SPH Mentors who have participated in this year’s Mentor Program. Our students are extremely thankful for your time and commitment. This year would not have been a success without you!

We’d also like to recognize our first year mentors, those who have built a relationship with more than one student mentee this year, and mentors who have completed more than five years of mentoring.*

We are so grateful for your dedication to SPH students and to the public health profession. You truly enhance the experience of students and the program!

*Please let us know if we have made a mistake within any of the categories above!

The Future of Your Mentor Relationship:
Is it the end or just the beginning?

By Juliet Nguyen

The official Mentor Program has come to an end for the 2007-2008 school year. Reflection on your mentor relationship and what you’ve learned is essential to your participation as either a mentor or a mentee.

Students: If you’ve had the opportunity, you’ve likely spoken with your mentor openly about whether you would like to pursue an informal mentoring relationship outside the program, keep in touch throughout your academic and professional career, or to discontinue the relationship as your pursue other activities that keep you engaged. If not, this is an important conversation for you to initiate. Remember to make your last impression a positive one!

Students and mentors: It is important to remind yourself that although the formal Mentor Program is coming to a close for this year, this doesn’t mean the relationship must also end. To assess the option of continuing your mentor relationship, ask yourself the following questions:

Have you fulfilled all your objectives or have you fallen short on some of your expectations with your mentor relationship? Do you have unanswered questions or have you left any discussions unfinished? Do you feel you need or want more time with your student or mentor to satisfy the goals you set in the beginning of the relationship?

Take time to consider these questions, and discuss them with your mentor or student to help decide if continuing the relationship can bring you closer to meeting your goals. Be sure to keep in mind that your mentor or student mentee may have different feelings about continuing the relationship.

As reflected upon by Jooyeon Hwang (environmental health student and two-year mentee) in our last newsletter, mentors can still hold an important place in a mentee's life. Once you and your mentor or student mentee have come to a mutual agreement about the future of your relationship, it is important to celebrate and reflect on the progress your relationship has made and the beneficial experiences you’ve had as mentor or student mentee.

Lastly, it is helpful to consider the experience you’ve has as a mentor or student mentee to guide you in participating in another mentoring relationship in the future. A few questions you can consider are:

What was most satisfying in my role as a mentor/student? What have I been dissatisfied with, and how might the situation improve next time around? Was I able to make the most of this relationship? Was I able to meet other people and explore other areas of interest? Is there a project, job, or area of study that I considered because of this relationship? Would I want to participate in this type of relationship again and/or would I recommend it to others? What have I learned about myself?

Two SPH Mentor Program participants have provided some tips and advice on how to positively close the relationship:

• “I’ve had relationships that end because there isn’t time or interest—and this is OK. Sometimes this was discussed and in others the relationship just dwindles. It is important to be honest about your time constraints and if you want to continue the relationship. If there continues to be value in meeting, then I have done so. I let the student decide. I think it’s a good idea to acknowledge that the formal relationship has ended. I often offer the possibility of staying in touch if the student would like that. It’s also a possibility for a mentor to have contacts that might be a good fit for the student, and they could offer to make that connection. I’m going to see my current student again and also try to participate next year with a new student! The greatest benefits I’ve had from being a mentor is staying connected to the UMN-SPH and the variety of people I’ve had the chance to meet throughout the years!

-Janny Brust, Mentor

• “I've had a few friends who’ve had a mentor relationship last for more than 15 years! There is one friend, in particular, that I think about whenever the topic of mentoring comes up. When she and her mentor met for the first time, she was also a student just like me. After many years, her mentor has observed her growth—academically, emotionally, and professionally. Her experience and their friendship have influenced me in my decision to keep my mentor beyond the program’s timeline.

“My current mentor of two years has helped guide me since my arrival in the U.S. to attend graduate school. Without his advising, I couldn't have adjusted as well as I have. My mentor/mentee experience has also developed and we understand each other more as our relationship grows. I would advise those who have mentors that may not seem like the 'best fit' to make the extra effort and try to understand him or her and stick it out with your mentor for at least two years during a master program. It is my personal opinion that one year is too short a time to get to know someone, and you might be surprised at how well you could get along if you put a little time and effort into the relationship.”

-Jooyeon Hwang, Student

Thanks to all our mentors and students for a great year, and best wishes to all!

Additional Sources:

• Seven Tips for Coming to a Closure, from the Leadership Development Services LLP
• Ten Rules for Effective Mentoring, from the GoalGuys

MHA Mentor Relationship Reminder

MHA mentor relationships have been defined by the program to last two full academic years. For first-year students and their mentors, please know that the SPH Mentor Program will continue to be a source of support for your relationship next academic year! Not only are you are invited to attend the October 17 breakfast kick-off event to reconnect with one another on your goals for the relationship, but you will also continue to receive all program communication and newsletters. We invite your feedback on how we can help nurture your relationship at phmentor@umn.edu or (612) 626-5536.

Job Opening: Student Mentor Coordinator

Are you a student who is in need of a fun and exciting job? The SPH Mentor Program is recruiting for a Student Mentor Program Coordinator for the 2008-2009 academic year! The position offers flexible hours, the opportunity to meet students and professionals in public health, involvement in SPH events and much more!

• Work 10 to 20 hours per week
• Make $12/hour
• Have your own work space in the Dean’s Office
• Help recruit mentors and plan events and communication pieces
• Offer your leadership and creative ideas to make the program even stronger!

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Michelle Lian-Anderson at liana001@umn.edu.

Apply to Mentor Next Academic Year!

Did you find your mentoring experience enjoyable and beneficial? Do you hope to enhance your mentoring abilities and reconnect with students and the SPH? We are in need of mentors for the 2008-2009 academic year! There’s no need to apply, all you need to do is “reply” to this e-mail. Thank you!

Summer Public Health Links & Events!

• MOAPPP Annual Conference: Broadening our perspective, Refining our approach
  • May 1 - May 2, 2008
• Living Green Expo
• Saturday, May 03, 2008
• Intergenerational Consequences of Attachment & Advanced Practice Seminar
• May 7, 2008
• National Women’s Health Week “Women’s Sexual Health” by Bean Robinson
• May 15th, 2008, 5:30 PM
• MPHA Annual Meeting
• June 5, 2008
• The Minnesota Critical Access Hospital & Rural Health Conference: Engaging Communities & Transforming Health Care
• June 23-24, 2008
• Sixth National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations!
• September 21-24, 2008

Closing Statement from Michelle and Juliet!

All good things must come to an end and so too comes the official end of the 2007-2008 SPH mentor program. Thank you, again, for investing in your own life long learning and for choosing to connect with both the SPH and the public health profession in a meaningful way.

One more thing: After this newsletter, we’ll be sending out one, final piece of communication—an evaluation survey. Your feedback and thoughts are invaluable, so we hope to hear from you. Your voice will make this program stronger!

We’d rather not say, “Good bye.” Instead, we’ll say, “Hope to see you again soon!” Best wishes to you for an enjoyable summer.