A warm 2nd semester "Welcome back" to SPH students and mentors,

We hope you had a great transition into 2008!

The SPH Mentor Program is looking forward to helping pairs re-engage their mentoring experience this semester. Here are a few events & opportunities coming your way:

1. Speed Networking RSVP requested

Make plans to attend the "Speed Networking" event!

Thursday, January 31
McNamara Alumni Center - Memorial Hall
5:30 p.m. - Registration and hors d'oeuvres
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Program

Both mentors and mentees will benefit from this session, which will teach the essentials to successful networking; a must for propelling your career into the next level.

You may attend with or without your mentor or student mentee. Sample topics and questions will be provided to help start conversations during the speed networking portion of the event.

The event is FREE and open to mentor program participants across campus.

• RSVP online by Friday, January 25

Speaker: Darcy Matz, Vice President of Profile Resource Organization, a national training firm located in Minneapolis. Darcy has spent the last 17 years training executives and students in the areas of personal presentation, persuasion, and polish. According to Darcy, it's the small things that will set you apart. Ms. Matz teaches with humor and personal experience, making the training both effective and enjoyable. She has been seen on the KARE-11 morning show, WCCO News/Dimension, WCCO morning show, KARE-11 News and in the Star Tribune and Mpls.St.Paul magazine. She has also been a guest on WCCO Radio and The Ruth Koscielak Show.

2. Seeking your feedback

Throughout January and February, the SPH Mentor Program will be randomly calling mentors and students to discuss their mentoring experiences thus far. We are interested in hearing about your mentor relationship: What are the benefits and challenges? What advice can you offer the program and/or what questions can we help answer regarding your mentor relationship?

Our goal is to reconnect with program participants, find out how we can further support or enhance your relationship, and help you make the most out of the experience.

We look forward to receiving your feedback!

3. Another edition of SPH Mentor Connection is on the way

Look out for the SPH Mentor Program winter communication, which will be sent at the end of January. It will include future event dates and RSVPs, tips for your mentor relationship, and more!

4. National Mentoring Month

President George Bush recently announced that January 2008 is National Mentoring Month! This initiative of the Harvard Mentoring Project, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and Community Service, has prompted the allocation of $100 million to mentor organizations across the country in 2008.

• Read more online about efforts to support mentoring

Wishing all mentors and students a great start to the New Year and a prosperous mentoring relationship!

Michelle Lian Anderson
Director Alumni Relations and Special Events

and

Juliet Nguyen
Mentor Program Student Coordinator