Objectives:
- Facilitiate relationships between alumni and current class members.
- Leverage the leadership experience of AgForestry alumni to foster the class members’ leadership development.
- Provide a new opportunity for AgForestry alumni to ‘give back’ to the program.
- Cultivate accountability for class members throughout their AgForestry experience.
- Strengthen the mentoring capacity of AgForestry alumni.
Program Roles:
Mentor: Mentors will share their leadership and industry knowledge, experience, and contacts while serving as a sounding board for leadership focused conversations.
Mentee: Mentees will share their leadership goals along with their individual development plans to direct the conversations and learning
Mentor Resources:
We’ve been able to pair 14 alumni mentors with members of Classes 41 and 42. Here's what participants have to say...
Katie Tackman (Class 42), mentored by Annie Byerley (Class 40)
The introduction of the mentorship program provided an opportunity to have someone on the outside help guide me in my professional life. Annie has been awesome about checking in, and giving me some insight into her journey and what some of the things are that have brought her to where she is today. Hannah paired me with someone who is living their best life, past, future, present, but still prioritizes making an impact in her community and having a family. These are the values I want to enact in my own life.
Jerod Morris (Class 42), mentored by Dave Roseleip (Class 1)
AgForestry’s new mentoring program has been a great experience so far. Having someone I can share my thoughts and ideas with has been immensely helpful in clarifying my goals as I work on developing my skills as a leader. Getting regular feedback from my mentor helps to keep me much more focused and accountable than I would be on my own.
* We are no longer accepting application for the 2020 mentoring program. Check back for the 2021 program *
Required Program Element:
Mentor Application and Selection:
- Click here to apply.
- Click here to fill out the confidentiality agreement.
- We’ll contact you on your mentor match status.
Orientation: You’ll be required to attend a virtual ‘Match Day’ event, which includes an orientation session for both mentees and mentors, a combined orientation, and a private virtual introduction session for each matched pair.
1:1 Meetings: Mentoring pairs will meet on their own for at least one hour (cumulative) each month (September 2020 – August 2021).
Evaluation: At the end of the mentoring year, both mentees and mentors will be asked to complete an evaluation of the AgForestry mentoring program. This will allow the program staff to assess the effectiveness of the program, determine whether or not to continue, and what changes are needed to improve the program.
Optional Program Elements:
Tune-Up Tuesdays: Mentors are invited to participate in the class’s monthly Tune-Up Tuesdays webinars. This is an opportunity to increase understanding of what the mentee is learning and practicing.
Read to Lead: Book Club: Mentor/Mentee pairs are invited to participate together in the Class Book Club. This is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship through shared experience and common language.