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Alumni volunteer to make an impact on Montclair State students

Posted in: Alumni News and Events

alumni and students

Jim Bartek ’92 has always been appreciative for the education that he received at Montclair State and was determined to give back to his alma mater in a meaningful way. “The most obvious way, at the time, was to mentor a student and provide advice to them on how to achieve their goals and pursue their future career,” says Bartek. He did just that as he volunteered as a mentor.

In May, the Feliciano School of Business in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement kicked off the Accelerator Program for the 2019-2020 academic year. Since its inception in 2018, the program has been designed to pair current students with Montclair State alumni for a valuable mentorship opportunity.

“The program provides unique opportunities for students to be prepared for a professional career and to develop the competencies that will enable them to thrive in those careers,” says Dr. Greg Cant, Dean of the Feliciano School of Business. “It is why we call it the accelerator program. Many of our students have received tremendous internship and job opportunities.”

The program offers alumni the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with a student by providing an understanding of workplace expectations, offering professional and career guidance, sharing tools for networking, and helping students form professional relationships.

For Bartek, mentoring is a great way to stay connected to his alma mater and at the same time provide a significant benefit to a student. “I believe alumni will find mentoring a student very rewarding, especially when you experience watching a student achieve their goals. A few hours a month of a mentor’s time, is invaluable to their mentee,” he says. “The advice and wisdom of their career experience makes a momentous change in the life of their mentee. To see your mentee get that first internship or job offer in their chosen field is very gratifying and far outweighs the limited time commitment.”

Former students in the program have been able to succeed in professional endeavors due to the guidance and encouragement of their mentors.

“At the heart of the program is the one-on-one mentoring which provides a remarkable opportunity to receive personal support and encouragement,” says Dean Cant.

Participating in the Accelerator Program is a rewarding experience for both alumni and students. The program offers mentors the opportunity to build a lasting relationship with a current Montclair State student and stay connected with their alma mater in a meaningful way.

At first, Hasan Muwakkil, a senior majoring in Finance, was nervous to meet his mentor. However, it didn’t take long for him and his mentor to bond over strategies to help him grow professionally.

“My mentor, Lee, has helped me in realizing my capabilities. Anytime I asked for advice, he would motivate me and give honest feedback,” says Muwakkil. “We set objectives to begin. He asked about my career interests, listened to my story and encouraged me to use all my interests to my advantage.”

The program has given student participants the unique opportunity to gain guidance on a wide range of academic career and student life experiences from someone who has completed their degree at Montclair State. It is a unique opportunity for alumni to serve as an objective sounding board for students’ ideas or ask thoughtful questions.

At the end of the program, Muwakkil was able to land an internship with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He credits the preparation that he, with the guidance of his mentor, went through during the application process. As he puts it, “we strategically developed a suited plan to organize where to apply, how many applications, and if accepted, how to be ready for the interview.”

One of the goals of the program is to facilitate mentoring relationships from alumni and match them with current students. Each mentoring pair works together to help students succeed in their chosen field. Not only are students prepared to get a job, but are also taught the skills to succeed in that job.

“I joined the Accelerator Program because I saw a tremendous value in working closely with alumni in the field that I myself want to work in after graduation,” says Christian Penney, a junior majoring in Finance. “I am looking forward to gaining new skills, learning how to better myself, become an attractive candidate and ultimately, how to be a better employee, once I land a job.”

If you are interested in learning more about mentoring, contact Karen Hackett, associate director of Alumni Engagement at 973-655-4207 or hackettk@montclair.edu.