Are you considering pursuing a graduate or professional degree?  UGA Alumni Mentors Mary Catherine Meno (AB '21) and Will Panter (BMUS '21) share their insights on how to navigate graduate and professional school successfully. As recent graduates, they provide a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities that graduate school presents, and offer practical tips on topics such as time management, networking, building relationships, and selecting the best graduate program for your needs and interests.Mary Catherine Meno is a December 2021 UGA graduate. She studied Cognitive Science, Psychology, and Computer Science. After graduating, she worked with Truist as an Experience Design Graduate Research Intern. She is now pursuing a Master of Human-Computer Interaction + Design at the University of Washington.Will Panter received his Music Education degree from UGA in May 2021. He worked as an Assistant Director of Bands at South Effingham Middle School before beginning his Master of Music Conducting degree at Wester Michigan University.  Whether you're considering applying to graduate school or currently navigating the coursework and demands of a graduate program, this episode has something for you. For more information about the UGA Mentor Program, visit mentor.uga.edu. 

You're about to graduate, you landed a job, and now you have to prepare to leave UGA. But what does that entail? UGA alumni mentor Loren Klein (MS '22) sheds light on preparing for life after college and how to tackle challenges post-graduation. Loren Klein is a 2022 graduate. She earned her masters in Food Science and a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship. She currently serves as a R&D Food Scientist for PepsiCo. For more information about the UGA Mentor Program, visit mentor.uga.edu. 

Looking to serve others through leadership? Learn from UGA alumni mentor Quinn Shelt (BA '22) and UGA Mentor Program Ambassador Nikita Shah (BS '23) as they discuss their leadership philosophies and the challenges and rewards of being a leader.Quinn Shelt studied Political Science and Communication Studies while a student at UGA. She graduated in May 2022. As a student she was involved with the Alzheimer's Association, Clarke County Mentors at UGA, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and University Judiciary. She now serves as a Community Educator and Advocate for the Alzheimer's Association.For more information about the UGA Mentor Program, visit mentor.uga.edu. 

Let's get real. It's hard to say no. There are a lot of opportunities out there and ways to get involved on and off campus. But often we find ourselves burned out, overworked, and overcommitted. In this Real Talk: A UGA Mentor Program Podcast episode, we speak with UGA alumni mentors Jigisha Pardanani (BBA '02) and Ben Lewis (BBA '21) about overcommitment and what to do when you find yourself with one too many things on your plate. ​ Tune in to learn ways to help discover your boundaries and manageyour commitments. Jigisha Pardanani is a 2002 UGA grad. She studied Finance and Biology as a student at UGA. She later earned a Masters in Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia. Today, she works at Ally as a Privacy Compliance Director.Ben Lewis graduated from UGA in 2021 with a BBA in Finance from the Terry College of Business. He currently serves as an Execution Manager at Stonehill.For more information about the UGA Mentor Program or to connect with either of these mentors, visit mentor.uga.edu. 

You you've got to do it, but sometimes it's daunting to put yourself out there. UGA alumni mentor (and previous mentee) Jessica Tardy (BA '22, BS '22) and UGA alumni mentor Sloan Lewandoski (A.B. '22) help to demystify the process of networking and conducting informational interviews. They share important tools that can help you build your network and develop vital skills for those quick chats with professionals.Sloan is currently serving as a Marketing Operations Senior Specialist for Comcast in Denver, Colorado. There she also serves as the President for the Colorado Dawgs Chapter. At UGA, she studied Communication Studies and Music Business. Sloan has worked in a number of other marketing and consulting roles for companies such as Warner Media, UPtv, and Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services.  Jessica is a recent UGA grad. She studied Economics, Psychology, and Entrepreneurship. She currently works at FLEETCOR Technologies as a Product Analyst.For more information about the UGA Mentor Program or to connect with either of these mentors, visit mentor.uga.edu. 

If you're struggling financially as a student in college, you are not alone. UGA alumni Elena Krasovskaia (MS '21) and Kazi Rahman (BBA '17) join us to discuss their experiences at UGA while navigating financial insecurities. They share their stories and struggles as well as provide tips on how to make the most of your time as a student at UGA while living frugally. If you are facing financial insecurities, you can reach out to Student Care and Outreach or Financial Aid to learn more about resources and opportunities available to you.For more information about the UGA Mentor Program, visit mentor.uga.edu, and get started in discovering a mentor who can help guide you along your journey at UGA.

UGA students, alumni, faculty and staff are creative and innovative people! In this episode, we're taking on the start-up and talking entrepreneurship.UGA Mentor Program Ambassador Ben Kemp (BA '22 & MS '23) and UGA alumni mentor John Longino (BBA '73, MBA '76 & JD '76) discuss best practices for starting your own business and the many rewards of being an entrepreneur. John has earned three degrees from the University of Georgia. He studied finance, real estate and law. He had a long and fruitful career as a trial and transactional lawyer. He is now retried.For information about the UGA Mentor Program or how to connect with a mentor, visit mentor.uga.edu.

Happy National Mentoring Month! We're starting the year off with a mentorship story featuring UGA mentee Moira La Fuente (BS '24) and her mentor Melissa Adomako (BS '13). They share how their mentorship has impacted their lives and the tremendous benefits of being able to connect with someone they can relate to on being and having been an international student. Melissa studied Biology as a student at UGA. She later earned a Master of Public Health degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She now serves as  the Regional Officer for Europe, Southern Africa, and Multilateral Affairs for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.You can read more about their story here or find out more information on the UGA Mentor Program at mentor.uga.edu.

In this episode, we explore transitioning to the "real world," what you need to know, and how best to prepare for the leap from student to life after college. UGA alumni mentor Brendon Mack (BSCE '17) discusses what to prepare for when you first transition from school to the workplace. He shares his experiences on moving, considerations on getting a pet, relationships at work, budgeting, and how to make friends and find community. Since joining us for this episode, Brendon now works as a Bridge Design Associate Engineer for Gresham Smith. He received his bachelor in Civil Engineering from the College of Engineering in 2017. Brendon currently serves as an Alumni Board Member for the College of Engineering. For information about the UGA Mentor Program or how to connect with a mentor, visit mentor.uga.edu.

We bring you this special episode on National Mentoring Day! In honor of the day and the season, the UGA Mentor Program wants to debunk the myth that mentorship can be scary.We interviewed UGA mentee Sahar Joshi (AB & AB '24) and her mentor Will Caplan (BA '16)  about their mentorship and their fears around beginning the mentee-mentor relationship. Sahar is a third-year student double majoring in International Affairs & Religion. Will Caplan studied International Affairs, Political Science, and Communication Studies as a student at UGA. In 2018, he graduated from Georgetown University with a master's in Security Studies. Will now serves as a Senior Wargaming Analyst at Booz Allen Hamilton. If you're interested in learning more about the UGA Mentor Program, visit mentor.uga.edu.