Every year since 2012, the Murrow Mentor Program has provided a group of students the opportunity to reach their career goals with help from a mentor who is or has been in the same career field.
The program was formed to give first-generation students support and mentorship from experts and academics. It expanded from Murrow Top Scholars and then became Murrow Ambassadors in the last three years.
Marcia Steele Hoover is the senior head of the mentor program; she meets with the other mentors about training, curriculum and overall check-ins. She joined the Murrow Mentor Program 10 years ago. Steele retired eight years ago and was able to take over the program. Marcia says she takes pride in this program as it is something she and most other students did not have.
“Other mentoring programs around the country are not as sophisticated as Murrow, the only formal mentoring program,” said Steele. “I want to put this program on the map.”
Steele says she hopes to continue to grow the program. There are some barriers to getting involved, as the current cap is about 50 people and about 30 mentors. She discussed the goals she wants the program to reach.
“We can do anything, but we can’t do everything,” Steele said.
Sara Stout says the difference between students who have a mentor and those who do not is astounding. She says the main difference is that those with mentors gain someone they can trust to lead, give sound career advice and build relationships and connections through the rest of their career or life.
“So many of the students come in thinking they have to be on top of their goals, on top of their career aspirations, before they meet their mentor, that is absolutely not true, the point of mentoring is to help figure those things out,” said Stout when asked about preparing for having a mentor. “Students forget they’re in college to learn, but that isn’t the case. They are here to learn.”
This program is a way to push students out of their boxes and provide new opportunities. Mentors have been through the job market, know how to start a career, and how to help students as they navigate the world of communication and the hundreds of possible jobs under that degree umbrella.
A lot of work behind the scenes goes into building this program. Stout works with Wendy Wegner, the career advisor, to ensure that students are well-matched with a mentor. The mentors are in the career the prospective student is going into, along with their personalities and skillsets.
Stout and Wegner say they take pride in knowing all the students who come through the program and pair them well with a mentor they can have a relationship with for life. They match the students, and want these to be perfect matches, so they try to find the perfect people for each student, as best as possible.
“Matching students and mentors could be my full-time job; unfortunately, it can only be 5-6 percent of my actual full-time job,” said Stout.
First-generation student and Murrow Ambassador, Moses Henning, is a junior at WSU pursuing a double degree in multimedia journalism and broadcast news. Henning joined the Murrow Mentor Program during his sophomore year. He says the program brings him support that he would not receive anywhere else and encourages students to get involved in the program.
“He really cares about where I end up and really encourages me to do my best,” said Henning when talking about his mentor, Pat Nevin. “Any student who wants to get relationships in their career field should reach out to a Murrow Ambassador or Sara Stout to apply.”
The Murrow Mentors Program has been a successful addition to the Murrow College of Communication. It helps students with their future career and gives past graduates a way to give back, teach and connect with students.
