Initiated through the Career Mentorship and Placement Office, the College2Career Professional Mentorship program returns this fall to provide opportunities for students to acquire firsthand knowledge from industry-experienced staff and faculty leaders.
Just one semester of mentoring has shown Jason Greifenberg how important mentorship is for student success.
The Executive Director of Infrastructure Administration and Business Continuity in the Information Technology department at Schoolcraft College had never participated in a mentorship program but found his experience as a College2Career Professional Mentor incredibly valuable.
“In just a few months of mentoring students here at Schoolcraft College, I’ve already witnessed the value of providing motivation, building confidence, and helping students navigate both college life and their transition into the workforce,” he said.
This past spring marked the inaugural semester of Schoolcraft College’s College2Career Professional Mentorship program, which saw a dozen mentors connect with mentees from various industries such as Information Technology, Supply Chain, Business, and Healthcare. Initiated through the Career Mentorship and Placement Office, the program plans to return this fall to provide opportunities for students to acquire firsthand knowledge from industry-experienced staff and faculty leaders.
After meeting with one of his mentees, Greifenberg made time to meet throughout the semester. A key feature of this program allowed mentors and mentees to set their schedule to their liking: meeting as much or as little as needed.
With his mentee, Greifenberg said he encouraged him to celebrate his accomplishments, no matter how big or small. That included walking at this year’s commencement ceremony.
That conversation was one, Greifenberg said, that stuck with his mentee.
“He kind of paused and said, ‘I’ve never heard that before,’” Greifenberg said. “They had a party at home and his family was there. It was a good time all around. I feel happy for him that my mentorship helped him obtain that moment.”
Having the experience of working with students in the mentorship program, Greifenberg said such a program is important to make Schoolcraft College a better place.
“Mentoring isn’t just about sharing knowledge — it’s about investing in the future of our students,” he said. “When we take time to support and guide them, we’re not only helping them succeed academically and professionally — we’re also strengthening our entire college community.”
The College2Career Professional Mentorship Program pairs students with faculty and staff at Schoolcraft to establish career goals, create action items towards those goals, and gain valuable industry insights.
Mentorship opportunities are available to students for the upcoming Fall semester. For more information, contact the Career Mentorship and Placement office at [email protected].