More than Just a Dream – An Update on Financial Management’s Mentoring Program

by Marisa Honig

On November 19, 2003 the DREAM (Diversity Recognition Edifies Advanced Mentoring) team sponsored a three hour Mentoring Check-in for Financial Management’s first group of official mentors as they reached the halfway point in the one year program, which was launched in May 2003. The three hour workshop was held in the ECC Native American Room and was facilitated by Ruth Johnston, QI Champion and Dream team sponsor.

The workshop began with a discussion of some of the benefits of mentoring. These benefits include encouraging diversity, improving communication and both personal and professional growth for mentors, as well as mentees. Enthusiasm and energy were high as mentors moved into small groups to share experiences, ask questions and offer each other ideas on ways to further improve their current mentoring relationships. Topics ranged from logistics (when and where they met with their mentees) and goal setting to communication and personal insights. As discussion moved to the large group, a number of mentors commented that both mentors and mentees were gaining confidence as a result of participating in the program.

After the large group discussion, Karen Crowder, Financial Management’s Training and Organizational Development Specialist, provided a special session on giving and receiving effective feedback. Mentors then moved back into small groups to discuss four case studies that explored some common issues that can arise in mentoring relationships and brainstorm solutions. It was inspiring to see the mentors’ level of commitment and caring.

Did you know that January has been made “National Mentoring Month” by presidential proclamation? As part of the celebration the DREAM team and the RAVE team are co-sponsoring an exciting FM-wide event! On January 29, 2004 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. please join us in the Ethnic Cultural Center’s Black Room for an afternoon of desserts and diversity! You won’t want to miss our special guest speaker, Dr. Rusty Barcelo, Vice President from the Office of Minority Affairs, who will share her incredible story and experiences with mentoring! In addition to Dr. Barcelo, a mentor and mentee from FM’s current mentoring pairs will talk about the program and share their experiences. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the program from the participants themselves!

The Dream team will be launching our next group of mentoring pairs in March 2004! As Benjamin Disraeli said, “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”

Feel free to contact the Dream team for more information on the mentoring program and upcoming events. Current Dream Team members: Jaeson Albritton, Heidi Anderson, Erlinda Antonio, Linda Braziel - team leader, Marisa Honig, Ruth Johnston – team sponsor, Denise Murillo, Thanh Nguyen and David Wright.

You can also visit our website at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/finmgmt/pmp/