Catamounts Helping Catamounts
Meaningful Mentorship
Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16 is currently mentoring two students connected to the Mosaic Center for Students of Color’s Summer Enrichment Scholars Program. She has participated in nearly a dozen career and networking events with students, including a Graduate Women in Chemistry mock interview, the Mosaic Community Celebration, and a BIPOC in STEM panel discussion.
“I view mentorship as a gift to both the mentor and the mentee. My interactions with UVM students have afforded me a special avenue to listen and create a space for discussions about career goals and aspirations. In return, I am given the opportunity to provide guidance, share my journey, and expand my skill set while providing a conduit for continued growth of the UVM alumni community, a network which serves as both a nest and resource for students as they navigate their careers at UVM and in the future as alumni.”
Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16 earned master’s degrees in chemistry and public health from UVM and specializes in product management and marketing at Natmed Ltd. Photo courtesy of Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16.
Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16 earned master’s degrees in chemistry and public health from UVM and specializes in product management and marketing at Natmed Ltd. Photo courtesy of Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16.
Meaningful Mentorship
Lyndelle LeBruin G’10, G’16 is currently mentoring two students connected to the Mosaic Center for Students of Color’s Summer Enrichment Scholars Program. She has participated in nearly a dozen career and networking events with students, including a Graduate Women in Chemistry mock interview, the Mosaic Community Celebration, and a BIPOC in STEM panel discussion.
“I view mentorship as a gift to both the mentor and the mentee. My interactions with UVM students have afforded me a special avenue to listen and create a space for discussions about career goals and aspirations. In return, I am given the opportunity to provide guidance, share my journey, and expand my skill set while providing a conduit for continued growth of the UVM alumni community, a network which serves as both a nest and resource for students as they navigate their careers at UVM and in the future as alumni.”
Photo courtesy of Shania Benjamin ’21
Foreshadowing the Future
During the winter break in 2019, well before COVID-19 struck New York City and the world, Shania Benjamin ’21 was invited to a day-long job shadowing experience with UVM alumnus Bernard Palmer ’75, senior manager of finance and human resources at the New York City Department of Education.
Benjamin, who would like to find a position as a public-school guidance counselor after she graduates later this year, says Palmer introduced her to social workers who work in the school system, school psychologists, and guidance counselors who offered her advice on how to be successful in the field. “They gave me some excellent advice and next steps to take after graduation, like volunteer opportunities and additional classes to look into. I got a much better understanding of the career path of those working in the profession, and I truly enjoyed it.”
Bernard Palmer ’75 (above, left) earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UVM. Photo by Michael Tallman, 2019.
Photo courtesy of Shania Benjamin ’21
Foreshadowing the Future
During the winter break in 2019, well before COVID-19 struck New York City and the world, Shania Benjamin ’21 was invited to a day-long job shadowing experience with UVM alumnus Bernard Palmer ’75, senior manager of finance and human resources at the New York City Department of Education.
Benjamin, who would like to find a position as a public-school guidance counselor after she graduates later this year, says Palmer introduced her to social workers who work in the school system, school psychologists, and guidance counselors who offered her advice on how to be successful in the field. “They gave me some excellent advice and next steps to take after graduation, like volunteer opportunities and additional classes to look into. I got a much better understanding of the career path of those working in the profession, and I truly enjoyed it.”
Bernard Palmer ’75 (above, left) earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UVM. Photo by Michael Tallman, 2019.
Café con Leche
In November the UVM Alumni Association and Alianza Latinx hosted the annual Café con Leche, a virtual networking event for students and alumni who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The panel of successful BIPOC UVM alumni discussed career readiness, discovering the right career path, navigating the job search process, and tips for professional networking.
The slate of career-wise alumni included Shaynelle Dormer ‘16, lead teacher at Success Academy Charter School; Ruben Echandy ‘89, vice president of engineering for Medidata Solutions; Persephone Kazl ‘09, vice president and associate media director at MediaHub Global; Khalil Munir ‘74, policy analyst at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; and Maya Thomas ‘11, web GIS specialist for the State of New Jersey.
Khalil Munir ‘74, Chair of the UVM Alumni Association Board of Directors’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Photo by Sally McCay, 2019.
“It was a delight to share conversation via Café con Leche with UVM Latinx students. The dialogue resulted in an exceptional cross-cultural and intergenerational bridge-building experience that I hope was mutually beneficial.”
Khalil Munir ‘74
Café con Leche
In November the UVM Alumni Association and Alianza Latinx hosted the annual Café con Leche, a virtual networking event for students and alumni who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The panel of successful BIPOC UVM alumni discussed career readiness, discovering the right career path, navigating the job search process, and tips for professional networking.
The slate of career-wise alumni included Shaynelle Dormer ‘16, lead teacher at Success Academy Charter School; Ruben Echandy ‘89, vice president of engineering for Medidata Solutions; Persephone Kazl ‘09, vice president and associate media director at MediaHub Global; Khalil Munir ‘74, policy analyst at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; and Maya Thomas ‘11, web GIS specialist for the State of New Jersey.
Khalil Munir ‘74, Chair of the UVM Alumni Association Board of Directors’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Photo by Sally McCay, 2019.
“It was a delight to share conversation via Café con Leche with UVM Latinx students. The dialogue resulted in an exceptional cross-cultural and intergenerational bridge-building experience that I hope was mutually beneficial.”
Khalil Munir ‘74
Watch Café con Leche Event
The Blackboard Jungle
Universities and Colleges are complex, diverse, and multidimensional spaces for teaching, learning, and working. The Blackboard Jungle Symposium (BBJ) is designed for UVM faculty, staff, and all others wanting to participate in critical conversations, construct new and promising inclusive practices, and foster conversational spaces where diversity, equity, and the free exchange of ideas are welcomed, appreciated, and valued. BBJ is a collaborative opportunity to engage in an open, civil exchange of ideas, perspectives, and beliefs that will cultivate greater inclusivity of diverse populations and increase cultural understanding within communities.
UVM Connect can help you build your network, too. Your UVM community awaits.
UVM Connect helped match 26 students participating in the Mosaic Center’s Summer Enrichment Scholars Program with the alumni of color affinity group. See what we have in store for you! Join now at www.uvmconnect.org.
Bringing the Change
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