What does it mean to be a Mentor?

Mentors are Mizzou alumni and friends who are willing to provide advice, based on their own experience, to current Mizzou students.

Keys to success as a mentor:

Communicator

• Encourage two-way communication and schedule uninterrupted time.
  
• Act as a sounding board.
  
• Maintain confidentiality and establish an environment for open interaction.
  
• Provide non-judgmental, sincere and straightforward feedback.
  

Advisor

• Serve as a role model to demonstrate professional behavior.
  
• Recommend appropriate strategies for personal and professional development.
  
• Provide support and understanding for the mentee's experiences.
  
• Challenge the mentee's ideas and assumptions to help the mentee grow personally and professionally.
  
• Help the mentee create a vision and perspective of oneself and future career path.
  

Advocate

• Assist the mentee in making new connections.
  
• When appropriate, may take on the role of a "sponsor" and help the mentee pursue specific opportunities.