Hello! I hope you have been having a wonderful summer and are gearing up for an exciting fall! My name is Samara
Gallagher and I am President of the Women at Rensselaer Mentor Program (WMP) for 2018-2019. On behalf of the entire board, we are so happy to have you joining us. The students here at RPI are really what sets our school apart – we have a collaborative atmosphere and we continually push each other to become the best versions of ourselves. The Women at Rensselaer Mentor Program is a great example of this: our mission is to provide first-year women with both a mentor and a community to help you transition to college! Whether you have academic, social, or professional questions, WMP will help you find your way.
Prior to receiving an email in the summer as you did a month ago (for me, two years ago), I was unaware of WMP!
After I signed up and learned more about the program, I couldn’t wait to make so many meaningful connections just within my first days of stepping foot onto campus at one of WMP’s Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond (NR&B) events. The experiences I had solidified what I expected—so much so that I applied for and held the position of Freshmen Representative that year and now the rest is history!
Mentees: College is a great place to really find yourself. You will take engaging classes and have the opportunity to join an array of clubs. You are also about to meet friends you will have for the rest of your life. Your mentor has been in your place before and is there for you every step of the way—ups, downs, and everything in between! They volunteered for this position and there is no greater resource than someone with both knowledge and experience to help you on this new adventure. Please never hesitate to reach out and ask a question for seek advice.
All mentors and mentees should have received the contact information for their assigned matches. The WMP Board encourages all mentors to reach out to their mentees as soon as possible to start growing the bond! Mentees can expect an email, letter, or phone call, and when one is received, please reply timely to let your mentor know their message successfully reached you. If you run into trouble contacting your mentor/mentee, please reach out to our Mentor/Mentee Relationship Coordinator, Kriti Mishra at mishrk@rpi.edu.
To connect with your mentor as soon as possible, please register to attend one of our Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond receptions! The first reception is on Monday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (light snack included) and the second is Tuesday, August 28 from 12p.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch included). Both events are held in the Banquet Room on the second floor of the Russell Sage Dining Hall. This is a great opportunity to meet not only your mentor, but other first year women and their mentors as well.
These receptions are the first events that WMP holds throughout the year. We hold social events, such as painting on canvases, and professional workshops, such as our fall career fair preparation. Typically, we hold one social event and several Leaders of Tomorrow professional development workshops each month. Social events are opportunities to connect with your mentor, other students, and unwind doing something fun! Professional workshops are structured to prepare both mentees and mentors alike for graduate school and/or professional careers. All WMP events will be promoted on our Facebook page, Snapchat, Instagram, and emails. Registration links will be available in these notifications.
Please fill these out to provide us with an accurate headcount to be prepared for a great event! As a final note, WMP also sends out monthly mentor/mentee tips to suggest ways for you to stay connected as the year progresses. Please feel free to reach out to me at gallas5@rpi.edu with any questions about the program or contacting your mentor/mentee. The WMP Board is looking forward to meeting you and watching your relationships thrive. Have a great summer and I cannot wait to see you in the fall!
All the best,
Samara Gallagher
President of the Women at Rensselaer
Mentor Program 2018-2019
