The Longest Serving Mentor at 32 Years

On What Got Him Into the Albers Mentor Program

I was attracted to the program in the beginning because I was an international banker and was interested to meet people associating within the academic environment of SU. Fun to chat with well-educated and intelligent people.

His Experience as a Mentor

I believe the Mentor Program started in 1990 and I was in the first group initiating it. We didn’t have the orientation and Mentor Fair at that time. The person who managed the program appointed the students to various mentors without any particular agenda. The group pretty much determined the subject matter for discussion on our own. I left the program in 2022 which is a period of 32 years, with many changes and improvements along the way.

After the first few years, I was very thrilled to learn the diversity and international background of my mentees who came to SU for education from all over the country and many other countries as well. I just loved to hear about their interests, dreams, and challenges.

Every time a question came up that I didn’t have the immediate answer, I knew I was up to a challenge, and it was an opportunity to look for the appropriate responses. I had no down time, except a few of the students withdrew from the program before it started or after the first meeting. In return, I also had quite a few occasions that they brought in their spouses and friends to join the discussion. My high point was to have a reunion meeting with some of them again in a new environment after graduation that might even be in a foreign country.

I must say, with the normal introductory first meeting, none of the students were the same as the others. That was my motive to renew my commitment year after year with the refreshed excitement. After all the years, some of the mentees remain friends and we keep in contact.

Advice He'd Give Anyone Considering Being a Mentor

I believe in “those who teach, learn the most”. Being a mentor is a true lifetime experience that changes our lives positively. For anyone who wants to grow and to enrich their lives, being a mentor is one of the best ways to achieve it.