CAFNR connecting students with alumni, mentors
By Alice Roach

The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources’ Career Services office recently launched the CAFNR Connections Program. The program makes alumni and friends of the college available to students to provide information about careers, college courses and to give advice.
The program idea originated last spring and then began to form as the MU Ag Alumni Board agreed to sponsor it. The project operates as a partnership between the MU Ag Alumni Association and CAFNR Career Services. Stephanie Chipman, Director of CAFNR Career Services, sees the program as a benefit to students as they start charting a career path and seeking mentors to help them achieve along that path.

“Students have access to first-hand information, develop and refine networking skills and begin building a professional network,” Chipman said.

Currently, students have access to 84 mentors who are either friends of the college or alumni. Students are not matched up with a particular mentor, but they can instead peruse through the mentor database and contact mentors they believe will help them most. Students must be accepted users of the CAFNR Career Services system to access the mentor database.

For students, the program provides an advantage to get to know people in their desired professions and practice skills that will help them stand out as graduates.

Senior agricultural economics student, Sarah Henderson, has utilized and benefited from the mentor database already. She will be graduating in December and would like to pursue a career in finance. Henderson met graduate Jaime Steiner through the CAFNR Connections Program. Steiner, a 2004 agribusiness management graduate, now working with Central Bancompany, has answered questions for Henderson about the banking and finance career.

“We emailed back and forth and went and had lunch last Thursday,” Henderson said. “She showed me what she does and around the bank. She brought me to the Human Resources Department, and I filled out an application for a job. She made me feel comfortable—I would have otherwise put it off without her help.”

Henderson also learned about networking through her mentor experience with Steiner.

“I learned how important it is to initiate conversation,” Henderson said. “Because I emailed her, there is a potential for a job. If it works out, this is a fabulous opportunity for me.”

Chipman has seen a strong response from alumni and friends willing to help students as a part of the CAFNR Connections Program.

“CAFNR alums are terrifically supportive,” Chipman said. “Alums are friendly and helpful. Students don’t need to be afraid of using this resource.”

Chipman also sees the program as having benefits for alumni and friends who have chosen to be mentors.

“It is a great opportunity to stay connected with the college,” Chipman said. “It’s fun to know about what is going on, how it has changed and how it is the same.”

Luke Burbank, director of member services at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, graduated from CAFNR with a degree in agricultural education in 2002. He became a mentor in the CAFNR Connections Program to share his experiences with students.

“It was a way to help answer some questions I know I had as an undergraduate,” Burbank said. “It is the chance to answer questions with students and be there for students like some of my mentors were there for me.”

Burbank recognizes that students who become involved in the program will have an opportunity to network with professionals and mold to that experience.

“I think the biggest part is the chance to network with people in the industry,” Burbank said. “It allows students to meet and talk to people who could be offering them a job someday.”

Ginger Berry, a 2004 agricultural journalism graduate, wanted to become involved in the mentoring program to give back to her college. She now works for Missouri Ag Industries Council, Inc. in public relations.

“I so enjoy CAFNR and I wanted to give back to CAFNR and its students,” Berry said. “If I were a student, I would want to talk to someone in the working world and get advice.”

As a mentor, Berry would like to help facilitate students’ networking skills and be a person students can talk to about a variety of subjects.

“I hope to provide insight as to the importance of networking in pursuit of a job and provide them with a person to contact in the business world to look over resumes, do a mock interview or to help with a college situation,” Berry said.

In addition to having mentors available to talk to and coach students, the CAFNR Connections Program has some other events related to the program planned throughout the year. The program kick-off , “Mocktails with Mentors” will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, in 134 Eckles Hall. There are also plans to incorporate mentors in with the annual Career Services Etiquette Dinner and the John E. Brown Scholars Program.

Overall, the program provides CAFNR students with graduates from the college who can offer first-hand background information about the industries students are interested in entering.

“It is a testament to the fact that CAFNR is unique in offering and working with students as individuals and maintaining relationships with alumni,” Chipman said. “Ultimately, it will have an effect on graduates as an advantage over others who haven’t networked.”

Chipman is pleased with the progress the program has made in its early stages and the commitment students and mentors have put forth to utilize it. She does have visions for the future of the program too as more mentors and students become involved.

“I want to see a significant number of students interact with alumni,” Chipman said. “The possibilities are endless.”

To register for the Career Services system, visit www.myinterfase.com/mucafnr/student. From that site, students can directly find contact information for all mentors who are in the system.

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