In an op-ed published this week in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Alfred University President Mark Zupan discusses mentorship and the important role it plays in the success of higher education institutions.
Zupan’s piece—titled “Never underestimate the importance of mentors”—appeared in the Monday, April 27, issue of the Democrat and Chronicle.
“In college, mentors are also critical to ensuring that students identify and successfully traverse the most promising educational pathways,” Zupan writes. “Mentors guide students through the process of identifying and pursuing meaningful academic and co-curricular choices and – importantly – help them stay on the path when challenges arise.”
Zupan notes that students at smaller institutions, like Alfred, are more likely to have access to faculty mentors.
“The aspect of a smaller school like mine that I am proudest of is that when we ask alums what they treasure the most, they note that someone took an interest in them, became a mentor and changed their life’s trajectory for the better,” he writes. “Typically, this is a faculty member, but sometimes a coach, a staff member, or a fellow student serves in this role. Moreover, the extent to which Alfred alums mention pivotal mentors exceeds, by far, the responses that I received from alums at prior institutions that I have had the privilege of serving.”