UGA Mentor Program celebrates 5 years

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The UGA Mentor Program has become a robust connection point between alumni and students.  

The secret to its success, according to Bethany Bagwell (MED ’17, EDD ’22), director of the UGA Mentor Program, is that the program has been innovating and adapting its structure since the very first day. What began as a standard one-to-one 16-week mentoring model — which still exists today — has since evolved to include one-time-only quick chats and a new “Circles of Success” model, which involves one mentor working with a group of two to eight mentees.  

“We wanted to communicate directly with the students and find out what would stop them from participating in a program like this,” Bethany remembers. “What we heard was that the formal interview-type structure can be intimidating, so we wanted to give everyone options that would best fit their needs. 

“It turns out that that type of flexibility really appealed to the mentors as well,” she says.  

In the five years since its inception, the UGA Mentor Program has become a near-ubiquitous sight for students on campus. This popularity, Bethany stresses, is all because of the students and their dedication to sharing their experiences.  

UGA Mentor Program staff pictured with Hairy Dawg.

Bethany Bagwell, Hairy Dawg, Rebecca Hughes and Drew Sanford celebrate the UGA Mentor Program’s fifth birthday at a student event in Tate Student Center.

During her freshman year, Priscilla Bissah ’25 thought she wanted to begin her UGA journey as an intended pre-law major. It wasn’t until she became involved with the UGA Mentor Program and heard from her first mentor about their experience in law school that Priscilla decided to pivot.  

“Participating in the program was really good for me because it made me realize I want to be on a totally different path in my life,” the now-intended pre-medical student says.  

“I definitely want to come back and participate in the program as a mentor once I graduate,” continues Priscilla. “It’s made such a huge difference for me, and I want to be able to pass on that experience to students in the future.” 

College can be a confusing and stressful time for students. For many of them, it is their first time away from home and the world is at their fingertips. With all that opportunity, however, can be an immense pressure to perform at a high level. Mentors can help students navigate those pressures and forge their own paths in a way that can be difficult to find anywhere else. 

“We hear stories of students who were scared or needed help and didn’t know who to turn to and were able to get that support from their mentors in this program,” Bethany says. “That’s what I’m most proud of: the impact that we are able to have on both mentors and mentees.” 

Dr. Joe Bartges (DVM ’87), Bulldog Veterinary Medicine Professor at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, has been a mentor with the program since its beginning in 2019, and he still keeps in touch with those he’s mentored over the years. “The program is really beneficial for both mentees and mentors,” he says. “I’ve learned just as much and maybe even more than the students do from these mentoring relationships.”  

Dr. Bartges has mentored students in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program as well as through the UGA Mentor Program. He believes that the process has kept him more connected to his students. “Mentoring has kept me engaged with where students are at mentally and emotionally more than I would be if I just stood at the front of the classroom and lectured all day long.” 

For faculty like Bartges and Ron Walcott (PHD ’99), vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, the UGA Mentor Program provided a formal structure for the type of work they were already doing with their students.  

For Walcott, it was his experience as a first-generation student at Iowa State University that led him to mentor students through the program. “It wasn’t until I found a mentor who really worked to create a home away from home for me that I felt like I belonged,” he says. “From then on, my experience in college was much more fulfilling.” 

Mentors and mentees gather at a table.

Mentors and mentees gathered for “Bulldogs Connect,” an event facilitated by the UGA Mentor Program and Student Affairs.

Micarjo Benjamin ’26, another mentee and one of 24 UGA Mentor Program Ambassadors, also says that participating in the program helped to overcome anxiety about her future, especially as a first-generation college student. 

“I was really uncertain about a lot of the decisions you have to make about your future,” she says. “Becoming a mentee gave me the opportunity to form a relationship with someone who is well-versed in those decisions and who has made a successful career post-graduation. 

“It helped me to come out of my shell and eventually become an ambassador for the program so that other students can benefit in a similar way,” Micarjo concludes. 

The UGA Mentor Program has had quite the impactful first five years as it celebrates its birthday this year. But participants and staff have their eyes on what the future holds.  

“The goal would be to see every UGA student paired with a mentor at some point throughout their college experience,” says Bethany. “We also want to make sure that we’re staying on top of the most current research and trends in mentorship and adapting those to fit the needs of our students.” 

Are you an alum looking to deepen your connection with UGA and share your knowledge with current students? Consider becoming a mentor today and help provide resources to students for generations to come! 

A good mentor is simple to find

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The UGA Mentor Program offers connection and inspiration to participants in a variety of professional fields, including those who serve or plan to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The ease of finding a mentor with his exact dream job was the first among many pleasant surprises for Cadet Chase Martel ’25 when he first began to use the Mentor Program’s online platform. An ambitious undergraduate in the Terry College of Business, Chase’s expectations were exceeded soon after he first engaged with the program. His professional goal is to become a Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force, and he thought the likelihood of finding a UGA alum in that career who was also a mentor was low. Enter: a “major” surprise. 

“It’s been really impactful to have someone who is working my dream job to offer his perspective and experience by looking back to when he was in my shoes,” Chase describes. “It’s sort of like looking at myself years down the road.” 

Major Kevin Mitchell (AB ’05) joined the Mentor Program thinking that if today’s students were anything like he was, a little extra guidance would be helpful as they navigate college and the job market. When Major Mitchell was a first-generation rural student, there were many times that he had a network of people to help him navigate his career path. In the spirit of a true Bulldog, Major Mitchell decided then to pay it forward to the next generation by serving as a UGA mentor.  

The mentor-mentee pair mainly meets through Zoom calls and emails given Major Mitchell’s station in Hawaii, but they were able to meet face-to-face when Major Mitchell returned to Athens as one of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 honorees in 2023. The duo met up for coffee and a walk around campus. From Candler Hall, where Major Mitchell studied as a student, to Sanford Stadium, where Chase remembered his experience watching the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship his freshman year, the pair discussed their respective memories at UGA. Despite being decades apart in age and experience, the two had similar college experiences.  

Cadet Martel and Major Mitchell used virtual meetings to overcome time and distance.

A benefit for both 

Chase is not the only one who benefited from participation in the mentor program; Major Mitchell did, too.  

“Not only does it allow you to provide advice to someone who is passionate about what you do, but it also allows you the space to reflect on the aspects of your job that really fulfill you,” Major Mitchell says.  

That reflection is invaluable to professionals who may not initially think they have anything to offer the next generation. “It’s inspiring for me to see someone Chase’s age be so excited and thoughtful about the future,” Major Mitchell describes. “It’s a comforting thought to have Chase as an example of how the next generation will navigate the world.” 

“It’s almost like recharging your batteries,” he continues. “It’s energizing to know that what you do matters to people and that the future is in good hands because of it.” 

It should come as no surprise then that the two encourage both potential mentors and mentees to try the program for themselves. Even if a potential mentee has a less-than-clear idea of their dream job, the Mentor Program can help mentees receive a practical perspective that may be difficult to access in a classroom. As for potential mentors, it can provide an inspiring and energizing opportunity for reflection.  

“I couldn’t ask for a better college or post-grad experience than the one I’ve had with UGA,” Major Mitchell says. “Not just with a successful football team and all the joy that entails, but participating in this program and meeting Chase has been a really meaningful way to stay engaged with the university.” 

Whether it’s being a part of Bulldog Nation, or being a part of a greater collective in the armed forces, Major Mitchell and Chase’s experience in UGA’s Mentor Program highlights the importance of connecting with fellow Bulldogs who share your passions and values.

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