Skip to main content

Student Network Groups Provide New Students a ‘Connecting Place’

The evening program, which recognized the achievements of those who have made a contribution toward women’s equity at NC State University, was one of a wide range of formal and informal cultural and social events that new students in the College of Management are encouraged to attend.

Beyond socializing and recreation, these activities are intended to help the students develop a network of individuals from similar backgrounds as they begin to settle into the NC State community and the College of Management itself.

Yau learned of the dinner through the Women’s Social Network Group, one of a number of Student Network Groups (SNGs) that are part of the college’s new Professionalism, Diversity & Academic Success in Management class for freshmen and transfer students.

“The SNGs provide three levels of support that are enabling our incoming students to begin creating their own networks,” said Dr. Shannon Davis, assistant dean for the College of Management’s Office of Undergraduate Programs. “Through the conversations that take place in the SNGs, the students learn from each other and their peer mentors as they begin to share experiences as college students. The professional mentors bring the corporate, real world perspective into the conversation,” she said.

Yau had self-selected into the Women’s SNG when she began her studies at the college as a January 2010 transfer student from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. Yau had married and moved to Raleigh with her husband, and is now continuing to work toward her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. She also is enrolled in a foods program at Wake Technical Communication College in Raleigh, and aspires to go into business in the restaurant industry.

Villwock attended the Sisterhood Dinner as an SNG Peer Mentor, one of a team of students working with mentors from the corporate community who are volunteering their time to help with the Student Network Groups.

The SNGs evolved from a student team assignment in an undergraduate business writing class – to develop a proposal addressing a ‘real university need.’ They now are part of the college’s concerted effort to help incoming students get off to a strong start in their collegiate experience.

The student team proposed adapting the affinity groups model used in corporate settings to the academic environment. Piloted in fall 2009, the course, which previously had been a more traditional college introductory course, now also meets the university’s U.S. diversity education requirement.

“The SNGs were developed to enable new students to know they have ‘a home and a place’ on campus,” said James E. Crawford, a senior in the college majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance and entrepreneurship and a minor in accounting.

Crawford was one of the team of students who wrote the proposal about adapting the corporate affinity groups to the campus. Also on the team in the Communication for Business and Management class were Kendall E. Bynum, Deidra S. Montgomery, and Barrett L. Slade. In their paper, they wrote about how different networking groups in professional workplaces could be models for groups that promote diversity and inclusiveness in the academic world.

Davis and her undergraduate student services staff incorporated the SNGs concept into the college’s new Professionalism, Diversity & Academic Success in Management class for incoming students. “It’s a logical fit,” Davis said.

“Professionalism includes developing an understanding and appreciation of diversity, including the ability to work effectively within an increasingly diverse workplace,” she said. “Diversity and inclusiveness are a major theme in this course, and the SNGs are the focus of this effort.” Their purpose is to:

  • foster a sense of community, belonging and connection within the larger university
  • build an awareness of diversity and inclusivity among students
  • provide access to professional and student role models, and
  • provide students opportunities to develop networking skills.

Freshmen and transfer students self-select into the SNG of their choice early in the semester, and are encouraged to meet or communicate with their professional and peer mentors periodically. They also are encouraged to participate in events that help them learn about other cultures.

The International Student Network Group attended a dinner organized by the group’s mentors, with assistance from one of the members. The Women’s SNG’s professional mentor is arranging an event for her students. The Asian/Pacific Islander SNG had an informal gathering over lunch. The African American SNG met for lunch, talking about ways to get involved on campus, their various academic majors, and traveling abroad, said Dr. Lauren Brown, co-instructor for the professionalism class along with co-instructor Melody Smith Young. Both are part of the Office of Undergraduate Program’s professional student advising team.

Jamell Culler, a second semester freshman, said, “The SNGs gave me the opportunity, as a first-semester freshman, to network with real professionals. Having met these professionals served as motivation to perform well in the classroom, because I realized that I could be doing great things like they were, and the foundation to doing that is education.” Culler said he is considering signing on as a peer mentor in fall 2010, “because I see how valuable this opportunity is. It’s a brilliant idea and I am constantly meeting new people through my peer and professional network.”

Following are the eight SNGs that were created for the spring 2010 semester, along with their professional and student mentors.

  • African American: Lauren Scott, human resources lead, GT, professional mentor; Jalisha Ferebee, James Robinson, Tiffany Lewis, student mentors
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: Joy Tongsri, assistant director of the Park Scholars Program at NC State, and Vicki Burrows, director of special events and alumni relations in the College of Management, professional mentors; Joanne Wong and Kayla Villwock, student mentors
  • Commuters: Tracy Hall, Credit Suisse; Elliott Tomlinson and Lauren Ginsberg, student mentors
  • International: Tracey Jenkins, and Jane Mehringer, Credit Suisse; Catherine Pirzadeh, Jacqueline Ritchie and Paula Sujkowski, student mentors
  • Men’s: Peyton Holland, student in the college’s Master of Global Innovation Management program and a motivational speaker, and John Ragna, consultant, professional mentors; Christian Goodwin, Joe Rozsa and Alex Hale, student mentors.
  • Military: Darrell Kain, a career coach, professional mentor; Melissa Fosbury and Monisha Ragsdale, student mentors
  • Out-of-State: Stephanie Skaff, a college alumna, and Phil Liuzzo, student mentor
  • Women’s: Marirose Steigerwald, with Elinvar, and Sheri Schwab, assistant dean for personnel in NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Gail Jackson, Anna Smith and Logan Geddie, student mentors.

Several of the professional mentors are alumni of the college: Tracy Hall, Peyton Holland and Stephanie Skaff. “We appreciate the support of all our professional and student peer mentors whose involvement is helping to make this program a success. We are especially pleased to see our alumni – especially our young alumni – coming back to support their alma mater in this way,” Davis said.

Photos

Left to right: Yau Yau, Dr. Shannon Davis, Kayla Villwock, Jamell Culler, James E. Crawford

Dig Deeper

Shannon Davis Among Nominees for 2010 Equity for Women Award