A closing ceremony at the Bridge Café on May 19 celebrated the completion of the 2025–26 Mentoring Matters cohort with plenty of fanfare—and a little bit of magic.

During the final afternoon gathering for more than 40 participants, mentors and mentees heard from School of Public Affairs adjunct professor Andrew Bennett, a practicing magician and leadership and organization culture consultant. 

But the success of the yearlong Office of Human Resources experience comes without tricks or sorcery. 

Mentoring Matters pairs staff members from across campus and at varying career stages for monthly, hour-long meetings. These sessions create enriching professional experiences, helping colleagues on both ends of the partnership expand their networks and grow their skills. 

“Mentoring Matters creates space for AU colleagues to build meaningful relationships while taking ownership of their career growth,” said HR training coordinator Maggie Dunlap. “Our goal was to help mentors and mentees consider not just the next step in their career journey, but the full range of possibilities that can emerge when they lead with curiosity, courage, and connection.”

Mentee Bronwyn Warnock, pre-award administration coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the opportunity to build a relationship with her mentor—Tashina Giraud, director of international partnership and strategic initiatives—“was empowering and uplifting.”  

“My mentor helped me navigate my career path, elevated my confidence about my career development, and pushed me to uncover what excites me and challenges me professionally and personally,” Warnock said. “In addition, the program fostered a cohort community with opportunities to meet and engage with AU community members and guest speakers invested in professional growth and reflection.” 

Studies show that mentorship provides key benefits that resonate decades after a connection is made. According to data from National Mentoring Day, 87 percent of mentors and mentees feel empowered by the relationship, reporting greater confidence and career satisfaction. Additionally, 89 percent of those who have been mentored eventually pay it forward by mentoring others. 

That natural progression rings true for Sola Adeleye, manager of the School of International Service’s Department of Global Inquiry. After participating as a mentee in Mentoring Matters in 2022, she has since served as a mentor twice. This year, she met regularly with Liz Kan, operations manager for the Investigative Reporting Workshop. 

“This program has been invaluable, as it has allowed me to utilize the positive experiences I gained as a mentee to support other staff in their personal and professional development as a mentor,” Adeleye said. “Being part of this program has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to connect with and support colleagues—both mentees and fellow mentors—across campus.”