Over the past several years, I have had the extraordinary good fortune of working with two 'leaders in training.' This experience has been life altering for me in the sense that I have had the opportunity to meet a number of truly wise and talented people whose commitment to the profession, to their own professional development, and to each other is a lesson in humility and dedication. Some value added to becoming an ELP mentor: from these two relationship-building / mentoring experiences, I have made two dear friends for life. Please join the ELP, if not for yourself, then for the future of the Association.

Although this might sound like hyperbole, put simply, this is the most innovative and rewarding program we have put together. You can really make a difference in the lives of new leaders and familiarize them with the guiding principles of NACADA while simultaneously learning from the Emerging Leaders new trends in advising. In my experience, I find the half-hour that I speak with my mentee every Friday morning to be very invigorating. They are the future of the organization.

My experience as an Emerging Leader mentor has been one of the highlights of my career. I have learned as much from my mentee as I hope he has learned from me. We have a supportive relationship that allows us to challenge each other to fulfill our potentials as leaders in, and contributors to, the field of advising. Our relationship will not stop at the end of the two years in the ELP. Instead, we have built a trust and rapport that I treasure and am committed to continuing to nurture for life.

Rewards are for both the mentor and leader; successful leaders have all had “someone” in a formalized program or not encourage and nurture them to achieve the things they have. Set the stage for the next generation of advisors and leaders in our association.

I chose to apply to the Emerging Leaders Program as a Mentor to give back to someone else. I have been fortunate enough to have numerous mentors in my life that have positively impacted my professional development... Mentoring always seems to me to be a fluid experience. As we mentor our students, staff, colleagues, so too do they mentor us. In some instances the differences in experience can be so marked as to ensure that the flow of information and support is in one direction, but I believe that individuals open to the mentoring process will find out that they can learn from their leaders. The act of mentoring causes us to stop and take stock of our own values, the paths we choose, and what we still have to learn.

I knew that I needed to apply to be an ELP Mentor but I hesitated for many years because I didn't know if I could commit the time that was necessary. Now that I am a mentor, I can't believe I waited so long! It has truly been one of the best professional experiences in my career. My mentee  and I talk on a regular basis and have become great friends. I am grateful for having the opportunity to "mentor" her but I have gotten as much out of the experience as she has.

Although I heard past mentors say the same, I was surprised by how much I felt encouraged to grow by witnessing [my mentee's] example. Seeing her drive, enthusiasm, and undaunted courage has been an inspiration for me in many challenging moments both personally and professionally... . I am honored to have had an opportunity to help and support her during the past two years.

When I first signed up to be a mentor, I thought of it as a gift I was giving the association; in reality, I have been the one who has received the benefit... I have gained at least as much as I have given. Each time [my mentee] and I talk, I feel rejuvenated – reminded of why we do what we do.

I came into my ELP role with an expectation of myself as investing in a future leader of a NACADA, reflecting on my own professional development to assist another, and realizing further leadership development. I have experienced so much more. This experience has stretched me to grow as a professional and share my experience and knowledge with another. I have learned a tremendous amount through the perspective of another. I would encourage others to serve as a mentor.

The mentor role provides opportunity for growth in sometimes unexpected ways. Mentoring another professional requires reflecting on your own career and experiences. It is good to have a structured program that provides space for that type of reflection. Another benefit is spending time with a newer professional whose level of enthusiasm and energy is contagious.

A lifelong friendship has begun, and I have increased enthusiasm for both my actual job and within NACADA. I have learned much more from my mentee than she has learned from me, and I can only hope she has enjoyed the experience as much as I have.

I had no idea what to really expect from my ELP involvement. I saw the testimonials and people told me 'you would make a great ELP mentor!' but I did not see myself in that role because I thought mentors in ELP had to be all things to all people. Through intentional and thoughtful interviewing and pre-conference activities and meetings, I realized that I did have a contribution to make. Once we met in person at the annual conference, I understood the process ... This program helped increase my confidence, helped me blossom in my role with NACADA, and provided me with the mechanism of giving back to the organization that has given me so much.

Serving as a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program has probably been my favorite role in all of my NACADA involvements. I see the Emerging Leaders Program as transforming the diversity of NACADA’s leadership by investing in the chosen leaders. What could be better than being part of that?

Having been an Emerging Leader myself, ELP has been a huge part of my professional journey in NACADA, and I am so glad to get to share this part of my path with a new Emerging Leader as well. Being able to give back to the association in this way is important to me, and being paired Leonor has made it seem easy because she has been so prepared and willing to create opportunities but also embrace them.

Perhaps the biggest gift the ELP gives participants is the time and space to talk through NACADA leadership—whether discussing our own leadership paths, increasing the diversity of leaders, or sustaining leadership over time. In my time as a leader and mentor, and since, I have been able to connect—through Zoom, FaceTime, e-mail, Facebook—not only with a cohort of 20 colleagues, but to their colleagues and the entirety of past ELP participants as well. The program’s influence extends long past the graduation days of its Emerging Leaders.

While it is not a surprise given the nature of the NACADA organization, I think the overall vibe within the ELP program is extraordinary. The levels of encouragement and support among members of all ELP classes are evident. Being a part of a group where others are willing and excited to help each other grow and attain goals does not occur often in some campus environments, where political positioning and competitiveness sometimes prevail. The ELP program is especially valuable for those individuals who may not be able to get this type of support and encouragement elsewhere.

This has been an edifying experience for me. I’ve been an advisor and major professor for many graduate students over the years, but the mentorship focus of that experience was different from this. The Emerging Leader I worked with is a polished emerging professional, and I’ve grown from my interactions with him. It has also been great to connect with the other Emerging Leaders and Mentors in our class. I’ve been able to expand my NACADA connections, and that is always a positive.