Author: Olivia Prioleau

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Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning

National Mentoring Month – January 2025

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? Peer mentorship is a valuable high-impact practice that fosters personal and academic growth in college students by creating connections, a sense of belonging, and providing the guidance they need to be successful. The Mustang Mentors Peer Mentoring program, launched by The Office of Engaged Learning, is bringing peer-mentorship to life.

National Mentoring Month was created in 2002 by MENTOR and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to “amplify, encourage, and strengthen mentorship for young people.”

The goals of National Mentoring Month are to:

  • Raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms.
  • Recruit individuals to mentor, especially in programs that have waiting lists of young people
  • Promote the rapid growth of mentoring by recruiting organizations to engage their constituents in mentoring

The Mustang Mentors program has an exciting semester ahead with cohort events and recruitment for the upcoming academic year.

Do you know a student who is looking for community or an opportunity to build their leadership skills? Encourage them to sign up to gain a mentor or become a mentor by visiting the Mustang Mentors website.

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Student Academic Engagement & Success

Big iDeas Marketplace!

The Office of Engaged Learning invites all SMU-affiliated entrepreneurs to sell their products, demo their apps, share brochures, etc., at the Big iDeas Marketplace on Friday, February 14th, from 10am-1pm.

If you have a business, no matter the size, and want to participate, please apply to have a table at the Big iDeas Marketplace. This application is open to all SMU faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Winners of the Big iDeas Business Plan Competition will also be announced at the Marketplace. The Competition is open to all SMU undergrads. Apply here.

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Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

An Unexpected Friendship: Walker and Bianey’s Journey with Mustang Mentors

Sometimes the connection you need is one you don’t go searching for – just ask SMU transfer students Walker Homan and Bianey Rojas. As members of the inaugural Mustang Mentors Peer Mentoring cohort, they’ve found in each other not only a peer mentor and mentee, but also a friend who has enriched their college experience.  

Walker, the peer mentor, and Bianey, the mentee, were first paired together in September 2024 through the Mustang Mentors’ matching survey, which pairs mentors and mentees together based on shared academic interests, hobbies, and backgrounds. Both transfer students majoring in Economics, Walker with a Math minor and Bianey with a double minor in Business and Spanish, the pair quickly found commonality in their academic experiences and transition to SMU. However, it is the different perspectives they each share with each other that makes their mentorship truly unique.  

Reflecting on her academic experiences, Bianey recalled how close-minded she felt towards math as a subject until she met Walker. “Walker will just do math for fun! Being mentored by him has shifted my mindset about math and he always encourages me to not give up in my classes,” says Bianey.  

Meanwhile Walker, who initially felt unqualified to be a mentor, says, “with it being only my second semester at SMU, mentorship to Bianey has given me another way to define myself. In the context of SMU, it’s given me another SMU identity. Yeah, I’m an Econ student, and I do undergraduate research, but I’m also a Mustang Mentor.”  

Bianey also describes how Mustang Mentors has deepened her sense of belonging at SMU. “I love SMU, but I thought being a transfer and commuter student would really make it different for me. Being a commuter, I just would come to campus just for class and then go back home, but through this mentorship program and the events, it has given me a reason to stay and meet other people in the program,” says Bianey.  

The two agreed that there is no way they would’ve met if not for Mustang Mentors. “This program connects you to people you otherwise wouldn’t have met. If you can be a peer mentor in Mustang Mentors, just do it. Especially if you’re a transfer student, it’s just nice to have one more friendly face on campus,” says Walker.  

The Mustang Mentors program goes beyond academics. Through shared insights and consistent encouragement, peer mentoring empowers students like Walker and Bianey to make the most of their SMU journey.  To learn more about Mustang Mentors, visit our website at smu.edu/mustangmentors.

 

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship

Spotlight on Big iDeas Alum Josh Baier: Founder of TIMIO News LLC

We are excited to highlight the entrepreneurial journey of SMU alum Josh Baier (’24), founder of TIMIO News LLC.

TIMIO News, set to fully launch soon, is an innovative platform designed to provide users an unbiased news feed using GenAI to analyze news articles from across the web. Baier’s journey began while he was a student in the SMU Big iDeas program, where he developed foundational components of his business and honed his skills in innovation and leadership.

As an SMU student, Baier found the Big iDeas program instrumental in shaping his path, providing resources and capital that fueled his entrepreneurial drive. Now, with a team that includes other SMU Students (Abbie Ellermeier, Isabella Fleet, Justus Woods), TIMIO is inspiring other team members to take part in Big iDeas – including Big iDeas Pitch Contest winner, Isabella Fleet.

The Office of Engaged Learning recently sat down with Josh for an interview to discuss more about his vision for TIMIO and his insights on building a successful startup while being a collegiate entrepreneur. To hear more about Baier’s story and the upcoming launch of TIMIO, watch the full interview here.

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Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Celebrating the Inaugural Mustang Mentors Cohort Lunch

The Mustang Mentors peer-mentoring program, through the Office of Engaged Learning, had its first-ever cohort lunch, bringing together new mentors and mentees from across campus. The lunch served as an opportunity for mentors and mentees to build relationships with their peers in the program.

The inaugural cohort currently has 41 match pairs that represent a diverse range of academic disciplines, career interests, and involvements in extracurricular activities. The mentors, comprised of upperclassmen students who have been successful on the Hilltop, meet with their mentees at least once a month for goal setting in their collegiate career and to further peer-to-peer connection.

The Mustang Mentors Program is an essential, university wide retention tool for students at SMU who do not belong to an academic community or a larger group of affiliation. You can be a part of this campus wide effort as a faculty/staff member by nominating a student to serve as a mentor or be a mentee with this form. 

More updates to come as the Mustang Mentors program progresses, showcasing the stories of mentors and mentees who are making connections at SMU.

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success

Interview with 2024-25 Big iDeas Entrepreneurship Fellow, Neha Husein

Neha Husein graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2019 with degrees in Human Rights and Marketing. Driven by a strong commitment to social impact, she founded Just Drive, a startup focused on reducing distracted driving accidents. Today, Neha is the Senior Event Producer for Vegandale, an international festival that celebrates vegan food, music, and art. In addition to her professional achievements, Neha is passionate about mentoring and supporting collegiate entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing their own ventures. 

Tell us a little bit about your professional journey since graduating from SMU.  

“Right after I graduated, I worked full time with my start up Just Drive. It was a steep learning experience going from college to learning how to navigate working as a full-time professional. Ultimately, the covid pandemic hit and I had to pivot my business which very much served small businesses. I was then approached by another startup, ZSTACH, and their mission very much aligned with my environmental goals and passions. This was very cool starting another app from scratch. I learned how much my skills developed from when I was running my own startup and how my skills can transfer into other jobs and other industries.” 

In what ways do you think your entrepreneurship experience can enhance the E-Launch workshops for students this year? Any skills you have that stand out?

“My entrepreneurship experience allows me to provide practical, real-world insights into the startup journey, from ideation to execution. My ability to relate with and mentor students on a personal level can create a supportive and inspiring environment for them.”

What makes you most excited about being the E-Fellow at this point in your career?

“Being an E-Fellow at this point in my career excites me because it combines my passion for entrepreneurship with my desire to give back to the community that shaped me. I am thrilled to be in a position where I can challenge and support young entrepreneurs, helping them turn their ideas into viable businesses. This role allows me to leverage my experience and network to create meaningful impact and foster a culture of innovation and creativity at SMU.”

Besides being an SMU and Big iDeas alum, what makes coming back “home” to SMU so special this time around?

“Coming back to SMU is special because it feels like a full-circle moment. SMU and the Big iDeas program played a significant role in my personal and professional development, providing me with the foundation and support to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. Returning as the E-Fellow allows me to contribute to the same ecosystem that nurtured me and to help shape the future of entrepreneurship at SMU. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with mentors, peers, and the vibrant community that has always felt like home.”

Why should an SMU student build their entrepreneurship base for their business idea while in college? What are the benefits to starting in that season of life?

“Building an entrepreneurship base while in college provides several benefits. College students have access to a wealth of resources, including mentorship, funding opportunities, and a supportive community of like-minded peers. Starting a business in college allows students to experiment and take risks in a relatively low-stakes environment. They can leverage their academic knowledge, gain practical experience, and develop a strong network that can support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, the skills and experiences gained from starting a business in college can be invaluable, regardless of whether the venture succeeds or fails, as they prepare students for future professional challenges.”

Neha will also be a panelist at the next Big iDeas Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday, October 1st, discussing “How to Build Your Brand.” To learn more information and register, visit SMU 360. 

 

 

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Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Exciting Summer Updates: Launching the Mustang Mentors Peer-Mentoring Program

logo of SMU Mustang Mentors program

We are thrilled to share exciting updates about the new Mustang Mentors peer-mentoring program. Set to fully launch this fall, the program has made significant strides in recruiting both mentors and mentees over the summer. Thanks to the assistance from our dedicated partners and technology platform Mentor Collective, along with our invaluable campus colleagues, we are well on our way to creating a vibrant and supportive mentoring network for our students.

Since the launch of our summer recruitment plan, we have seen our mentor registration increase from 39 to 67 students! We’ve witnessed an enthusiastic response from mentors eager to share their knowledge and experiences, as well as from first-year students looking for guidance and a sense of belonging at SMU.

We are also pleased to report an increase in our mentee registration from 18 to 27 first-year students. This is a good start, and we look forward to engaging more first-year students at Family Fest during STAMPEDE. As part of your continued support, please direct students not affiliated with a group (e.g., scholars, Greek) to our table to sign up.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to this initiative with a special thank you to our partners in Student Affairs, Transfer Advising, First-Generation, and RLSH. Your support has been vital to building such positive momentum with this new initiative.

We look forward to sharing more updates as we move forward. If you would like to learn more please visit our website at smu.edu/mustangmentors for more information.

Pony Up!

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of Engaged Learning welcomes Neha Husein as Entrepreneurship Fellow

We are thrilled to welcome Neha Husein as the 2024-2025 Entrepreneurship Fellow in the Office of Engaged Learning. Neha’s journey as a Big iDeas alumna to successful entrepreneur and mentor embodies the spirit of innovation and social impact that we strive to cultivate in our community. 

Neha graduated from SMU in 2019 with degrees in Human Rights and Marketing. Her academic background laid the foundation for her commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Recognizing the growing issue of distracted driving after being rear-ended by a distracted driver, Neha channeled her passion for social entrepreneurship into creating Just Drive, an app dedicated to rewarding undistracted drivers with coupons good for local businesses.  

Today, Neha serves as the Senior Event Producer for Vegandale, an international festival that celebrates vegan food, music, and art. In addition to her professional achievements, Neha is deeply passionate about mentoring and supporting collegiate entrepreneurs. As a former student herself, she understands the unique challenges that come with starting and growing a venture in college and is dedicated to helping students navigate these hurdles. Neha’s mentorship provides invaluable guidance, inspiration, and practical advice, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. 

As the new Entrepreneurship Fellow, Neha will play a pivotal role in enhancing our programs and initiatives aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and increasing women entrepreneurs. We believe that her experience and insights will undoubtedly inspire and encourage more women to develop their entrepreneurial skills. 

We are excited to have Neha Husein join the Office of Engaged Learning team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our Big iDeas community. Please join us in welcoming Neha!  

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Pathways to Industry Student Academic Engagement & Success

Big iDeas Spotlight: Ryder McNeal

Ryder McNeal presenting in front of a slide with business name PREVO

The invitation for Ryder McNeal ‘24, to dream big was prompted four years ago by a simple yard sign on Dallas Lawn for the Big iDeas Pitch Competition. This moment clearly made an impression, too, because McNeal, stayed intrigued about Big iDeas throughout his journey at SMU.  However, it wasn’t until the fall of his senior year that McNeal decided to pitch an idea at the intersection of film, marketing, business and entrepreneurship.  And a good idea it was, for his company, PREVO, was the top winner of the Big iDeas Business Plan Competition this past February!   

PREVO, McNeal’s exciting new company, is a streaming platform dedicated to showing a curated catalogue of independent or student-made films, from film-makers across the country. After Big iDeas awarded prize money to McNeal, he dove deeper into his business through the Big iDeas E-Launch.  

E-Launch is a robust training series powered by the Office of Engaged Learning that offers workshops and guest speakers to develop student businesses. This past year it was led by Entrepreneurship Fellow Michael Kelly (Founder, Resolute Future) and the Big iDeas team. McNeal said that E-Launch was “truly the catalyst in helping him flesh out {his} ideas and gain the feedback that was needed in order for PREVO to be successful.”  

Since the pitch competition last fall, PREVO has found collaborations across SMU’s campus. Roseanne Hart, an adjunct professor in both the Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, and the Division of Journalism’s Fashion Media program, asked McNeal if PREVO could be the focal point a public relations class this Spring. Hart’s PR students are tasked with creating a launch and marketing plan for PREVO and will present their plans to McNeal at the end of the semester. “I’m really excited that PREVO could be used for students in an academic space, but also that I can be encouraged by the launch plans they come up with. Hopefully, it can really help frame how I launch PREVO this summer,” said McNeal. 

PREVO is set to fully launch in mid-July of 2024, on the date of McNeal’s birthday. As McNeal is concluding his final semester on the Hilltop, he has shifted many of his larger efforts towards the marketing for PREVO. He is reaching out to film faculty members and film festivals across the country, hoping to generate excitement within film schools and cities that celebrate independent films regularly. In addition to marketing, McNeal is working on getting a student ambassador for PREVO. 

For a while, independent films were all that McNeal could take on with the resources that he had, but creating PREVO has deepened his appreciation for small-scale films as a whole. 

All of these efforts “were made possible to me through receiving Big iDeas funding. The financial support helped be build out the steps I needed to take to be prepared to launch this summer and I am extremely grateful,” said McNeal. And for the student who may need some encouragement for starting their business or sees a simple yard sign on Dallas Lawn, McNeal says, “get involved with the things you love! Get involved as much as you possibly can because there are so many ways to do a lot with a little, especially while you’re in college.” 

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Summer Research Symposium: Panel on Resilience

SRI Resilience panel

The Summer Research Intensive wrapped up its final session of its Summer Research Symposium last week. 

The undergraduate researchers were able to hear from a faculty panel as they discussed the navigation of their careers, life advice, and ways to be resilient in challenging times. 

Dr. Lynne Stokes, Professor of Statistical Science, encouraged the students as they think towards their post-undergraduate career to not think “that [they] picked the wrong opportunity, or picked the wrong thing. Don’t feel like you’re looking for the one thing to make you happy. There are a lot of interesting jobs out there.” 

When the panel discussed how students can bounce back from failure in a research project or graduate experience, Dr. David Son, Professor in the Department of Chemistry, affirmed the students to not “take failure or rejection personally. Be persistent and don’t take the failure personal to your character. If you don’t want to fail, don’t try.”

Dr. Sarah Kucker, Professor in the Psychology Department, added to the resiliency conversation by talking about what to look for in a graduate school or industry position. “Fit is really important. Highlight the different qualities that you have and can bring to an experience,” she stated.

Dr. Crystal Clayton, Executive Director of the Hegi Family Career Development Center, concluded the discussion and reminded the students that in their careers they “will get out what [they] put into it. If you put a lot into the experience, you will have a very rich experience. If you take the time to do something, go full on.” 

The panel discussion and Q&A was a great way for the undergraduate researchers to receive some last moments of insight and advice as they finished out the SRI.