Posted on August 19, 2025 by Wendy Frost
Created to foster meaningful connections between students, alumni and friends of the college, the Carlos Alvarez Mentoring Program launched last year with 40 student/mentor pairings.
Marissa Scheffler and her mentee
“Our mentees this past year really valued the relationships they created, the space to ask questions and the opportunity to get feedback from someone who was there specifically to guide them,” said Sara Gothelf, assistant director of alumni engagement in the college. “Through this program we’ve unlocked a new way for our alumni to interact with our students and remain connected to the college.”
Mentees included representatives from 13 academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Mentors were predominantly alumni (70%) and included individuals in San Antonio as well as those who lived out of state.
“I think I learned more than my mentee did,” said Marissa Scheffler, ’07, vice president of human resources at Generations Federal Credit Union. "I’m in human resources, and she was in marketing, but we had a lot in common. I wish we had this program when I was a student.”
The mentoring program runs through the academic year and requires monthly in-person or virtual meetings. Mentors coach the students, provide career insights and give constructive feedback to help students prepare for internships or entry into the workforce.
“I really love this program,” said Juanilu Aguilar, a senior majoring in finance. “My mentor and I have a great bond. She is a first-gen Mexican American like me. She gave me good advice about the financial world. After talking with her, I want to go into the wealth management side of financial advising.”
“This experience has been fulfilling as well as fun,” said Josh Amparan, ’07, financial advisor with Eagle Strategies LLC. “As a mentor I can help my mentee understand how the real world works and give him some perspective into the workforce. I feel fortunate that I had a mentee that’s very ambitious and has some lofty goals. Being able to help people with at least one aspect of their life is rewarding.”
The college is looking for both firsttime as well as seasoned mentors to connect with business students as part of the program. “We are lucky to have experienced mentors, but I also consider us lucky to have new ones too,” said Gothelf. “Knowing they are trusting us with their first mentorship experience means a lot and we want mentors to feel equipped to handle any situation that may arise. We want
everyone to have a good experience
— Wendy Frost
Learn more about the Alvarez Mentorship Program.
