Alumni Mentors Make a Difference

For more than 20 years, the Alumni Mentor Program has paired students with alumni who share guidance and encouragement while also gaining fresh perspectives in return. As an alumni mentor you have an opportunity to build and sustain meaningful relationships, have an impact by sharing your professional and personal experience, and help prepare them for success in their UCLA journey and beyond. It doesn’t have to take too much of your time, especially with the array of virtual tools at your fingertips. The benefits of mentorship are symbiotic — helping students reach their goals, and finding purpose and friendship along the way. These former students and alumni mentors expressed how much their participation in the program has benefitted them, how much they’ve learned, and how gratifying it was for alumni to help students navigate this exciting and complex time in their lives.

These former students and alumni mentors expressed how much their participation in the program have benefitted them, how much they’ve learned, and how gratifying it was for alumni to help students navigate this exciting and complex time in their lives.

Mentees

Kareena Prasad, neuroscience major, mentored by Raunika Anand, M.S. ’24:

“Raunikais the best mentor I’ve ever had. Before I met her, I was full of self doubt. I have huge dreams and aspirations, but I always had a lingering doubt in the back of my mind that I could not achieve my goals. That feeling went away when I met Raunika. She has shown me that I can do whatever it is I set my mind to. The way that she listens intently to me and remembers things even I have forgotten I’ve told her allows her to specifically tailor advice and words of encouragement towards me.”

Joy Wu, communication major, mentored by Tiffany Chao ’11:

“Unlike the typical résumé edits or interview prep, the very first thing Tiffany guided me through was a process she calls vision setting. Together, we explored my interests, inspirations, goals, dream job descriptions, favorite creative activities, and even what I love most about UCLA and being a student. She remembered every detail and used those insights to help me make decisions aligned with who I truly am — not just what would look good on paper.”

Paola Enriquez, public health major, mentored by Adrian Gonzales ’94:

“What makes Adrian’s mentorship so meaningful is his genuine care and commitment. In every meeting, he not only asked about academics but also about my well-being, reminding me that thriving in college means balancing both. When I faced challenges in developing a research proposal, he patiently guided me through the process, offering constructive feedback that helped me find clarity and confidence in my ideas. His advice didn’t stop at research — he shared insights on navigating transfer life, staying grounded in my goals and owning my identity in academic spaces.”

Mentors

Alexander Ramirez ’14, mentor of Meagan Clarke, computer science major:

“What I appreciated most was Meagan’s natural ability to provide recognition. She regularly offered specific feedback about which aspects of our conversations were most beneficial, creating a feedback loop that enhanced our mentor-mentee relationship. Her expressions of appreciation weren’t merely polite acknowledgments but thoughtful reflections that made me feel valued as a mentor and motivated me to continue investing in her development.”

Stevie Rhim, FEMBA ’19, mentor of Yixue (Elsie) Chen, graduate student in quantitative economics:

“From the beginning of our mentorship, Elsie approached each conversation with preparation and purpose. She not only absorbed guidance quickly but also translated insights into actionable results. Elsie exemplifies the core values of the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program. She brings enthusiasm, initiative and meaningful collaboration to every interaction. Her presence has benefited both my own professional work and the broader UCLA community. I am confident that she will become a future leader in the field of technology and data science.”

Charlyn Ortal ’04, mentor of Lian Pham, public health major:

“Lian has informed me of public health issues that had never been on my radar before, and she certainly gives me hope for the future of the field. I have learned so much from her. The amount of maturity, poise, drive, thoughtfulness, organization, enthusiasm and forward-thinking that Lian has shown me is frankly impressive. Every time we meet, she is excited to tell me about another research opportunity, another course that inspired her or how she has achieved a leadership role. Getting to know Lian this past academic year has truly been a pleasure and a privilege. I have no doubt in my mind that she will graduate and do astounding things, with her time as a Bruin as a guide.”

Whether you connect virtually or in person, you can make a meaningful difference in a UCLA student’s academic and career journey.

To become an alumni mentor, follow the instructions on our website to register.

For questions, please contact alumnimentor@alumni.ucla.edu.

Read more about what mentors have meant to students — and how students have impressed and inspired their mentors.