Whether they're sending an encouraging email or providing a crucial reference for a job opening, alumni mentors are helping UNT graduates excel in today's workforce.

Alumni are speaking to classes, serving on career fair panels, answering questions through phone or video chats and supervising senior projects. Along with UNT's innovative course offerings, they are giving students an edge.

It's all part of the Mean Green Mentors program, which the UNT Career Center established in 2020, serendipitously providing a virtual platform for students to establish career connections shortly before such meetings became the workplace norm.

As of this summer, more than 7,000 current students have signed up for the platform, exchanging nearly 17,000 messages with the 1,500 alumni, faculty and staff who have volunteered as mentors. The platform has affinity groups for different industries -- like STEM -- or statuses -- such as first-generation students -- and some students have used it to connect with alumni who are based in areas of the country they hope to move to.

"There is really no substitute for personal interactions," says Brian Hirsch, who co-facilitates the Mean Green Mentors program as senior associate director for the UNT Career Center. "Trying to encourage students to make connections and build their networks is really critical. There's quite a bit of data out there about how advantageous it is from an employability standpoint, from a professional growth standpoint and from a professional mobility standpoint. Mean Green Mentors is one part of that puzzle."

With an unpredictable job market, this guidance is essential for students -- and a great way for graduates to stay active in the UNT community. Alumni have shown a high interest in serving as mentors, speaking to classes and supporting current students, according to a recent VOICE survey conducted by UNT Advancement.

The following stories from alumni in the program are testaments to the power of mentorship.

-- Scott Brown

Dexia Smith ('15, '22 M.B.A.)

Broadcast Journalism and Sport Entertainment Management
Special Event Sales Manager at AT&T Stadium
Plano

Career Highlights:
After dreaming of working as a sports reporter, Smith pivoted to the business side -- just as UNT at Frisco launched its sport entertainment management program. Now she sells special events, including corporate meetings and weddings, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Getting Involved:
Smith has served as a guest speaker for several events and also coordinated UNTxCowboysConnect, a series of networking events with Dallas Cowboys staff members. She is president of the UNT Sport Entertainment Management Alumni Association. After receiving so much great advice, she says, "I want anybody I come in contact with to know I'm here for you, and hearing that is so important when you're trying to navigate through your career journey -- especially early on and you're figuring out how you want to land."

Lessons Learned:
"A piece of advice that someone gave to me is to give yourself grace. You don't want to get to a point where you're crashing out, and it's going to be harder for you to dig out from that. You know you've done your best. Get some good rest and come back sharp the next day."

Making an Impact:
She likes to treat her mentees to lunch or do a virtual call. Ma'Kayla Brooks ('21), an M.B.A. student, started her own podcast and social media feed, Mic'd Up With Kayla, that helps listeners break into the sports industry, and updates Smith. "I want to know all the things. Ma'Kayla says thank you for the encouragement. Oh, my gosh, that's big for me."

Fun Fact:
Smith writes and recites poetry, and performed with the Poetic Justice group while at UNT.

-- Jessica DeLeón

Brandon W. Murphy ('93)

Communication Design
Owner and Principal Creative Director at Caliber Creative
Dallas

Career Highlights:
After working for other companies for over a decade, Brandon co-founded his own business in 2008. Caliber Creative is an advertising, branding and design agency that works for brands such as Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Dickies and UNT's Texas Fashion Collection.

Getting Involved:
Murphy always enjoyed teaching, instructing the final portfolio course for design students as an adjunct professor at UNT's College of Visual Arts and Design and working at other community colleges during the early-to-mid 2000s. "I'm able to source the best talent for my agency, many of whom I hired through my connections to UNT, and get to watch them grow into their own as professionals."

Lessons Learned:
"It's a give and a get. I always am equally learning just as much as I am teaching them. With my experience, the main lesson I try to pass on is how to guard your heart. As a designer, you wear your heart on your sleeve, and it's important to know how to deal with negative feedback."

Making an Impact:
Three of Caliber's designers are UNT graduates: Claudia Bastos ('24), Javi R.N ('21) and Mir Ortiz ('23).

"I'm there for them as a resource to provide constructive criticism and work through problems. I don't know everything, but I have made mistakes and I warn them before they do the same. The best I can do is bring my perspective."

Fun Fact:
"I met my wife, Kris ('92), who was also a communication design graduate from UNT, in a class, and we have been together ever since, celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary this past July. My career or any success I can claim is due in part to her talent, advice and continued support. Advertising is a full contact sport and to survive, you'll need all the positive energy you can gain in your corner."

-- Bradford Osborne

Chelsea Bonsu ('19)

Psychology and Biology
Senior Clinical Project Associate at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Grand Prairie

Career Highlights:
Bonsu, who earned her master's degree in clinical research management from UNT Health Science Center, now UNT Health Fort Worth, worked for Covance (now Fortrea) research organization, which gave her experience in Phase 1 trials. She now works remotely for New York-based MSKCC, where she works for a specialized department called the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium, handling studies from Phases 1 to 4.

Getting Involved:
Bonsu kept her information on the Mean Green Mentor portal so students can reach out to her for advice concerning clinical research. "Considering that it is a new career, people are starting to learn about it."

Lessons Learned:
"I always tell them persistence is key. If I didn't get anything after a week, I would send another email, and if not, shoot a text. Whenever I am working with new people, or even a new team in my role, I'm always looking for one or two things that we have in common. That strengthens our bond."

Making an Impact:
"A lot of them saw my job titles, and they were like, 'I've never seen this before. What does this person actually do? And how did you get there?' I walk them through the types of classes I took and how those helped me. I go through transcripts and see what they have. If you want to go to medical school, you have to look at the requirements because some schools require more than others, and keeping that at the forefront has been pretty helpful. To help steer you on the right track is a win for me."

Fun Fact:
Bonsu also is a fashion designer. "My office is broken up into the professional, 9-to-5 money-making side on one side and then on the opposite side, I have three mannequins, two sewing machines and boxes of junk."

-- Jessica DeLeón

Andrea Gordon ('11)

Development and Family Studies
Program Director at Project Transformation North Texas
Dallas

Career Highlights:
Gordon found a career she truly enjoys -- working with kids and families while helping college students navigate their paths with Project Transformation North Texas, a nonprofit that supports children, college students and communities through literacy, leadership and service. She began as an intern in 2011 after being encouraged by her mentor, Cammy Gaston, who was a campus minister at the Denton Wesley Foundation, which has since grown into a full-time leadership role.

Getting Involved:
Gordon strives to pay it forward. "Having another adult invest in me, my career and my goals helped encourage and nudge me in the right direction for pursuing my passions as a career. Whether it's working with kids, nonprofits or something else entirely, I want to help young adults articulate their goals, find what fits and surround themselves with the support they need to thrive."

Lessons Learned:
For the first step, Gordon encourages mentees to identify what they're passionate about and helps them articulate those interests clearly. She helps these mentees set actionable goals and build supportive networks to keep them moving forward.

Making an Impact:
Gordon served as a featured panel presenter for the Professional Networking Series, which UNT's Career Center hosts all year round for a range of majors, allowing students to interact with those in the field. "Mentorship is a very important part of a college student's journey -- both throughout college and as they're navigating their career path. The more focus and support we as mentors give college students, the better off our society will be. Mean Green Mentors is a great avenue and opportunity to make that happen."

Fun Fact:
Gaston, Gordon's mentor, now supports Project Transformation through her church. Their connection continues today, creating a full-circle mentorship moment.

-- Shelby Bahnick

Ernest Martinez ('11)

Applied Arts and Sciences
Vice President of People and Culture at ChildCareGroup
Lewisville

Career Highlights:
After working 25 years in retail management for Best Buy and Sam's Club, Ernest earned his degree so he could move into human resources. He transitioned into the career by working for two startup companies and a law firm before climbing his way up to chief human resources officer.

Getting Involved:
"As I started to do presentations in the classroom, it became very evident to me that many of them crave talking to somebody who's already in the field. I quickly realized that I really enjoyed watching students learn and grow, and building these relationships that will last for years."

Lessons Learned:
"I've learned over time that everybody is a colleague. I'm a servant leader, so if I ask people to do something, I should be willing to do that myself. It's not about the title, it's about relationships more than anything else. That’s what really leads to success.”

Making an Impact:
"Nicola Ellis Sawyer ('19, '22 M.B.A.), a talent manager at Wayfair, has been my mentee since she was a junior at UNT, but we still jump on calls every month, and she talks to me about some of the challenges she might be going through. The first call I had with her was really interesting because she had a list of questions. 'What do you think I should be working on? How important do you think LinkedIn is? Do you have any books that you recommend that I read?' So, every call that we had really in that first couple of years was super substantive. I mean, I was exhausted after my hour-long call with her because she had such good questions."

Fun Fact:
Martinez is chair of the UNT Alumni Association. He and his wife, Monica ('06), are big athletics supporters with season tickets to multiple sports.

-- Scott Brown

Cooper Wood ('20)

Biomedical Engineering
Quality and Testing Engineer for The Realtime Group
Anna

Career Highlights:
Wood began as an intern for Realtime and has worked there since graduation. He handles a range of duties throughout the development cycle for medical devices, from low-level test engineering to high-level quality system management and regulatory compliance assurance.

Getting Involved:
Wood wants to welcome a new generation to the engineering industry. He helps groups of students in UNT's College of Engineering work on senior design projects, taking the project from an innovative idea to proof of concept prototype that satisfies the sponsors' need to achieve their goals. "It's amazing to see an idea someone had become standard equipment in the clinic."

Lessons Learned:
"Try your hardest no matter what you do, or the stage of life you are in. You never know who may be watching and could give you the breakthrough you need. I wouldn't be where I am today without a few specific people believing in me based on the work I showed them I could do."

Making an Impact:
Ricardo Vela ('18, '20 M.S.) was Wood's mentee throughout his time at UNT. Katelyn Pipes ('21, '22 M.S.) was a student in one of the first groups he mentored. Noah Sudduth ('24) was a student in his latest mentored group. "They all had the right attitude to help us complete our critical projects; I wouldn't be successful without them on my team. I'm glad to give a helping hand to help hardworking individuals get into the industry."

Fun Fact:
Wood grew up in a rural atmosphere, so his experience in hay hauling, tractor fixing and hot summers in the marching band have made his time in an air-conditioned engineering office seem trivial. "My boots aren't clean like most people who share similar roles as me."

-- Jessica DeLeón