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 When Christine Brown '97 (Cumberland, Maine) showed up last January in Salt Lake City to begin an internship at the University of Utah Medical School she knew she wanted a career in medicine. It hadn't occurred to her that she might want a life to go along with it.
Her education began when she met Sherrie Perkins '77, a hematopathologist who agreed to be Brown's mentor during Jan Plan.
"Sherrie spent a lot of time talking about what decisions I would have to make in the next few years," Brown said. "She gave me a lot of guidance and made me realize that when I choose my specialty it won't necessarily be based on the favorite thing I did in medical school. I will have to make that decision according to how I want to manage my lifestyle."
Brown, who lived with Perkins's family during the Jan Plan, worked with Perkins conducting research on osteoporosis. The experience reinforced Brown's desire for a medical career and struck a blow against naiveté. "Thanks to Sherrie, when I go to med school it will be with my eyes open," Brown said.
Pamela Harris Holden '66 has been a regular mentor for interns at the JBSpeed Art Museum in Louisville, Ky. One of her recent protégées, Kim Kessler '94, built upon her experience with Holden to land a job at Christie's in New York. "I take great pride in her accomplishments," Holden said.
Alumnae mentors develop students' understanding about the world of work, Director of Career Services Cindy Yasinski says. "A lot of the women I see haven't confronted the issues of work and family," she said. "It often doesn't occur to them that they're going to have to sacrifice in one area or the other."
Linda Cotter, associate director of academic affairs and off-campus study, says the involvement of alumnae broadens the interests and strengthens the confidence of current female students. "We have been especially fortunate at Colby that so many of our graduates are interested in helping current students, through providing informational interviews, returning to campus to talk about their fields or, most importantly, taking an intern `under their wing' for the month of January or for the summer," she said. "This is particularly useful for women who choose to enter fields that have not been open to them traditionally, for example the sciences or finance, banking and investments."
Lenia Ascenso '95 can attest to Cotter's contention that traditionally male fields seem more accessible with the help of an alumnae mentor. Ascenso had not considered a career in the insurance field seriously until she worked for Kathryn Soderberg '84 during a Jan Plan last year. The people at Soderberg's company, ISU/Soderberg & Co., an insurance and financial services agency in Lynnfield, Mass., were so impressed with Ascenso that they offered her a full-time job last spring. Ascenso not only loves the work, she thinks she has found a career.
"Kathryn has been a great role model, showing how women can succeed in this field and what the options are for a new person coming in," Ascenso said.
Soderberg's guidance made Ascenso more confident in a profession dominated by men, Ascenso says. "It's pretty uncommon to hear a woman's voice when you are on the phone with underwriters. I think Kathryn goes out of her way to introduce me to women in the field to show me that women can make it."
Soderberg, who five years ago served as a mentor to another Colby student, sees her role as complementing Career Services and Off-Campus Study. "I want to help Colby students whatever way I can. It's especially gratifying when you work with one like Lenia who is encouraged by the experience."
Beginning with this issue, Colby on-line will give readers the opportunity to interact with the magazine and with each other by hosting discussions about particular articles or topics. The cover story of the November issue, "A Woman's Place," is the subject of our first on-line forum. If you have thoughts to share about the article or about coeducation at Colby, we invite you to participate.
From the Hill | Table of Contents | Faculty File
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