The Learning and Development team is grateful for the colleagues who volunteered as mentors during the 2025 UCOP Mentorship Program cycle.

For more than a decade, UCOP’s Mentorship Program has helped colleagues grow, connect and gain confidence at key moments in their careers.

Since its 2011 launch, the program has supported over 300 mentees with structured guidance rooted in experience and shared learning. This impact is made possible entirely through the volunteer time of UCOP mentors.

Creating space for growth and connection

From its inception, the UCOP Mentorship Program has remained hugely popular, consistently receiving more mentee applications than there are mentors available — a clear sign of how highly valued the experience is.

Participation in the program marks a career turning point for many mentees. Mentors create space for them to be candid, reflect on challenges and identify opportunities for growth they may not have recognized on their own. As one past program participant shared, “My meetings with my mentor were invaluable. We worked on how to tell my story, removing blind spots and my own imposter syndrome, to reveal goals I didn’t realize I had.”

The program’s structure supports this growth. Mentor pairings are made thoughtfully and intentionally, mentors and mentees honor their commitment to one another and group experiences, like fireside chats and shared resources, provide opportunities for reflection and learning. Together, these elements help mentees better understand UCOP and navigate their careers with more clarity.

“The mentorship program helped me improve my leadership presence, strategic communication, and confidence in presenting impact-driven work,” shared another mentee. “Through one-on-one sessions and cohort meetings, I gained tools to align my goals, grow professionally and navigate UCOP more effectively.”

Mentorship also plays an important role in expanding professional networks. Mentors help mentees build confidence in reaching out, making connections and strengthening relationships across UCOP. “The ability to say, ‘my mentor suggested I reach out,’ gave me confidence to connect with more people,” shared one mentee. Over time, many of these connections evolve into lasting professional relationships.

Thank you to the volunteers who have made this program possible

UCOP Learning and Development extends its sincere thanks to all current and past mentors. Your time, insight and willingness to support others continue to shape careers and strengthen UCOP. This program would not exist without you!

2025 Mentorship Steering Committee Members

The Mentorship Steering Committee meets throughout the year to help the Learning and Development team with pivotal decisions and tasks, including programmatic decisions and mentor-mentee pairings.

• Angelina Gomez
• Erin Pressman
• Han Mi Yoon-Wu
• Jackylyn Wong
• Jennifer Mendoza
• Jiazhi Ma
• Maggie Kulik
• Tony Yang

2025 Program Mentors

• Aliya Moore
• Allison Woodall
• Angie Shelton
• Barbara Cevallos
• Carlos Garrido-Ramirez
• Dave Baltaxe
• Djallon (DJ) Dinwiddie
• Emily Weaver
• Erin Marnocha
• Han Mi Yoon-Wu
• Heather Kopeck
• Isabel Alvarado
• Kelly Drumm
• Marisa McAuliffe
• Megan Villasenor
• Merideth Wakeman
• Roshni Pratap
• Sean Eric Halligan
• Shirley Bittlingmeier
• Thera Kalmjin
• Tony Yang
• Tricia Lyall
• Wendy Rager
• William Teeling
• Yvette Gullatt

Join us: Volunteer to be a mentor

The Mentorship Program depends on volunteer mentors to meet ongoing demand. Employees who have been at UCOP for at least one year and are recommended by a supervisor or a past mentor are encouraged to participate. We always have openings for mentors. To express interest, contact Annie Prozan.

Please note that mentee applications have closed for the 2026 Mentorship Program, which starts this month; mentee applications for the 2027 program will open this fall.

About

View all post by