W
hen Arienne
Shambarger ’07
Juliano was a student
at Manchester, the
late Professor Marcia
Benjamin ’78 was
“a life-changer” for the communication
studies major. Benjamin mentored Juliano and
recommended her for an internship, which
led to a full-time job. If not for Benjamin,
“I would not be where I am,” says the senior
account executive for Boyden & Youngblutt,
an advertising agency in Fort Wayne.
Now Juliano honors Benjamin by mentoring
students who need advice like she once did.
Thanks to that personal attention, says Juliano,
“I had a great experience at Manchester.”
Juliano is among a growing number of
alumni who are sharing their time and talent
to help current students through Manchester
Connect. A partnership of the Office of
Career Services (OCS) and the Office of
Alumni Relations, the program offers a range
of opportunities for MU alumni who want
to help current students and recent graduates
get off to a strong start. Mentoring is just one
way. Alumni can speak to classes, conduct
practice job interviews, participate in career
fairs, provide job-shadowing opportunities
and internships and much more.
Jennifer Mitchell ’84 Shepherd, executive
director of alumni relations, encourages
graduates to think about ways they can
engage with their alma mater. “We have a lot
of alumni who are very fond of Manchester
and want to stay connected,” says Shepherd.
“They can give a lot by sharing their
enthusiasm and telling students the impact
Manchester continues to have on their lives.”
Arienne Shambarger ’07 Juliano (right), an
advertising account executive, is mentoring MU
student Allison Rowe ’16 of LaQuinta, Calif.
MU | F e a t u r e s
Those “networking connections” are often
critical in helping young graduates find jobs,
says Elizabeth Bushnell, associate dean
and OCS director. Giving back through
Manchester Connect, she adds, can be as
simple as answering a few emails. Some
alumni, says Hannah Stork, associate director
of OCS, find that the connections help
rejuvenate their own careers.
Carrie Miller ’01 ’02ma Minnich, didn’t
have an alumni mentor when she was an
MU student. “I wish I would have,” says the
accountant and senior manager at Dulin,
Ward & DeWald Inc. in Fort Wayne. “I think
it’s especially beneficial for current students
to connect with former Manchester students
who were once in their shoes – to share their
experiences, challenges and advice,” says
Minnich, who has mentored three accounting
majors in four years. “I really enjoy getting
to know each of the students and I think
Manchester does a great job of preparing
them.”
Carrie’s husband, John Minnich ’01 ’02ma,
assistant professor of accounting at Indiana
Tech in Fort Wayne, has mentored MU
students since 2011. “The connections help
students understand life post-graduation,”
he says. Students also get direct access to
professionals so they can build a professional
network.
Helping another generation of Manchester
students “is a great investment of time,” adds
Juliano, who meets regularly wit