ExSEL Mentors

Jalen Beck

Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
ExSEL Mentor: 4th year, Fall 2018
Peer Assistant: 3rd year, Fall 2018
On-Campus Involvement: Intervarsity , National Society of Black Engineers, The Spectrum Connection, Husky Taekwondo, SAE Enterprise
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: It was suggested by my mom and academic advisor to enroll into ExSEL to learn more about college life.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: ExSEL helped shape the early parts of my college career.  It gave a good basis to help me succeed as much as I could.  I recommend anyone to consider enrolling.

Ben Chizmar

Hometown: Comstock Park, MI
Year: Senior
Major: Mathematical Sciences
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 3rd year, Fall 2018
Peer Assistant: 2nd year, Fall 2018
On-Campus Involvement: Beta Sigma Theta
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: To receive assistance with transitioning from high school to college as well as learn more about campus life at Michigan Tech.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: Learning resources available to me on campus, getting familiar with organizations on campus, and become accustomed to living on my own.

Isaac Hermann

Hometown: Marquette, MI
Year: Senior
Major: Computer Network and System Administration
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 4th year, Fall, 2018    PEER Assistant: 4th year, Fall, 2018
On Campus Involvement: St. Albert the Great's University Catholic Church, Peer Assistant for Success Courses and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I was concerned I would have a difficult time adjusting to campus life and I felt that being enrolled in a Success course and having a mentor would benefit me as a student.
Benefits I received from ExSEL:  Being in ExSEL has been extremely helpful.  Having a mentor my first semester was beneficial.  He let me know that I wasn't the only student who was struggling with the academic adjustment from high school to college.  UN 1000 (required for ExSEL) taught me good study habits and organizational skills which helped me balance school work with extra-curriculars.

Ethan Johnson

Hometown: Ironwood, MI
Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 4th year, Fall 2018       
Peer Assistant:  3 years
On Campus Involvement: Alpine Ski Team, Mont Ripley Ski Patrol, Boardsports Enterprise, Peer Assistant for Success Courses and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I didn't know what to expect from college.  Hearing about the ExSEL Program seemed like a smart idea.  At the time, I had no clue how big an impact it was going to make on my time at Michigan Tech.
Benefits I received from ExSEL:  The ExSEL Program helped me gain the skills and confidence to succeed in college.  I was able to make connections with ExSEL staff that still help me today.  I also made friends in the class and we still communicate and work together.

Avery Mosley

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 3rd year, Fall 2018
On Campus Involvement: National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Orientation Team Leader and ExSEL Mentor
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I wanted to ease my transition into college life to make sure I was/am successful.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: I gained an easy transition into college life, awesome connections to the Wahtera Center Staff, strong friendships and a successful sense of time and stress management.

Erin Richie

Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Year: Graduate Student
Major: Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 4th year, Fall 2018
Peer Assistant: 3 years
On-Campus Involvement: Pavlis Honors College, Honors Ambassadors, After School STEM Teacher, Academic Success Coach, Society of Women Engineers, MUB Board, Career Ambassadors, Young Women Leaders Program Mentor, Peer Assistant for Success Courses, and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: Joining ExSEL was required for one of my scholarships.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: I gained a second family in the Wahtera Center(!), lifetime friends and a growth in teamwork skills and empathy.

Gina Roose

Hometown: Alpena, MI
Year: Graduate Student
Major: Accounting and Finance
ExSEL Mentor: 4th year, Fall 2018
On Campus Involvement: Circle K International Service Organization, Quiz Bowl, Kappa Sigma Iota Accounting Club, Concert Choir, Residence Life Resident Advisor (RA), St. Albert the Great Campus Ministry and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to mentor: I wanted to be able to share the knowledge I gained from my experiences at Michigan Tech and to help other students learn to love Michigan Tech as much as I do.
Benefits I received from ExSEL mentoring: It's great to see students grow through their first semester.  Helping students find their fit on campus and how to pursue their passions  while they're here is my favorite part of being a mentor.

Rebecca Spencer

Hometown: Detroit, MI
Year: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
ExSEL Member: 2 Years
ExSEL Mentor: 2 Years
On Campus Involvement: National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Intellectual Sisters (SIS), Orientation Team Leader (OTL), Tech Traditions Committee, Residence Life Resident Advisor (RA) and ExSEL Mentor
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I am the first person in my immediate family to pursue a degree in engineering.  I knew just enough about engineering to know I wanted to major in Mechanical (ME).  It was great to know I would be able to have a mentor to provide advice pertaining to academics as well as basic college life skills. 
Benefits I received from ExSEL:  I have received a lifelong friendship with my mentor, the ability to open up to new people and the knowledge that through the program I still have people there to guide and support me during my good and bad days.

MTU Graduate --Caroline Spezia

Hometown: Wyckoff, NJ
Current home:  Buffalo, New York
Graduated:  May 2018
Major: Chemical Engineering
ExSEL Member: 2 Years
ExSEL Mentor: 3 Years
Peer Assistant:  3 Years
On-Campus Involvement at MTU: Cheerleading, St. Albert the Great Campus Involvement and Lector Ministry Leader, American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AICHE), Rotaract, Peer Assistant for the Success Courses, and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I chose to enroll in ExSEL to help the transition from high school to college.  I wanted to make sure to keep up on my studies and learn more about myself.  I also did this to get to know more people on campus.  Coming to MTU I did not know a single person attending the same college and initially was overwhelmed by this thought.  After reading what the ExSEL program offered, I knew it would benefit me in more that just one way.  It is amazing how much every first-year student changes from walking on to campus for orientation week to going home for Christmas break.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: One of the main benefits I received from ExSEL was creating networking connections throughout campus as well as developing friendships that still remain three years later.  Through the UN 1000 class I got the chance to discover more about who I am personally.  Knowing about my personality led me to find an efficient studying method, and the class even made me realize I cannot study the same way for every class.  Realizing this, it changed the way I received information, allowing me to maximize efficiency for study and homework time and gave me more balance to fit in "fun time" like camping or hiking.  If I wouldn't have been in the program, it would have taken me a lot longer to realize this and it might have been too late in the semester to recover or I may have been too burned out from inefficient studying.
What I’m doing now:  I am working at 3M in the Optimize Operations Rotational Program.  Here I will have the opportunity to learn and focus on both functional tasks and project management projects to further my professional development.

MTU Graduate -- Neffertia Tyner

Hometown: Detroit, MI                            Current home: Manhattan, KS         Graduated: December 2017
Major: Psychology with a Diversity Studies Minor
ExSEL Mentor: 3 Years
On Campus Involvement at MTU: Multiliteracies Learning Center Coach, Orientation Executive Staff, Center for Diversity and Inclusion Staff, Women’s Programming Committee (President), Parade of Nations, Orientation Team Leader (OTL), and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to mentor:  I decided to become a mentor because I really enjoy working with first-year students. Sometimes it's hard and somewhat uncomfortable to throw yourself into a new experience. I wanted to help students immerse themselves in their new college life without feeling overwhelmed for their first few months at Tech and give them as much advice as I could offer.
Benefits I received from ExSEL mentoring:  I've learned a lot about myself as a person and how to use a variety of mentoring  techniques based on students' needs.  Being a part of the ExSEL Program is one of my many experiences that influenced my decision to go into Student Affairs.
What I am doing now: I am attending Kansas State University for the Masters program in College Student Development.  I will be doing my graduate assistantship with Housing and Dining Services as an Assistant Community Coordinator for the Residence Halls.

MTU Graduate—Kristina Rushlau

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI                   Current home: Allen Park, MI                 Graduated: Fall 2016
Major: Environmental Engineering
ExSEL Member: 2 years
ExSEL Mentor: 4 years
Peer Assistant: 2 years
On Campus Involvement at MTU:  Society for Environmental Engineers, Mind Trekkers, Intramurals, - Wahtera Center positions:  ExSEL Mentor, Success course Peer Assistant, Academic Success Coach.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL:  I had to because of a scholarship, but it was well worth it!
Benefits I received from ExSEL: Help in adjustment my first year.  A job for the next 4 years:)  Great mentors on campus, both from professional staff and from other students.  An enjoyable class that was easy, taught me useful information, and I earned one credit with an A!

MTU Graduate—Jesse Linebarger

Hometown: Detroit, MI
Current home:  Manhattan, Kansas
Graduated:  Fall 2014
Major: Management and Marketing
ExSEL Member: 2 Years
ExSEL Mentor: 4 Years
Peer Assistant:  3 Years
On-Campus Involvement at MTU: Society of African American Men, Habitat for Humanity, Resident Assistant in Wadsworth Hall, Basketball Club, Intramural Supervisor, Wahtera Center Peer Assistant and Academic Success Coach, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society of Business Excellence, ExSEL, and ExSEL Mentor.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to succeed starting my college career.  The presentation by Susan Liebau (Director of the Wahtera Center for Student Success) during O-Week was the deal breaker for me.  I enrolled!
Benefits I received from ExSEL: ExSEL was a great resource during my college career, and I still use the skills and lessons learned to this day.  Through ExSEL I received an internship after my first year, and I also continuously improved my study skills, time management, communication, and academic success.  Simply put, ExSEL helped to guide me down the right path both academically and socially.
What I’m doing now:  After graduation, I began working with Parker Hannifin as an Operations Management Associate.  For 18 months I rotated through facilities in Wisconsin, Kansas, and Iowa.  I am now transitioning into a Value Stream Team Leader role, in which I supervise associates and complete projects focused in safety, operations, quality, and lean.

MTU Graduate—Collin Doerr-Newton

Hometown: Lansing, MI
Current home:  New York, New York
Graduated:  Spring 2014
Major: Sound Design
ExSEL Member: 2 Years
ExSEL Mentor: 4 Years
Peer Assistant:  3 Years
On-Campus Involvement at MTU: E-Board member of Society of African American Men, On-Air DJ and Productions Supervisor for WMTU, Student Supervisor/Employee at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Resident Assistant in East Wads, Wahtera Center Peer Assistant and Academic Success Coach, ExSEL, ExSEL Mentor, and selected as the student commencement speaker for Spring 2014.
Why I chose to enroll in ExSEL: I chose to enroll in ExSEL because I wasn’t entirely confident in my ability to be successful in college, and looking at this program made me feel like I would get a much needed step ahead. I also met Darius Watt at Preview Day when I was a senior in high school and he made ExSEL seem pretty cool.
Benefits I received from ExSEL: What I received from ExSEL was a sort of inside scoop on college success, from ways to get involved, to the many resources on campus that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. One very important thing that ExSEL provides is a structured way to develop the skills that you need to be successful in school, such as time management, study habits, and utilizing campus resources. These are things that many students have to figure out as they go, but ExSEL gives you a chance to learn about these things and practice them in a class context.  I also had the opportunity to make powerful campus connections with folks I still talk to today.
What I’m doing now: I’m currently finishing up a Masters of Music in Music Technology at New York University, and I’m also starting a Master of Arts in Teaching of Social Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. My research involves the use of music technologies in secondary social studies classrooms. I’ve also been traveling a lot, seeing the world.