Decade-long ECT Mentorship Program yields great results for students and alumni

As the retired vice president of infrastructure delivery at Nationwide Insurance, Jim Gay (BS ’73) knows the importance of networking and connections in the IT industry, both literally and figuratively. As an Ohio University adjunct professor and former vice chair on the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies (ECT) Advisory Board, Gay is making sure students take what they learn in the classroom and build their network through the ECT Mentorship Program.

“The McClure School Advisory Board wanted to think of a way to better prepare students for jobs while engaging alumni and the mentorship program was born,” said Gay. “It was founded in 2014 with eight students and eight mentors. It was successful as the students liked it and we got good feedback. So, we continued it.”

Initially, the program was only for ITS students and graduates. But over time, as the VR/Game development major began, alumni who worked in the Grid Lab were recruited to become mentors.

“All of the mentors are graduates of program and have had great career success,” said Gay. “We have mentors from CISCO, AEP, Nationwide, Progressive Insurance, the VRGD Group, Guesswork/VR Dogwater Games, Inv3rsion, Healium XR, Virtual and Interactive Solutions, and several others.”

There are now more than 30 mentors and 30 students in the program. And Gay only expects it to continue to grow.

“Graduates from our programs are connecting back with students in our program to help them prepare and get jobs,” said Gay. “The alumni are working with current students on their resumé building skills and interviewing skills. I recently reported back to the McClure School Advisory Board that this past school year we had eight that graduated who were in the Mentorship Program and eight got relevant jobs in their major.”

Graduate student Kwabena Akomea Agyin was paired with Scott Tettau (BSC ’99), who is an IT Group Manager at Progressive Insurance. Agyin shared with Gay that he expected the mentoring relationship with Tettau to continue beyond college.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to my mentor, Scott Tettau, for his tremendous mentorship throughout my time at Ohio University,” said Agyin. “His guidance helped me navigate the program smoothly, and I am grateful for his support. I look forward to continuing to have him as my mentor even as I transition beyond the university.”

Gay volunteers his time to run the Mentorship Program. He makes sure current students are matched with appropriate mentors, so the program continues to be valuable for both students and alumni.

"The more than 30 mentors also volunteer their time because they also know the value of the program,” said Gay. “It is the mentors that really make this program work for the students.  They are a really valuable resource to the McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies."

“Jim does this because he wants to and he knows how important and valuable it is,” said McClure School Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies Chip Linscott. “He works really hard and deserves a lot of credit for how well prepared our students are for the workforce.”

The program is open to rising juniors and the mentoring assignment lasts until the student graduates and sometimes beyond that. Much of the interactions between Alumni and current students is virtual. But the Alumni are invited back to Athens for ECT events throughout the year and have the opportunity to connect with their mentee.

“I often meet with the mentors to help set the expectations of the program and/or provide a PowerPoint outlining some of the key expectations,” said Gay. “But we mostly rely on the mentors and students to develop the structure based on student goals. They meet as frequently as they want. What the student needs is what it amounts to. We leave it up to mentors and students to drive it.”

There have been students who were in the program as mentees that came back to be a mentor.

“This has been going on for 10 years now,” said Gay. “It makes me very proud to have it continue and see the wonderful results.”