Preparing for Now and the Future

By: Peter-Gai Groves

Chaverle Noel, the graduate assistant of the Minority Advisement Program, has been

working with the organization since Fall 2017. Noel received her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition

and Food Science. She first heard about MAP during her undergrad years. The organization often

did a lot of programs in the Russell Union Common area. Anyone that was passing, or within

hearing range was able to learn more about them or participate in their programs.

Since she began working with MAP, a number of things have changed. Most notably

however is their matching process. This year, the organization allowed mentors to choose their

mentees though their MAP Draft. In the past, mentees were assigned based on the professional

staff’s experience and judgement. The MAP Draft has allowed the mentors to feel more

connected with the program.

Since mentors are able to choose their mentees, they are more inclined to work harder at

fostering a relationship with them. “Allowing them to have this choice also allowed them to

choose mentees that they believe they would better be able to connect with (based on hobbies,

hometowns, majors, etc.),” Noel said. When mentors contact mentees for the first few times,

their interaction is not as awkward, because they would already have things in common that

would help them to ease into a natural conversation.

Noel’s goal for MAPees is for them to be able to make a smooth transition from their

high school or other university (in the case of transfer students) to Georgia Southern. She wants

them to be able to get involved and experience personal growth as they learn more and more

about themselves throughout their first year. Noel also wants them to see all the resources that
Georgia Southern University has to offer and her hope is that many of these students will take

advantage of them. She wants the mentees to do well during their first year and to be able to

continue on into their sophomore year. “It would be wonderful if they decide to return as

sponsors as well, to share their experience with other students who are now where they have

been,” said Noel.

Noel wants mentors to gain opportunities for personal growth, as well as professional

development. “This will come through the fostering of relationships with their mentees

(MAPees) as well as the training opportunities and exercises that we provide,” said Noel. She

also wants them to develop a passion for service. Noel believes that service often comes along

with the satisfaction they get from growing alongside their MAPees, and “giving back” to these

incoming students.

Noel has genuinely developed a passion for student success. She loves it and when she

sees students come into the program and flourish (get involved, make good grades, get

scholarship, do research etc.), that is essentially what keeps her going. Her hope is that within the

next few years, MAP will become more diverse, tapping into traditionally underserved student

populations such as non-traditional students, the Asian population and even veterans.