New alumni mentor program supports IPSS practicum students

The IPSS alumni mentor initiative paired students from the IEP, MPA, IPD, and NPTS degree programs who were completing their IPSS practicum course in the fall, spring, and summer with an alumni mentor.

Students and alumni mentors met once at the beginning of the semester and a second time closer to the end of the semester. Students were able to ask questions about the transition to life after graduate school and explore job leads with their alumni mentors. Alumni mentors had the opportunity to give back by mentoring a current student while also learning about the student’s work and career interests. The IPSS internship practicum is one of many immersive professional learning courses and initiatives serving MIIS graduate students. 

One student shared that her alumni mentor introduced her to several other professionals for informational interviews. An alumni mentor commented on how they enjoyed learning about the current MIIS student experience and hearing about current courses. 

Middlebury Institute IPSS practicum team is grateful to the following 44 alumni who shared their time and expertise to support current practicum students. Alumni mentors represent a diverse set of MIIS degree and professional certificate programs. 

Fall 2020 Alumni Mentors

Adam Proveaux (NPTS ‘15), Department of Energy

Adrienne McKeehan (IEP ‘09), Conservation International

Ariana Sawyer (IPD ‘19), Human Rights Watch

Ashley Camhi (IEP ‘09), Arizona Sustainability Alliance

Bill Godnick (IPS ‘97), National Defense University

Madiha Jamal (IEP ‘20), California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Patrick Wilhelmy (IEP ‘18), REBBL

Sabrina Amburgey (MPA ‘97), ACDI-VOCA

Sam Blakesley (IEP ‘19), Integral Consulting

Sarah Ferry (MPA ‘05), Community Resource Center San Diego

Victoria Bell (IEP ‘15), The Pew Charitable Trusts

Spring 2021 Alumni Mentors

Anna Rasmussen (MPA ‘14), Western Union Business Solutions

Arianne Renee Dilts (IEP/MBA ‘14), 500 Startups

Arnold Africot (IEP ‘15), Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist (Haiti)

Brian Peckrill (MPA/IEM ‘2016), William G. McGowan Charitable Trust

Brittany Billingsley (IPS ‘10), Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)

Fareed Baylar Bailey (MPA ‘13), Office of the Arizona State Treasurer

Jayna Winn (IEM’ 14), CEA Study Abroad

John Kobina Anodam (DPMI ‘11), UNDP Ghana

Jonas Horner (IPS ‘06), International Crisis Group

Kendra Haugh (IPS ‘15), 1st Republic Bank

Kenji Tabery (IEP ‘16), Paired Power

Kim Beauchamp (IPS ‘05), US State Department

Kyle Abbattista (MPA ‘10), USAID OFDA

Lauren Howerton (IEP ‘19), Farmlink and Prominent Edge

Lejla Bratovic-Mavris (IPS ‘02), Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County

Maren Farnum (IEP ‘15), State Lands Commission

Megan Christenson (MBA/IEP ‘12, The Lean Jane

Melis Ökter (IEP ‘16), NOAA

Nate Maynard (IEP ‘14), RESET Carbon

Nevin Rosaasen (ITP ‘10), Alberta Pulse Growers

Reese Hodges (MBA/IEP ‘15), Idaho Rivers United

Sabrina Amburgey (MPA ‘97), ACDI-VOCA

Summer 2021 Alumni Mentors

Clare Richardson-Barlow (DPMI ‘10), University of Leeds and NBR

Eric Bachhuber (IPS ‘04), GAO

Geoff Schwarten (MBA ‘11), IDEO.com

Kirstin van Gend (MPA ‘19), Read to Me Project

Lucy Jodlowska (MPA/MBA ‘11), Winrock

Ryan Radford (IPS ‘05), California Energy Commission

The Middlebury Institute community is thankful for the support alumni provide current students both through the IPSS alumni mentor program and through the many student-alumni introductions made by faculty and career advisors every month. 

Based on positive feedback received from many students and mentors, the IPSS program plans to continue the alumni mentor matching during the 21/22 academic year. MIIS alumni interested in supporting a MIIS IPSS fellow can contact Director of Immersive Professional Learning Carolyn Meyer.