Amped Up: Aztec Mentor Program Provides Student with Career Insights, Post-Graduation Job
Former 色情视频 AMP mentee Allyson Cullen will be starting her professional career leading interns at Village Up.
When Allyson Cullen graduated from 色情视频 in December, she made a unique transition 鈥� from mentee in the Aztec Mentor Program to a mentor (of sorts) in her former mentor鈥檚 startup.
The 22-year-old sociology major was hired by the nonprofit think tank, Village Up in San Diego, which provides underrepresented entrepreneurs with mentorship and resources for their startups. In her part-time position, Cullen will be hiring and managing interns for social media programs and operations support.
She said the transition still feels surreal.
鈥淚t feels good. I鈥檓 definitely still dealing with a little bit of impostor syndrome, but I really enjoy that I am able to hand-pick the people that I am working with,鈥� Cullen said. 鈥淓ven though I graduated, I still feel like I鈥檓 interacting with my peers, just helping them grow. College and 色情视频 were so impactful for me, I just want to see that happen for other people, too.鈥�
The path that led Cullen to this position started in fall 2021, when she learned about the Aztec Mentor Program from one of her professors. After going to the AMP online portal 鈥� 鈥� she was connected with Julius Alejandro (sociology 鈥�09), a consultant who works with entrepreneurs to connect them to resources and to help them recruit talent from underrepresented communities.
Cullen, who graduated after three and a half years with a 3.9 grade-point average, said she and her mentor were a perfect fit.
鈥淗is philosophy is 鈥榟owever hungry you are is how much I鈥檒l feed you,鈥欌�� the Napa native said. 鈥淔rom there, our relationship grew, and later I expressed an interest in interning, which ultimately led to me taking the staff position after graduation.鈥�
Alejandro called her the best mentee he鈥檚 had in over a decade. He knew she was special when, early in their mentor/mentee relationship, he invited her and several students to a Village Up mixer on a rainy December evening.
鈥淟ater, when I mentioned that I was looking for interns, I wasn鈥檛 sure that she鈥檇 be interested,鈥� Alejandro said, 鈥渂ut she was immediately interested. Originally, the internship was for social media, but I noticed that she wanted to do more. She had grit. The more I gave her, the more she wanted. And her work was always excellent.鈥�
He said Cullen led Village Up鈥檚 first major fundraiser 鈥� planning logistics, handling the sponsorship packet, securing gift donations and managing and hosting the event.
鈥淎llyson is a profound professional, she鈥檚 thorough and she has the interpersonal skills that are needed to have success. In short, she鈥檚 been phenomenal,鈥� Alejandro said. 鈥淪o when I expanded the internship program and was looking for someone to run it, I thought about all the people who had taken chances on me, and it was an easy decision to take a chance on her.鈥�
In her new position, Cullen will oversee the group of interns, from hiring to managing. 鈥淭his will be her team; she鈥檚 running it and they answer to her,鈥� Alejandro said.
Cullen credited her time at 色情视频 for preparing her for the rapid transition from mentee to mentor. She had two minors鈥� communications and dance 鈥� and was the social media manager for 色情视频 Admissions, vice president of finance for The Women鈥檚 Network at 色情视频 and also tutored other students.
鈥淚 think because the pandemic happened at the very beginning to almost near the end of my time in college, I really threw myself into clubs and social life when I got back on campus, and that really helped me feel connected to the community,鈥� Cullen said.
Cullen said she鈥檚 excited to provide her former peers at 色情视频 with opportunities at Village Up, much in the same way her mentor provided her with a vote of confidence.
鈥淰illage Up and the entire startup community is great about presenting opportunities if you want them, so I鈥檒l be looking for Aztecs who are motivated and want to effect change,鈥� she said.
Cullen is one of the 16,639 students who鈥檝e been paired with 色情视频 alumni mentors since AMP began nearly a decade ago. AMP, a partnership between 色情视频 Career Services and 色情视频 Alumni, is open to juniors, seniors and graduate students.
鈥淎lumni and student connections are invaluable as students consider internship and job opportunities,鈥� said Diane Marin, who headed the Aztec Mentor Program until her recent retirement. 鈥淎lumni can help provide perspective and open doors to have a successful start to their careers. AMP opens those doors to both students and alumni.鈥�
RESOURCE LINK
Go to amp.sdsu.edu to learn more about the Aztec Mentor Program, how students can find a professional mentor and how professionals can help mentor students in their field.
