by Judy Hill
This year, for the first time, the School of Business named a Mentor of the Year: honoree Doug Arent is an adjunct professor in the School of Business, a double alumnus in the M.A. in management (MAM) and MBA programs, teaches organizational behavior and leadership courses at the Temecula and Riverside campuses.
What his mentee Keshawn Cupid was most struck by, was how caring and committed Arent was in his mentoring role, going above and beyond to make a positive and meaningful difference for his student.
“I had to make a major presentation at my company,” says Cupid, who completed his MAM last spring, “and I was very nervous. Doug took the time out of his day and drove 50-plus miles to my office to be present during my presentation and act as a support pillar.” Both mentor and mentee are military veterans.
Cupid, who has also been dealing with a serious medical condition, says Arent went so far as to encourage him to eat healthier and think positive. “He is not just a mentor to me,” says Cupid. “I consider him to be my brother. I know that our relationship will continue long after this mentorship.”
For his part, Arent says he felt it was important to listen to Cupid and support his goals. “I learned from my own mentor of 15 years, Bob Arganbright, also a University of Redlands adjunct professor,” he says, “that it is better to help mentees determine their own path rather than create a path for them. I believe many formal mentor/mentee relationships fail because the mentor makes the mistake of trying to turn the mentee into a ’mini-me.’”
The Mentor Program was established in 2009. A seven-month program, from fall to spring, it is designed to provide students with an opportunity for personal and professional development through the support of a mentor.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee, please visit Redlands.edu/SBMentorProgram to find out more.
