Happy New Year—and happy National Mentoring Month! January is the perfect time to consider jump-starting your career by engaging with a mentor. Additionally, it can be a perfect time to consider investing your time and talent by becoming a mentor, helping UMGC students shape their career paths.
“Time and time again, studies show the powerful impact a mentor can make,” notes UMGC Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations Nikki Sandoval. “At UMGC, we’re proud of our alumni mentors—experienced professionals who generously volunteer to share their insights to help shape the next generation of working professionals.”
Learn about the personal career journeys of three UMGC alumni mentors and get their best advice for professionals looking to take their careers to new heights. Here’s what they had to say.
Tomoyo Seo ’24
Japanese Language Instructor
LaBlast Fitness Instructor
Kawasaki, Japan
Q: You have a multi-faceted career as both a language and fitness instructor, in addition to your professional experience in legal and engineering fields. With that in mind, what advice do you have to those who are trying to determine their career paths?
A: Stay open to unexpected opportunities. You never know where they'll come from. I became a Japanese instructor completely by accident when a teacher at my community college simply asked if I could teach. I had no teaching experience at all, but I said yes and discovered a career path I'm truly passionate about.
Q: Whatever the field, how can up-and-coming professionals best prepare for success?
A: The key is to continuously work on bettering yourself so that when opportunities do arise, you're ready to seize them. For me, that meant pursuing my MBA even while teaching, which gave me the skills and confidence to eventually start my own business, FindaJapan. It also meant getting certified as a LaBlast instructor—something that brought a completely new dimension to my work and allowed me to connect with people in different ways.
Don't be afraid to say yes to things outside your comfort zone. My background in economics, law, and engineering might seem unrelated to teaching Japanese, but those experiences actually enrich what I bring to my students. Every skill you develop and every experience you have can become valuable in ways you might not expect.
Stay curious, keep learning, and be prepared. Opportunity often shows up when you least expect it.
Q: Why should professionals seek out a mentor?
A: A mentor can offer a perspective that completely transforms how you approach your work. When I started teaching Japanese at the community college, I had a mentor who gave me advice. "Teach Japanese for fun."
That might sound simple, but his words truly inspired me. The advice freed me to make learning enjoyable and meaningful for my students—which has become the foundation of everything I do, whether I'm teaching Japanese or LaBlast. A good mentor helps you see beyond your own assumptions.
That's why I believe professionals should seek out mentors. They offer wisdom you might not find on your own, challenge your preconceptions, and help you discover approaches that make your career not just successful, but fulfilling.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a mentor?
A: Hearing "thank you" from others. Whether it's from Japanese learners who can be confident, or from my LaBlast participants who feel healthier and happier, those words of gratitude always make me feel fulfilled. Knowing I've made a meaningful difference in someone's learning journey is what keeps me passionate about what I do.
Christian Deausen ’24
Cloud System Administrator
Accenture Federal Services
Montgomery Village, MD
Q: As someone who manages your organization's cloud infrastructure, you’re in a high-demand, highly skilled and dynamic field. What advice do you have for up-and-coming professionals who want to advance in their careers like you have?
A: Always network and build relationships with people if you're interested in their role or career field. You never know if who you connect with is someone you will work with or who will help you get a job.
Q: Many employees don’t even consider finding a mentor. In your opinion, why should they?
A: Mentorship is beneficial not just to the mentee but to the mentor. Mentorship helps people gain an upper hand in experience and knowledge.
Q: Your career certainly keeps you very busy, yet you contribute your time to helping others in your role of mentor. What motivates you to do that?
A: I'm inspired to mentor others because it motivates me to pursue my career goals and help others to achieve theirs, as well. The best part of being a mentor is just knowing that I am helping the mentee to reach certain levels in their career path to success.
Lonette Ray ’22, ’25
Program Director
Outpatient Mental Health Facility
Washington, D.C.
Q: In your role, you provide expertise in a wide range of areas, including compliance and safety, community networking and engagement, and medical services. You had mentors who helped you develop into the professional you are today. How does this impact your desire to help those who are looking to grow in their careers?
A: The mentorship I have received inspired me to share my story, wisdom, and knowledge I have gained thus far to share with others.
Q: What are three tips you would give others who want to advance in their professions?
A: 1. Have a mentor. 2. Never stop learning about your field. 3. Go after the role you want.
Q: How can a mentor help someone who is unsure how to get ahead?
A: Professionals should seek out a mentor for guidance and support, as well as for an overall role model to help motivate, encourage, and support them as they navigate the professional world.
Q: You often hear mentors saying they get back as much as they give. For you, what is the best part of being a mentor?
A: For me, it’s learning about mentees’ hopes and dreams and encouraging them to go after them.
Interested in being—or finding—a mentor?
Mentorship is a rewarding way to volunteer your time and talent by offering career guidance to students and fellow alumni. If you are interested in leveraging UMGC's network to forge professional connections, gain industry insights, strengthen your interpersonal skills, and receive career support, then learn more about the UMGC Community Connect mentoring program.
Read more alumni news.