Alumni Mentors Making a Lasting Impact Chapman University students benefit from active career mentorship, but the rewards for mentors are just as meaningful.

What does it mean to give back to the next generation of Panthers? For Dr. Randy Rosales ’12, it means opening his dental practice and sharing his experience with students who are just beginning to imagine their futures.

At a recent healthcare mixer, Randy shared why he continues to support Chapman students through mentoring.

“As the first dentist in my family, I did not have early access to the resources or exposure that many aspiring dentists benefit from today,” he said. “Offering shadowing opportunities allows me to give students the kind of support I once relied on. I also hope to encourage other Chapman graduates to give back, and to stay inspired myself.”

Randy’s willingness to support students through shadowing reflects something Chapman has long recognized: access to alumni guidance can be transformative when it is timely, personal and rooted in shared experience. While Randy is able to mentor students locally through his Orange-based practice, not every student has that kind of geographic access. 

To meet this need, Chapman launched The Panther Network mentoring program to connect students with alumni mentors across industries and across the country.

“We saw a real opportunity to scale the kind of meaningful, one-on-one support alumni like Randy naturally provide,” said Jennifer Kim, associate vice president of Career and Professional Development. “The Panther Network allows us to connect studets with alumni who want to give back in a way that fits their lives.”

Now starting its fifth semester, the program has engaged close to 300 alumni mentors and continues to grow.

How Mentors Help Chapman Students Thrive

For David Corley ’15, who works in contracts and deal strategy for Google, mentoring has become a way to strengthen The Panther Network semester after semester.

“I’ve been doing it for a few semesters now and love connecting with and helping to strengthen The Panther Network,” he said. “I’ve found that I’m able to understand my mentees’ goals and tailor the program to include what I’ve learned through my experience as a graduate and my industry experience as a professional. Let’s keep it rolling!”

Kara Rutkin ’11, vice president of Kirvin Doak Communications, echoes that sentiment, describing mentoring as both joyful and fulfilling.

“This would be my third semester mentoring a current Chapman student and I’ve just loved it,” she said. “It’s been so fun to get to know some of these current students and help them navigate the challenges that come with figuring out your final semesters of college before the career world hits you hard.”

The impact lasts, too. Kara has stayed in touch with past mentees long after their official mentoring period ended.

The Pay-It-Forward Principle

The ripple effects are perhaps most visible through young alumni like Tim Le ’20, who was mentored by Dr. Rosales during his pre-dental journey as a student. From phone calls to in-person meetings, Randy offered advice on everything from dental school decisions and post-grad education to patient challenges and professional liability.

“Any time I had questions, I could ask him,” Tim said. “He was always there.”

That support even extended into Tim’s job search, when Randy helped connect him with an employer at a critical moment.

Tim’s positive experience inspired him to take the leap from mentee to mentor. “I knew it was important and very helpful to have someone on the same path as you and has knowledge to give,” he said. “I wanted to help students. I give them a structure, tailored to their needs and wants and concerns. That’s what’s rewarding about it.”

For alumni considering mentoring, Tim offers reassurance: it doesn’t require an overwhelming time commitment. “It’s very doable and rewarding,” he said. “One or two hour-long phone calls, staying available—it makes a huge difference.”

That difference is exactly what The Panther Network’s mentoring program is all about. If you’re an alum looking to give back, stay connected, and make a lasting impact on a student’s life, now is the time. Sign up to be a mentor and help shape the next chapter of The Panther Network, one conversation at a time.