Patriot Ledger // Published December 12, 2019 // By Patriot Ledger Staff

QUINCY — A pilot program providing mentors for female students will start at Quincy College next month thanks to a partnership with Plymouth-based nonprofit Women Behind Women.

Students age 21 or older have been partnered with mentors from the group to talk about life experiences, careers, professional goals and more, said Ellen Johnson, founder and chairwoman of Women Behind Women, in a statement. The mentorships will run for six months, from January to June.

“Quincy College students from all walks of life, backgrounds and professional interests will connect with some amazing community leaders working across the South Shore,” said Karen Salhaney Smizer, Quincy College’s director of career development and internships, in a news release. “We strive to cultivate new relationships, develop new skills and mentor any young woman who wants a mentor in her life.”

Women Behind Women mentors commit to a minimum of one year, and mentees are asked for a six-month time commitment. Mentors and mentees design and schedule their mentoring work together with an agreement to talk at least two hours a month. Ten mentor-mentee pairs were formed for the pilot program.

“The benefits are reciprocal for mentors and mentees, learning and supporting each other as a network of professional women, celebrating personal and professional accomplishments and strategizing ways to adapt to challenges,” Smizer said.

The program was announced earlier this week at an event that featured former state Senate President Therese Murray as guest speaker.

Read Article Online: https://quincy.wickedlocal.com/news/20191211/quincy-college-nonprofit-team-up-for-womens-mentor-program