Session Breakout by Role: Students - Mentorship Experiences
Attendees will learn the significant role mentorship plays in career success and how SHRM is spearheading opportunities to connect students and HR professionals.
Strong mentors provide a host of professional benefits, including career advancement, higher salaries, and greater job satisfaction. During this session, participants will learn about the importance of quality mentorship and how SHRM and the SHRM Foundation are working to expand members' professional networks. Attendees will explore the Mentorship Experience launched by SHRM Foundation in fall 2021 and the various ways both students and HR professionals can get involved.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the importance of mentorship to career success.
- Discuss ways to approach and sustain a successful mentoring relationship.
- Explore the new SHRM Foundation Mentorship Experience program.
Kevin Abbed
Kevin Abbed is the Member Engagement Associate for SHRM. In this role, he engages with members, students and prospective students. Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Penn State University.
Vernon Williams, Ed.D.
Dr. Vernon Williams is the Operations Manager for the CEO Academy. In partnership with The Wharton School and powered by SHRM, CEO Academy connects leaders to their peers with the aim of gaining insight into strategy, innovation, growth, finance, talent, compensation, succession, governance and other issues of pressing concern to organizations. Dr. Williams has worked at SHRM for the past three years, previously as a part of the SHRM Foundation team supporting student Initiatives as well as managing the $500,000 portfolio of scholarships, professional development grants, and awards.
Prior to joining the SHRM Foundation, Dr. Williams was the Assistant Dean of Students and spent over 20 years in higher education overseeing various student service units including, Campus Events, Conduct, Crisis Response, Engagement, Graduate Services, Housing, and Orientation at such institutions including George Washington University, in Washington, DC and Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
Whether supporting educational programs on-campus or through professional organizations, Dr. Williams enjoys helping others develop and maximize their potential. Dr. Williams displays this passion outside of work as well through community-based initiatives, including SOUL, an organization that uses sports to connect high school aged youth to diverse opportunities that build the life skills needed to succeed academically and professionally.
Dr. Williams earned his doctorate in Higher Education from George Washington University. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Loyola University in Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Morgan State University.