By Carmiya Baskin '20

Imagine having a personalized resource on-hand to advise on all Gaucho-related affairs. From crafting a resume to visiting office hours to sampling the tastes of Isla Vista, there are a myriad of discoveries to be made and knowledge to gain at UC Santa Barbara. So, how does one go about being successful at the #5 public university in the nation?

Enter the UCSB COMM Mentoring Program, a mentorship project established and supported by the Communication Department and the Comm Alumni Council. The Council, which promotes the professional advancement and lasting engagement of students and alumni, as well as the success of the Comm department, largely contributed to the program’s official launch at the start of winter quarter.

The mentorship program aims to connect alumni and current students in the Communication department; it is designed specifically for Comm students who are seeking guidance from Comm alumni who are willing to provide advice and insight on how to thrive pre and post-graduation.

Rick Goldberg '79 and Bryana Ryan '15 are the program’s co-directors at UCSB, and proud Gauchos themselves! According to Goldberg, the pair decided to reboot the UCSB mentorship program in Fall 2021, knowing how impactful alumni mentors are to the success of future generations of students.

Goldberg quoted one of his first mentors, stating, ‘who I am is defined by what I’m willing to struggle for.’” He emphasized how committed the COMM alumni mentors are “to helping our students understand that success comes from welcoming [and learning from] your struggles, mistakes and failures. [They] will also support you in… trying again.”

As the website states, mentors have the opportunity to share their stories, refine their leadership and coaching skills, and develop a pipeline for employees from the new generation of leaders. Mentees can receive individualized advice and support, ​​build relationships with alumni and business professionals, and acquire insight into various careers, job opportunities, and real life experiences outside of the classroom.

Alumni Affairs Programs Director, Julie Mickelberry, and Assistant Programs Director, Carmiya Baskin, sat down with Fiona Affronti ‘25, a Pre-Comm student, and Paul-Michael Ochoa ‘14, the PR Manager at CBS Sports Digital to discuss the program’s success. Fiona and Paul-Michael have developed just one of over 50 special mentor-mentee relationships since they began meeting earlier this year. After becoming matched, they used The Gaucho Network, UCSB’s hyper personalized professional network built for Gauchos, to directly message one another and set up a Zoom call to connect.

“I joined because I wanted to give back to the Gaucho community and help younger Gauchos in their careers,” explained Paul-Michael. He said he sympathized with freshmen, knowing how daunting one’s first year on campus can be, especially after the unprecedented times brought on by COVID-19.

This was a fundamental reason that Fiona joined the program as she admitted she did not know what she was doing as a first year on campus. This is the first official mentorship both Fiona and Paul-Michael have had aside from informal exchanges with various supervisors or teachers. As Paul-Michael confirmed, this program is unique because it provides personalized opportunities that go beyond the standard office hours appointments that students typically pursue with a professor.

To join the program, you must be a current student or alum in the Communication department and fill out an online form. Applications are due on a quarterly basis and, once accepted, you will be matched with your mentor or mentee based on an expert algorithm done through the Gaucho Network. From there, it’s all about learning from and getting to know one another throughout the quarter.

The frequency, time, and location of the meetings are at the discretion of the mentor and mentee. For Fiona and Paul-Michael, connecting every two weeks via Zoom has proven to be effective and simple. Both agree that they felt more confident with their pairing by starting out on the Gaucho Network before switching to more informal modes of communication like email and phone.

Paul-Michael Ochoa‘14, PR Manager at CBS Sports Digital

The success of their mentorship can also be attributed to the ‘We Gaucho Back’ mentality that courses throughout the UCSB community. Fiona said, “we are both genuinely interested in each other’s goals and have a mutual respect and care for each other and the program.” Paul-Michael echoed that it is rewarding to interact with someone who is passionate and curious; he affirmed, “it is nice to have someone who admits that they do not know the answer – someone who wants to get better and grow.”

In fact, Fiona has already secured a job as a Strategy Consultant at Gaucho Creative, UCSB’s first and only marketing and consulting group; she also plans to become a mentor in due time after the COMM program. She revealed that the program truly helped boost her confidence and taught her to “swallow [my] pride and take the leap!”

When asked about their overall thoughts on the program, Fiona said, “ I am very grateful for the program and to have a source from someone in the same department as me; I feel more confident to go for my goals.” Paul-Michael noted that the mentorship project encouraged him to practice what he preached, such as preparing a clean resume and cover letter for potential employers. He advised, “people are more than willing to give their time but you need to have an intent and a game plan of what you want when you’re there.”

Ultimately, the COMM mentoring program serves as a way for alumni to give back to the UCSB community, stay connected, and create bonds with future alumni who are just finding their footing. For current Gauchos, it provides a space for them to grow and flourish with the knowledge that they have a safety net to fall into in the form of a previous Gaucho who has been in their shoes before, understands their concerns, and has their back.

“I hope more departments start mentorship programs so those who are not as lucky to be in Comm can have a similar experience and the same success that I have found,” Fiona concluded.

Whether you are a current Comm student or an alum looking to get involved with the Gaucho community, we encourage you to register for the Gaucho Network, apply to be a mentor or mentee through the COMM mentoring program, and get ready to GauchoBack!

Fiona Affronti‘25, a Pre-Comm student