Alumni mentors open doors and minds for students considering career options
Derrell Downey Jr. ’25, a computer science major at 91¸ŁŔűÉç, was determined to secure a dynamic summer internship to help accelerate and expand his career options as he approached his junior year. He turned to Skidmore’s ZEN Mentoring Program, hoping to tap into the extensive knowledge, experience, and networks of alumni. His decision would prove transformational.
The ZEN Mentoring Program, established in 2021 and administered through the Career Development Center, matches 91¸ŁŔűÉçstudents at the start of their junior year with 91¸ŁŔűÉçalumni based on shared academic and career interests. By doing so, the program offers a personalized approach to career preparation that goes beyond traditional career counseling.
The program, which runs throughout the academic year, is part of the Zankel Experience Network (ZEN), established in 2020 by Trustee Jimmy Zankel ’92 and Pia Scala-Zankel ’92 to expand Skidmore’s commitment to experiential learning. Other programs under the ZEN umbrella include the Summer Experience Fund, SEE-Beyond Awards, and the Faculty-Student Summer Research Program. 
ZEN mentoring can take many forms, including identifying career goals and discussing resources and strategies; reviewing students’ resumés and cover letters; and recommending networking groups and job boards. Downey, whose interests extend to business and entrepreneurship, was paired with Ryan Fauver ’15, a software engineer who has largely worked for tech startups. They were an ideal match.
Downey’s early fascination with software technologies was spurred by YouTube channels like Coding Train, a collection of video tutorials for beginner programmers. At his New Jersey high school, he took AP computer science classes. A member of its Robotics Club, he was always amazed at how “a few lines of code” could control and operate a robot.
Derrell Downey Jr. ’25 enjoyed a study abroad opportunity in Copenhagen that connected him with a sustainability-focused company.
At Skidmore, Downey has embraced opportunities across disciplines, participating twice in StartUp Skidmore, the skill-building workshop and competition in which students develop a business plan and prototype with the help of alumni entrepreneur mentors. He also studied abroad in Copenhagen, participating in an Entrepreneurship Practicum course that connected him with a sustainability-focused company, Your Fair Share, to develop a website that helps companies calculate their emissions.
At the start of the ZEN mentorship, Downey had just been invited to interview for an internship at West Monroe, a business and technology consulting firm with an office in New York City. He was excited, but preparing for a three-part interviewing process that included behavioral, technical, and case components was unnerving.
“I was worried, but Ryan gave me tremendous advice, especially at the beginning with building confidence,” Downey says.
Fauver, originally from Chatham, New Jersey, double majored in computer science and psychology at Skidmore.
“As a computer science student, transitioning to the professional world felt daunting,” says Fauver, who works for Equals, a California-based startup that creates automated reporting tools. “It would have been really valuable to have the ZEN Mentoring Program when I was in college.”
During their meetings, primarily conducted over Zoom and email, Fauver guided Downey through complex interview processes, from technical challenges to behavioral assessments. Fauver also helped him enhance his coding skills in a few side projects.
“He emphasized the importance of rehearsing clear and confident responses and how I could sell myself better, which really boosted my performance,” says Downey, who not only secured the internship but also received a full-time job offer from the same company for after graduation.
For Fauver, the experience was equally rewarding.
There are many ways to give back to your school, but mentoring offers a uniquely personal contribution through sharing your own experiences.Ryan Fauver ’1591¸ŁŔűÉçalumnus and software engineer
Job shadowing that enlightens
Career mentorship at 91¸ŁŔűÉçisn’t limited to the ZEN Mentoring Program but is embedded as a key component of many of the College’s other signature programs, including StartUp Skidmore, the Kenneth A. Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition, and Career Jam.
More recently, in winter 2024, the Career Development Center launched the Winter Job Shadow Program, which offers sophomore students a chance to explore potential career paths through the guidance of accomplished alumni, parents, or employers who provide firsthand insight into the daily demands and responsibilities of their respective fields.
When Charlotte Ballantoni ’26 participated, she found a mentor who would reshape her understanding of career possibilities and lead her to an internship.
Ballantoni ’26, an English major with a double minor in classics and theater, was matched with Alexandra Hagney ’16, account director at General Idea. With offices in New York City and Los Angeles, the full-service creative agency works with brands, companies, and individuals across fashion, luxury, and entertainment. At General Idea, Hagney has spearheaded global campaigns and projects for brands like Prada, Tiffany & Co., Savage X Fenty, Fenty x Puma, and Moncler.
Charlotte Ballantoni ’26, left, an English major with a double minor in classics and theater, connected with Alexandra Hagney ’16, account director at the full-service creative agency General Idea, through Skidmore's Winter Job Shadow Program.
Ballantoni, from Rye, New York, has been drawn to advertising and marketing but was unsure how to leverage her humanities background. Hagney, who double majored in dance and management and business, provided a window of opportunity that combined creativity with business acumen.
From the start, Ballantoni was struck by Hagney’s mentoring style. “Alex is a class act. She is professional and inspiring to work with,” Ballantoni says. “She showed me the ropes of her day-to-day responsibilities, always making sure I was involved and that I felt like part of the team.”
During her weeklong job shadow experience, Ballantoni immersed herself in Hagney’s professional environment, sitting in on meetings and observing the complex collaborations that go into creative production. Hagney was impressed with Ballantoni’s potential and interest, and the job shadow experience led to a summer internship. Hagney took Ballantoni to a campaign photoshoot in New York City, part of a brand launch for a luxury sculptural wooden handbag company called Eittem.
“The whole experience was amazing. I learned so much about the world of luxury advertising — a field that I had not even considered before,” Ballantoni says. “What started as a job shadow experience evolved into something much more significant. Alex saw my genuine interest and created an opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience with an internship over the summer.”
“Charlotte is exactly the type of student I wanted to connect and work with — someone like me who is interested in creative worlds that aren’t traditionally pursued as pure art or business,” Hagney says.
Hagney credits her own 91¸ŁŔűÉçexperiences with helping her prepare for a versatile career. “Mentoring Charlotte reminded me of my own time at Skidmore, exploring different paths and finding where I fit best,” she says.
Still, she would have relished the chance to participate in the Winter Job Shadow Program as a student. “I wish I had this kind of guidance during my time at Skidmore,” she says. “My work in a field that blends creativity with business is so exciting, but I didn’t know it existed when I was in school.”
I think everyone should sign up for the job shadow program, because you never know what is out there waiting for you."Charlotte Ballantoni '26English major with a double minor in classics and theater
91¸ŁŔűÉçCareer Development Center Executive Director Shannon Rodriguez says these mentoring programs provide remarkable opportunities for students to discover their passions and begin to chart their career course with confidence. “Seeing our students thrive and explore their potential with the guidance of our dedicated alumni and other volunteer hosts is incredibly rewarding.”
