An AIM for the Next Generation

Albany Law School graduates may recognize the name: Alumni Initiative in Mentoring (AIM). And while the title remains the same, this is a new and improved version of the program. In 2018, the National Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Engagement relaunched AIM to much success, with more than 60 first-year students participating in the revamped program designed to help the modern-day student.

In addition to individualized mentorship and a monthly newsletter to spark conversation between mentee and mentor throughout the year, the reinvigorated AIM now has small group mentoring in the fall. Last year’s schedule included three small group mentoring sessions, hosted by Stephen Rehfuss ’85, Judge Peter Crummey ’81, and Lisa Ogden ’03, president of the National Alumni Association. It also included a large group session with Jennifer Richardson ’04, president of the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association. “Group mentoring provides an environment for students to seek advice and ask questions they may not always be comfortable asking one-on-one,” said Ogden, who held a coffee get-together with her mentees.

The AIM program is really a support network. “It provides an opportunity for students to connect with alumni who know what they’re going through,” Ogden said. “This is also a great way for students to begin building their networks. We have participants who are getting together outside the structure of the AIM program—many of these relationships will last well beyond the 1L year.”

To learn how you can get involved as a mentor, visit alumni.albanylaw.edu/AIM.