Beyond the Classroom

Starting college can be both thrilling and overwhelming for first-year students, who face new people, environments and challenges. This is especially true at A&M-San Antonio, where more than 70 percent of students are the first in their family to attend college. To help ease this transition, the College of Business has introduced a dynamic mentorship program designed to foster personal connections, professional growth and global awareness.

While intended primarily for freshmen interested in business, the program is open to all students, emphasizing personal interactions and tailored guidance. It pairs participants with faculty mentors and offers a range of learning experiences, from local company visits to international excursions, helping students broaden their horizons beyond the classroom.    

Dr. Robert Bethuel Vinaja, an instructional assistant professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance, oversees the mentorship program. He explains that since the program launched last year, nearly 300 students have participated. 

Students are assigned to a faculty member based on their interests, forming about 10 mentorship groups that cover areas from accounting and investment to entrepreneurship and data analytics.

"The mentors decide how often their group meets and what kind of activities they do,” said Vinaja. “They’re given the flexibility to decide what works best for their mentees.” 

Dr. Josephine Sosa-Fey, a professor in the Department of Management and Marketing, oversees the entrepreneurship group. 

“We have about 30 members,” she said. “We primarily focus on having entrepreneurs from the community come to speak to the membership about their businesses and how they achieved success.”

Dr. Volkan Ozbek, an assistant professor of management in the Department of Management and Marketing, serves as mentor for the international business club. He stresses that the clubs are not only great educational tools, but they also serve as a way for students to step out of their comfort zone.  

“Club members will be learning about other cultures and their business practices along with distinct communication styles so that they can become true global citizens,” he said. “Understanding other cultures is key to interpreting the world and doing business overseas.”   

Looking ahead to the program's second year, Vinaja aims to increase student participation through collaborations with other departments, including the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement. 

Clarissa Tejeda, director of employer relations and community outreach at the Mays Center, plays a critical role by coordinating employer site visits for first-year students. The process starts during JagX, an orientation program to help students transition to college. The Mays Center helps students choose from a variety of potential employers to visit.

“It’s open to all majors, but we are intentional about including College of Business students so they can get a head start on the site visit requirement for the year,” Tejeda said.

Companies that students have visited over the past year include Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., Amazon, J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, Clear Channel Outdoor-San Antonio and Randolph Brooks. 

"The mentorship program is a wonderful opportunity for students. It gives them pride to be a Jaguar and inspires loyalty to the University." ~Dr. Robert Bethuel Vinaja

Jose D. Ramos, talent development leader at J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, commended the program's impact on student engagement during site visits.

“I believe in maintaining a strong industry leader partnership with A&M-San Antonio to create awareness of the career paths and opportunities within the San Antonio, national and global market,” said Ramos. “I love seeing the engagement and enthusiasm the Jaguars demonstrate when meeting with various leaders during their site visit.”

As part of the program, mentors also support students academically, providing coaching and guidance, including connecting students with services like tutoring and financial aid. 

Vinaja added that as part of the mentorship program, they’re planning a trip to Portugal and Spain in 2026. Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the European countries and visit a variety of companies to learn how they operate. 

“The mentorship program is a wonderful opportunity for students,” Vinaja said. “It gives them pride to be a Jaguar and inspires loyalty to the University.”