Her Campus: What brought you to Purdue?
Erin Slater: I grew up in West Lafayette and amongst the Purdue culture and my sister went to Purdue so it was a natural fit for me to go there.
HC: How were you first introduced to the College Mentors for Kids program?
ES: I met a young woman who was working at the Outback Steakhouse with me on her summer recess from IU. She was the chapter President of the IU Chapter of College Mentors for Kids and always talked about the kids and mentors.
HC: What inspired you to open a chapter here at Purdue?
ES: After taking my non-degree classes at Ivy Tech and finally gaining acceptance to Purdue, the young woman (Kelly) who was the president of the IU Chapter offered me the opportunity to start the Purdue Chapter. Having no idea what I was getting myself into and also knowing that it was a perfect way for me to give back to kids what had been given to me — mentorship and inspiration to pursue a brighter future — I gladly accepted. The students now have taken it to an entirely new level. This year, every week 180 children from four schools visit the campus every week and spend time with their mentors.
HC: When you spoke at the LACD Speakers Series at Purdue in October, you mentioned that you saw so much importance in this cause that you went all the way to the president to speak with him directly. Tell us about that.
ES: Call it ignorance and naivety or call it confidence and strategy, I always try to go big and start at the top. I was so passionate about College Mentors for Kids, I thought that the President of the University needed (and wanted) to know about it. I walked in to make an appointment having no idea that there were hundreds of other student organizations and that this would not likely rank on the priority list of the university President. I believed this was different, special and important and have treated it that way ever since. The President introduced me to the Vice President for Student Services and from there, we had strong support from the University Administration.
HC: What was your initial reaction to the program once it got underway?
ES: Purdue was the fourth chapter and after we got it up and running, I was continually inspired by the drive of my fellow college students to dedicate the massive amount of time and energy that they did to making the program a success. After I got immersed in the program and became a mentor myself I was inspired by the kids and their excitement, admiration and energy about their mentors and Purdue’s campus.
HC: How did your time with College Mentors at Purdue effect you?
ES: My time at Purdue and subsequently with College Mentors for Kids affected me in unprecedented ways. It was Purdue that showed me that there are infinite possibilities and College Mentors for Kids that gave me the inspiration to pursue what mattered most to me. Purdue became, and in many ways still is, a part of my family. Faculty, staff and administrators served as mentors to me while I was a student and now are my colleagues and networks.
HC: When you were in college, did you see yourself having a career with College Mentors?
ES: No, when I first started at Purdue thirteen years ago, I was majoring in Restaurant Hotel Management. I thought I was going to own my own Outback Steakhouse someday. Once I got involved in College Mentors for Kids, I quickly changed my major to Child Development and Family Studies. I pursued an internship my senior year which turned into a job as the second staff member at College Mentors for Kids and have been here ever since! I have been in the CEO role nearly five years. The program has grown to 23 chapters in three states serving 1,400 children every week.
HC: How did you work your way to the top as CEO?
ES: It wasn’t part of a methodical plan for me. I started in programming and then moved to fundraising. As our organization grew, new opportunities presented themselves. As CEO, there were and continue to be many areas I don’t have expertise in and I hire extremely talented people to fill and complement my gap areas.
HC: In 2009, you won Martha Stewart’s Dreamers Into Doers award. What was this experience like for you?
ES: This was a surreal experience for me and our organization. Being on the show was a wonderful affirmation of the dedication and effort of our board, staff and college student volunteers and provided significant credibility and visibility for our organization that it still being leveraged to this day.
HC: Why do you think volunteerism is so important, especially for college students?
ES: While not everyone gets involved on campus, those who do will say it adds significant value to their college experience. It provides a new dimension that you cannot otherwise obtain. Getting involved offers rewarding, co-curricular, social, and recreational opportunities as well as practical experience that you will carry with you for life.
For me, I am where I am and I am who I am today because of student engagement.
Getting involved promotes diversity awareness and fosters interaction among students, faculty, staff and the community. There’s really no better way to complement your academic career than becoming involved in campus life.
Research shows that students who get involved:
Get Better grades
Stay in school
Are more connected to their university
Gain valuable friendships
Have increased marketability when they graduate
Make more money upon gradation
Become lifelong civil servants