From campus to career: Alumni mentorship strengthens student outcomes

Gettysburg College’s Alumni Mentorship Program connects students with engaged alumni to support career development, experiential learning, and long-term student success. Through intentional, relationship-driven mentorship, students gain professional insight, confidence, and clearer pathways from college to career.

For many Gettysburg College students, the journey from classroom learning to career clarity begins not with a job offer, but with a conversation—often with someone who once stood exactly where they are now. Through Gettysburg’s Alumni Mentorship Program, those conversations are helping students transform curiosity into confidence and ambition into action.

Rachel Ganser ’27

Alumni Mentor: Camille Traczek ’22

Rachel Ganser ’27 came to Gettysburg from Whitehall, Pennsylvania, with a strong interest in politics and public service. Now a double major in political science and public policy, she is deeply involved on campus as president of the College Democrats, an Orientation leader, and a participant in multiple Eisenhower Institute programs focused on leadership, civil rights, and public policy. As a student within the Justice and Community Change Guided Pathway, Ganser wanted insight into how her academic passions might translate into a meaningful career.

That pursuit was amplified when she was paired with alumni mentor Camille Traczek ’22, deputy policy director with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. From the outset, Ganser appreciated the intentional design of the Alumni Mentorship Program.

“I viewed the Alumni Mentorship Program as an opportunity to build professional connections with alumni who specifically expressed interest in connecting with current students,” Ganser said. “I knew that the structured program would allow me to learn from an individual with a similar career trajectory to what I hope to achieve.”

Rachel Ganser ’27 was a legislative intern in the Office of U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff during the 2025 fall semester.

Meeting monthly, Ganser and Traczek used resume reviews and interview preparation as entry points for broader conversations about professional identity and workplace experiences. During the fall semester, Ganser completed an internship with the Office of U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff as part of the Lutheran College Washington Semester. Those conversations with Traczek became a valuable space for reflection, helping her better understand how her goals were evolving in real time.

As Ganser looks ahead to graduate school and a future working on political campaigns or in a policy-focused nonprofit or congressional office, the mentorship has helped her approach those goals with greater focus and confidence.

“Alumni mentorship allows for meaningful career exploration,” Ganser noted. “It allows students to understand what a certain career entails, make decisions about whether to pursue that career path, and slow down and consider what professional future excites them.”

Omer Shamil ’27

Alumni Mentor: Meredith Bove ’97

For Omer Shamil ’27, the Alumni Mentorship Program offered both professional guidance and reassurance during a particularly active stage of leadership and exploration. Shamil, an international student from Islamabad, Pakistan, is double majoring in mathematical economics and public policy while serving as Class of 2027 president, the opinions editor for The Gettysburgian, a career ambassador for the Center for Career Engagement, and a leadership educator for the Garthwait Leadership Center. He has also completed the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration and Career Development Guided Pathways.

“I believe alumni mentorship is a vital part of the college experience.”
– Omer Shamil ’27

Paired with Meredith Bove ’97, executive director of information technology at Autolus Therapeutics, Shamil found a mentor who offered both tactical advice and a thoughtful perspective. Their formal meetings focused on resumes and career materials, while their frequent conversations allowed broader discussion of preparing for life beyond college. What stood out most, Shamil said, was the shared commitment built into the program.

“This connection felt more personal and intentional,” Shamil said. “Programs like connectGettysburg ensure there is equal buy-in from both the mentor and the student, which creates a stronger sense of commitment and makes the relationship more meaningful than informal or one-sided mentorship experiences.”

Omer Shamil ’27 is a double major in mathematical economics and public policy.

That sense of intentionality made the relationship especially impactful. As Shamil continues to explore career paths that allow him to apply his leadership skills and create long-term impact, he credits his mentor for providing stability during a time of rapid growth.

“I believe alumni mentorship is a vital part of the college experience,” Shamil said. “As students gain clarity on the kinds of support they need, alumni mentors are uniquely positioned to offer guidance, perspective, and reassurance based on lived experience.”

Tatum Murray ’27

Alumni Mentor: Bob Sinton ’85

Tatum Murray ’27, a psychology and sociology double major from Newton, Massachusetts, entered the Alumni Mentorship Program seeking insight into a career rooted in public service. Active in Chi Omega and pursuing both the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration and Career Development Guided Pathways, Murray was paired with Bon Sinton ’85, retired section chief of the FBI’s National Security and Cyber Law branch.

Across five meetings, their conversations blended professional planning with personal connection—often beginning with informal check-ins before turning to internships and career strategy. Since Sinton understood Gettysburg’s culture and opportunities, his advice felt practical and immediately relevant.

“Being able to connect right away with a mentor who has gone to the same school and has an understanding of the academic and professional path I am on makes the experience more meaningful and valuable,” Murray said.

Tatum Murray ’27 (middle) with Clare Sottile ’26 and Julia Daly ’26 during sorority recruitment last fall.

As Murray looks toward a future career with the FBI or Department of Homeland Security, that relevance has made a lasting impression. Alumni mentorship, she emphasized, creates a partnership rooted in shared investment. “I think alumni mentorship is extremely valuable for current students because it allows them to connect with someone who is just as invested in helping them achieve their future career goals as they are,” she said.

Across all three experiences, the Alumni Mentorship Program emerges as more than a professional resource—it is a relationship-driven model that strengthens student outcomes by fostering reflection, confidence, and connection. By pairing students with alumni who understand both the Gettysburg experience and the realities of life beyond campus, the College is ensuring that learning continues long after that first conversation.

Explore your future with guidance from alumni who want to help you succeed in your Gettysburg journey.