Meet a Mentor: Andrea Duwel

High School: Wilton High School, Wilton, CT
College: University of Houston (B.S.); University of California, Davis (PhD)
What are you up to? I just earned my PhD in Political Science at UC Davis and am currently doing a job search in the SF Bay Area.

What does it mean to you to be a mentor?

I really enjoy being a mentor. It feels great to be in a position to help my mentee achieve her goal to go to college.

What do you wish you had known about college when you were in high school?

There is no “one” college experience that everyone has to have. Each person’s experience will be unique and special; and that’s what makes college so great.

Why did you want to get involved in this program?

I wanted to get involved in this program because I think college is an extremely important step in life, but one that is hard to navigate alone. I recognize the importance of mentoring because I’ve had so many great mentors over my life, especially during college and grad school. “Think global, act local” is a great saying and this program allows me not just to believe in the saying, but to live it!