Q&A: Faculty and Staff Share Their Positive Mentorship Experiences at Ross
The Michigan Ross community is made up of supportive individuals known to lift up their colleagues. To learn more about the positive professional relationships across the school, we asked faculty and staff to share their experiences with individuals who have mentored them at Michigan Ross and the best advice they have received.
Damian Beil, Donald C. Cook Professor of Business Administration, professor of technology and operations
Please share about someone who has mentored you at Michigan Ross or positively influenced you professionally.
Bill Lovejoy, professor of technology and operations, has been a great mentor to me. I’ve often turned to Bill for mentoring throughout my career at Ross. Perhaps the most formative advice occurred early in my time at Ross. I was a newly minted assistant professor, and Bill was my area chair. In my first week, he took me to lunch. I still remember walking across campus, getting a bagel sandwich on North University Avenue, and eating together on the benches outside the Mendelssohn Theater. Bill handed me a paper with advice on succeeding as an academic. Twenty-two years later, I still have that paper Bill handed me. I’ve used the advice throughout my career, and carried on the tradition with our new technology and operations faculty when they arrive, as well as our PhD students when they graduate.
What advice has this person given you, and how have you implemented it in your role at Ross?
One of the best bits of advice Bill gave me was to select my research ideas carefully and not just jump on the first idea that occurred to me. Bill provided me with a checklist to assess potential research topics/problems, which included considering research method, industrial contacts, potential for profound results, current researcher density, and appeal to senior management. Bill’s formative advice was crucial in giving me the confidence to pick problems, and I use his checklist and approach to this day.
What’s the best advice you have received that you would share with others?
Bill’s advice on carefully selecting research ideas was some of the best advice I’ve received. As a researcher, you are only as good as your research topics/problems. You should put as much thought into the choice of the problem as you do into writing the paper itself.
If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Identify and take time for personal activities that inspire a sense of wonder and joy. Walking around Paris or hiking in the High Country does it for me every time, but there are others!
Andrea Hook, administrative coordinator, Administrative Core Team
Please share about someone who has mentored you at Michigan Ross or positively influenced you professionally.
One of the most impactful mentors I’ve had at Michigan Ross is Angela Ceely, senior associate director of engagement in the Center for Positive Organizations. From the very beginning of our time working together, Angela showed a genuine interest in my future and professional growth. After just a few months, she asked me how interested I was in events and shared that she thought I’d be great in this career path. She didn’t stop there — she offered to teach me anything I wanted to learn if I wanted to explore it further. That moment made it clear that she cared about my goals and was invested in helping me succeed. Angela has been the best mentor anyone could ask for — supportive, insightful, and sincerely committed to helping others thrive.
What advice has this person given you, and how have you implemented it in your role at Ross?
One of the most valuable pieces of advice Angela has given me is: “Never apologize for doing your job.” She emphasized the importance of being confident in your abilities and not feeling the need to apologize for respectfully upholding expectations or following through on your responsibilities. As an administrative coordinator at Ross, I’ve applied this by confidently approaching challenges, taking ownership of tasks, and staying solution-focused. Her guidance has helped me grow my professional skills and mindset as a leader and collaborator.
What’s the best advice you have received that you would share with others?
Say yes to opportunities that scare you a little. Growth often happens outside your comfort zone. Taking on unfamiliar challenges builds resilience and helps you discover strengths you didn’t know you had.
If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t wait to feel 100% ready — just start. You’ll never feel perfectly prepared for every opportunity. Confidence is built through action, not perfection.
Gabriella Ring, program coordinator, Mitsui Life Financial Research Center
Please share about someone who has mentored you at Michigan Ross or positively influenced you professionally.
Sheila Patton, supervisor on the Administrative Core Team, has been a positive influence on me and so many others at Ross. As my direct supervisor while in ACT, she regularly met with my teammates and me to work through professional and personal issues. Sometimes described as a “work mom,” our conversations have brightened my professional outlook and allowed me to take actions that have contributed directly to my professional growth. Not only does Sheila go out of her way to help her direct staff, but she is also always willing to help anyone in the building who needs it, like offering a building tour to a new hire, sharing a resource link, or walking step-by-step through an administrative process. Sheila is also why I have my current position with Mitsui. She encouraged me to apply and believed I would be successful in this role, seeing a growth opportunity for me before I could see it myself. She remains a valuable mentor even though I am no longer under her direct supervision.
What advice has this person given you, and how have you implemented it in your role at Ross?
Always be kind and know your worth. Sheila leads by example and has taught me the value of a kind and professional tone I use in my communications with others. I pause and reflect before taking on situations or conversations that are tricky or hard. I also continue to not short myself in what I can achieve, and I believe that greater things are within my reach, both professionally and personally.
What’s the best advice you have received that you would share with others?
Take the time to care for yourself before caring for others. This can include focusing on your emotional, physical, and spiritual health. As staff, we are often quick to do tasks for our team and help each other, which is great. However, we must also ensure that we are cared for to put our best foot forward daily.
If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t give up and always keep going. It’s okay to make mistakes and to fail — treat it as a learning experience. Keep your curiosity and imagination alive by pursuing the hobbies and activities that make you smile. I still follow this advice!
Brooke Johnson, senior program coordinator, Sanger Leadership Center
Please share about someone who has mentored you at Michigan Ross or positively influenced you professionally.
I came to Ross almost two years ago, and while I wasn’t new to education, I was new to higher education. I began having coffee chats with different people at Ross to learn about their roles, the space, and to get to know people. Erin Allett, director of undergraduate and pre-experienced coaching and education in the Career Development Office, was one of those coffee chats, and she has become a mentor to me at Ross. Erin’s thoughtful connection, authentic conversations, and joyful support have made a difference as I grow into this role at Ross. Erin takes the time to meet for coffee or walks and has advised me on how to have influence, innovate within my work scope, and navigate transitions. Erin celebrates wins with me and connects me with others to meet and learn from. Erin is truly a giving person who cares about investing in others.
What advice has this person given you, and how have you implemented it in your role at Ross?
I’ve appreciated Erin’s perspective and experience as I’ve transitioned to Ross. Erin has encouraged me to lean into skills I want to develop, utilize professional development time, and innovate within my portfolio. Erin’s great at asking questions to draw out what I’m thinking, pinpoint my goals, and determine my next steps.
What’s the best advice you have received that you would share with others?
To advocate for myself, understand my strengths, speak up about my ideas, and keep experimenting with ways to grow.
If you could go back in time and give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
The people in your life are there for a reason. Lean into their expertise and seek out ways to learn from them.
