“Do you feel nervous?” 

It was a question posed to freshman Maddie Ulsheksy last spring when she attended Dodge College’s Preview Day for admitted students. Maddie said she didn’t — she was excited to come to Chapman — but Professor Eva Finn made an introduction anyway. 

“Well, in case you do,” she said, “here’s Mackenzie.” 

Mackenzie McPherson is a mentor in the Dodge Insider Mentorship Program, one of 14 students who help guide their peers through their first college semester and beyond. Launched in Fall 2023 for creative producing and PRAEM students, the program began with Dean Stephen Galloway’s vision for a strong, student-led mentorship initiative within Dodge and quickly became a safe space for new students to obtain honest advice from their peers, ask questions, and build lasting relationships. Since its start, the Dodge Insider program has cultivated a unique, tight-knit community. Faculty advisor Ed Lavelle says that the program is built on the foundation that “by helping others, we help ourselves.”  

Senior Alexis Souza joined Dodge Insiders in its first semester, eager to help incoming transfer students like herself transition to Dodge. Alongside senior Ben Rosenthal and junior Ripley Anderson, Alexis helped expand the program by identifying key areas where first-year students needed the most support and, with Ripley, created a weekly newsletter to respond to the need. The Dodge Insiders newsletter connects students with set opportunities and creative projects on campus; spotlights students and mentors; and offers curated industry news. 

“We thought, how do people get on set…how do they read industry news…and how can we take five minutes out of students’ lives to make this easier for them?” Alexis says. 

Incoming students can find information about mentors in the Student Portal and reach out to those who match their interests, backgrounds, or vibe. The group meets once a month over Zoom and hosts a handful of events per year, ranging from screenings and meet-and-greets to holiday parties and mentorship hangouts. This fall, Dodge Insiders will officially open its doors to all Dodge College majors who are interested in being mentors or mentees. As the program continues to grow, Dodge Insiders needs mentors who are excited about helping students but who are also interested in social media, event production, and content creation.  

After Professor Finn’s introduction, Maddie and Mackenzie started chatting over text. “For me, Mackenzie was an older sister figure,” Maddie says, offering her guidance on professors, checking in during move in, and staying connected throughout the ups and downs of her first semester. This support had a great positive effect on Maddie and led to her becoming the youngest mentor in the program to date.  

“My mentors helped me become more confident in myself,” Maddie says, “and after getting the love, I wanted to give it back.” 

____________________________________

To find out more about Dodge Insiders, connect with a student mentor, or get involved, email dodgeinsiders@chapman.edu.