Meeting My Mentor

I am honored to have Dawn Lindsley as my Fellowship Mentor this year. Despite having a full-time job, a family, and a doctorate in the works, Dawn made the time to sit down and visit with me face-to-face via Zoom. She explained that it was during her fellowship year that she learned about the Career Tech system in Oklahoma and was intrigued by the great things happening. When a job at the State Department of Career Tech became available in Oklahoma, she was eager to make the move. Dawn now serves as the Accreditation Coordinator for the State Department of Career Tech in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Her favorite part of the job is being able to visit all the Career Tech Centers throughout the state, visit their programs, see the amazing work they are doing, and talk to instructors and students.

Dawn provided some great advice to make the most of my fellowship year. First, she stressed the importance of getting to know my colleagues in the fellowship class. She explained that she gleaned invaluable knowledge from everyone in her class and continues to stay up-to-date with each one to this day. From her stories, I learned that my fellowship colleagues will become an important network of working professionals that I will be able to turn to in the future. Second, she encouraged me to read John Daly’s book “Advocacy” as my second study book. This was the book her fellowship class read, and it left a lasting impact. Finally, she passed on her wisdom about attending National Policy Seminar: follow legislators on Twitter, get involved as much as possible, and wear comfortable shoes!

 

Audrey Lee
Region IV
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Oklahoma City, OK