Mentoring & Professional Dialogues (MPD)
Mentoring & Professional Dialogues (MPD) are developmental sessions that provide guidance, preparation, and opportunities for students to fully meet their career potential and develop their social capital through networking and learning experiences. These sessions are open to all students.
Mentoring & Professional Dialogues (MPD) Networking Dinner
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Alumni Room (Student Center)
Walk-ins welcome!
Pre-registration is encouraged - register on Handshake.
The MPD Networking Dinner is an engaging event where students will get the chance to connect with professionals (alumni, employers, or community partners) from a variety of companies and industries - see full list of attending professionals below.
Enjoy a delicious (free) dinner, build connections with working professionals, and gain career advice and insight from them on how to prepare for life after graduation. Whether you're preparing for your first interview or looking to build lasting professional relationships, this event offers valuable experience to practice key networking and communication skills in a relaxed yet professional setting.
Enjoy great food, conversations, and career connections!
Students from all majors are welcome to attend!
List of Community Partners / Attending Professionals:
| Name | Job Title | Organization | Industry/Major/Topic Focus |
| Dineshi Burchi | Institutional Giving Officer | WUWM 89.7, Milwaukee's NPR Station at UW-Milwaukee | Business, Fundraising, Finance |
| Shewanna Brown | Family Nurse Practitioner | University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Nursing |
| Bryanna Thomas | Senior Associate, Human Resource Delivery Center (HRDC), Total Rewards | SC Johnson | Human Resources, Business |
| Teri Gamble | Director of Marketing and Grants | Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha | Marketing, Business, Graphic Design |
| Lloyd Lewin | Director of Operations | Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha | Business, Non-profit, Entrepreneur |
| Dustin Beth | Director of Operations and Advancement | Kenosha Human Development Services | Non-profit, Social Services |
| Nathan Stamper | Theater General Manager | Fireside Theater | Arts, Theater |
| Cristina Soria | 6th-8th Grades Dual Language Immersion Teacher | Racine Unified School District | Education, Entrepreneur |
| Angel Ramos-Ortiz | CEO | Innovative Dynamic Networks, Inc. | Entrepreneur, Project Management, IT Management |
| Phonsavan Munsey | STS (Specialty Tax Services)-SALT (State and Local Tax), Experienced Senior | BDO USA | Accounting, Business, Finance |
| Allan Sanchez | Registered Behavior Technician | Motivated Learners | Psychology |
| Shar'mane Martin Wilson | Director of Clinical Leadership | Sonnenberg Consultants | Psychology |
| Leida Aguilar | Senior Manager Business Development | Avendra International | Supply Chain - Hospitality / Account Management, Entrepreneur, Business |
| Edwardo Vargas III | Student Support Specialist (Veterans) | Gateway Technical College | Education, Veterans Services |
| Kellie Besette | Client Services Administrative Support | Sonnenberg Consultants | Psychology |
| Loveneet Sidhu | Legal Professional / Lawyer | U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission | Criminal Justice, Political Science, Law |
UPCOMING SESSIONS
There are no upcoming events at this time. Please check back later.
Expectations & Guidelines for the MPD Experience
To assist you in making your best impression, we have provided a list of guidelines and expectations.
PROMPT
Fashionably late is not a great first impression. Please be prompt to the sessions you registered for.
POLITE
When appropriate, express considerate manners by saying hello, excuse me and thank you for your time.
PROFESSIONAL
Introduce yourself, ask proper questions, and be prepared to tell about your own career aspirations. Bring your resume for practice interviews and the resource fair.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY
It is important that you dress appropriately for career related events. Business casual is highly recommended! If you need access to professional clothing please visit the Career Closet. The Career Closet is located in the Advising and Career Center on the D1 level of Wyllie Hall.
Consider a nice blouse, business shirt or sweater, dress pants or skirt. No tie required.
GUEST VIDEO: ONLINE CAREER SEARCH STRATEGIES
Tanisha Stokes '09, M.S., CPRW,CWDP,CMCS
BA, Communication
Tanisha Stokes, founder of Gold Ink Consulting, gives insight to job searching online. Tanisha is a financial coach and consultant. Gold Ink Consulting is a valuable resource for people navigating their career journey.
ACCOMODATIONS
If you need accommodations due to a disability (physical, visual, hearing, etc.), please email Luis Benevoglienti at benevogl@uwp.edu so we can make the necessary arrangements.
Experience MPD 2020 all over again with session recordings
Pre-conference, Admissions Experience | Jenna Balek, Seth Lane, and Jada Peters
Are you thinking of transferring to UW-Parkside? Attend this session to get an inside scoop on what the transition experience looks like.
Keynote: Advocating for Change at Work | Dr. Stacia Thompson
A conversation on how to be an advocate as a professional.
Employer Panel | Kobena-Marcus Collins, Goretti Periera, and Laura Powell
Listen to professionals speak about their experiences and answer any questions you may have about transitioning to your career.
So You're Thinking About Starting a Business... | Dr. Latoya Robbins Thurmond
There is no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business. However, you can improve your chances of success with good planning and preparation. A good starting place is to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as the owner and manager of a small business. Join this workshop as we explore the characteristics that make a good entrepreneur.
Advice from New Professionals | Amber Danyus, Tabitha Echols, and Xue Wu
Listen to recent UW-Parkside and Gateway Technical College graduates speak about their transition from college to career.
Self-Care While Working | Katie Lohre
Come to this session ready to focus on ways to cope during really difficult times. Be ready to reflect on how taking care of ourselves helps us have more energy, ability, and balance.
Matching Missions: Seeking out Organizations that Align with Your Own Values | Lisa Sanders
Strive to work at organizations that you admire.
Whole Group Session: Preparing for Interviews & Practice Interview Discussion | Elizabeth (Lisa) Guerrero
Get techniques on how to prepare for various types of interviews and get a front row seat to a practice interview.
Finding Your Niche: Corporate, Nonprofit, or Government | Nikki Payne
As you explore the vast opportunities available to you, how to you determine the right fit. Is job security your main driver? Opportunities for advancement? Knowing that your work positively affects your community? Or is ensuring equity for all what matters to you most? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then a job with the government might be the perfect choice for you.
Financial Literacy 101 | Keeshia Jones
Prepare your finances for life after graduation. Hear from financial experts on financial planning.
There’s No Blueprint: Your Post Grad Plan | Dr. Stacia Thompson
Join the conversation on how life after graduation looks different for everyone.
Bounce Back Power: Overcoming Business Failure | Dr. Latoya Robbins Thurmond
Success is highly sought after, yet the failure of business provides an array of learned lessons. The initial step towards recovery begins with learning to accept and acknowledge the factors that lead to business failure. As business owners reflect on their entrepreneurial experiences, they can resolve many business challenges. As a result, failure appears to create an opportunity for learning which in turn generates an avenue for success.