CONNECTING WHAT MATTERS

GEM | Overview

THE LEADERS OF TODAY
AND THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

Committed to building a brighter future for
our organizations, communities, and state

In the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) Program, Georgia College students are matched with leaders in fields such as business, education, politics, healthcare, law, and industry - many of whom are members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  These executives serve as mentors for participating students, supporting their personal and professional growth by providing opportunities for them to learn about the principles and practices of effective leadership that benefit the professional world and the community.

Throughout the year, participating students also take part in leadership and professional development opportunities offered by the GEM program.  These events and activities allow students to build relationships with their fellow participants, gain a better understanding of leadership concepts, discuss the lessons learned from their mentorships, and develop skills that will help them meet current and future leadership challenges. 

The GEM program is a year-long experience and requires a commitment to participate during both the fall and spring semesters of an academic year.  Students earn one hour of academic credit each semester by being enrolled in LEAD 2100: Georgia Education Mentorship. 

To participate in the GEM program, students must have earned at least 30 hours of academic credit, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and gain acceptance to the program through a selection process that includes the submission of an application packet and an interview with the GEM Program Advisory Board.  Students apply to GEM the academic year prior the year they hope to participate.  Participants who successfully complete the program will attend a special closing ceremony in their honor and receive an award to recognize participation and a cord to be worn at graduation.

Established in 2002, and initially funded by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, GEM is a creative partnership between Georgia College and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  Since the program’s inception, over 300 students have participated.

GEM Member Guide (doc) | For participants or prospective participants.

GEM Mentor Guide (doc) | For mentors or prospective mentors.

GEM 2011-12 Roster of Participants & Mentors (pdf) | For anyone interested in learning who is participating this year.

TO LEARN MORE, contact John Bowen, coordinator of leadership programs, at john.bowen@gcsu.edu.

TO APPLY, complete our online GEM application located at
https://orgsync.com/forms/show/21040.

Contact
John W. Bowen, M.Ed.
Coordinator of Leadership Programs
Terrell Hall 225
Campus Box 120
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Phone - (478) 445-1227
Fax - (478) 445-5386
john.bowen@gcsu.edu

ABOUT GEORGIA COLLEGE: Georgia College, the state's only Public Liberal Arts University, combines the educational experience expected at esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education. Its four colleges – arts and sciences, business, education and health sciences – provide 6,600 undergraduate and graduate students with an exceptional learning environment that extends beyond the classroom, including residential learning communities. 

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

"I feel that I have learned a lot from being a participant in the Georgia College GEM Program, and I will continue to recommend it to my peers. It is a great way to not only establish connections in the professional world, but to also find out things about yourself as a leader that you may have never realized before. There is no better way to discover and learn concepts and new ideas than to experience them first-hand."

"Students will rarely have another opportunity to work with such influential state and national leaders. These men and women are very successful in their chosen fields, and they want to help us prepare for similarly bright futures."