Success of the Maverick Momentum Program Elevates Staff to New Heights

By: Sara Pezzoni

A cohort of ten pairs of mentors and mentees recently celebrated the conclusion of the Maverick Momentum’s pilot program offered by the The Office of Talent, Culture, and Engagement’s (TCE) Belonging & Engagement division. The six-month mentorship program, which took place from January-June 2024, was deemed rewarding and valuable by participants in that it provided a lasting foundation for professional growth and helped participants develop and strengthen a sense of agency over their career.

Staff Advisory Council representative Margie Jackymack and Loretta Pequeño of TCE first saw the need for a staff-centered mentorship program in 2022 with a small group of four pairs of mentors and mentees. Prior to introducing this program, Jackymack said the need came from staff looking to progress in their roles who were without the structure and tools needed to elevate their careers at UTA. A year later, the program was revamped and expanded by TCE to become the Maverick Momentum program.

The key to Maverick Momentum’s success lies within the meticulous planning from its coordinator that goes into the pairing of each mentor with their mentee. “The thought and care that went into selecting my mentor was truly phenomenal,” said Quentin Scott, mentee, “Finding the right mentors and mentees to pair with them is ultimately what decides the success or failure of a program [like this].”

Scott’s mentor, Sarah McBride, said the program was mutually beneficial for both mentees and mentors. “The sessions were helpful for me as I reflected on my experience, and I saw from my mentee that they were learning and looking at things from new and different angles the more we met,” said McBride. “I have a growth-mindset and am always wanting to learn and develop, and this was a great opportunity to do that, while also supporting a fellow Maverick with their own development.”

Former Maverick Momentum program coordinator Veronique Jones commended the level of professionalism, intentionality, and investment that program participants displayed. “UTA should be proud of the fact that staff are not merely willing and open to development, but they take personal responsibility for their development,” Jones said. “Staff make sacrifices and invest their energy, effort, and time because they want to be better...they are genuinely invested in the institution and want UTA to become better as well.”

This program will continue to serve as an opportunity to embrace the culture of perpetual learning and continual professional development, according to the program's current coordinator, Kathy Murphy. Jones is hopeful that the program will expand its impact to “become a premiere program for staff to feel seen, develop skills, maximize connections, build long-lasting relationships, and continue to learn the true ethos of what it means to be a Maverick.”

Murphy says there will be a few new tools added for the future cohorts, which includes the utilization of the DiSC assessment as a tool for building relationships and self-awareness in the workplace, and a new website that will have additional resources for program participants. “This is such a great time to be at UTA for staff. There is an air of positivity around ‘what I do matters here’ and this program really works toward making you better while bettering the university,’” Murphy said.

Group of Maverick Momentum mentors and mentees attending a reception held in their honor on June 20, 2024 at the conclusion of the program’s pilot. Photo by Matt Hellman

For those interested in participating in the Maverick Momentum program, applications will be open again in Fall 2025 to those who have participated in one of SAC’s many events. For more information on how to attend one of SAC’s events please visit the SAC Meetings & Events page or email sac@uta.edu. For more information on the Maverick Momentum program, contact Kathy Murphy at kathy.murphy@uta.edu or visit the Maverick Momentum program website.