Meet the Ambitious Mentors of the Month!
Learn more and apply to next year’s USC BAA’s Legacy through Leadership Program at bit.ly/ltlmentorship.
As a part of our Legacy through Leadership Program which pairs USC Black Alumni mentors with motivated Black students, we honor mentors and mentees who have been nominated according to the theme of the month.
The Mentors of the Month of January have been selected for exemplifying the Trojan Trait of Ambitiousness are: Nina Richardson and Ian Chestnut. Congratulations and Fight On!
Mentor and Alum, Nina Richardson, is a higher education professional overseeing admissions and advising for the online Masters in Communication Management program at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She has a passion for mentoring and has created mentoring programs for both doctoral and masters students during her tenure at USC. She finds that volunteering through the Black Alumni Association has provided an invaluable opportunity to connect students to resources and help them navigate through the college process to obtain their educational and professional goals.
Nina holds a Masters degree in Post-secondary Administration and Student Affairs from USC and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at the USC Rossier School of Education. Her research interests include mentoring, distance learning, and college access and retention for students of color.
Nina is a resident of the City of Long Beach and, in her spare time, serves as a Commissioner on the City's Commission for Youth and Children. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Long Beach City Councilmember Rex Richardson and their one-year-old daughter, Alina.
Of Nina, her mentee Evan McCrary says,
“As a current graduate student for the School of Social Work, I have taken Ms. Nina's example and applied it to my life and have seen a shift in the way that I move not only as a student and intern, but as a daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend.”
Mentor and Alum, Ian Chestnut, born in Cleveland, OH, and raised in Humble, TX, is a proud USC Alumni, graduating from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 2000 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a minor in Interactive Multimedia and an emphasis in Entrepreneurial Studies.
Ian was awarded USC’s Trustee Scholarship, a four-year full academic scholarship, which he used fully by excelling in his academics, working on and off-campus, and committing himself to numerous extracurricular activities. He’s been working with the Black Alumni Association for almost two decades as mentee, staff, alumnus, volunteer, and mentor. When asked about the impact Black Alumni Association’s programs had on his life, he had this to say,
“The BAA (Black Alumni Association) played a critical part in guiding me those four years of school, not only education wise, but spiritually and socially. I was partnered with several incredible mentors, who took the time to learn my story, what I wanted to accomplish and how to achieve every goal I’d set for myself. This mentorship proved to be invaluable… I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am in life now, if it weren’t for those guiding hands and genuine concern that I reach my potential. It inspired me to become a mentor myself, so that I can be a guide to our future black professionals, entrepreneurs, teachers, and ultimately… alumni.”
Utilizing his growing academic network and strong family support, Ian graduated with Honors and started his first company venture, IVC Productions, LLC, a website development and graphics firm. Ian currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, Dr. Frene LaCour-Chestnut, two children, Bryson and Kalise, and their beloved dog, Jet.
Of Ian, mentee Jasimine Berry says,
“He has encouraged me to pursue my personal goal of starting my own business and has given me the resources to begin that journey. Hearing of Ian's accomplishments and his leadership advice has motivated me to pursue excellence in my work.”
Congratulations again, we at the BAA are so proud of each of you.