Elevating Individuals Through Mentorship

Leading the Conversation About Next-Generation Mentoring

As mentoring evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly transforming world, TERN Mentoring remains at the forefront of innovative student development approaches through research, analysis, and thought leadership.

Explore our white papers, research reports, podcasts, webinars, and press releases to discover how next-generation mentoring reshapes student success and gives institutions a competitive advantage in challenging times.

Tern Talks

Gen Z is often labeled as the hyper-connected, digital-native generation, but what if they are actually the most tired of the online world? In this illuminating conversation, we sit down with Scott Seibel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-scott-seibel/), a self-funding junior at CU Boulder, who offers a powerful and unique lens into collegiate life, fierce motivation, and the complex relationship students have with technology. Scott shares his generation’s growing desire to disconnect from screens for more meaningful, interpersonal connections, even while grappling with a crucial challenge: the confusing, "wishy-washy" policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) on campus. As universities struggle to define where AI belongs—a helpful tool or grounds for plagiarism—students are left in fear, knowing they must use it to keep pace but risking failure if they do. Discover why this fiscally responsible student believes AI should be a tool for experienced professionals, not a crutch for those just starting out, and how this digital dilemma is shaping the next generation of leaders.

Chapters:
[00:00] Intro
[1:42] Mermaid Club And Passion For Swimming
[7:30] Scott's Multiple Roles And Academic Commitment
[9:00] Completely Funding His College Experience
[13:00] Proactively Securing The RA Position
[18:00] The Critical Importance Of The First Week
[22:44] Craving Interpersonal Connections And Disconnecting 
[28:43] Wishy-Washy AI Policy And Student Fear
[37:13] Reforming The RA Workload With Data
[47:00] Submitting Resumes To AI Bots For Jobs
[54:12] Multi-Stage Service-Based Career Plan
[1:02:13] Detailed Color-Coded Calendar System

Gen Z is often labeled as the hyper-connected, digital-native generation, but what if they are actually the most tired of the online world? In this illuminating conversation, we sit down with Scott Seibel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-scott-seibel/), a self-funding junior at CU Boulder, who offers a powerful and unique lens into collegiate life, fierce motivation, and the complex relationship students have with technology. Scott shares his generation’s growing desire to disconnect from screens for more meaningful, interpersonal connections, even while grappling with a crucial challenge: the confusing, "wishy-washy" policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) on campus. As universities struggle to define where AI belongs—a helpful tool or grounds for plagiarism—students are left in fear, knowing they must use it to keep pace but risking failure if they do. Discover why this fiscally responsible student believes AI should be a tool for experienced professionals, not a crutch for those just starting out, and how this digital dilemma is shaping the next generation of leaders.

Chapters:
[00:00] Intro
[1:42] Mermaid Club And Passion For Swimming
[7:30] Scott's Multiple Roles And Academic Commitment
[9:00] Completely Funding His College Experience
[13:00] Proactively Securing The RA Position
[18:00] The Critical Importance Of The First Week
[22:44] Craving Interpersonal Connections And Disconnecting
[28:43] Wishy-Washy AI Policy And Student Fear
[37:13] Reforming The RA Workload With Data
[47:00] Submitting Resumes To AI Bots For Jobs
[54:12] Multi-Stage Service-Based Career Plan
[1:02:13] Detailed Color-Coded Calendar System

YouTube Video UEwxY3RoT29wLVFONDJFbThadE5CM28tLWwtLWdmUG1mVy4zRDBDOEZDOUM0MDY5NEEz

AI Or F? Navigating The Wishy-Washy Reality Of AI On College Campuses With Scott Seibel

18 hours ago

Meet Jessica Francis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-francis-440b875b/?_l=en_US), the Land Acquisition Manager for Drees Homes (http://www.dreeshomes.com) and the youngest sitting President of the Northern Virginia Builders Industry Association (NVBIA). In this episode of TERN Talks, Jessica unpacks her incredible journey, sharing how her Psychology degree unexpectedly prepared her for success in the male-dominated field of land acquisition and development. She offers invaluable insights on everything from door-knocking at age 24 to the profound shift of learning to set boundaries as a working parent. Discover how Jessica is championing younger generation leadership in homebuilding and how her secret to success lies in turning feelings into a "superpower".

Chapters:
[00:00] Intro
[0:29] Introduction Of Jessica Francis And Her Current Roles
[2:07] Unpacking The Psychology Degree And Career Path To Land Acquisition
[3:09] The Start Of Home Building Career And Reframing Rejection
[10:34] The Necessity Of Boundaries And Dealing With Career And Home Guilt
[14:15] Becoming The Youngest President Of NVBIA And Developing A Succession Planning Vision
[21:10] Addressing Workforce Gaps And The Friction Of Knowledge Transfer
[29:55] Using The Pause To Manage The Fawn Response In High-Stakes Negotiations
[36:09] The Freshman Year Rebellion And The Lesson Learned From A Poor Decision 
[44:49] Mentorship Pearls: Networking, Rejecting Perfectionism, And Feelings As Superpower

Meet Jessica Francis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-francis-440b875b/?_l=en_US), the Land Acquisition Manager for Drees Homes (http://www.dreeshomes.com) and the youngest sitting President of the Northern Virginia Builders Industry Association (NVBIA). In this episode of TERN Talks, Jessica unpacks her incredible journey, sharing how her Psychology degree unexpectedly prepared her for success in the male-dominated field of land acquisition and development. She offers invaluable insights on everything from door-knocking at age 24 to the profound shift of learning to set boundaries as a working parent. Discover how Jessica is championing younger generation leadership in homebuilding and how her secret to success lies in turning feelings into a "superpower".

Chapters:
[00:00] Intro
[0:29] Introduction Of Jessica Francis And Her Current Roles
[2:07] Unpacking The Psychology Degree And Career Path To Land Acquisition
[3:09] The Start Of Home Building Career And Reframing Rejection
[10:34] The Necessity Of Boundaries And Dealing With Career And Home Guilt
[14:15] Becoming The Youngest President Of NVBIA And Developing A Succession Planning Vision
[21:10] Addressing Workforce Gaps And The Friction Of Knowledge Transfer
[29:55] Using The Pause To Manage The Fawn Response In High-Stakes Negotiations
[36:09] The Freshman Year Rebellion And The Lesson Learned From A Poor Decision
[44:49] Mentorship Pearls: Networking, Rejecting Perfectionism, And Feelings As Superpower

YouTube Video UEwxY3RoT29wLVFONDJFbThadE5CM28tLWwtLWdmUG1mVy41QUZGQTY5OTE4QTREQUU4

From Psychology To Presidency: Being The Youngest Leader At The Homebuilding Table - Jessica Francis

May 5, 2026 6:01 am

Deep Dive Into CSU’s Leadership Seminar

April 28, 2026 6:00 am

A Deep Dive Into Impostor Syndrome With Dan Gullifor

April 7, 2026 6:01 am

News & Press Releases

Mentorship Solutions Made for Academia

Real Professors. Real Students. Real Results.

See how TERN is bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world mentorship.

Insights into Mentorship

TERN Mentoring HR Focus Group Insights

Compiled key insights, and themes from HR Focus Groups.

Our Latest Findings

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