Quinsigamond Community College and The Hanover Insurance Group Partner to Offer Mentoring

WORCESTER, MA— November 1, 2022 —  The Hanover Insurance Group has recently joined as a core partner of Quinsigamond Community College’s (QCC) mentoring program. Core partners are organizations that provide at least 10 mentors who will be matched with QCC students. The Hanover will be providing mentors from Mi Familia, one of its business resources groups which supports the Hispanic/Latinx community and its allies. 

“We are excited to partner with The Hanover, a well-known and respected organization that, like QCC, is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said QCC President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D. “This is a partnership that will have an incredibly positive impact on our student mentees and our community as a whole.”

QCC mentees work with their mentors to develop employer desired skills, gain an understanding of workplace expectations and have the opportunity to network, increasing the likelihood of finding a rewarding career. They also gain a personal and professional connection with their mentor, who provides guidance, training, and overall support. Mentors use the experience to build leadership skills and are able to give back to the community in which they work. In addition to the one-on-one relationships, mentors and mentees attend monthly events that expand their networks and build community.

“The Hanover and QCC are closely aligned in core values – with a focus on inclusion, diversity and equity, so supporting this program as a core partner made perfect sense,” said Karen Andrade, vice president and chief operations officer, business insurance, at The Hanover. “This program will provide students with insight into what to consider in a career journey and how to maintain a work/life balance as they further their education. As a grateful and proud Asian American, Hanover leader, executive co-sponsor of Mi Familia, and QCC graduate, I believe this furthers our journey and commitment to advocating for inclusion, diversity and equity, especially for under-represented communities right here in our neighborhood.”

Eduardo Anaya, a QCC alumnus from the Business Administration program, received a bachelor’s degree after transferring to Worcester State University through the Mass Transfer program. He wasn’t sure where to apply his new skills but when a temp-to-hire position brought him to The Hanover, he knew the company culture was a good fit. When he discovered the QCC mentoring program through a networking event at The Hanover, he applied immediately.

“I always knew I wanted to be involved as much as possible in my career and community,” Anaya said. “As a QCC alum, I feel like I can truly understand the issues that many students face, such as working full-time while going to school. It takes programs like the QCC-Hanover mentoring partnership to help bring out a student’s full potential. This is a great experience for them to learn their strengths and weaknesses, making them better prepared for the workforce or whatever next step they choose.”

In addition to The Hanover, QCC’s other core partners include AbbVie, UMass Memorial Medical Center, The City of Worcester, Worcester County Bar Association, and Family Behavioral Health. To learn more about QCC’s Mentoring program, visit www.qcc.edu/mentoring.