At UA, you’ll always have someone in your corner.

Through real stories from students and their mentors, MentorZip highlights the support network that makes UA a place where every Zip thrives — whether it’s a professor igniting a passion for research or an upperclassman helping a first-year student find their path.

Be inspired as we showcase impactful mentorship stories that prove one thing. Here, success isn’t a solo journey — it's powered by mentorship, guidance and a community that truly cares.

For alumna Carrie Tomko, The University of Akron’s (UA) Drs. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College isn’t just where she studied — it’s where she discovered her passions. From student to professor, her journey is one of mentorship, lifelong connections and an enduring commitment to the Honors tradition.

From her first days as an Honors Scholar to her decades-long run as a senior lecturer, Tomko’s journey highlights the power of mentorship and the lasting impact of the Honors College — timely as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025.

When Tomko arrived at UA as an Honors student, she quickly found her place, thanks in large part to her Honors advisor, Distinguished Emeritus Professor Orville Keister, Ph.D., in the College of Business. More than just an academic guide, Keister became a mentor and a lifelong friend.

A mentor who changed everything

Keister’s open-door policy provided unwavering support, and his passion for learning shaped Tomko’s career path. As Tomko recalled, Keister once told her: “If in corporate America, a boss sees you reading a book, he/she would tell you to put the book away and get back to work; however, the dean walks by and sees me reading a book and says, ‘Keep up the good work.’” 

That concept convinced Tomko to pursue a career in education. She admired how he valued curiosity and lifelong learning, a philosophy she carried into her own teaching. Today, she’s a faculty member in the Honors College teaching media and communication courses.

“He wasn’t just helping me pick classes — he was shaping the way I saw my future,” she said. “The Honors motto is ‘A Tradition of Community,’ and that’s exactly what I experienced.”

Now, years later, Tomko strives to offer her students the same guidance and support that he once gave her.

Guiding the next generation

Inspired by the guidance she received, Tomko has spent more than two decades mentoring Honors students, shaping their academic and professional journeys in her classes such as STEM in the News and Humanitarian Social Media.

She takes pride in watching them go on to prestigious graduate programs and successful careers.

“Teaching in Honors has been my beloved career,” Tomko said. “I look forward to coming to campus, knowing I’ll interact with my Honors students — whom I adore. Just arriving at the Honors Complex, it’s my home away from home.”

One of her favorite classroom moments? The time when a student brought giant, wearable bubble suits to class and had two classmates wear them as “atoms.” They then ran into each other to visually demonstrate fusion—turning a complex concept into a notable lesson.

“That’s what the Honors College does — it fosters creativity, critical thinking and a sense of community where students support each other’s ideas,” Tomko said.

50 years of excellence: A legacy written in honors

As UA gears up to celebrate 50 years of honors programming — a milestone the College is marking with an anniversary celebration on Oct. 3 during Homecoming and Family Weekend — Tomko’s legacy stands as a key part of its history.

She has written a book — “50 Years of Honors Education at The University of Akron” — capturing the stories, milestones and the impact of Honors programming on its students and faculty over the last 50 years.

“While writing a book can be a lonely, painstaking process, the memories of events in Honors brought me back in time, allowing me to share my personal and professional experiences in Honors,” she said.

The book, now in editing at the University of Akron Press, will be in print by the fall 2025 semester.

Tomko’s experience is proof that mentorship is part of the Honors experience, offering more than academic prestige with a support system that lasts a lifetime.

“For me, the title of Honors alumna is a way of life,” she said. “As an Honors student, my favorite memory was walking by Dr. Keister’s office, and he would wave me in to talk. I always felt welcomed and ready to engage in any discussion. And I try to emulate that — inviting and ready to engage with my students. I had amazing Honors mentors, and now I get to be one.”

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.