If you are looking for a boost – the 2025 Jane Morris Mentorship Program is the place! Whether you are a young professional looking for guidance as you chart your course or a seasoned professional looking to invest in the next generation, this mentorship program is for you. This program is a well-regarded staple of our chapter, with a history of beneficial connections made and positive momentum gained. Be introduced to a broad range of professionals across the industry and help keep our Transportation field moving forward here in the Valley! Click here to apply or keep reading to hear perspectives from our recent 2024 program graduates.

Arriana Jones

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1. Who and/or what is your biggest motivation in your career/life?

Family and community are my biggest motivations, both personally and professionally. I’m driven by the relationships I have with people and by my desire to positively impact the world around me. I’m a fourth-generation Arizonan with deep roots in Eloy, and I grew up surrounded by a large extended family that was constantly involved in local community organizations and volunteer work. The values they instilled in me, coupled with my desire to understand how the built environment impacts the communities I care about, led me to a career in urban planning. I thrive when I know my actions will positively benefit those around me (whether it be colleagues, friends and family, or the greater community!).

2. What was your favorite memory from this past year’s 2024 Jane Morris Mentorship Program?

Interacting with my mentorship cohort at the 2024 Membership Mixer was my favorite memory over the course of the program. I tend to be shy, so I was nervous about being in an unfamiliar environment with a crowd of transportation professionals who all seemed to be networking pros in my eyes. Thankfully, I found a few of my fellow mentees early in the event, and their presence grounded me. It was a relief to see familiar faces and talk to people who I knew were also still learning how to navigate the transportation industry. Through our conversations, I met some of their connections and even branched out to start conversations of my own. That’s been a consistent perk of the program for me—seeing mentors and mentees at other WTS events and knowing they’re willing to connect, share their experiences, and be part of my growing network of transportation professionals.

3. What do you hope next year’s participants in the mentorship program walk away with? (or maybe a better question, is what are you walking away with?)

I hope next year’s mentorship program participants complete the program with increased confidence in their abilities, inspiration to take on new challenges and step out of their comfort zones, and a greater sense of belonging (both in WTS as an organization, and the transportation industry as a whole). Over the course of the mentorship program, I learned from and was inspired by the diverse personal and career paths of my mentors and fellow mentees. As an emerging professional, I had been feeling anxious about my unconventional path to transportation planning. I wasn’t sure I belonged in planning in general, let alone the transportation industry. The support and encouragement of my mentorship cohort are gifts that will stick with me as I continue to grow in my career.