Fordham is soliciting applications from alumni who would like to share advice and professional expertise with undergraduates in a mentorship setting.
The Alumni and Student Mentoring Program has earned high marks for allowing students to job shadow, visit companies and attend special networking receptions, as well as foster one-on-one relationships with successful graduates.
“Mentoring Fordham students is a great way to reconnect with the University and to give back, in a tangible and personalized way,” said Chris Gulotta, FCLC ’82, LAW ’88. “Seeing your mentees grow before your eyes is as exciting as it is rewarding. These are relationships that will last for years.”
Mentors are linked with students by matching the work experience and background knowledge of alumni with undergraduates’ interests and aspirations, as shown through their majors, activities and internships.
The program began in 2005 with 45 mentorship pairs, a number which has since tripled.
For example, last year a director from Moody’s Investors Service was paired with a sophomore from Fordham College at Lincoln Center, while a senior account director from the advertising agency BBDO was linked to a sophomore from the College of Business Administration.
Fordham College at Rose Hill was represented as well. A senior there teamed up with a marketing and media manager at Opera America. Other companies represented in the program included Burlington Coat Factory, Ralph Lauren, the American Cancer Society and American Express.
The characteristics of the mentorship are set by the graduate. The method of communication, be it phone or e-mail, is determined at the outset of the program.
The application deadline for the current academic year is Sept. 30. It will be followed by a meet-and-greet reception at the Lincoln Center campus on Oct. 29.
For more information, contact Caitlin Ahern at cahern@fordham.edu or (212) 636-7068, or visithttp://www.fordham.edu/alumni_relations/mentor.shtml.
The Alumni and Student Mentoring Program is run jointly by the Office of Career Services and Office of Alumni Relations.
