Unlock Your Future: Explore Career Opportunities with Our New Mentoring Program at the School of Education

The School of Education’s freshman class being welcomed to campus during orientation in August 2024.

This February, the School of Education will kick off Alumni Week 2025 with the launch of EdMentor Connect. This new program pairs current students with alumni, aiming to boost professional growth and career hopes. It’s a great chance for students to hear how their education can lead to different jobs.

The launch includes two online panels featuring alumni sharing their career journeys on February 19 and 20. The excitement culminates on February 21 at 5 p.m. with a networking reception in Huntington Hall’s Sharon H. Jacquet ’72 Education Commons. To get involved, students in the School of Education can fill out the EdMentor Connect Student Interest Survey to find a suitable mentor.

EdMentor Connect was created by students in the Deans’ Undergraduate Advisory Panel, with guidance from Assistant Dean Huey Hsiao, Career Counselor Lauren Gill, and support from Assistant Dean Torin Washington and the Advisory Board.

Lauren Gill explains the importance of mentorship: “Every student can benefit, especially those in teaching programs. They can learn about various career paths beyond the classroom.” Many students don’t realize the fields open to education graduates, and alumni bring diverse experiences to the table.

Hsiao emphasizes the strength of the alumni network, mentioning over 23,500 graduates ready to help. “We support one another like a family,” he says. Mentors can share different viewpoints that can shape students’ futures.

Sofia DaCruz, a senior studying selected studies in education, looks forward to connecting with professionals. “As I prepare to graduate, I’m eager for advice about my career options,” she shares.

Emily R. Ades, an Advisory Board member, expresses her enthusiasm for the program. As the director of The Kinnect Foundation, she knows firsthand the value of mentorship. “I had mentors throughout my career—from teaching to nonprofit work, they guided me.”

Similarly, Gill reflects on her mentorship experiences. Her own student teaching mentor became a valuable coach early in her career, offering advice that helped shape her teaching style.

Madison Zeltzer ’25 contributed to this story.