Mentorship Program
Mason Science Mentorship Program
The purpose of the Mason Science Mentorship Program is to connect current College of Science students with mentors from the Mason alumni network and professionals in the community.
Our goal is to provide Mason Science students with meaningful professional networking connections for career and professional growth opportunities and guidance. This is not only an opportunity for students, but also for alumni and professionals in the broader community, to engage with Mason Science students in a volunteer capacity - supporting and engaging with the College of Science community regularly.
Who Can Participate?
Mason Science Mentors and Mentees are motivated individuals who want to be more engaged in the Mason Community through meaningful volunteering.
Mentors
Mentors are individuals from the Mason Science alumni community and/or those within the scientific professional community who are interested in serving in a volunteer capacity to work with Mason Science Mentees over the course of a mentor program cycle.
These individuals can be Mason Science Alumni, GMU alumni with ties to the science community at large, and interested stakeholders from the surrounding community who have a connection to the scientific community in general.
Mason Science Mentors can be:
- Mason Alumni who graduated with a degree in a scientific field
- Mason Alumni who are working in a scientific field (regardless of degree program)
- Mason Alumni including those who do not currently work in the scientific field
- Mason Faculty/Staff
- Professionals in the community with a desire to guide Mason Science students through their academic and professional journeys
Mentees
Mentees are undergraduate and graduate students who seek a connection to those within the Mason Science alumni and scientific professional community for advice on topics concerning professional and academic growth opportunities as a College of Science student.
Who can be a Mason Science Mentee?
- Any Mason Science student seeking information or guidance about career, post-graduation/professional life, and graduate school.
- Any Mason Science student who wants to make professional connections through networking and meeting with members of the community.
How to Get Involved
Sign Up!
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, please fill out the appropriate form linked below and you will be connected with the Mason Science Mentorship Program coordinator. From there you will receive all of the information you need to become a Mentor.
Update your resume
In order to be paired with a mentor/mentee, our team will review your submitted form. Mentees should also have a resume prepared to share with their assigned mentor. Don't have a resume? Click here to connect with Mason Career Services.
Mark your calendar
We are now accepting applications on a rolling basis for mentors and mentees for the Fall 2023 semester. A kick-off event has been scheduled for those who have signed up for the program.
FAQs
Got questions? We have answers!
If you don't see the information you are seeking below, contact John Coggsdale, Assistant Director of Development, with your questions.
What is the role of a mentor?
A mentor should be prepared to engage with a student (undergraduate or graduate) on topics of concern or questions they have about post-graduation work life. These questions could come in a wide variety of forms. They may also seek out your career story, i.e., how you made the transition from graduation into the working world, and what choices you made and continue to make along the way.
What do mentors do?
A mentoring activity may be a one-time conversation, or it could lead to a long-term dialogue over the course of the semester (or beyond, if both parties agree). It could be a series of email or text exchanges, longer in-person conversations, Zoom calls, or anything in between.
How are mentors and mentees paired?
We believe in creating an alumni mentorship network, so while you will be paired as a mentor and mentee, by joining this program you have access to the entire network. A mentor may be paired with a student who may not match with your academic training or work career expertise. However, general mentoring on what it’s like to work ‘in the real world’ is just as, if not more, valuable to students who have not had these experiences.
How do I "mentor"?
Mentoring is about sharing experiences and providing guidance. Consider the first time you started a job: What were those first few weeks like? The first time you had to give a status report to your manager or boss? The first time you asked for a raise? Resigned from a job? Decided to return to school or not to return to school? Did a complete 180 on your own career path or sharpened your skills in your existing career area? Attended a professional conference on behalf of your organization? Gave a presentation to leadership in your organization? These are the experiences you can share with mentees to make an impact!