Pardee Career Mentorship Program: Guiding Global Leaders of Tomorrow
In October 2024, Pardee Career Services launched the Pardee Career Mentorship Program — a new initiative designed to foster meaningful connections between graduate students and alumni through consistent individual meetings throughout the school year. Twelve alumni mentors volunteered their time, representing careers across industries and sectors and calling in from the U.S. and around the world.
During this pilot initiative, Pardee graduate students applied in September to be matched with an alumni mentor. Seynedhee Avenie (BA ‘24 and MA ‘25) shared her motivation for applying to the program, “I recognized the need for connections and networking and mentorship in actually getting a job, especially in the current job market. So I really wanted a mentor, somebody who I could connect with and to understand job search strategies.”
After being accepted to the program and matched with a mentor, students then participated in an orientation session hosted by Sonia Liang, director of Career Services and Claire-Solène Bečka, office coordinator, in which students gained strategies for maximizing the impact of their mentorship experiences, engaged in a collaborative goal-setting workshop, and developed a structured roadmap of topics and conversation plans to guide their meetings throughout the year. Armed with this preparation, students then initiated the first of the monthly meetings with their mentors.
Mentorship resources were also provided to the mentors. Jack Weinstein, professor of the practice of international security, in a video interview created for alumni mentors, shared his advice on developing trusting relationships with mentees and his perspective on the significance of mentorship. By offering regular check-ins and sharing helpful resources, Pardee Career Services aimed to make this program a productive professional development experience for both students and mentors.
Mentorship meetings formally ended in April, but many students indicated that they intended to stay in touch with their mentors. Reflecting on the program, Jacob Rivelli (MAIA ‘26) shared, “It was always so helpful to have someone on a similar path, who had experienced similar things, who could give me some advice that I really couldn’t find elsewhere.”
Here are some notable thoughts that student mentees shared about their experiences with the Pardee Mentorship Program:
“Xander is excellent and helpful. He chose to hop on a call in the hour between the end of his work day and another commitment just to help me prep for an interview. I am truly grateful.”
“Sophia is a fantastic mentor, and I am immensely enjoying the mentorship program so far!”
“Marcella has made me feel less alone and less isolated. She is turning into a great friend, and realizing that her experience is similar to mine has helped me face my own career with more optimism.”
“I think (Pardee Career Services) did a great job in finding me a match who could relate to me and give really helpful advice. It was the first time in a long time that I actually had a mentor who understood my long-term goals and my passions. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”
“Zach’s insights were useful as a practitioner in global health — from navigating promotion opportunities to understanding the broader field, our conversations have given me clarity and confidence as I take my next steps.”
Through the mentorship program, students gained valuable insights into their fields of interest while developing the skills needed to build meaningful professional relationships. Guided by a series of structured meetings, prompt questions, and reflective exercises, they come to understand that networking is not a transactional exchange, but an ongoing process rooted in curiosity, commitment, and consistent effort. These lessons not only enrich their current academic and career endeavors but also equip them with relationship-building skills they will carry into their future professional lives.