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SIS Career Mentoring Program Academic Year 2025-2026

The SIS Career Mentoring Program is offered through the SIS Office of Career Development and connects students with alumni mentors for one academic year. Our volunteer mentors help students gain valuable career skills, learn how to create networks that support their goals, and move towards their next professional steps. This program is open to SIS sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Students and mentors do not need to be based in the DC area to participate. New applications are available each August/September to begin the program in October.

Mentor & Mentee Applications for 2025-2026 are now closed. 

To be successful in the program, students and mentors should be prepared to engage with and learn career readiness competencies and skills, work towards shared goals and commitments together, and regularly participate in SIS Career Mentoring Program events and activities.

The SIS Career Mentoring Program is open to all SIS undergraduate sophomores, juniors, seniors, and SIS graduate students, with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Participation is not limited based on any individual’s personal identity or characteristics, including but not limited to race, color, national origin (or shared ancestry), religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Please contact Olivia Geveden, Assistant Director of Career Programming and Outreach, if you have any questions. 

Meet this year's mentors.

Selected
Students
Mentors

Why join the SIS Career Mentoring Program?

Mentorship is a valuable tool to achieve career goals, become a better leader in your field, and simply enjoy your work more. This program offers the opportunity to gain a willing and supportive mentor in international affairs who can help you develop skills, navigate career opportunities effectively, and expand your professional network. 

By the end of the academic year, if you commit to this program, you should expect to:

  • Improve your skills in 8 key career competencies highly valued by employers
  • Progress in 1 to 3 career goals set out by you at the beginning of the program
  • Meet at least one new, relevant professional in your field
  • Have developed high quality personal career materials, including base resume and cover letter 

What is the commitment?

In order to be successful in the program, students should be prepared to:

  • Dedicate at least 5 hours per month to this program.
  • Meet/interact regularly with your mentor. Keep commitments made as much as possible, and communicate promptly when scheduling changes must be made.
  • Identify your needs and expectations and discuss them with your mentor throughout the year.
  • Understand your mentor’s expectations of you and ask for clarification as needed.
  • Take initiative in the mentoring relationship, and be responsible for your own career development.
  • Ask questions and participate in conversations.
  • Be open to receiving constructive feedback and advice.
  • Keep your mentor informed of your progress throughout the year.
  • Accept and value one another’s differences.
  • Maintain a professional demeanor and positive attitude in all interactions.
  • Communicate consistently and proactively with the SIS Office of Career Development Mentoring Program administrator with any concerns or challenges.

Eligibility

  • SIS sophomores, juniors, or seniors (majors only) with a 3.0 GPA or higher may apply.
  • SIS Master's students in good academic standing may apply.
  • Students do not need to be based in the DC area to participate.
  • Students who are accepted to the program should demonstrate commitment to prompt and professional communication, thoughtful engagement with professional development goals, and initiative to create and maintain a meaningful professional relationship with your mentor.

Application

Mentee Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now closed. If you are interested in being a mentee for the 2026-2027 school year, please fill out this form.

Please contact Olivia Geveden, Assistant Director of Career Programming and Outreach, if you have any questions. 

Why become an SIS Career Mentor?

Mentorship is a crucial component to a well rounded education and meaningful career, and mentors are often some of the most influencial people in our lives. Think back to a mentor that you had (or still have!) and how their support has influenced your career and life. Joining the SIS Career Mentoring Program will allow you to not only give back to the SIS community, but to help build the foundations of a fellow Eagle to start off their career with a strong network of support and skills that will make them valuable contributors in their field.    

Mentors will be given guidance at the outset of the program to help them plan and execute an effective mentoring experience with their mentee. Mentors will be provided with all of SIS’s online career resources, suggested activities, and conversation starters for each month of the program, that work towards helping your student mentee achieve proficiency in important career readiness competencies -including critical thinking, leadership, and communication- as well as personal professional goals that they will set at the beginning of the program. Naturally, mentors are also encouraged to bring their own insights and offer any of their own suggested activities to help their student mentees grow professionally throughout the program.

With your support, your student mentee will have:

  • Improved skills in 8 key career competencies highly valued by employers
  • Progressed in 1 to 3 career goals that move their own professional path forward

  • Met at least one new relevant professional in your network

  • Have developed high quality personal career materials, including base resume and cover letter 

What is the commitment?

In order to be successful in the program, mentors should be prepared to:

  • Commit 1-5 hours per month with each student you mentor.
  • Meet and interact regularly with your mentee (at least one 30-minute meeting once a month, and 30 minutes of prep/follow up). Keep commitments made as much as possible, and communicate promptly when scheduling changes must be made.
  • Help students understand your expectations of them with clear communication around what you can support with, how to best get in touch with you, and when to generally expect a response when they reach out.
  • Help students develop and work toward realistic and obtainable goals for the program.
  • Listen to students’ needs and expectations without judgement; accept and value your differences with them and encourage questions and conversation.
  • Provide constructive feedback and advice throughout your year working with the mentee(s).
  • Communicate consistently and proactively with the SIS Office of Career Development Mentoring Program administrator with any concerns or challenges.

Eligibility

  • Mentors must be American University alumni. Current SIS graduate students who are interested in mentoring undergraduate students may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Mentors do not need to be in the DC area to participate.
  • Alumni mentors are expected to offer 1-5 hours of mentorship each month for the entire academic school year (September - May).

Application

Mentor Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now closed. If you are interested in being a mentor for the 2026-2027 school year, please fill out this form. 

Please contact Olivia Geveden, Assistant Director of Career Programming and Outreach, if you have any questions.