Haub School Mentorship Program

Haub School Mentorship Program

What 

The Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources Professional Mentorship Program. Connecting students studying Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Systems Science, Sustainability or Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management to professional mentors in their field of study/interest. 

Why 

The Haub School Career Services team is piloting a Professional Mentorship Program for both undergraduate and graduate students. This program is designed to provide deeper insight into potential career pathways while supporting students’ professional development through relationship-building, open conversations, and shared learning with industry professionals. 

Students in the Haub School can pursue a wide range of professional fields after graduation due to the interdisciplinary nature of our academic programs. While this creates many opportunities for students to apply their skills, the breadth of options can also feel overwhelming. Many Haub School students have expressed uncertainty about their career direction and readiness for the workforce. 

Although Career Services continues to grow as a resource for our students, there are times when we can only provide so many answers. Students are eager to hear directly from professionals working in the field. This gap in clarity—understanding available career pathways and how to transition from school into professional roles—can be addressed by individuals who are actively engaged and excelling in their careers: professional mentors. 

Goals 

• Pilot our Professional Mentorship Program with 5 students and 5 professional mentors 
• Provide a personalized connection rooted in learning, mutually defined goals, and development 
• Promote the personal and professional development of both the mentee and mentor 

Outline of timeline 

• Applications for students and mentors to join the Professional Mentorship Program will be submitted by September 25^th, 2026. Career Services will work to match mentors and mentees based on goals and interests. A preliminary meeting with mentors and mentees will be scheduled by Career Services at the beginning of October. 
• Students are required to attend an orientation meeting with Haub School Career Services to set expectations and provide resources to get you started. 
• The mentorship program will start at the beginning of October and continue until May, concluding the school year. 
• Minimum expectation for mentor and mentee meetings: at least 1 hour per month (except in December), in-person or on Zoom. 

Outline of mentorship expectations 

• At least 7 mentorship meetings will be required throughout the academic year, an average of once a month. 
• These can be held in many different forms. Examples include: 
• Casual coffee chat to discuss personal and professional aspirations 
• Workday ride-along to shadow mentor in the field 
• Zoom meeting to discuss resume/CV or give professional advice 
• There is no financial compensation for either party participating. 
• Mentors and mentees will be willing to coordinate meeting times through an established form of communication (determined through the preliminary survey). 

Benefits to student mentees 

• Identify potential career pathways and grow their sense of belonging in that industry 
• Develop professional skills, knowledge, abilities, and/or thinking 
• Gain a greater understanding of required competencies, certifications, technical and soft skills in a given career pathway 
• Expand professional and personal networks 
• Receive advice from representatives in the industry 
• Have a safe space to ideate and grow 

Benefits to mentors 

• Increase self-efficacy and leadership confidence 
• Contribute to knowledge transfer in the field 
• Improve communication or supervisory skills 
• Expand connections and networks 
• Promote self-reflection 
• Help new voices and perspectives thrive 

End of year celebration and reflection 

At the end of the program in May, Career Services will organize a celebration for in-person and remote mentorship. We hope to provide an opportunity to come together, celebrate, and reflect on the experience.