Accelerate Students' Careers!

Welcome to USG's Mentoring Program, where you design your own mentor experience. Lend your passion and expertise while guiding students through educational and professional exploration. Connect with students in a way that fits your schedule and the level of involvement you want. 

Become a mentor today!

Benefits & Rewards of Being a Mentor:

  • Share your professional experiences and insights.
  • Expand your own professional network and connect with the USG Community.
  • Discover talent that you could bring into your company or organization.
  • Feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction from contributing to the success of future and current students at USG (If they see it, they can be it).
  • Refine your interpersonal and leadership skills.
  • Shape and influence future talent.

Mentor Expectations:

  • Be open and honest with your communication.
  • Keep strict confidentiality. The relationship must be built on trust. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact the Program Manager or emergency personnel.
  • Be sensitive to your mentee's circumstances, issues, or questions.
  • Follow through on your commitments.
  • Be engaged. Give your mentee your full attention.
  • Guide, do not lead. You are amazing but so is your mentee - show them how to shine.
  • Be trustworthy. Again, a strong mentor-mentee relationship is built on trust.

 

Mentoring Options

You can sign up for one, two, or all of the options below. Design your own mentor experience that will bring your best to USG students.

Traditional Mentoring

  • Meet with your mentee for at least three, one-hour sessions a semester on professional and personal development.

Flash Mentoring

  • An hour session on informational interviews, mock interviews, general career consultation, or guidance on building their network.

Mentor Circles

  • Be a subject-matter expert on career-ready topics in an hour seminar setting. 
Getting Started

Mentor Handbook

Myths About Mentoring

How to Start the Conversation

Giving Constructive Feedback

 

Mentor Training Video

Attending a training session is required for any individual who wants to participate in the Program. If applying after the training session has been conducted, you will have access to a quick orientation video to get you started. You will then attend the next live training. To get access to the orientation video, please email usg-mentoringprogram@umd.edu 

 

Documents & Resources

Mentorship Agreement (Traditional Mentoring only)

Career Competency Self-Assessment - Students can use this as a starting point for the mentoring relationship.

SMART Goals Setting Guide 

Career Exploration Guide

Hire U - Overview of Hire U at USG

Hire U Competencies - Core skills associate with workplace success today

CONTACT
Rebekah Taravella
Mentoring Program Manager
Biomedical Sciences &
Engineering Building,  Room 3125
9631 Gudelsky Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 738-6306
It's a meaningful way to give back while helping students navigate their academic and professional paths. The structure is flexible, and the relationships built through the program are genuinely rewarding. I've really enjoyed mentoring my mentee, L., over multiple semesters - it's been incredibly fulfilling to watch her grow and to build a stronger, more trusting relationship over time. We've learned so much from each other along the way.
Stefanie W.