Alumni Mentor Program
Deadline: September 9, 2011
All questions and concerns about the alumni-student mentor program should be directed to Evelyn Corchado at eoc11@columbia.edu.
Dear Students:
On behalf of the Alumni Office and the Alumni Board, we would like to add our welcome to the Journalism School. We hope your year is off to a memorable start.
As David Peterkin ’82, chair of the Alumni Board, mentioned during Orientation on August 4, we invite you to participate in the Alumni Mentor Program. Established in 1980, it is open to both full-time and part-time students. The program is designed to give you access to a journalist working in the field you hope to pursue. We hope your mentor will serve as a resource for making the most of your time in New York City and will ease your transition from school to the workplace.
The Mentor Program is voluntary and it’s up to you to make the most of it. You must be willing to commit the time to reach out to your mentor on a regular basis.
Alumni are generally enthusiastic and want to help, but not everyone works at a big newspaper or television station. Many mentors are recent graduates who are employed at Web sites or trade publications. Some are reporters covering business or local news. But all know about the school and the profession and are ready to share their experience with you.
A few words of caution: The goal of the program is not to get you a job after commencement. Many mentors are uncomfortable about being placed in the position of recruiter. So, please don’t sign up if your primary motivation is meeting alumni who could employ you.
Not all mentors live in New York City, but out-of-town mentors can be contacted by phone or email to discuss issues or review resumes/cover letters. They can provide valuable insight or serve as a sounding board, even if they are far away. It will also give you experience networking with out-of-town sources, an important skill to have for landing a job or a story.
Please complete the Mentor Application Form by Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. We hope to inform you of your mentor by mid-October.
We will do our best to make suitable pairings, but cannot guarantee a perfect match or a mentor for every student. Mentors are available for overall guidance and advice, so don’t be turned off if yours doesn’t appear to share similar interests. If you have any questions about the program, please direct them to Evelyn Corchado at eoc11@columbia.edu.
Regardless of whether you choose to participate in the mentor program, we wish you the best of luck at the Journalism School.
Thank you.
Irena Choi Stern '01
Assistant Dean, Alumni Relations
jalumni@columbia.edu