For many graduate students, one question tends to loom over our heads: What comes next? When networking and applying for jobs can often feel like a full-time role in itself, it’s easy not to know where to start. But for Emerson students, a pathway toward success is right under our noses: the Emerson community network. One of the most valuable assets of this community is our vast alumni network, which is why Emerge, Emerson’s alumni engagement platform, was founded. Last fall, the College expanded this initiative by launching the Emerge Mentoring Program.
Beginning in 2020, Emerson created Emerge to make its diverse alumni network more accessible to current students. According to Jinny Van Deusen, Associate Director of Professional Development and Experiential Learning at Emerson, the mentoring program was a natural next step. “After seeing how eager alumni were to support students through career conversations, we wanted to formalize those relationships into meaningful, semester-long mentorships,” Jinny shared.
The Emerge Mentoring Program pairs current Emerson graduate students across various programs with alumni mentors for a one-on-one connection throughout the semester. Mentor-mentee pairs meet at least six times to discuss everything from resume revamping to networking and mock interviews. The program encourages career exploration, goal setting, and personal growth for both students and alumni.
After a successful inaugural semester in fall 2025, Jinny shared that they are “keeping the core structure that worked well, especially the one-to-one mentor-mentee pairing and flexible meeting format.” She added, “For the spring cohort [beginning January 2026], we’ve refined our onboarding, added more resources and check-ins, and incorporated feedback to better support both mentors and students.” But what’s it really like for a student in this program?
My Experience as an Emerge Mentee
I participated in the Emerge Mentoring Program this past semester and was paired with Karen Carson, an Emerson alum who graduated from the College in 1978. As a Publishing and Writing MA student, it wasn’t immediately clear to me why the two of us were matched, with Karen’s aspirations falling in the theater world and mine a mix between books and food media. But it didn’t take long to realize that Karen was exactly the mentor I needed to motivate me.
From our very first meeting, Karen challenged me to advocate for myself and stop doubting my abilities. She reinforced the idea that imposter syndrome can be incessant during the career search, especially for women, but reminded me that our resumes and vast experiences speak for themselves. She encouraged me to stop putting off the job/internship application process and instead intentionally build it into my weekly schedule.
When I expressed my nerves about volunteering for the Boston Book Festival and was unsure how to come across naturally in networking environments, we walked through every possible scenario together. She even suggested I print business cards!
Karen showed up (virtually) to every meeting with high energy, and by the end of each hour-long call, I felt empowered and like I had accomplished something. Because of her investment in my success, I wanted to come to each meeting with updates that would make her proud, whether it was jobs I had applied to or connections I’d made. She often even came prepared to our meetings with job postings, companies, and contacts she thought would be beneficial for me to explore. More than anything, I felt supported and like we were a real team working toward a tangible future.
Why Mentorship Matters
According to Jinny Van Deusen, students engaged in the Emerge Mentoring Program build critical skills that they can’t always learn in the classroom, like “networking, career exploration, communication, and goal-setting.” On a personal level, students can also expect to gain experience strengthening their confidence, and get “clarity about their paths, and a stronger sense of belonging within the Emerson community.”
But alumni benefit just as much. “Mentors often tell us they gain a renewed connection to Emerson, fulfillment from giving back, and fresh energy from engaging with current students,” Jinny shared.
Looking ahead, Jinny shared that they “hope to continue expanding participation, reaching more students and alumni across industries and locations.” Long term, the team wants to “see opportunities for more specialized mentoring tracks and deeper integration with career development initiatives.”
For students who are hesitant to apply to the program, Jinny reassures that “You don’t need to have everything figured out to benefit from this program—that’s exactly why it exists. If you’re curious, open to learning, and willing to show up, an alumni mentor can be an incredibly supportive and eye-opening resource.”
Getting Involved
Are you interested in being paired with an Emerson alumni, or serving as a mentor to a current student? You can sign up for the Emerge Mentoring Program next fall!
As a current student, by joining the program, you will be able to:
- View and favorite potential alumni mentors
- Be matched with a mentor who can offer insight into career paths, workplace culture, transferable skills, networking strategies, decision-making, and professional growth
- Learn valuable networking skills
- And more!
If you’re looking for encouragement or just a reminder that you don’t have to navigate the overwhelming career world alone, the Emerge Mentoring Program is an empowering tool to start the process!
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