{"id":5680,"date":"2026-01-29T10:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?p=5680"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T15:54:27","slug":"want-a-mentor-look-no-further-than-the-emerge-mentorship-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2026\/01\/29\/want-a-mentor-look-no-further-than-the-emerge-mentorship-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Need a Mentor? Look No Further Than the Emerge Mentorship Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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\u2019s 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<\/strong><\/a>, Emerson\u2019s alumni engagement platform, was founded. Last fall, the College expanded this initiative by launching the Emerge Mentoring Program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning in 2020, Emerson created Emerge to make its diverse alumni network more accessible to current students. According to Jinny Van Deusen<\/strong><\/a>, Associate Director of Professional Development and Experiential Learning at Emerson, the mentoring program was a natural next step. \u201cAfter seeing how eager alumni were to support students through career conversations, we wanted to formalize those relationships into meaningful, semester-long mentorships,\u201d Jinny shared.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Emerson College.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a successful inaugural semester in fall 2025, Jinny shared that they are \u201ckeeping the core structure that worked well, especially the one-to-one mentor-mentee pairing and flexible meeting format.\u201d She added, \u201cFor the spring cohort [beginning January 2026], we\u2019ve refined our onboarding, added more resources and check-ins, and incorporated feedback to better support both mentors and students.\u201d But what\u2019s it really<\/em> like for a student in this program?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Experience as an Emerge Mentee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong><\/a> student, it wasn\u2019t immediately clear to me why the two of us were matched, with Karen\u2019s aspirations falling in the theater world and mine a mix between books and food media. But it didn\u2019t take long to realize that Karen was exactly the mentor I needed to motivate me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I expressed my nerves about volunteering for the Boston Book Festival<\/strong><\/a> 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Mentorship Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Jinny Van Deusen, students engaged in the Emerge Mentoring Program build critical skills that they can\u2019t always learn in the classroom, like \u201cnetworking, career exploration, communication, and goal-setting.\u201d On a personal level, students can also expect to gain experience strengthening their confidence, and  get \u201cclarity about their paths, and a stronger sense of belonging within the Emerson community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Lada Balakireva on Dupe Photos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But alumni benefit just as much. \u201cMentors often tell us they gain a renewed connection to Emerson, fulfillment from giving back, and fresh energy from engaging with current students,\u201d Jinny shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Jinny shared that they \u201chope to continue expanding participation, reaching more students and alumni across industries and locations.\u201d Long term, the team wants to \u201csee opportunities for more specialized mentoring tracks and deeper integration with career development initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students who are hesitant to apply to the program, Jinny reassures that \u201cYou don\u2019t need to have everything figured out to benefit from this program\u2014that\u2019s exactly why it exists. If you\u2019re curious, open to learning, and willing to show up, an alumni mentor can be an incredibly supportive and eye-opening resource.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Involved<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a current student, by joining the program, you will be able to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n