Mentorship Program

A curated mentorship network for the engineering science community

Program Overview

The Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) Mentorship Program is a boutique mentorship initiative designed to connect current student mentees in the ESM Department with alumni mentors. Because Engineering Science is a small, honors-level program, mentorship relationships are personally selected by program facilitators to ensure strong alignment in interests, career goals, and mentorship style. The program is designed to foster meaningful conversations about careers, professional development, and the transition from university to industry or research.

Program Goals

The ESM Mentorship Program aims to:

• Provide students with career insights and professional guidance
• Strengthen connections between current students and ESM alumni
• Support students in developing professional and soft skills
• Build a stronger engineering science alumni community
• Create mentorship relationships that extend beyond the program itself

Mentorship Format

Participants may choose either or both formats:

• 1-on-1 Mentorship
  • A student mentee is paired with a single alumni mentor for individualized conversations and guidance.
  • Pairs meet repeatedly, establish a relationship, and work towards the student's specific goals and interests.
• Small Group Mentorship
  • A small group of student mentees connects with a small group of alumni mentors, allowing for collaborative discussions and different perspective on particular topics.

Mentorship pairs/groups are carefully curated based on professional interests, mentorship goals, and communication preferences.

Topics of Mentorship

Participants can indicate areas of interest or expertise including:

• Career exploration
• Industry insights
• Research and graduate school
• Internships and early career decisions
• Networking and professional relationships
• Leadership and communication skills
• Personal skills

Program Expectations

Student mentees

• Come prepared with questions and goals
• Participate actively in mentorship conversations
• Be respectful of mentors’ time and schedules

Alumni mentors

• Share professional experiences and career insights
• Offer guidance and perspective to students
• Engage in periodic conversations with mentees

The program is designed to be flexible and manageable for both students and mentors.

Who Can Participate?

• Student mentees — Current undergraduate or graduate ESM students
• Alumni mentors — ESM graduates who are interested in supporting current students

How to Participate

Students and alumni may register to participate through the interest forms below.

• Student Mentee Form
• Alumni Mentor Form

Following submissions, program facilitators will review responses and create mentorship matches designed to maximize compatibility and value for participants.