Mentor Fair Brings Students and Industry Professionals Together

The Mentor Fair created a dynamic atmosphere where students had the opportunity to meet potential mentors face-to-face, learn about diverse career paths, and begin building relationships that will extend throughout the academic year and beyond. Industry professionals from various sectors within science and engineering shared their experiences, offered insights into their fields and expressed genuine interest in supporting the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

"This event allowed for networking and personal connections," said Rachael Brown, the program contact. "Seeing mentors and students engage with such interest reinforces why we invest in these relationships."

The strong turnout demonstrates the growing recognition among students of the value that mentorship brings to their educational experience. For many attendees, the fair provided a rare opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about different career trajectories, workplace cultures and the skills most valued in today's competitive job market.

After the fair, the real work began. Program organizers matched students with mentors whose expertise, experience and professional backgrounds align with their specific academic interests and career aspirations. This thoughtful approach to matching ensures that each mentorship relationship has the strongest possible foundation for success.

So far, the mentorship program has exceeded expectations. There are around 30 industry professionals, the majority of whom are Seattle University College of Science and Engineering alumni, and 60 students from a wide variety of majors within the College of Science and Engineering participating in the program and all eager to forge meaningful connections that will shape their academic and professional journeys.

The mentorship program is designed to provide Science and Engineering students with valuable guidance, industry insights and professional networks that extend far beyond the classroom. Through regular meetings and ongoing communication, mentor-mentee pairs will collaborate on goal-setting, skill development and career planning. Mentors will share real-world perspectives on industry trends, offer advice on navigating professional challenges and help students build the confidence and connections needed to launch successful careers. 

Mentors gain something too! They practice leadership, communication and networking skills while also getting to reflect on where they are in their own careers. They also can give back to their alma mater, stay connected to emerging talent and gain fresh perspectives from the next generation of scientists and engineers. 

You can read more about the mentorship program and sign up to become a mentor here. For questions about the mentorship program or to learn about future opportunities, contact Rachael Brown, Director-Project Center at brownra@seattleu.edu.