The Mentor Program

Our Mentor Program at Harris is a longstanding cornerstone of our commitment to empowering students to be connected with experienced professionals throughout their program duration. Since 1988, the Mentor Program has paired students with dedicated industry professionals who want to support the next generation of policy leaders (that’s you!). 

Year 1

In your first year, you will apply to “affinity groups”, which are based on career interest and led by mentors with experience in that career area. Programming focuses on career exploration, adjustment to graduate school, and connecting your curriculum to a professional application. Additional programming focuses on career development in the form of team building, social events, and other seminars.

Year 2 

Your second year focuses on one-on-one mentorship between you and your mentor. Here you will begin fine-tuning your career goals. These pairings are based on location, sector, goals, and personality.

How many professionals are involved in the program? 

There are currently 200 established policy professionals in the Mentor Program. 100 new professionals have joined the network in the last two years alone! 

Who can apply for the program? 

100% of all Harris students are eligible to participate in the program.

How do I apply for this program? 

You will receive an email about applying for the program before arriving to campus. 

What is the time commitment? 

In the first year, affinity groups meet up to twice per quarter. Each program will have different professional development goals. They may be other events (social or networking) that students may also participate in with their mentors. In the second year, plan to meet with your mentor (via phone, email, or in-person) about once a month or based on your personal schedule with your mentor. 

Who are the mentors? 

Mentors come from across the United States and around the globe; many are Harris alumni themselves. They are individuals with policy experience who volunteer their time to mentor Harris students as they navigate a career in a policy-related field. Mentors have included elected officials, CEOs, policy advocates, etc.

We hope that you will take advantage of this program; it is an incredibly beneficial way to strengthen your ties with your Harris peers and to create a career network tailored to your specific needs and interests. For more information, click here.