College of Education and Human Development Mentor Program

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Mentor Program provides students with the opportunity to develop their professional skills outside the classroom through the guidance of professionals in the community. It is also a great way for alumni and friends to reconnect with the college and university, as well as to connect with current and future professionals in their field.

The program is available for juniors and seniors in the areas of business and marketing education (sales and marketing focus); family social science; human resource development; kinesiology; recreation, park, and leisure studies; and sport management. Mentors are alumni or friends of the college who are working professionals in the above-mentioned fields.

Students and their mentors are asked to maintain contact 2-4 hours per month (November-April). This may consist of e-mail, phone calls, on-site visits, or meetings. The program begins with an initial meeting at the mentor orientation dinner where students meet their mentors, and ends with a formal thank you event in April. Other optional professional and social activities are available throughout the program.

The CEHD Mentor Program is a part of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association Mentor Connection Program. It is jointly supported by the CEHD Alumni Society, Alumni Relations Office, and Exploratory, Transition, and Career Services (ETC).

For more information about the CEHD Mentor Program, contact contact Heather Peña, CEHD alumni relations assistant director, at 612-626-8782 or hpena@umn.edu.