Mentorship Day

Mentors can provide guidance, encouragement, accountability, and support in many areas of life, but before an effective mentoring relationship can be built, you must first understand your own needs. In this interactive session, students will use the SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness—Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Social, Financial, Occupational, Intellectual, and Environmental Wellness—to reflect on their current strengths, challenges, and goals. Through this self-assessment, reflection, and discussion, students will identify the areas where they would benefit most from mentor support. This workshop encourages students to view mentoring through a whole-person lens, recognizing that success is influenced by multiple interconnected aspects of their life.

No one reaches their goals alone, but do you have the right people on your team? This hands-on workshop is designed to help students visualize their current support network and identify areas for growth. In this session, students will create a personalized map of their current mentoring relationships, including advisors, coaches, family members, friends, and industry professionals. Through a quick analysis of their map, students will easily identify areas of their academic, personal, or career journeys that lack guidance and support. Students will leave inspired and ready to target the potential mentors who can help them reach their goals.

Are you passionate about social impact, considering a career in the nonprofit sector, or looking to make a meaningful difference in your community? This panel will explore the opportunities in nonprofit organizations. Panelists will share how their work contributes to positive change and reflect on the challenges and rewards of mission-driven careers. The conversation will highlight the skills and values needed to lead effectively in the nonprofit space, as well as evolving needs of employers in the nonprofit world. Learn ways that you can be involved in AU’s Be The Difference Institute.

While being the first in your family to attend college is an amazing journey, navigating campus life can sometimes feel like searching for treasure without a map. You do not have to search for it alone. This session brings together first-generation students and alumni to share their unique perspectives, personal obstacles, and lessons learned on their higher education journey.

Whether you are preparing to enter the workforce, exploring career options, or looking to strengthen your professional toolkit, this panel will focus on the key skills needed to succeed in today’s dynamic environment. Panelists will share insights from their own experiences and discuss how foundational skills have supported their growth across different roles and industries. The conversation will emphasize both technical and transferable skills that contribute to long-term success. Topics may include communication, critical thinking, adaptability, problem-solving, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and the importance of continuous learning and professional development.

Whether you are looking for advice, considering becoming a mentor, or simply interested in learning from those who have successfully navigated the college experience and beyond, this panel will highlight the lasting impact of students supporting students. Alumni will reflect on their college experience and share how peer mentoring helped shape their academic, personal, and professional journeys. The panelists will discuss the value of seeking support from peers, building meaningful relationships, and learning from others during key moments of growth and transition. Topics may include navigating academic challenges, exploring career pathways, developing leadership skills, maintaining personal well-being, building networks, and finding a sense of belonging on campus and beyond.

Career paths are rarely as straightforward as they once appeared. Many professionals discover that success comes not from following a single trajectory, but from embracing change, adapting to new opportunities, and continually reinventing themselves. This alumni panel brings together graduates who have successfully navigated career pivots across industries, functions, and stages of life. Panelists will share how they recognized the need for a change, evaluated risks and opportunities, leveraged transferable skills, and built confidence when entering unfamiliar fields. This discussion will help students view career development not as a fixed plan, but as a dynamic process of lifelong learning and growth.

What does it take to transform an idea into a successful business or venture? This panel features alumni entrepreneurs who have launched startups and developed innovative products. Panelists will discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, including identifying opportunities, securing resources, managing risk, developing resilience, and learning from failure. From side hustles to creative businesses, alumni will share diverse experiences and practical advice on bringing ideas to life. Whether students dream of working for themselves or simply want to develop entrepreneurial skills that employers value, this discussion will provide inspiration and actionable guidance.

Creative talent is only one component of building a successful career in the arts. Today's artists, designers, performers, and creative professionals must also understand business, marketing, technology, and entrepreneurship. This panel features alumni who have transformed their artistic passions into sustainable careers. Students will gain a broader understanding of the arts as an economic sector and learn about the many career paths available within creative industries.

Many technical professionals begin their careers solving engineering challenges but eventually find themselves leading projects, teams, and organizations. This panel explores the transition from technical expert to organizational leader through the experiences of alumni who have moved from engineering roles into management positions. Panelists will discuss how their responsibilities evolved, the leadership skills they needed to develop, and the challenges of balancing technical expertise with people management. Whether students envision becoming engineering specialists, project managers, or senior executives, this session will provide valuable insight into how technical knowledge can become a foundation for leadership and organizational impact.

Technical sales professionals operate at the intersection of technology, business, and relationship building. Far from traditional sales stereotypes, these careers require deep product knowledge, problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences. Students will learn how technical sales combines analytical thinking with communication, negotiation, and consulting skills. This panel will provide a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most dynamic career paths available to graduates.

Being the first person to enter a new field, break through a barrier, or represent an underrepresented group in a professional setting requires courage, resilience, and determination. Panelists will share lessons learned about building credibility, finding mentors, navigating uncertainty, and leading through change. Students will hear inspiring stories about perseverance, innovation, and the importance of challenging assumptions. Attendees will leave with encouragement to pursue ambitious goals, embrace unique strengths, and confidently forge their own paths when no roadmap exists.