Mentors and mentees from UD’s RISE program.

Mentorship Month

Article by UDaily Staff Photos by Maria Errico and Evan Krape January 21, 2025

A sampling UD mentorship opportunities

Blue Hens are diverse and multifaceted — and so are their mentorship opportunities.

In honor of National Mentoring Month, celebrated each January, UDaily has compiled a list of ways to engage. Learn more below.

Lerner Executive Mentoring

This program matches Lerner Business and Economics students with successful executives. Mentors come with at least 10 years of career experience — and passion — to help undergraduate and graduate Blue Hens succeed. The pairs spend at least one hour per month connecting (either in-person or virtually). To sign up or learn more, visit https://lerner.udel.edu/lerner-executive-mentoring-program/.

Mentors and mentees in the Lerner Executive Mentoring program gather for a celebration dinner.

Accelerate Winter Internship

Launched in 2024 through Delaware Athletics, the new internship program connects student-athletes with Delaware businesses. Companies interested in participating can contact Steven Caulfield at scaulfie@udel.edu to learn more.

Hire a Hen

Alumni employers wanting to connect with students for internship and job opportunities in Delaware and beyond need to look no further than the Hire a Hen program. To post an opportunity, visit udel.edu/HireAHen.

Job Shadowing

Touring a workplace. Meeting with key members of an organization. Receiving invaluable advice. These are some of the things Blue Hen students can expect when they shadow an alumnus for a day. The program, facilitated by the UD Career Center, allows students to reflect on ways their education has prepared them for life after college. To participate or learn more, email jobshadow@udel.edu.

RISE-Resources to Inspire Successful Engineers

Historically, engineering has been a white male-dominated field. But through peer support, mentorship and networking opportunities, RISE is working to change that. Nearly 100 undergraduate students participate each academic year, receiving access to everything from scholarships to professional development workshops. To learn more about the program and opportunities to support it, visit https://engr.udel.edu/undergraduate-education/rise/.

Wednesday Tech Forum

At these events, undergraduate students in electrical and computer engineering hear from alumni, faculty and other professionals in industry about their experiences, words of wisdom and more. Students connect with local companies looking for interns or full-time employees, and they strengthen their professional network. Alumni looking to mentor, hire or speak to current students in electrical and computer engineering can email Heather Dunlap (hdunlap@udel.edu) to learn more.

ASPIRE - Academic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Educators

This student-centered organization supports students from diverse backgrounds as they prepare for careers in education and human service. It offers opportunities for networking, leadership and academic support, and the capstone event each year is an "Alumni Roundtable" where ASPIRE alumni speak with current students about their careers and life experiences after UD. To sign up or learn more, email aspire-info@udel.edu.

HenLaw Mentoring Program

The HenLaw Mentoring Program connects alumni working in the legal profession with students interested in legal careers. It is part of UD’s Legal Professional Preparatory Program (LP3), which provides resources, networking events and an internship program. To get involved, email pre-law@udel.edu.

Sally Yates (left), former deputy attorney general of the United States, speaks to students interested in the Legal Professional Preparatory Program (LP3) program. The conversation was moderated by alumna Maryanne Donaghy, Class of 1981, deputy general counsel at Nemours.