January is National Mentoring Month
Navigating college can be a daunting task, from choosing the right internships, joining organizations and clubs, and preparing for your career, all while balancing your social life, it can be a lot. That’s why it’s good to have someone who’s been there before to help guide you through it. A mentor can be anyone from a peer to a university staff member, or even alumni working in your desired field. Finding the right mentor can help ease some of the day-to-day stresses of college and direct you toward the path of success. Effective mentorship can expose students to great opportunities for networking and career development. Studies have shown that it can also increase productivity by reducing stress and bettering mental health.
There are many ways to find a mentor in college. Many schools provide mentorship programs that are beneficial to students, while some students may simply ask someone they look up to on campus to be their mentor. There are also national mentoring programs that target HBCU students in particular, making it easier for them to find a mentor that they can relate to and connect with on a personal level. This National Mentoring Month, we’ve compiled a list of those programs.
Here are 4 Mentoring Programs for HBCU Students!
1. HBCU First: HBCU Near-Peer Program
HBCU Near-Peer Mentoring Program is a 10-week internship helping Black youth navigate the college-to-career journey. The hybrid program is open to full-time HBCU students, designed for them to pair up to build their skills and grow their network. The Near-Peer Mentors help their freshman mentee adapt to college while exposing them to networking and internship opportunities. Applications for the Spring 2023 cohort are open now until April 1st.
2. The Black Executive and Student Training (B.E.S.T.) Program
The Black Executive and Student Training, also known as B.E.S.T., is a mentorship program that pairs HBCU students with successful Black executives to help guide them on their college-to-career journey. The B.E.S.T program aims to empower, support, and ensure the success of future Black leaders.
3. TMCF and Novartis US Foundation Career Readiness and Mentoring Program
The Career Readiness and Mentoring program, presented by The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Novartis US Foundation is designed to guide, shape, and prepare the next generation of Black and African-American healthcare professionals and leaders. The program is available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending TMCF member schools along with Historical Black Medical Colleges, and will include career readiness and leadership development experiences over a three-year timespan. Students will be paired with a Novartis employee to foster networking and development interactions, with the opportunity to build a longstanding relationship with an industry professional.
4. National Cyber Security Alliance HBCU Career Program
The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit promoting cybersecurity education and awareness is addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals with its HBCU Career Program. It is made up of an online mentoring program and in-person events at HBCUs, with the mission to equip students with the necessary life and career navigation skills needed to succeed in roles in security, privacy, and risk. The mentoring program pairs HBCU students with security and privacy professionals to help prepare them for the job search process.
