MENTOR A STUDENT IN D.C.
You can help a college student have the ULTIMATE D.C. EXPERIENCE! Each spring, TFAS recruits working professionals in the Washington, D.C. area to serve as mentors. Mentors are matched with a college student attending one of our academic internship programs in Washington, D.C. For more information, email Lauren Goldberg at lgoldberg@TFAS.org
Alumnus Aaron Lewis (IPJ 93, ICPES 96) and his mentees, Edgar Pabon and Joel Simpson.
TFAS Mentor Erika Liliedahl (IPVS 99) enjoys a Nationals baseball game with her mentee.
Jessica Taylor (IPJ 05) visits with her mentee at the annual mentor breakfast.
HOW TO SIGN UP
To sign up, fill out our D.C. Mentor Survey. Your answers will help us successfully match you with a student. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, April 26th.
We use your answers to assign you to the program that best suits your career/profession. When our class of students is finalized, we will hand match you to a student. We look to find some common ground in career interests, hometown, alma mater and political ideology.
We will connect you and your student by email before the student arrives in Washington. We will also organize a Meet Your Mentor breakfast during the second week of the program to facilitate a first meeting. This is an important part of the program that provides an initial meeting for you and your student. We'll provide suggestions and organize a few activities during the remainder of the program.
MENTOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Commitment to serve as a mentor during the eight week summer program (June 5 - Aug. 3)
- Willingness to meet face-to-face with your mentee at least once in June and once in July
- Ability to send an introductory email to your mentee, prior to arrival, and stay in touch throughout the program
- Must live or work in the D.C. metro area
- Must be a working professional
- Must possess two or more years of full-time experience OR be a TFAS alumnus
2013 MENTOR PROGRAM SCHEDULE
- April 26: Mentor Sign Up Deadline
- May 3, 7, & 10: Mentor Orientation Conference Calls (one is required for new mentors)
- Week of May 20: Mentor/Student Matching notifications sent by email
- June 5: Students arrive in Washington
- June 12, 13, & 17: “Meet Your Mentor” Breakfasts (Sign up will be at a later date)
- June 29: Saturday afternoon student BBQ on George Washington’s campus (optional)
- July 19: Washington Nationals baseball game (optional)
- Aug. 2: Graduation (optional)
ABOUT THE PROGRAM & STUDENTS
The D.C. Mentor Program is designed to help provide a well-rounded "Washington experience" for the students participating in TFAS summer programs. Students are matched with area professionals who can offer career guidance, review their resume, share insider tips and offer general advice.
Students undergo a rigorous application process before being accepted into one of our programs. They're serious about their internships and they want to get the most out of their experience. Most are upperclassmen and have an average GPA of 3.5. Our students are diverse, hailing from small private colleges to large state universities.
Students attend one of five summer programs that combine coursework with nearly full-time internships. Program areas include:
- Political Science/Public Policy
- Lobbying/Business
- Journalism and Communications
- Nonprofit Sector
- Legal
For additional information, please visit our website at www.DCinternships.org.
WHY MENTOR?
Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, you probably remember your college days and the difficult decisions you faced at that critical crossroad of life. No matter the preparation, the transition from college campus to the working world was most likely a stressful one. Now you can positively influence a young person and gain personal satisfaction in the process. Some benefits of mentoring
- Networking with other professionals who are volunteering as mentors
- Socializing at TFAS events in the summer and throughout the year
- Increasing your understanding of your own personal and professional goals
- Gaining personal satisfaction as you help a future leader
- Developing new skills, e.g. counseling and strategic thinking
CONTACT
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Lauren Goldberg, U.S. Programs Coordinator at lgoldberg@TFAS.org or 202-986-0384.
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