Top
Find a Mentor
The Krulak Institute connects BSC students with mentors based on students’ areas of interests and the professional backgrounds of the mentors. There are two ways for students to connect with a mentor: through short-term connections and through the Panther Partnerships Mentoring Program.
Why get a mentor?
A mentor is an advisor who can share relevant insights drawn from their own experience, challenge you to learn and grow, and serve as a sounding board for plans and decisions. A mentor can help you:
- Clarify your goals. A mentors’ experience paired with your ambition can help clarify where and how to achieve your aspirations.
- Expand your network. Mentors will support you in building strong relationships with a diverse range of people across different sectors.
- Gain professional insight. Mentors assist in translating your skills, strengths, and preferences into a professional context.
- Challenge your assumptions. Mentors can prompt reflections that debunk myths about your professional trajectory.
How do I Get a Mentor?
Panther Partnerships
Mentoring Program
Apply for an eight-month mentoring experience that pairs BSC students with professionals in a variety of fields
Program applications open in March; the program begins in September.
Short-Term
Mentor Connections
Participate in networking sessions or schedule one-time informational interviews.
Schedule a meeting with Krulak Institute staff and monitor Handshake for opportunities.
Dive Deeper:
-
Panther Partnerships
The Panther Partnerships Program is a selective program that pairs students with working professionals in an eight-month, structured mentoring experience. In this program, students and mentors meet monthly for structured conversation, and participate in seminars focused on networking, resume building, and interviewing. The program begins in September and ends in May. Applications open for students in their second or third year at BSC in March for participation in the following academic year.
How do I apply?
Applications for the Panther Partnerships Mentoring program open in March and close in mid-April of each year. Students in their second or third year at BSC will be interviewed and, if selected, paired with a mentor. Most mentors reside in the Birmingham area, but on occasion students will be placed with professionals from across the U.S.
Applications can be found on ENGAGE. Students selected for the program will be notified in May, and will meet their mentors at a kick-off event in September.
Interested in who has participated in the Panther Partnerships Mentoring Program?
We are thankful to the professionals who have given their time and resources to the Panther Partnerships Program, and we are proud of the students who have participated. Review the list of participants:
-
Professional Connections
The Krulak Institute, in cooperation with Career Services, offers on-campus mock interviews, career fairs, and networking sessions with employers and recruiters. In addition, meeting one-on-one with someone for an informational interview can help you clarify your career interests and preparation needs.
How do I make these connections?
Schedule a meeting with staff in the Krulak Institute. Watch for these sessions on Handshake and ENGAGE and advertisements across campus. Register on Handshake for alerts about on-campus networking opportunities, including career fairs, mock interviews, and other informational sessions. Find out more about Handshake here
-
Become a Mentor
Thank you for your interest in mentoring BSC students. Professionals in the Birmingham area and elsewhere who are interested in serving as a mentor in the Panther Partnerships Program or are interested in mentoring in another capacity should contact the staff in the Krulak Institute.
What should I consider if I want to become a mentor?
- Time commitment. Mentors in the Panther Partnership Program commit to monthly hourl-long meetings with their mentee from September through May, with additional opportunities to join the mentee for on-campus programming.
- Program goals. Students and mentors are provided a structured curriculum that helps set individual goals for the mentee and talk through key areas of professional development.
- Networking. Mentors should open doors for students by connecting them with other professionals. There is no expectation that the mentors find internships or jobs for mentees.
- Professional experience. Mentors should have at least five years of professional experience. Mentor and mentee matches are determined over the summer based on student career interests, goals, and other needs. Should we be able to match you with a mentee, the program coordinator will reach out during the summer.
If mentoring through the Panther Partnership Program seems like a good fit for you or you would like to be available for other mentorship and career programming, contact a staff member in the Krulak Institute.