Meadows Mentor Program Builds Career Connections That Last Beyond Graduation
With nearly 600 alumni and volunteers participating, the growing program is helping Meadows students turn professional connections into career opportunities.
What begins as a 30-minute conversation can lead to much more for students at Meadows. Through the Meadows Mentor program, students are connecting with alumni and industry professionals who offer career advice, share firsthand insights, and, increasingly, help open doors to internships, employment and graduate school opportunities.
Established through Meadows' Office of Alumni and Career Success (ACS) in 2022, the program has grown into a network of nearly 600 alumni and volunteers representing a wide range of industries. During the 2025–26 academic year, a record 575 mentors enrolled in the program, facilitating 274 Virtual Coffee Sessions with students. With 571 mentors already enrolled and 154 matches completed so far this fall, the program is on track for another successful year.
"For students, navigating the path to a career can be overwhelming," says Jodi Mosley, senior program manager for Alumni and Career Success. "The program connects them with experienced professionals who provide perspective, encouragement, and practical guidance while helping students build the confidence, connections and skills needed for professional success."
The impact of these connections is already evident in the experiences of Meadows students and graduates, including advertising alum Ashley Isabelle (B.A. ’26). In November 2025, Isabelle participated in a Virtual Coffee Session with Molly Murer Chee-Awai (B.A. ’15), an account director at Dallas-based advertising agency LERMA/. Months later, when an account executive position became available at the agency, Chee-Awai remembered their conversation and encouraged Isabelle to apply.
Isabelle ultimately secured the position, transitioning directly from graduation into a full-time role in her field. She has since enrolled as a Meadows Mentor herself, continuing the cycle of professional support that helped launch her career.
Other students have found similarly valuable connections through the program, even when their goals extend beyond immediate employment. Art history alum Sierra Strickland (B.A. ’26) connected with Meadows Museum Director Amanda Dotseth (M.A. ’06) for guidance on graduate school. Their conversation helped Strickland identify NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts as the right fit for her academic interests. Now pursuing an M.A. in History of Art and Archaeology at NYU, Strickland has also joined the Meadows Mentor network to support students exploring graduate education.
For current piano performance student Akash Nair, a Virtual Coffee Session completed as part of his First-Year Arts Community Experience course developed into an ongoing mentorship with Laura Caufield (M.M. ’97), a Meadows alum specializing in piano performance and pedagogy. The two have continued meeting for coffee each semester, demonstrating how an introductory conversation can develop into a lasting professional relationship.
Piano performance student Akash Nair (left) with Meadows Mentor Laura Caufield.
Some connections have also created memorable experiences for students early in their Meadows journeys. Amber Horn (B.A. ’01), a two-time Emmy Award-winning casting director whose credits include projects for Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney, connected with first-year theatre studies student Emma Lane through the program. Following their initial conversation, Horn invited Lane and a friend to lunch near campus, providing an opportunity to learn directly from an established entertainment industry professional.
While the program provides students with access to industry-specific guidance, its impact extends to the alumni and volunteers who participate. Mentors have opportunities to reconnect with their alma mater, engage with faculty and share the professional knowledge they've gained since graduation.
“It is truly a collaborative effort where we aim to provide each student and mentor with a personalized experience, and we are invested in the outcome of that experience,” Mosley explains of the program’s year-over-year growth. “It engages alumni, students and the many Meadows stakeholders who partner with us to make this program successful, including faculty, the Hegi Career Center, and others across the Meadows community.”
That investment has helped foster strong mentor retention and continued engagement, with alumni returning to participate and former mentees stepping into mentoring roles of their own. Faculty encouragement, student referrals and shared success stories have also contributed to the program's expanding reach.
As more Meadows students connect with professionals across the arts, media, design, and communications industries, the program continues to demonstrate the value of a community that remains connected well beyond graduation. Whether a conversation leads to career advice, an ongoing mentorship or a first job, each connection has the potential to shape a student's professional journey while strengthening the network of Meadows alumni who help make those opportunities possible.