The LFS Mentorship Program creates networking opportunities with undergraduate students, alumni and professionals. By exchanging their unique skills and strengths, students hone professional skills and build their network which they can leverage in their career journey; while mentors gain experience in coaching through sharing their career journeys.
LFS Mentorship Program provides working professionals an opportunity to make an impact on the career journeys of LFS undergraduate students. Mentorship is a critical piece of career development, but students have difficulty accessing or even knowing how to reach out to professionals such as yourself. Your insight and unique perspectives normalize what students are feeling and encourage them to recognize that it is ok for them to be curious and explore different opportunities. Past student participants have expressed the great value of hearing specific experiences and developing confidence in communicating with a working professional—something that many of us who have been working take for granted.
For our mentors, they appreciate being able to give back to their community and make a difference in students’ lives. The program offers flexibility and high accessibility for all of you with full plates. As mentors, you will also have access to professional support, such as professional coaching, LinkedIn webinars, and CliftonStrengths assessments.
The program provides mentors:
- the opportunity to directly shape future professionals while also learning from the knowledge and strengths students bring
- the opportunity to hone your coaching and mentoring skills and further your own professional development
- the opportunity to embrace an open mindset while connecting and learning from people who do not share the same degree and career aspirations
Expectations for participants of the LFS Mentorship Program
Applications are now closed for the 2022-2023 Program
Mentorship can support you in your career journey by providing opportunities to better understand yourself by hearing other people’s stories and experiences and then applying your takeaways to the context of your own unique career. The LFS Mentorship Program allows students to “ground theoretical knowledge in a concrete experience and have the opportunity to meet and interact with individuals who have lived experience” (LFS 250) in a casual setting.
This career development opportunity provides you with the ability to grow your network, see potential options for your career, and develop skills and tools through a strengths-based approach.
The program provides mentees:
- the opportunity to leverage your previous knowledge and strengths while engaging with peers and a working professional
- the chance to practice peer-to-peer coaching through development of professional skills such as informational interviews, LinkedIn webinars etc.
- the opportunity to embrace an open mindset while connecting and learning with people who do not share the same degree and career aspirations
- to develop a systems-based thinking approach to your career, by helping you identify and build different relationships needed for one’s career pathway
Expectations for participants of the LFS Mentorship Program
Applications are now closed for the 2022-2023 Program
Alumni Careers
Mariel Dela Cruz
Food, Nutrition & Health major (2022)
In first-year, Mariel thought she was going to be a Veterinarian. She now works as a Communications Coordinator.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
The LFS Academic Career and Engagement (ACE) team provided me with a lot of transferable skills like teamwork, organization, time management, and problem solving! I was also in the LFS Mentorship Program where I met a lot of inspiring mentors. Being involved has helped me explore my interests and be open to different careers.
Marissa Gibbard
Food, Nutrition & Health major (2018)
In first-year, Marissa thought she was going to be a teacher. She now works as a research manager in healthcare.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
Having the opportunity in my undergraduate degree to solve problems with other people in a supportive environment gave me the foundation and real world skills to apply and succeed in my current role.
Tiffany Tchen
Food, Nutrition & Health major, Commerce minor (2017)
In first-year, Tiffany thought she was going to be an Ultrasound Technician. She now works as a Campus Recruitment Associate.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
I was on the LFS|US First Year Committee and continued as an AMS Representative. This was my first community involvement on campus and it empowered me to improve my leadership, communication and collaboration skills, which set me up for success when I was applying for my first full-time job after graduation.
Brenda Yim
Food Market Analysis major, Master of Management (2021)
In first-year, Brenda thought she was going to be a Supply Chain Associate. She now works as a Sr. Marketing Account Coordinator and Food Content Creator.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
My Work Learn role, specifically with the LFS Mentorship Program, has helped me grasp the 4 P’s of marketing. I contacted alumni and current students to learn about their unmet needs before graduating and created a mini-marketing strategy to communicate the program’s benefits to the students.
Dave Eto
Food Science major (1985)
In first-year, Dave thought he was going to work in food processing. He now works as a CEO.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
In my last year in Food Science, everyone took an AgSc 401 course which involved all graduating Agriculture students going on a week-long field trip together. The connections and relationships we built during school carried over into our professional careers and created strong relationships and opportunities that have continued.
Hannah Phua
Food Science major (2021)
In first-year, Hannah thought she was going to be a Dietitian. She now works as a Research and Development Technologist.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
My undergraduate thesis (FNH499) gave me the opportunity to develop technical skills such as building experimental designs, performing data analysis and presenting scientific results as well as soft skills such as gaining confidence in independently completing projects and managing timelines and associated deliverables.
Majid Hajibeigy
Food and Environment major (2018)
In first-year, Majid thought he was going to be a veterinarian. He now works as a CEO of a Kelp Farming business.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
So many key mentors such as Dr. Sean Smukler, Dr. Andrew Riseman, and Dr. David Fraser stood out for me. Learning from others is great for your career, which is why I’ve been a mentor for the LFS Mentorship Program in the past.
Viviane Franson
Food, Nutrition, and Health major (2010)
In first-year, Viviane thought she was going to be a teacher. She now works as a Clinical Manager in Infection Prevention and Control.
How did your experiences in LFS shape your career?
Working on projects from the LFS core series (LFS 350) gave me the opportunity to develop skills in the classroom before starting my career after graduation.