Program Details
Welcome to the Bulldog Mentor Program at Mississippi State University!
Each fall and spring semester, student mentees are partnered with alumni mentors for individualized mentorship experiences via the Bulldog Network, a professional networking platform exclusive to Mississippi State University. Each student participant is matched with an alumni mentor whose professional and life experiences align with what the mentee hopes to gain from the program. Participants are matched based on a combination of factors, including personal preferences, professional goals, and career and industry interests.
Spring 2025 Registration Deadline: February 7
The goals of the Bulldog Mentor Program are to:
- Build meaningful connections between MSU students and alumni
- Support students’ academic, career, and leadership development
- Provide impactful engagement opportunities for alumni
- Promote a diverse and inclusive environment within the Bulldog community
Why participate?
You will connect with a career professional who will help you expand your knowledge, skills, and network. Your mentor will support your goals and provide valuable advice and insights into career opportunities and possibilities.
What is required of mentees?
- Start strong! Attend a mandatory orientation session. Orientation will equip you with tools to make the most of your mentorship. Sign up here.
- Sign-up for the Bulldog Network and create your profile.
- Complete the Bulldog Mentor Program registration survey..
- Favorite your top mentors. Browse the mentor page to identify alumni with whom you’d like to connect.
- Engage regularly with your mentor through video calls, messages, or in-person meetings in public locations.
- Take initiative. Schedule meetings, arrive prepared, and set and track your personal/professional goals for the program.
- Be professional. Demonstrate timeliness, openness to feedback, and follow-through on commitments.
The Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program takes place from Monday, February 17, 2025 to Friday, May 2, 2025.
Dates to Remember:
- January 6, 2025 – February 7, 2025:
Alumni and students may register for the Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program.
- January 20, 2025 – February 7, 2025:
Students are required to attend a mandatory in-person or virtual orientation session. Click here to register for a session. Alumni will be emailed an orientation video.
- February 10, 2025 – February 14, 2025:
Match Week. The administrative team matches mentees with mentors.
- February 17, 2025:
The Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program kicks off! Mentees and mentors will be introduced by a message sent to their Bulldog Network inbox. We recommend that mentees and mentors participate in at least sessions together throughout the course of the program. However, mentees and mentors can gauge their progress to best fit their personal goals for the program!
- May 2, 2025:
The Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program ends.
Week-by-Week Schedule:
- February 17-February 21: Week One
- February 24-February 28: Week Two
- March 3-March 7: Week Three
- March 10-March 14: Week Four/Spring Break
- March 17-March 21: Week Five
- March 24-March 28: Week Six
- March 31-April 4: Week Seven
- April 7-April 11: Week Eight
- April 14-April 18: Week Nine
- April 21-April 25: Week Ten
- April 28-May 2: Closing Week. Program surveys will be sent out, and stay tuned for a celebratory event!
Interested in joining the Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program?
Attend a required in-person or virtual student orientation session.
Click here to register for a Bulldog Mentor Program Student Orientation.
Join the Bulldog Network (log-in with your MSU NetID and password).
Click here to create your Bulldog Network student profile.
Enroll for the Spring 2025 Bulldog Mentor Program!
Click here to complete the Bulldog Mentor Program registration survey.
Success Stories
“Participating as a mentee in the Bulldog Mentor Program has made me so much more confident in working towards my aspirations and goals. I’ve also gained the ability to become more comfortable on campus with all the support from my mentor!”
“Serving as a Bulldog Mentor was incredibly fulfilling! I was partnered with my mentee during her first year of college and was able to offer support and advice based on my own experiences. Introducing my mentee to research opportunities, assisting her in creating plans to achieve her goals, and witnessing her academic and personal growth throughout the program was truly rewarding. This experience was enriching for both of us, as we were able to learn and grow from each other in meaningful ways.”
“Being a mentor is a fulfilling and rewarding experience when the mentee is engaged and prepared to learn from my work experiences. My mentee selected the topic for each of our sessions and sent me questions before we met. Some of the topics we covered included industry insights, communication, relationships in the workplace, and resume review. It is gratifying to see how much my mentee developed during the semester, and we plan to stay in contact to follow his long-term progress.”
“My mentor answered questions that were very important to me – not only about my field of study, but also about work-life balance, how to better present myself to companies as a potential employee, and the importance of being engaged in the present beyond my studies and enjoying doing so.
As a mentee, if you come with questions, respect, and a willingness to learn, it is an amazing experience, and I highly encourage my fellow students to find out for themselves! Thank you to my mentor and all the other mentors for taking the time to invest in myself and my peers.”