Huskies for Life

The Huskies for Life Mentorship Program

This six-month mentoring program connects Northeastern alumni and external partners with current students to foster personal and professional growth, build meaningful relationships, and enhance career readiness.

Program Overview

This six-month mentoring program connects Northeastern alumni and external partners with current students to foster personal and professional growth, build meaningful relationships, and enhance career readiness. Mentors will provide guidance, encouragement, and insights into career paths, essentially helping students to navigate their next steps in life. Students will be able to complete a leadership track that coincides with their program to receive a skill badge. A curriculum is currently being developed.

This program will start with CPS Alumni, external partners and CPS FT Undergrad/Grad students in good academic standing with at least a 3.0 GPA. The first cohort will include 10 mentors and 10 mentees. The Huskies for Life Mentorship (HLM) Committee will send out a call for applications to alumni first and select 10. A mentee application will follow with an explanation of benefits and a website featuring selected mentors.

Key Objectives

  1. Build a supportive relationship between alumni, external partners, and students
  2. Facilitate the sharing of industry knowledge and career insights
  3. Enhance students’ networking skills, confidence, and ability to understand corporate politics
  4. Foster a sense of belonging and connection for students, partners and alumni
  5. Strengthen leadership skills and abilities

Mentorship Matters

Mentorship empowers individuals to grow personally and professionally through guidance, support, and shared experience. It builds meaningful connections that foster confidence, skill development, and long-term success.

Become a Mentor ApplicationFind a Mentor Application

Program Committee

  • Mariah Hwedi, Founder & Executive Assistant to the Dean
  • Melissa Rodriguez – Experiential Learning & Career Advisor and Lecturer
  • Tara Esfahanian, Director of Development
  • Gina Regonini, Director – Educational Initiatives
  • Ula Polsky – Director – CPS Global Student Engagement
  • Heidi Happonen – Sr. Director – Communications
  • Gabriella DiStefano – Alumni Relations Program Assistant
  • Mary McCarthy, Director – Strategic Partnership & Funds
  • Dedra Beckett, NU Alumni
  • Elyse Chase, Asst Dir Leadership Giving
  • Joe Rabbitt, Asst Dir – Student Enrollment
  • Kerry Vieira, Academic Advisor
  • Grace Bybell, Sr. Program Operations Manager

Selection Committee

  • Mariah Hwedi, Founder & Executive Assistant to the Dean
  • Melissa Rodriguez – Experiential Learning & Career Advisor and Lecturer
  • Tara Esfahanian, Director of Development
  • Gina Regonini, Director – Educational Initiatives
  • Ula Polsky – Director – CPS Global Student Engagement
  • Heidi Happonen – Sr. Director – Communications
  • Gabriella DiStefano – Alumni Relations Program Assistant
  • Mary McCarthy, Director – Strategic Partnership & Funds
  • Dedra Beckett, NU Alumni
  • Elyse Chase, Asst Dir Leadership Giving
  • Kerry Vieira, Academic Advisor
  • Ari Schaaff, MSW – Academic Advisor, Corporate & Community Engagement
  • Ekta Shah, Assistant Teaching Professor
  • Andrew Krupa, Academic Advisor
  • Annine Crystal, Assistant Teaching Professor
  • Joe Rabbitt, Asst Dir – Student Enrollment
  • Grace Bybell, Sr. Program Operations Manager
  • Tinu Olawuyi, Assoc Dir – Academic Advising; Part Time Lecturer