two women standing in hallway holding a book and reading

Network and Mentoring

Learning to connect with, contribute to and collaborate within a community of peers is an essential skill for future success. The support you receive from – and give to – others is a powerful advantage.

St. Thomas Connect is an exclusive opportunity for Tommie alumni and students who are ready to get started on this journey. This free online tool is ready for you today. You can opt for one-time connections or consider a longer-term mentorship. It’s up to you! Click below to get started.

Join St. Thomas Connect

Alumni?

Participate in St. Thomas Connect to gain exclusive access to alumni who are ready to network and support other Tommies professionally at all career stages. You can indicate in your profile what kind of connections you are ready to make, whether one-time networking connections or longer-term mentorships with alumni and/or students. Make a connection to give back or learn something new. Alumni at all career stages are needed!

Alumni - Join Today!

Students?

Join St. Thomas Connect to gain exclusive access to alumni who are eager to help you with career questions and job development. You have the option to make a one-time connection or to invest in a longer-term mentorship with hundreds of Tommies. From these connections, discover networking and employment opportunities, advice and guidance about careers and industries, and help with internship, job and graduate-school applications.

Students - Join Today!

join St. Thomas Connect video screenshot

Have You Joined St. Thomas Connect?

St. Thomas Connect is an online community exclusive to Tommie alumni, students, faculty, and staff. Tommies can network and participate in mentorship with other Tommies who have raised a hand to help.

St. Thomas Connect

FAQs

Is this the Student-Alumni Mentoring Program?

Yes! St. Thomas Connect includes the traditional Student-Alumni Mentoring program, but it's much more than that. It also supports one-time networking opportunities among alumni or between alumni and students.

I'm on LinkedIn. Isn't this the same thing?

No. LinkedIn is a powerful online tool, but St. Thomas Connect is a guaranteed St. Thomas experience. The Alumni Engagement team approves access for all students and alumni, so you know that they are valid members of the St. Thomas community. Because they are participating, you also know that St. Thomas Connect participants are willing and ready to connect with other Tommies!

I just graduated. Can I really be a mentor when I am so new to the workforce?

Yes. Young alumni are in high demand as mentors! While more-seasoned alumni offer wisdom and valuable insights, young alumni connect easily with current students and give them up-to-date feedback on finding that first job and what it takes to succeed those first few years in the workplace.

I'm not able to commit to a long-term relationship. Is this tool still right for me?

Yes. The beauty of St. Thomas Connect is the flexibility and ease that it offers to those seeking one-time connections. We encourage you to join the community and see for yourself! Connect with fellow alumni to ask questions about your industry or to pursue new job opportunities. Be available to students who have quick questions about your profession. One-time connections can be just as valuable as long-term relationships, and this tool provides those opportunities!

Is there a deadline for mentoring or networking?

No. This is a rolling program, which means that new students and alumni will be joining continuously. Once your profile is ready, sit back and relax. You might not hear from someone immediately, but your participation is appreciated! All Tommies can provide value to other Tommies, so we thank you for considering ways in which you can share your gifts through St. Thomas Connect.

Mentor-Mentee Stories

Every year hundreds of Tommies get to connect with eachother through our online mentorship program Tommie Connect. Whether it's a short or long-term mentorship, our alumni make a huge impact on their mentees. Here are just a few stories about why mentoring a current student could change their life:

mentor and mentee sitting outside on a bench together

Finding a Path Through History

Like many students at the beginning of their college journey, Bontu Gemeda wasn’t sure what she wanted to study. Once she decided on the history program in the College of Arts and Sciences and was accepted into the Excel! Research Scholars program, things began to fall into place.

Conjuring the Dream Job Into Reality

Reaching out to a global data company like Sportradar and finding out the dream job you’re hoping to land doesn’t exist might be discouraging to some people. That’s exactly what happened to John Pauley ’17 in August, just a couple months after he graduated from St. Thomas School of Law.

all three attorney's stand together in front of the St. Thomas School of Law building in Minneapolis

Three Generations of Mentors

The School of Law’s Mentor Externship Program has forged hundreds of powerful relationships with students and professionals. Included in that history, now, are true generations of mentorship, including Sarah Kilibarda ’04, Kathy Klos ’07 and 3L Juana Cardenas. Kilibarda mentored Klos, and Klos is now mentor to Cardenas, a line of women all with ties to immigration law.

mentor and mentee sit in the auditorium at St. Thomas

Excel! Scholar Seeks Justice Through Theology

Ever since high school, Sam Figueroa has been interested in theology and the legal system. With dreams of becoming a lawyer, Figueroa wasn’t quite sure how to meld his interest in the criminal justice system with his strong Christian faith. His path became clearer, however, after participating in the Excel! Research Scholars program and working with his mentor, Amy Levad, an associate professor of moral theology in the College of Arts and Sciences Theology program.

Here's How to Get Started!

Getting started with St. Thomas Connect is easy!