Shields School of Business
Mentorship Day - October 24-25
A signature career development experience
Shields School of Business Mentorship Day
What if you could ask someone who has already built the career you want what you should do next?
At Saint Francis University, you can.
Each year, the Shields School of Business hosts Mentorship Day on the Friday before fall Homecoming. The event brings approximately 75 alumni and professional mentors back to campus to support current students through career conversations, professional development sessions, and individual mentoring.
To make the day a true school-wide experience, all business classes are canceled so students can fully participate. Mentorship Day is not treated as an optional add-on to the student experience. It is built directly into the academic calendar as one of the most important professional development days of the year.
Founded at Saint Francis University by Dean John Miko, Mentorship Day has become a signature program of the Shields School of Business. The program was featured in a journal article published in The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching and has been emulated by other universities.
A full day focused on career preparation
Learn From People Who Have Been There
Mentorship Day gives students the opportunity to learn directly from alumni and professionals who have built successful careers in a wide range of fields. Throughout the day, students attend sessions focused on career exploration, industry trends, workplace readiness, leadership, professional identity, and the transition from college to career.
Career-focused sessions give students the opportunity to explore specific fields while developing skills that apply across professions. Recent sessions have included:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Marketing
- Management
- Technology
- Data-centric careers
- Entrepreneurship
- Women in Business and Industry
- Student-Athletes: Competing in the Business World
- From Campus to Corporate: Navigating the Transition and Evolving Work Cultures
- Evolving Trends in the Business World
- Communications
- Criminal Justice
These sessions allow students to explore specific career paths while also learning broader professional skills that apply across industries.
One-on-one mentorship meetings
One of the most valuable parts of Mentorship Day is the opportunity for students to participate in one-on-one mentorship meetings with alumni mentors.
These individual conversations allow students to ask personal career questions, receive guidance connected to their goals, and begin building meaningful professional relationships. Students may talk with mentors about internships, resumes, interviews, graduate school, first jobs, career changes, workplace expectations, or how to make the most of their time at Saint Francis.
For many students, these one-on-one meetings are the highlight of the day because they provide personalized advice from someone who understands both the Saint Francis experience and the transition into professional life.
A network that shows up
Mentorship Day demonstrates the strength of the Shields School of Business alumni network. Alumni return to campus because they want to help current students succeed. They share honest lessons from their careers, offer practical advice, and help students see what is possible with a Saint Francis business education.
For prospective students and parents, the day provides a clear example of what makes the Shields School of Business different. Students are not left to figure out their futures alone. They are surrounded by faculty, alumni, and professional mentors who are invested in their success.
Why Mentorship Day matters
Mentorship Day helps students move from classroom learning to career readiness. Students gain exposure to career paths, learn what employers value, practice professional communication, and build confidence as they prepare for internships, interviews, and full-time employment.
For parents, Mentorship Day shows that the Shields School of Business takes career preparation seriously. The event is intentional, highly personal, and supported by an alumni network that returns year after year to help students succeed.
- Explore careers: Discover career paths and industries connected to their interests and major.
- Build professional skills: Learn what employers value and strengthen communication and workplace readiness.
- Make connections: Begin building a professional network while still an undergraduate.
- Gain confidence: Practice talking with professionals and asking the questions that matter to their future.
- Prepare for what’s next: Get practical advice about internships, interviews, graduate school, and entering the workforce.
A Saint Francis Tradition With a Growing Reach
Mentorship Day was founded at Saint Francis University by Dean John Miko and has become a signature program of the Shields School of Business. The program has been featured in The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching and emulated by other universities.
What began as a distinctive approach to business career preparation reflects something larger about the Saint Francis experience:
Our alumni don’t just graduate. They stay connected.
They return to campus to share what they’ve learned, answer students’ questions, and help the next generation see what is possible.
Business Education Built Around Relationships
At the Shields School of Business, career preparation is personal, intentional, and connected to a powerful alumni network.
Mentorship Day is a reflection of that commitment—and an example of the kind of experience that makes a Saint Francis education different.
- Practical career preparation
- Meaningful alumni engagement
- Personal attention
- A community that shows up
Mentorship Day by the Numbers
Your Future Starts Before Graduation
Your career doesn’t begin when you receive your diploma.
It begins with the conversations you have, the relationships you build, the experiences you pursue, and the people who help you see what’s possible.
Mentorship Day gives you all four.