Black Alumni Mentorship Program

Program Overview

The UTM Black Alumni Mentorship Program provides motivated upper-year, self-identified Black UTM students with an opportunity to engage in meaningful mentoring relationships with established Black alumni mentors from diverse academic and career backgrounds who are eager to share their experiences with students. 

The program was created in response to the recommendations in U of T's Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report. This one-on-one mentorship experience supports the next generation of Black leaders by increasing access to career role models and resources and helps develop the Black student and alumni community network at UTM.

Mentorship is an opportunity for students to develop a one-to-one mentoring relationship with UTM Alumni who can:

• Provide a window into the realities of the professional world
• Share experiences and provide career guidance
• Encourage and empower personal development
• Help to identify and achieve career goals
• Increase confidence
• Explore a broader perspective on career options and opportunities

Mentor Requirements:

• 5+ years of work experience
• Currently employed
• Have completed a degree at U of T Mississauga
• Committed to advancing Black youth career development and supporting the Black alumni community
• Capacity to volunteer approximately 5-7 hours over 6 weeks, including three 60-minute meetings with your mentee (virtual or in-person), an opening and closing reception (if available), and feedback surveys.

Interested in becoming an alumni mentor? Submit your volunteer interest form.

Student Mentee Applications for the 2026 program open in January 2026. Visit the Centre for Student Engagement website for more details.

Timeline and Expectations

The program runs over 6 weeks from January to March. Mentees are expected to arrange three meetings, in-person or virtually, for up to one hour each with their mentor. Meeting times are flexible and are to be arranged at a time that is convenient for both participants. Mentors who opt to match with more than one student may choose to meet on a one-to-one basis or as a small group. 

Mentors will also be encouraged to attend the in-person opening and closing receptions at UTM. To help facilitate the best mentorship experience, mentors will be asked to respond to check-in surveys throughout the program. 

The matching process is student-driven based on a list of mentor profiles. All matching requests are reviewed and approved by University staff. Once matched, mentors share their academic and career experiences with a student mentee who is preparing for a path after graduation.

Inquiries

For inquiries and questions regarding the UTM Black Alumni Mentorship Program, please contact us.

Partners and Sponsors

This mentoring experience is in partnership with the Centre for Student Engagement, UTM Alumni Relations, and the UTM Career Centre. The program appreciates the consultations and resources received from organizations such as Black@UTM and the UTMSU to help launch this program. 

The UTM Black Alumni Mentorship Program is proudly sponsored by the University of Toronto's Affinity Partners, Manulife and TD Insurance:

Discover the benefits of affinity products: affinity.utoronto.ca