In early January of 2026, the Dean’s Office of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences—with generous support from the Laura and Jack Kitch Charitable Foundation—completed the HSS Career Readiness Mentorship Program, a pilot initiative designed to help students recognize, articulate, and market the skills they’ve developed in the classroom. The program brought together 15 juniors and seniors from a wide range of majors, including children and youth studies, political science, history, sociology, and others. Through a structured series of workshops and mentoring sessions, students learned how their coursework aligned with the core career competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Participants actively assessed their strengths, addressed areas for growth, and took concrete steps toward their professional goals. The program guided students in creating or refining résumés, while they developed professional portfolios of academic work to share with employers, and built or enhanced LinkedIn profiles that clearly showcase their skills and experiences. Led by Professor Sharona Levy, along with graduate student mentors Alexandra Rego and Emily Furlich, the program emphasizes initiative, self-reflection, and practical career preparation. Levy saw the program as both empowering and transformative. “Students often don’t realize just how much they have to offer an employer,” Levy said. “They have an incredible skill set. What excites me most is that this is a pilot, and we’re already seeing strong interest—it shows this is something we can grow.” Students said the impact was transformative. Sociology major Humayra Jeba described the program as “very inspiring,” adding that she hoped it will provide greater exposure to the professional world. Fellow sociology student Desita Christopher noted that the mentorship helped her gain clarity and direction in her job search. For Amy Wang, a children and youth studies major, the program stood out for its hands-on approach: “It forces you to take initiative—it makes you act toward your career journey instead of just giving you information.” Other students have had positive things to say about the program: Roody Georges (history): “I feel like this program is very beneficial for us students who are on the way to navigating the job market.” Rodrigue Jean (sociology) “This program has been helping me greatly with career preparedness, and I feel like I have been learning to articulate myself better through it.” Julian Rubin (creative writing/English): “I appreciate the opportunity this program provides, which I feel like was lacking a little in my standard education at the school.” Andrew Huynh Vo (organizational communication): “I’m looking forward to this program in assisting me with my career development, and I feel that this is putting me on the right path with guidance on how to improve in areas of weakness.”
