Mentoring the Next Generation of Emerging Leaders

Our mentors are critical to the success of the Emerging Leaders Program. They are young professionals and graduate students who volunteer their time to teach, advise, and guide students as they prepare for college and early career roles.

Mentors share their own journeys to show students what is possible and how to achieve it. They draw on their experiences in higher education, early careers, and public service to provide a realistic view of growth, leadership, and opportunity.

Mentors come from a range of academic and professional backgrounds. Many work in fields such as public policy, business, law, finance, education, and global affairs. Others are pursuing advanced degrees and bring firsthand experience from graduate schools.

What unites them is a shared belief in the mission of the Emerging Leaders Program: expanding opportunity for students from underrepresented and low-income communities.

Every mentor participates as a volunteer, contributing their time, knowledge, and perspective to help strengthen the next generation of leaders.

Who the Mentors Are

What Mentors Do

    • Mentors lead sessions on topics such as résumé writing, college readiness, scholarship planning, financial literacy, leadership, and communication.

    • Each session blends instruction with discussion and exercises that allow students to practice real skills.

    • Mentors help lead small-group conversations, encouraging students to think critically about what they’ve learned in the masterclasses, group sessions, and speaker series.

    • They share lessons from their own experiences, answer questions, and help students set short- and long-term goals.

    • When possible, mentors provide feedback and guidance on students’ Capstone Projects.

    • Their role is to offer perspective, clarity, and professional advice as students work on their policy essays and prepare for submission.

What Mentors Gain

Mentors become part of Babel Institute’s growing community of young professionals and scholars committed to providing opportunity and access to resources for students from low-income and underrepresented communities.

Participation offers:

Professional recognition as a volunteer mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program.

Teaching and facilitation experience that strengthens leadership and communication skills.

Networking opportunities with other mentors, speakers, and program partners.

Impact: a direct role in helping talented students from low-income communities gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed in college and early career roles.

Become a Mentor

Interested in volunteering as a mentor?

Please email your resume/CV and a short statement (3–5 sentences) about why you’d like to volunteer as a mentor.

Send your email to president@babelinstitute.us with the subject line:
“Mentor Application – [Your Name]”

(Example: Mentor Application – Jordan Smith)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and selected candidates will be contacted for a virtual interview.