What is a mentor? What does mentorship at the University of Florida look like? Is a mentor right for you? These are exciting questions to ask yourself. Regardless of the answers, know this: there are experienced individuals on campus, in your field, who are willing to share their knowledge and time with you. Often, all it takes to get started is a quick assessment of your goals and an email to someone you respect.
Let’s answer that first question. Mentorship is a relationship between a mentor and a mentee. The mentor typically has significant experience in a subject that aligns with your goals. They guide their mentees and can provide connections to other individuals, opportunities, and resources. At UF, mentors can be professors, researchers, coaches, sponsors, alumni, peers, advisors, career coaches, supervisors, department chairs, and more.
Mentorship Opportunities at UF
- Student Engagement: University Mentorship Program
- Gator Network
- CLAS Student Council: Mentorship Program
- Student Activities and Involvement: GatorConnect
- Type “Mentor” in the search bar
- Career Connections Center: Experiential Learning Dashboard
- Type “Mentor” in the search bar
- Center for Undergraduate Research: Mentee 101 Course
- Learn how to communicate with mentors in a research setting
To answer the other two questions, the Office of Undergraduate Education & Student Success asked Sultan Khanfar, a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences student, about his experience with mentorship at UF. If you recognize Khanfar’s name, it might be because Student Success previously published articles about his prestigious award wins with the Goldwater Scholarship and the Amgen Scholars Program.
