Mentorship can make or break an academic experience. Research has shown that the mentor-mentee exchange can improve a mentee's academic experience, leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction. USC Rossier’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EDL) program is betting on that with the launch of the EDL Peer and Alumni Mentorship Program, a new initiative designed to connect current students with program graduates.
The program pairs first-, second- and third-year students with alumni who can offer real-world perspectives on professional growth, career transitions and life after graduation. The commitment is flexible and shaped by each mentor-mentee pair based on their shared goals and availability.
Established from a simple but pressing observation: Connection leads to success. “Starting a doctoral program can feel overwhelming, even for experienced professionals,” said Jim Lee EdD ’20, director of the EdD program and alumnus. Lee sees the benefits of an EDL peer and alumni support system. The exchange goes in both directions. “Serving as a mentor provides an opportunity to reflect on one’s own leadership journey, develop coaching and communication skills, expand professional networks and give back to the EDL community.” He hopes the program reinforces a culture where students and alumni actively invest in one another’s success and builds relationships that are impactful.
The matching process is personalized. Jordan Silva, assistant director of the EdD program, and the team review every submission individually, weighing factors like program format, concentration, career goals and personal background to find the most effective pairing. “Our goal is to connect students and alumni with similar backgrounds and goals to create beneficial and productive partnerships,” Silva explained. Special circumstances are given particular attention. For example, if a first-generation student requests a first-generation mentor, that is prioritized. Geography also plays a role, especially for online learners. “We had a mentor-mentee pair who were both online EDL students but living in Hawaii, and they were able to connect in person and create a meaningful partnership,” Silva said, adding that stories like that one drive the team’s commitment to continually refine the process.
For students, the program offers something less formal than advising but more intentional than networking. It’s an opportunity to establish a relationship built around their individual academic and professional journey.
As both a mentee and mentor, Paloma Saenz EdD ’26 looks forward to extending her experience to the new EDL Peer and Alumni Mentorship Program. With a concentration in leading instructional change, belonging and building community was the foundation. She found a peer connection organically at a program mixer, where she met Jennifer Munroy EdD ’25, then a second-year student. Through regular check-ins and coffee meetups, Monroy offered guidance through every stage of the program. By Saenz’s third year, she had become a mentor herself to three mentees across different cohorts. She was driven by a desire to offer what she had once needed. “If my mentees needed me, I was there,” she said. That commitment to connection extended beyond the formal program. She advised prospective students, sat on information panels and counseled peers in the hallways when she sensed they were struggling. Her mentorship was never transactional; it was about belonging. “Mentoring helps me feel connected more thoroughly or genuinely to the program,” she said. “I feel like I’m giving back what I’m taking away.”
Alumni interested in serving as mentors can sign up through a brief interest form at EDL Peer and Alumni Mentorship Program by September 1, 2026. Those not immediately paired with a mentee are encouraged to stay connected through year-round EDL community and networking events.
