The Muhlenberg Network: Building the bridge between alumni and current students

Thanks to the Muhlenberg Network, the special closeknit Muhlenberg community stays strong even after students graduate. The Muhlenberg Network is a program that allows current students, professors and alumni to connect over common interests and potential career possibilities. This year, an extension of The Network called The Muhlenberg Mentor Network is kicking off, and eligible for the current freshmen, the class of 2020.

The goal of this program is to help students get ready for their future careers, and hone in on their professional persona so that they are ready for the working world. The Muhlenberg Mentor Network is a combination of class time and assignments with professors along with communication with a mentor, most of whom are prominent members in volunteer organizations associated with Muhlenberg. The hope is that these mentors will help communicate to the students their personal life experiences with jobs and how to be a successful worker, and that they give students tips that will eventually help them grow into a professional individual themselves.

Students hoping to participate in this enriching opportunity will also have to take a noncredit course called Developing Your Professional Identity and Network (PED 180). The goal of this course is to help translate students’ extra-curricular interests into marketable skills. Additionally, this program will help students figure out what career path is right for them with the guidance of their mentors and faculty. In order for incoming students to be eligible for this program, they should fill out the application located on the Muhlenberg website prior to June advising. The program is just a pilot program, but according to Tom Dowd, the Executive Director of the Career Center, expansion and continuation of the program looks very promising“

In one form or another, this program will continue for years to come,” said Dowd. “The foundation for this program is Muhlenberg people helping each other. This is a powerful theme that isn’t going away anytime soon.”

This program is valuable for mentors as well because they get to stay connected with Muhlenberg and help both students and alumni make valuable and lasting business and personal connections. According to Dowd, the program has already gotten rave reviews from the alumni.“

So far, feedback from alumni has been extremely positive,” said Dowd. “Many of the comments are that they are excited to have a way to help and support students, particularly with those who have the same interests they do. Also, alumni are excited to have a platform to reconnect professionally with each other. The Muhlenberg Network also serves as a networking platform for alumni, so we are encouraging them to connect with each other and offer help to fellow alumni. We are looking to support Muhlenberg alumni throughout their career, not just with their first job, so this program is a piece of that puzzle.”

This program will build a bridge between alumni and current students. The Network guarantees that alumni stay engaged in the Muhlenberg community past graduation, all while helping the students of today become well-rounded and competitive applicants for their future jobs.

People looking for more information should look at the Muhlenberg website, or contact the Career Center by calling (484) 664-3170.