College of Business & Economics (CBE) alumni continue to come back to campus and make meaningful connections with current students through the Mentoring to Advance Professional Development (MAPD) program. Offered to juniors and seniors in CBE, the program helps students upgrade their professionalism skills and provides guidance throughout the job and internship hunt.

“The transition from college to a full-time job in certain fields can be really challenging, especially if students don’t know where to start,” says Lauren Tigue Meredith, the MAPD program coordinator and professional development partner for CBE. “Having the mentors who have navigated this process before really helps students gain insights, skills and confidence.”

Throughout their time together, mentors help their mentees refine resumes, gain interview skills, connect them to others in their desired field, provide constructive feedback, think outside of the box as it relates to their academic passions and navigate the job and internship search.

The transition from college to a full-time job in certain fields can be really challenging, especially if students don’t know where to start. Having the mentors who have navigated this process before really helps students gain insights, skills and confidence.

Lauren Tigue Meredith

Milan Gupta ’26, a business administration major with a finance concentration, landed his internship with Heritage Financial Consultants with the help of Michael Emmet ’10. Emmet, a portfolio manager at PNC Private Bank, worked with Gupta to refine his resume and advised on networking and professional communication. Gupta also found it useful that Emmet was quick to respond to any questions he might have.

“I want to pursue wealth management and having someone in that field so quick to respond about my career questions is a blessing,” notes Gupta. “Michael helped me connect and network with my current internship supervisors, and I’m so grateful.”

Emmet has been volunteering with the MAPD program for four years and has a 100% success rate in helping his mentees land internships or jobs. Through the MAPD program, he’s able to volunteer with the university and give students the necessary push they need to understand the opportunities available to them.

“Figuring out your path on your own is hard, and we have the chance to help students feel confident in their next steps,” says Emmet. “Through my mentorship, I hope to teach students that the transition from school to working is not linear and everyone’s path is different. I just want to help them achieve their goals.”

Lilly and Michael
Lilly (left) and Michael Emmet

Emmet’s wife Lilly joined the program after she realized how excited and fulfilled he was from working with undergraduate students. She also had worked indirectly with her husband throughout his mentorships, networking with mentees.

“Volunteering with MAPD was really intriguing. It gave me the opportunity to be part of something bigger,” says Lilly Emmet ‘08. “Oftentimes, our mentees just need someone to listen to them and help them make their own conclusions. We serve as a support system.”

Having completed nearly two years of mentorship, Lilly recognizes herself in these students, having been a first-generation college graduate who would have benefited from career guidance. She works on a lot of skills with her mentees, depending on their needs.

“Some students come to me without a resume while others have an extensive resume with a goal of landing an internship,” she says. “My job is to help them secure whatever it is they’re looking for—whether that’s a job or internship or the confidence to pursue the next step in their career journey.”

But it’s not just the students who benefit.

“One of the most powerful aspects of this program is seeing our alumni return to support the next generation,” says Meredith. “Their mentorship and connections help launch our students into meaningful career paths after graduation. It’s a full-circle moment that speaks to the strength and spirit of this community.”