Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) Mentor-ship Program
Volunteer your time to support our students through the Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) mentor-ship program.
As an alumnus of the Department of Italian Studies, your expertise and advice is extremely helpful to current students as they approach graduation. We invite you to engage and interact with our students by participating in the Backpack to Briefcase (b2B) mentor-ship program. More than 30 Arts & Science academic units are participating in b2B this year, including the Department of Italian Studies.
Our students are facing some tough decisions as they consider their options beyond graduation. By connecting these students with a supportive community made up of alumni, faculty and friends, we hope to demonstrate the ways in which an Arts & Science education prepares students for life after graduation and empowers them to be successful professionals, responsible citizens and fulfilled individuals.
Throughout the academic year there are opportunities for you to participate in a variety of b2B mentor-ship activities. Involvement could include one or more of the following:
- Attend a career panel discussion as a speaker to share your story with students
- Attend a networking event to mingle and chat with students, recent graduates and other alumni volunteers
- Host or attend a dinner at the Faculty Club to provide advice and support for an intimate group of students
- Participate as a keynote speaker at a career-focused event for students from across the Faculty of Arts & Science
- Assist in the further development of the b2B program by providing feedback and counsel
If you are interested in participating in the b2B program, or if you’d like to learn more, simply click here and provide us with some information about yourself, as this will help us to stay connected and to make recommendations about how you could best support this invaluable program.
Explore It Program
Explore It is a voluntary career exploration program for students in selected second year courses in the Faculty of Arts & Science. In 2014-15, the Department of Italian Studies will offer the Explore It program to students in two of our courses: ITA250 and ITA251. These students will be given the opportunity to meet with an alumnus of Italian Studies in their work environment. The students will see firsthand how the skills and knowledge gained through studying Italian translate into a breadth of potential careers.
Explore It hosts make a distinct and meaningful impact on students by interacting with them at a crucial time when they have questions about where their degree will take them and what it will really mean to graduate in their field. By being a resource to students who are still making decisions about their futures, alumni have the chance to inform and inspire, and give students an inside look at how the skills and knowledge obtained at U of T can impact their daily life and career. We want students to understand the broad application of an Arts & Science education, and the sometimes surprising paths to which it can lead.
If you are interested in participating in the Explore It program and sharing your career story with students in Italian Studies, please contact Clare Gilderdale, Alumni Relations Officer (c.gilderdale@utoronto.ca or 416-978-7237).