Mentorship Programs

The NEIU Office of Alumni Relations invites alumni and friends of the Northeastern community to participate in our mentorship opportunities. 

The objective of our programs is to stimulate, encourage and strengthen the ability of our current students to make decisions about their major and ultimately their intended career field. Mentors should be able to provide relevant, strategic and applicable career advice to current students, in addition to answering their questions and potentially mentoring their career advancement.

In addition, mentees of the programs will be recipients of either the Doris Vrooman Mentoring Scholarship or the Robertson Family Education Enrichment Award.* 

*Not applicable for 2024/2025 Academic Year.

Apply to become a mentor

Doris Vrooman Alumni Mentorship Program

The purpose of the Doris Vrooman Alumni Mentoring Scholarship is to connect second year students with alumni who will act as their mentors. The Doris Vrooman Alumni Mentoring Award will offer a one-semester stipend to four (4) students enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University. Eligible students must be first semester sophomores/second year students. The stipend may be used to underwrite expenses of tuition, books, fees, or personal expenses.

Another objective of the program is to stimulate, encourage and strengthen the ability of our current students to make decisions about their major and ultimately their intended career field. Mentors should be able to provide relevant, strategic and applicable career advice to current students, in addition to answering their questions and potentially mentoring their career advancement.

This program will be an incredibly informative opportunity for undecided students, those who are wavering between deciding on a major, future career choices or students who just want to find out more about a particular career path.

 Some additional expectations of the program are:

  • Work with student on final reflection
  • Submit an evaluation of program and experience with student
  • Share information about yourself and your experiences that can assist your mentee as he or she explores career options and makes career decisions
  • ­Be diligent with respect to communicating

Apply today to become a mentor to a student. You will receive confirmation of your schedule and your Northeastern student mentee pairing as scholarship recipients are matched and awarded.

Apply to become a Doris Vrooman Mentor

Robertson Family Education Enrichment Award*

The purpose of the Robertson Family Education Enrichment Award is to support students having unmet financial need of Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic race/ethnicity at Northeastern Illinois University who have demonstrated courageous resilience in his/hers/their personal narrative. The award may be used to underwrite expenses of tuition, books, fees, or personal expenses.

This scholarship is privately supported annually by Northeastern alumnus David D. Robertson. David D. Robertson (B.A. ’16 Interdisciplinary Studies/University Without Walls; M.A. ’18 Teachers and Community Leadership) is self-love advocate and founder of Hope Is Foundation, an organization that provides youth across the country with support and resources to combat hopelessness. Robertson is committed to leaving the world better than he found it. This mission fuels his passion to help others identify courageous actions they can take in their own lives through mindful practice, therapeutic writing, volunteerism, community accountability, and now, through an NEIU Foundation Scholarship.

Another objective of the program is to stimulate, encourage and strengthen the ability of our current students to make decisions about their major and ultimately their intended career field. Mentors should be able to provide relevant, strategic and applicable career advice to current students, in addition to answering their questions and potentially mentoring their career advancement.

This program will be an incredibly informative opportunity for undecided students, those who are wavering between deciding on a major, future career choices or students who just want to find out more about a particular career path.

 Some additional expectations of the program are:

  • Work with student on final reflection
  • Submit an evaluation of program and experience with student
  • Share information about yourself and your experiences that can assist your mentee as he or she explores career options and makes career decisions
  • ­Be diligent with respect to communicating

Please respond by providing the information on the attached form to let us know if you will commit to this exciting initiative. You will receive confirmation of your schedule and your Northeastern student mentee pairing as scholarship recipients are matched and awarded.

Preference will be given to Alumni graduates of the Nontraditional Degree program and/or Masters of Art in Community and Teacher Leader (MACTL).

Apply to become a Robertson Family Award Mentor

*Not accepting scholarship applications to The Robertson Family Education Enrichment Award for the 2024/2025 Academic Year. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

For questions about applying to the mentorship program, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@neiu.edu or by calling (773) 442-4205.