Get Involved

Mentors meet one-on-one or in small groups with students, recent graduates, and alumni who need advice on career change. Alumni can opt in as mentors through the Office of Alumni Engagement in two ways. The first is by registering as a mentor in The New School Network and indicating how they’d like to help. In this online community, students and alumni can seek out networking and mentoring connections based on common interests, degrees, and programs. Students are encouraged to get in touch with alumni on an individual basis to ask for advice or request a meeting.

Alumni can also sign up to host Meet a Mentor Office Hours, a one-time, short commitment mentorship. Alumni Engagement staff will facilitate scheduling 20 to 50 alumni mentors each semester to meet with mentees over video chat. These 45- to 60-minute mentor sessions may touch on career advice, résumé or portfolio review, interviewing skills, networking, and life after graduation. Alumni and students can decide whether they’d like to meet again independently in the future. Learn more and sign up.

The Office of Alumni Engagement is currently developing Alumni Community Groups, a digital forum designed to enable alumni to find community in the New School Network. In this virtual forum, members can connect with peers, post news and updates, support and access alumni businesses, and more. These newly launched Community Groups will offer alumni opportunities to get involved in event development, volunteerism, and philanthropic initiatives designed to foster pride, build a sense of belonging, and support The New School and its diverse constituents. By organizing these groups, we seek to promote connections between New School graduates and to deepen alumni relationships to peers, students, and the university across schools, shared identities, affinities, and geographical locations.

If you're interested in volunteering on a committee for an Alumni Community, send an email to [email protected].

MadeNEW Market is located in The New School Network, a digital hub where alumni, students, faculty and staff gather virtually to share news, mentor students, seek jobs, shop MadeNEW Market, and more. The aim of MadeNEW Market is to showcase the range of talent and creativity of the alumni community and to offer a go-to place for consumers to find unique, special high-quality products and services. Join the network and shop for alumni-made products and services, or post your own business. Selected businesses will be featured in social media posts.

Alumni can apply to serve as Alumni Ambassadors, assisting with The New School’s recruitment efforts at information sessions, open houses, and admitted student days. Applicants for this position must be willing to have engaging and positive conversations with potential New School students and families as they share their New School stories and represent the larger alumni community. Apply to be an Alumni Ambassador in the New School Network.

Alumni who indicate interest in becoming Alumni Ambassadors will be contacted for additional information and may need to have a video chat conversation before volunteering for online initiatives.

Prospective Student Referral
Alumni are encouraged to nominate up to five prospective students who will thrive in one of The New School's many degree programs. Nominated students will receive informational materials and an application fee waiver. 

The Alumni Engagement Office identifies alumni experts in the field to speak at classes, events, and industry panels. If you are willing to be considered to present or perform at an upcoming live or virtual event, indicate your interest in your New School Network profile and also email [email protected].

We also work closely with our colleagues in Career Services to provide opportunities for industry experts who want to help foster student career pathways. These volunteers speak on career panels or workshops, recruit at New School career fairs, and list jobs and internships for students and alumni in Hire New and the New School Network.