Alumni Connect builds relationships that last

This spring, the Central Michigan University College of Business Administration launched Alumni Connect, a pilot mentoring program designed to strengthen relationships between business students and alumni.

Over the course of the semester, six students were paired with six alumni mentors to discuss career paths, professional development and life beyond the classroom. What began as a series of planned conversations became something more, with many participants choosing to continue those relationships after the pilot concluded.

For Anthony Niemiec, assistant director of The HUB, Alumni Connect was never simply about matching students with mentors.

"When I started thinking about Alumni Connect, I kept coming back to one question: How can we create meaningful relationships between our students and alumni?" Niemiec said. "Our alumni have incredible stories and experiences to share, and our students are eager to learn from people who've been where they are. I wanted to create opportunities for those connections to happen."

Rather than creating a traditional mentor-mentee relationship, Niemiec wanted students to take ownership of building a professional connection. Unlike many mentoring programs, Alumni Connect was intentionally designed to be student-led. Students were responsible for initiating conversations, scheduling meetings and determining what they hoped to gain from the experience, while alumni served as guides who shared their experiences, perspectives and advice.

"Networking can feel intimidating if you've never done it before," Niemiec said. "I wanted students to realize that professional relationships start with genuine conversations. They're learning how to communicate professionally, ask thoughtful questions and take ownership of their own growth."

Conversation guides provided structure while allowing each mentoring relationship to develop naturally. The guides provided structure while allowing each mentoring relationship to develop naturally.

For junior marketing major Miles Medley of Northville, Mich., the experience provided an opportunity to learn from someone who had once stood in his shoes.

"I gained a lot of advice from someone who was involved in many of the same student organizations I’m involved in and worked similar jobs while on campus," Medley said. "I also received a lot of professional advice related to work-life balance and how to perform well in both internship and full-time roles.”

One of the biggest surprises, Medley said, was how naturally the relationship developed.

“It was very easy to connect, share experiences, and gain new perspective and advice from someone in a successful full-time role in my area of interest,” he said. “We were both pretty flexible in our schedules, and I was able to see my mentor at some CBA and professional sales events, which gave us another opportunity to check in.”

Alumni also found the experience meaningful. For alumna Kayli Kalish '25, mentoring was an opportunity to reconnect with the university while investing in today's students.

"As a student at CMU, I always felt supported and was involved with the university in many different ways," said Kalish. "Even though I moved out of state to North Carolina after graduating, I still wanted to remain connected to CMU, especially the College of Business, in any way I could. When this opportunity was presented to me, it was an easy yes."

"For students, these relationships provide a look into what their future could be like before they have reached that stage themselves," Kalish said. "For alumni, it creates a renewed sense of community and connection to CMU. It also gives us the opportunity to be the person for a student that someone else may have been for us."

The pilot also reaffirmed something Niemiec has long believed about the CMU community.

"Our alumni are looking for ways to give back, but sometimes aren’t sure how to plug in," he said. "They want to stay connected to CMU and the College of Business. Many people assume giving back means making a financial contribution, but often what students need most is someone's time, experience and encouragement."

With the pilot complete, The HUB plans to expand Alumni Connect in the coming year.

"This pilot confirmed what we hoped, that meaningful relationships can have a lasting impact," Niemiec said. “We're excited to continue growing Alumni Connect and welcome more students and alumni to be part of it.”

Students interested in participating in a future Alumni Connect cohort, as well as alumni interested in serving as mentors, are encouraged to contact Niemiec through The HUB office or by sending an email to niemi2aj@cmich.edu. Alumni looking for additional ways to reconnect with the College of Business Administration can also reach out to learn about opportunities to speak in classes, judge competitions, participate in Dialogue Days and support student organizations.