Sweet Briar mentorship program reaches record 52 matches

Sweet Briar College’s Alumnae Mentorship Program is entering its sixth year after mentoring 195 students and pairing a record 52 alumnae and students in 2025–26. The expansion to include juniors, along with seniors, widened access to career guidance ahead of graduation and beyond.

Why it matters: - The program gives Sweet Briar students direct career help from alumnae who have already worked through the job search, graduate school, and workplace transition. - The record 2025–26 class shows growing demand for one-on-one mentorship as students prepare for life after college. - The program also strengthens Sweet Briar’s alumnae network by linking current students with graduates across career fields.

What happened: - Sweet Briar College’s Alumnae Mentorship Program entered its sixth year in 2026. - The program has mentored 195 students since launching in 2021. - The 2025–26 academic year produced a record 52 alumnae-student matches. - The program expanded in 2025–26 to include current juniors as well as seniors.

The details: - The Alumnae Relations & Development Office launched the program with Career Services in 2021. - Caroline Chappell Hazarian ’09 and Barbara Watts match students with alumnae based on future career interests. - The mentoring process typically includes career conversations, a résumé review, help refining a cover letter or personal statement, and a mock interview. - Mentors also advise students on graduate school, the transition into the workforce and the federal security clearance process. - The college said the program is designed to create meaningful one-on-one relationships with alumnae. - The program’s 52 matches in 2025–26 marked the largest cohort in its history.

Between the lines: - Expanding the program to juniors suggests Sweet Briar is trying to start career preparation earlier, not just at graduation. - The emphasis on individualized matching points to a more targeted approach than a broad alumni networking event. - The program also reflects a broader college strategy: tying the student experience to long-term alumnae support.

What's next: - Sweet Briar plans to build on the 2025–26 momentum in the 2026–27 academic year. - The college expects to continue expanding mentoring relationships between students and the alumnae community. - Sweet Briar directs prospective students to admissions information or admissions@sbc.edu for more information.

The bottom line: - Sweet Briar’s mentorship program has become a core career pipeline, and the record class of 52 matches suggests the model is gaining traction.