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Key Points
Registration for the fall 2026 IME Mentoring Program is open now.
The program pairs IME students with professional mentors for career guidance, résumé support and networking.
Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors; the fall virtual kickoff is on Sept. 8 and 10.
Registration is now open for the fall 2026 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) Mentoring Program at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
The program connects students one-on-one with experienced professionals to help them prepare for life after graduation.
Whether students are considering internships, full-time roles, graduate school or new career paths, the program is designed to provide guidance, support and industry insight as they navigate the transition from college to career.
Charelle Lans, IME program director, said experience gives students something more useful than answers.
“Experience is valuable not because it gives a mentor the answers to a student’s future, but because it gives the student context for making better decisions about it,” Lans said. “In a labor market that is becoming increasingly competitive and changing daily, that context may be one of the most valuable and consequential advantages we can give an emerging professional.”
The program matches IME students with mentors who can help them explore career opportunities in and beyond industrial engineering, prepare for internships and job interviews, strengthen their résumés and professional presence, and expand their professional networks.
How did the spring 2026 cohort go?
The spring 2026 cohort included 40 students, with 31 active mentor-mentee pairs established. According to program data, 100% of matched participants completed their initial mentor meeting, and more than 85% of students experienced mentorship for the first time. Additionally, 95% of participants sought career guidance and 90% wanted greater industry insight through the program.
What’s expected of mentees
Participation is designed to fit students’ academic schedules. As a mentee, students are expected to attend the fall 2026 virtual kickoff (Sept. 8 or 10), connect with their assigned mentor, meet at least twice during the semester and set personal goals for the experience.
Who should apply?
The program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students don’t need to have their career path figured out to participate—organizers say that’s one of the main reasons to get involved. Whether seeking an internship, preparing for graduation or exploring graduate school, the program offers perspective and support.
To secure a spot, students must complete a profile detailing their interests, goals and the areas where they’d value guidance. Organizers use this information to create mentor-mentee matches.
“A mentor expands the student’s network while expanding their field of vision and inspiring what is truly possible,” Lans said. “I have come to recognize that one often overshadowed benefit of mentorship is only showing students a way through the door but helping them realize that a door exists where they didn’t know it was even possible.”
“Opportunity begins with visibility,” Lans said. “Students cannot pursue careers they have never encountered, build relationships in rooms they have never entered, or imagine themselves in roles they have never seen.”
Secure your spot
Registration for the fall 2026 IME Mentoring Program is open now. Students interested in industrial and manufacturing engineering can find more information or sign up through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering website or the links below.
Register for the IME Mentoring Program
Questions? Contact:
Charelle Lans, IME program director and IME Advisory Council president, or DeShari Kelly, IME office manager.