Information for Mentors

Program Overview

Leadership Rice's Summer Mentorship Experience is a competitive summer internship program for Rice undergraduates who aspire to high-level leadership.  The SME Program is much more than a typical internship.  For nine weeks over the course of the summer, students do substantive work with recognized leaders in public, private, or non-profit organizations. Students also complete readings and written assignments that deepen their understanding of the personal and professional demands leaders face. 

Each SME participant is paired with a mentor who is responsible for overseeing the student's learning and personal development, and we only partner with organizations at which the student will do substantive work and have opportunities to observe and interact with recognized leaders. Placements include some of the most prestigious and demanding summer work experiences in a variety of industries, and are concentrated in Houston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and select international locations.

Why mentor?

Almost all of us in reflecting on our life trajectory can identify someone who has encouraged us, challenged us, and given us opportunities we would not otherwise have enjoyed. The SME program is a unique opportunity for current leaders to be that person for one of the next generation of leaders. Many of the best, brightest, most ambitious students at Rice University are eager to learn, lead, and make a difference. These students want and need more than a summer job, and dedicated mentors have the potential to transform a routine internship into a unique, vibrant mentorship.

The SME program is a win-win-win situation for participating students, mentors, and organizations. Students get to apply their learning in a challenging but supportive professional context, mentors derive satisfaction from helping students realize their potential, and organizations get a bright, motivated, productive summer employee. Students and mentors often remain in touch long after the summer ends, and mentors often prove instrumental in helping students launch and advance their careers.  Ultimately, society benefits from a steady infusion of committed, capable leaders.

What do mentors do?

The mentor's primary responsibility is to equip the student to lead and succeed—during the summer and beyond. This can take a variety of forms, including allowing the student to shadow you and observe your leadership approach, explaining how to navigate office politics, introducing the student to important persons in the organization or industry, or assessing the student's communication skills. Effective mentors make a deliberate effort to help their students reach their full potential. To this end, some mentors establish specific objectives for their students, while others set aside time to discuss leadership concepts, career options, or industry-specific keys to success. Every mentoring experience is different, and the best mentors are sensitive to their student’s specific interests and goals.

A mentor need not be the student's direct supervisor, but should be familiar enough with the student's work to provide meaningful feedback and help ensure that the student is tasked with challenging projects.

SME Mentors:

• Hold leadership roles and are key decision-makers in their organizations. 
• Ensure that the student has substantive and challenging work assignments that contribute meaningfully to the organization. Last year, students conducted publishable research, organized conferences, designed business plans, made recommendations on grant awards, and helped close deals in international locations, among many substantive projects and assignments.
• Interact regularly with the student over the course of the summer, including periodic meetings to assess progress, performance, and goals.  Mentors should encourage students to reach their full potential and be willing to provide positive feedback and constructive criticism as warranted.
• Share insights on how the mentor makes difficult decisions, handles challenging situations, and establishes priorities.
• Facilitate opportunities for the student to be included in meetings and other activities that contribute to their learning.

Student Expectations

All students admitted to the SME program participate in supplementary activities in conjunction with the mentorship. These activities include a series of on-campus training sessions that take place in early May. During these sessions, students interact with Leadership Rice staff and get to know other students in the SME program, including a small cohort of students they will interact with regularly throughout the summer. Students also become familiar with essential leadership skills and keys to success in professional contexts. Over the course of the summer, students complete written assignments that link concepts with work experiences.

Program Details

Matching Students and Organizations
Leadership Rice is responsible for matching students with organizations based on interests, skills, and needs. The SME selection process is competitive, and only the most promising future leaders are admitted to the program. SME participants are among the most outstanding students at Rice University, and many former participants have gone on to great accomplishment. We welcome your input concerning the type of student you would like to work with, and are confident that you will be impressed with the student selected for your organization.

Timeline

• Application Deadline: January 
• Interviews: February
• Offers Extended: March
• SME Training: May
• Mentorships: June 1- July 31

Whenever possible, we will schedule a time during the summer to visit in person with you and your student.  The purpose of the visit is to ensure that expectations are met, explore ways to enhance the quality and value of the mentorship, and get to know you and your organization better.

Previous Participants

• ABC 20/20
• American Enterprise Institute
• Amigos de las Americas
• Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
• Center for the Study of the Presidency
• City of Houston Mayor’s Office
• Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• FOX News
• Harry Abrams Publishing
• Horizon Wind Energy
• Houston Endowment
• National Science Foundation
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital
• Texas Children’s Hospital
• United Nations World Food Program
• Univision
• U.S. Department of Education
• Virgo Engineers

Getting Involved