Pass it on: How CSE mentors help students build their futures

Help students see what's possible

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (08/20/2026) — Before Courtney Schroeder met her mentor, she did what many students would do: She looked at Mary Kurth’s résumé. Kurth had built a career in finance, risen to chief financial officer and moved into corporate board leadership. For Schroeder, then a College of Science and Engineering senior preparing to move from college into a career, the prospect of meeting Kurth was intimidating.

“Being matched with a stranger felt like ‘arranged dating,’” said Schroeder, a 2024 graduate in chemical engineering and materials science. “But right away, when I met Mary, she was so easygoing."

The résumé that had seemed intimidating soon became something more useful: evidence that an accomplished career is built one uncertain decision at a time.

“From her résumé, I knew she was very experienced,” commented Schroeder. “She has all these qualifications, but then I realized she went through the same things.”

Kurth understood the value of that realization because she had entered leadership without many examples to follow. Earlier in her career, she lacked visible female role models in leadership to which she aspired.

“It was guys who were mentoring guys, and there really weren't women in the kind of positions that I aspired to,” said Kurth. “Consequently, I read a lot of biographies, because that was where I was seeing opportunities for some role models.”

Her experience paved the way for her to offer the next generation what she had largely missed: a visible, relatable guide. It also helped Schroeder understand that her degree did not dictate a single future pathway. 

“She helped me see that a degree in chemical engineering didn’t lead to just one path,” Schroeder said. “An engineering or a science degree can open the door to so many possibilities.”

That perspective matters in an increasingly competitive job market. According to Handshake’s Class of 2026 Outlook, open positions have declined 16 percent year over year, while the average number of applications per open role has nearly doubled. The report also found that more than 60 percent of graduating students express pessimism or anxiety about entering a workforce marked by intense competition and changing expectations around AI.

“In today's hiring landscape, having a trusted advocate in your corner ensures students aren't navigating their transition alone,” said Angie Froistad, Director of Career Services for CSE. “A mentor can help students make difficult career decisions, navigate unspoken workplace dynamics and reflect on what they truly want in a career.”

Schroeder found that trusted advocate in Kurth. Their conversations gave her encouragement, a broader view of what was possible and practice speaking with an experienced professional — skills she carried into interviews. Today, Schroeder works for Veolia in a three-year rotational water engineering program, and she is enjoying the opportunity to explore.

CSE students develop deep technical expertise in the classroom and laboratory. Mentors offer a different kind of preparation: the perspective of someone who has already navigated career decisions, setbacks and turning points, and who is willing to make that experience useful to someone else.

Ilya Berchenko, who received his master's and doctorate in geo-engineering from CSE, connected with students and other mentors at a mentor appreciation dinner in the spring.

"At some point, as a leader, you realize that the best you can do for the company is to grow new leaders,” said Berchenko, who spent over 24 years driving digital transformation at Shell and worked at C3AI before recently retiring. “I think mentorship is an integral part of real leadership."

Experience put to work

For more than 20 years, mentorship has connected CSE students with professionals willing to share what they have learned. The CSE Mentor Program has grown in response to student demand. Last year, it was the University of Minnesota’s largest mentoring program, matching nearly 400 mentor-student pairs.

Each relationship takes shape around the student’s goals. Some students want to explore careers or graduate school. Others need help building a network, preparing for interviews or finding opportunities to observe professionals at work. The outcomes can be practical, personal, or both.

Henry Karpovas Lisak, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, joined after hearing another CSE student describe the program as an incredible experience.

“I’m so glad I did it,” he said. “My mentor has become one of the most important people in my life.”

His mentor, Richard Kirchner, a 1999 mechanical engineering graduate, was committed to helping young engineers. What could have remained a professional connection became something much more meaningful.

Oscar Kane Stewart entered the program with more modest expectations.