Mentorship & Networking
A polished resume gets you noticed. A real mentor and a real network get you hired, promoted, and connected past graduation. Mentorship and networking are related but different: a mentor gives you sustained, individual guidance; a network gives you broader access to people, industries, and opportunities. This page covers both — where to find them at Baylor, and how to build them well once you're in them.
Part 1: Where to Find Mentorship & Networking at Baylor
Battle Buddy Program (BBP) FREE
VoB's own peer mentorship program, already running. Pairs officers with newer veteran students for biweekly check-ins and a monthly meetup.
Contact: Kevin_Davis1@baylor.edu to get paired — no public sign-up page yet, so reach out directly.
Veterans Mentorship Program FREE
Pairs student veterans with Baylor faculty/staff mentors for guidance in academics, career development, and campus engagement. Mentors and mentees each commit to meeting at least once a month, individually or during group events, with flexible scheduling.
How it works:
- Fill out the short interest survey
- Get matched with a mentor or mentee based on your goals and interests
- Attend events and check-ins throughout the semester
- Grow, connect, and share your experience
Join the Veterans Mentorship Program →
Are you faculty or staff?
Baylor faculty and staff can volunteer directly to mentor a student veteran through the Faculty and Staff Resources page — worth sharing with any professor or staff member who asks how to help.
See Faculty & Staff Resources →
Military-Connected Faculty and Staff Association (MCFSA)
A network of Baylor faculty and staff who are themselves military-connected (veterans, spouses, or family of service members). Beyond individual mentors, MCFSA members regularly show up at VETS events — including as guests at Warrior Wednesday and co-hosts of events like the Salute to Heroes football game — making this a broader community to network into, not just a one-on-one match.
Warrior Wednesday
A weekly, low-pressure opportunity to connect with fellow military-connected students over lunch in the VETS Lounge (Sid Richardson Building, Basement, Room 012). Frequently joined by support partners or military-affiliated organizations — an easy, recurring way to build your network without a formal application.
Check the VETS calendar for this week's Warrior Wednesday →
VETS Online Community FREE
A private online community (log in with Bear ID) with topic-based channels for connecting with fellow military-connected students who share your background or interests — student parent, spouse, dependent, graduate student, seminary student, and more. Request to join and you're typically accepted within 24 hours.
Join the VETS Online Community →
VETS Alumni Group
Baylor's Alumni Association runs a dedicated VETS Group (founded 2021) for graduates who served. It's the way to stay connected to the Baylor veteran community after graduation — tailgates, a VETS Alumni Challenge Coin, and a planned VETS Alumni Mentorship Program are all part of it.
Note: as of this writing, the VETS Alumni Mentorship Program is listed as upcoming, not yet fully live — worth confirming current status before promising it to graduating seniors.
VETS Lounge
A physical space in the basement (West Wing) of the Sid Richardson Building — open anytime during normal Baylor business hours, not just during Warrior Wednesday. A place to organically connect with peers of a similar background; often has free snacks and hosts celebrations throughout the year.
Voices of VETS
A page highlighting the stories of talented student veterans and alumni connected to Baylor — a good place to see who's who in the community and find people worth reaching out to directly.
American Corporate Partners FREE
A free, year-long, 1-on-1 mentoring relationship with a working executive in your target industry.
Apply to American Corporate Partners →
SVA Leadership Institute FREE
An all-expenses-paid (travel, lodging, per diem) fellowship in Washington, D.C. for student veteran chapter leaders, mentored by SVA alumni and connected into a national network. VoB already references its connection to SVA Headquarters and the national SVA community, so this is a natural next step, not a cold application.
Learn About the SVA Leadership Institute →
Which Option Fits My Goal?
| If your goal is... | Explore... |
|---|---|
| I'm new and want a peer who already knows the ropes. | Battle Buddy Program (BBP) |
| I want structured, ongoing guidance from a faculty/staff member. | Veterans Mentorship Program |
| I want to meet military-connected people across campus, not just one mentor. | MCFSA & Warrior Wednesday |
| I want to connect by shared identity (parent, spouse, grad student, etc.), not just veteran status. | VETS Online Community |
| I'm graduating and don't want to lose this community. | VETS Alumni Group |
| I want somewhere to just show up and be around people who get it, any day of the week. | VETS Lounge |
| I want to see who's already succeeding as a Baylor veteran before I reach out. | Voices of VETS |
| I want a working executive mentor in my target industry. | American Corporate Partners |
| I'm a VoB chapter leader ready for a national stage. | SVA Leadership Institute |
Part 2: How to Build Strong Relationships Once You're In Them
Finding a mentor or a room full of people is the easy part. What you do with it is what actually builds a career.
One Mentor Doesn't Need to Do Everything
As your goals get more specific, different mentors serve different purposes:
- Academic Mentor — discipline expectations, research opportunities, grad school, faculty networks. Best for: academic direction.
- Career Mentor — civilian career paths, hiring, advancement. Best for: career exploration and transition.
- Leadership Mentor — communication, team leadership, organizational dynamics. Best for: translating prior leadership experience.
- Industry Mentor — perspective from the specific field or company type you're entering. Best for: targeted networking.
Turn Networking Into Learning: The Informational Conversation
Ask for perspective, not employment. A short, focused conversation can teach you more than a job posting ever will. Come prepared with questions like:
- How did you enter this field, and what shaped your career progression?
- What does success in your role actually require?
- Which capabilities are most valuable in this field?
- Which parts of military experience tend to translate especially well here?
- What would you recommend I develop while I'm still at Baylor?
- What differentiates strong early-career candidates?
- Is there another person or resource you'd recommend I learn from?
Networking Etiquette
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Research the person/organization before connecting | Sending generic connection requests with no context |
| Explain why you're reaching out | Asking a new contact for a job immediately |
| Ask focused, thoughtful questions | Treating every conversation as transactional |
| Listen more than you speak | Dominating the conversation with your resume |
| Send a concise thank-you afterward | Failing to follow up after someone helps you |
| Follow through when someone gives you advice | Only building your network when you urgently need something |
Track Relationships, Not Just Contacts
A simple tracker per contact keeps follow-up from slipping:
- Person — name, role, organization
- Context — where/how you connected
- Goal — why the relationship matters
- Insight — what you learned
- Follow-up — your next appropriate action
- Contribute — how you can add value back
Different Paths. A Stronger Future.
Baylor VETS is here to help you connect your education, leadership development, and career goals.
Return to Leadership Development → | Explore External Programs →