Connecting Students with Social Impact Leaders
The MSIL Industry Mentor (MIM) Network is a signature program of the Master of Arts in Social Impact Leadership at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. The network enables enrolled MSIL students to meet and build relationships with experienced professionals across the social impact ecosystem, providing access to cross-sector relationships and real-world perspectives that are essential to building a meaningful career in the field.
About the Program
The MIM Network is built on a simple but powerful premise: professional networks open doors that credentials alone cannot. While the MSIL curriculum prepares students with the knowledge and frameworks to lead in complex environments, the Industry Mentor Network provides something equally valuable: direct access to the people, organizations, and opportunities that define the social impact landscape.
Industry Mentors are mid- to senior-level professionals with at least five to seven years of leadership experience in one of five sectors:
- Nonprofit and social sector organizations
- Corporate social impact and DEI
- Government and public sector
- Social entrepreneurship
- Philanthropy and foundations
Mentors’ events and activities are planned by the MSIL program staff, with careful attention to each cohort’s professional background, career aspirations, and the type of network access they are seeking.
Program Events & Activities
The MIM Network offers a range of structured experiences throughout the year, giving students multiple opportunities to engage with practitioners and build lasting professional relationships.
Networking Events Facilitated networking sessions bring students and Industry Mentors together in a dynamic, low-pressure setting. These events are designed to help students practice professional relationship-building while making genuine connections with leaders across sectors.
Panels & Guest Speakers Industry Mentors share their expertise and career journeys through panel discussions and guest speaker sessions integrated into the MSIL program experience. These conversations offer students an inside look at the realities of social impact leadership across a variety of organizational contexts.
Excursions Site visits and professional excursions offer students the opportunity to engage with social impact organizations firsthand — observing operations, meeting teams, and deepening their understanding of how change is made at the organizational level.
Who Serves as an Industry Mentor?
Industry Mentors are professionals who bring not only experience, but an active professional network they are willing to share. They are directors, vice presidents, executives, founders, program officers, and other senior leaders who are committed to investing in the next generation of social impact professionals.
Mentors may also choose to engage with the broader MSIL community in additional ways, including serving as guest speakers or panelists, providing feedback on student capstone projects, or contributing to program direction as members of the SIL Community Voices advisory group.
The MSIL Industry Mentor Network is administered by the MSIL Program at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.
How to Get Involved
For Students: Participation in the MIM Network is a component of the MSIL program experience. Students complete a goal-setting intake at the start of the program year, which is used to inform the types of planned events throughout the school year. More information will be shared during program orientation.
For Prospective Mentors: If you are a social impact professional interested in supporting the next generation of leaders, we invite you to learn more about becoming an Industry Mentor. The time commitment is designed to be accessible — just two to four hours over the course of the academic year.