CIT Dean's Leadership Fellows Program

Program Overview

Description: 

The CIT Dean's Leadership Fellows (DLF) program recognizes the leadership achievement and potential of current College of Engineering juniors. This unique experience provides opportunities for qualifying students to develop their leadership skills through a community service project, job-shadowing and networking opportunities with successful alumni and professionals.

Program Specifics:

Each year, up to 12 fellows will be selected by the dean, faculty and senior staff.  Fellows will receive the following: a $500 stipend and an organized mentoring/shadowing opportunity during Spring Break with a leader in a related field of interest.

In return, the fellows will be required to complete a group community service project during the spring semester of their junior year. This project will be selected by the cohort from the pool of proposed projects from the DLF applications of that year.

Application Process

The application consists of the components:

1.     CIT Dean's Leadership Fellows Program Application

2.     A letter of reference that highlights the student's leadership ability

3.     An updated resume

The application packet must be submitted to the CIT Dean's Office (Scaife Hall 110), c/o Kurt Larsen by October 23.

Dean's Leadership Fellows DC Mentoring Experience Overview

Based on one-on-one interviews, essays, and career aspirations, students are matched with a DC-based professional for a concentrated "mentoring" experience. There is a welcoming reception to introduce students to their mentors, as well as connected CMU alums living and working in the DC metro area.

The following day, students engage in job shadowing activities with their mentors. Mentors are asked to provide insight into both their professional and personal journeys and to stress the importance of effective networking.

On the third day, students will participate in a group site visit of a local company or agency.

Post-experience interviews will be conducted with both students and mentors to better understand the scope and value of their DC experience, and to learn how the overall process/program might be improved.

Dean's Leadership Program Timeline

• October 23: Deadline for applications

• Early November: Welcome reception with Dean Khosla and new Fellows

• Late November: Pre-visit Interviews

• January: Community service or problem-solving project

• Spring Break (mid-March): Trip to DC- reception + 1 day shadowing + 1 day site visits

• April: Post-visit Interviews