The Martin Center for Mentorship in Communication

The mission of The Martin Center is to inspire and develop a future generation of leaders and mentors among today’s outstanding communication students, and to foster more robust relationships between those who educate and those who practice in the communications field. 

We seek to accomplish our mission through robust programming and research.

Martin Center Programming


The Center focuses on creating the next generation of communication leaders and honoring those who support their journey.
  • Martin Scholars

    A select group of fourth-year students are chosen to participate in this year-long program meant to set them up for post-graduation success. Created in 2016, the Martin Scholars Program exposes students to on-site visits with different companies, one-on-one mentorship with communication professionals, and regular networking opportunities with Department of Communication National Advisory Council members. By the end of the program, students will gain understanding of the different career paths they can take and have solid support and resources to get them to where they want to be.

    Learn more
  • Mentor-Protégé Program

    Founded in 2006, the Mentor-Protégé program matches third-year students with a mentor from the Department of Communication National Advisory Council and/or our distinguished communication alumni network. The mentor and protégé are paired together based on shared career interests and compatibility to ensure that each person gets optimal value out of the relationship. Over the course of a year, the mentor and protégé will meet every 3-4 weeks to work towards attainable goals, prepare students for post-graduation life, and offer relevant advice to foster personal and professional growth. 

    Mentor and Protege Meeting

    Learn more
  • Internship Program

    Internships are an integral part of the growth and development of students professionally. All Communication students are encouraged to complete at least one internship before graduation. The internship course provides guidance, support, and a network of peers to help students navigate the challenges of the professional environment and help them connect what they are learning in the classroom to the work they are doing on-site.

    Student Internship

  • Mentoring in the Moment

    Established in 2024, Mentoring in the Moment provides short-term mentoring for alumni and current students who need confidential advice or guidance from a seasoned communication professional. This innovative program is designed to offer quick, targeted mentoring sessions on specific topics without the expectation of a long-term relationship. Participants are matched based on need and area of expertise and sessions typically last an hour. This program serves our alums as they progress through different phases of their personal and professional lives and has the capacity to reach a more diverse group of students at any stage of their academic career.

  • Excellence in Mentoring Awards

    Each year the Center celebrates Excellence in Mentoring by recognizing those who are exemplary mentors with three distinct awards: The Distinguished Mentor Award, the Organizational Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the Emerging Mentor Award. 

    Excellence in Mentoring Awards
  • Faculty Shadowing Program

    This program will enable faculty to spend time shadowing members of our National Advisory Council  and other alumni at their place of work to help them understand the changing needs and practices of employers. This program will focus on advancing the faculty members research agenda, improving teaching, and facilitating connections with organizational leaders and alumni. 

    Learn more

In addition to our current programming, we have several initiatives under way: 

  • Faculty-led research projects focused on the art and skill of effective mentorship and networking, including in-depth interviews and focus groups with mentors and proteges regarding best practices as well as benchmarking organizations that have proven mentoring programs. 
  • Online resources and modules on mentoring and effective networking including topics such as how to be a good mentor/protégé, and how to network effectively in face to face and virtual environments. 
  • Creating a database of alumni to help provide timely connections between organizations and alumni