Lauren Pulford has been a volunteer in the UMD Alumni Mentor Program for over two years. “Figuring out a career path can be a daunting task,” she says. “Alumni, like me, can help students take the first step on their journey into careers.”
This past year, Pulford, who majored in French Studies and international studies, invited the UMD student she was mentoring, Brooke Eibensteiner, a Spanish Studies major who plans to graduate in 2025, out to Washington, D.C. Eibensteiner networked and learned about career opportunities in government and other work. She stayed for a week, met professionals, and visited firms throughout the city. Eibensteiner says, “Lauren was extremely generous. I was able to mix in tourist-y activities with touring the State Department and meeting with members of bureaus that interested me. She showed me her favorite places to dine and I tried Pakistani food for the first time. Thanks to her connections, I toured the White House!”
Having served in a variety of departments, Pulford has a lot of experience in career development. Her own career started as an 11- week internship in the U.S. Department of State and shortly after that, she was hired as a contractor working at the Foreign Service Institute. “It was exciting work and encouraging to contribute to promoting democracy and peace around the world.” Pulford prepared America’s diplomats to tackle economic growth programs in foreign countries. She is now in the Office of Foreign Assistance where she works with international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on economic development projects.
“I’ve been so fortunate; being a UMD mentor is a way I can give back.” Pulford finds the students she mentors, “wonderful and highly engaged” and she has decided to sign on with UMD for another year.
UMD’s mentorship program partners individual students with alumni or professional mentors. The program is coordinated by the Office of Alumni Relations and works to form lasting relationships between students and mentors.