Become a mentor for the CSIFT Industry Mentorship Program. The students are the recipients of a scholarship as part of the Chicagoland Food Science Foundation’s Competitive Scholarship Program. The students range from Freshmen to Graduate Students.
Seeking mentors interested in working with students to help them navigate the food and beverage industry while they begin their journey in school. If you have the desire to help students and future food industry members, sign up today!
The 2026 Mentor Programs are currently in place.
Looking for Mentorship for CSIFT Members?Schedule & Topics
Programs run from September through November annually where mentor/mentee pairs meet 6 times over 3 months. Program guides are included to help structure the conversations.
Program Schedule
- Mid-August: Kick-off meeting to share program information, guidelines, expectations, and contracts.
- End-August: Discussion of program details to answer any questions. Pairings shared.
- 6 meetings (in-person or virtually) over 3 months – between September and November. Each meeting is expected to be about one hour with the meetings occurring approximately every two weeks.
- Early December: Wrap-up meeting to provide insights and feedback.
Discussion Topics
The students will complete an informational form that you can use to guide your discussions. You will be provided with a tentative schedule with suggested topics, such as:
- Getting to know each other
- Strengths & weaknesses/Interpersonal skills
- Goal setting/career planning
- Leadership
- Overcoming challenges – personal, conflict, ethical dilemma
- Attitude/Initiative
- Communication/Business Etiquette
- Job search/interviewing
- Understanding Careers in the Food Industry
- Open Forum
If you have the desire to help students and future food industry members and are interested in serving as a mentor, please click the button below.
The mentorship I received not only improved my technical skills but also boosted my confidence in engaging with corporate leadership. I am grateful for the time, dedication, and expertise that my mentor invested in my professional growth. I highly recommend the CSIFT Mentoring Program to anyone looking to develop their career and expand their industry knowledge.
The program is simple. Decide if you want to participate as a mentor or mentee based on where you are in your professional journey. Together, we can create a thriving network of food industry professionals who grow stronger through collaboration and shared knowledge
Nasser (Nash) Huraibat
Mentee
American Ingredients Inc.
Sr. Account Manager