Ask A Viking: Matching Students with Experienced Mentors

The Foundation for WWU & Alumni and Career Services teamed up to bring students and alumni Ask A Viking, a tool that facilitates mentorship and career development for students and alumni. Students wanting to learn more about their career paths, which courses to take, how to connect with companies that may be offering internships, and other important touchstones on their career journeys can ask alumni for recommendations, quick tips and tricks or mentorships.

The private, secure system automatically connects students to alumni through email without alumni having to log into a platform or enter a password. The connection is facilitated through The Foundation for WWU & Alumni. Alumni are encouraged to update their contact information so students can connect. The Ask a Viking platform is safe, secure, and will maintain users’ privacy.

The program is already seeing success. A student user said, ""I was able to connect with a graduate of WWU who is in the field I am interested in. We met online and were able to have a conversation about career paths and what she does in her typical days. It was extremely helpful and I am so much more confident now that I have a professional contact for any questions I may have! 10/10 experience!"

Alumni are only contacted when there’s a relevant need, so their time is protected, and there is no obligation to respond. Not only is it a simple way to support WWU students, it’s also a useful tool for connecting alumni who might have career advice, seek career changes, or want to reconnect! 

"We are thrilled to offer Ask A Viking to our students and alumni," said Kim O’Neill, President of the Foundation for WWU & Alumni at Western Washington University. "This tool is part of our ongoing commitment to leveraging technology to enhance student support and foster a strong, interconnected community. By connecting students with alumni, we are providing valuable opportunities for mentorship and professional growth."

By working together, we can create a supportive and thriving WWU community that empowers every Viking to achieve their fullest potential.

For more information about Ask A Viking and to get started, visit this link: askaviking.wwu.edu