The English Department Alumni Mentoring Network is an informal email-mentoring program that brings together our majors in English, Creative Writing, and Teaching of English with alumni willing to help them learn more about possible careers. We provide a directory that lists contact information and a brief biography for each mentor; students who attend an initial orientation workshop are allowed to access the directory and email mentors of their choosing. It is a great way for alumni to stay connected with the department, and it is also an excellent resource for our current majors. The opportunity to communicate with people who are experiencing the real-world value of an English or Creative Writing degree is invaluable.

If you are a current undergraduate and you would like to begin taking advantage of these resources, you will need to meet briefly with an academic advisor in the English department (call 333-4346 to schedule an appointment) and sign an agreement that contains guidelines for appropriate use of the network.

If you are a graduate of the English department and would like to become a mentor, please email us at engl-alums@illinois.edu and let us know you're interested. We'd be delighted to hear from you!

Read these testimonials and memoirs from U of Illinois English graduates.

Workplace internships for English, Creative Writing, and Teaching of English majors are stepping stones to post-college success. Internships provide opportunities for our majors to gain experience applying skills learned in the classroom (e.g., writing and critical thinking) in a different and more-complex setting.

To learn more about sponsoring an internship in your place of work contact Kirstin Wilcox.