York’s alumni community at your fingertips
York U alumni are passionate about giving back to their alma mater, and as a student, you can gain invaluable insights from their experiences—after all, they’ve been in your shoes. Whether you’re inviting an alumni speaker for your student club, joining a Mentor Circles session, or benefiting from your professors inviting alumni guest lectures in the classroom for experiential learning, there are countless ways to tap into the wisdom and perspectives of our global community of changemakers.
Explore the following programs whether you are a student, alumni or faculty to engage, contribute and gain from the unique perspectives of our rich and diverse community.
Student Ambassadors
The Student Alumni Ambassador Program (SAAP) at York University is a dynamic initiative that bridges the gap between current students and the alumni community. By fostering connections with student leaders—such as club leaders, peer mentors, recruitment ambassadors, college councils, and student athletes—SAAP aims to create a sense of community that links student and alumni experiences. SAAP aims to enhance personal and professional growth while strengthening the pathway from student to engaged alumni through meaningful alumni engagement activities. Interested in getting involved? Contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371.
Student Clubs Funding
The Alumni Engagement Fund for Student Clubs supports officially registered student organizations at York University in involving alumni in their events. This fund encourages connections between student clubs and our alumni community. Whether you need a speaker, a diverse panel, or a fireside chat, we can help find the right alumni for your event. Student organizations can apply for this funding to cover event costs, such as food and more with the support of our alumni engagement team. Please contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371 with questions.
Send your application on YU Connect.
Mentor Circles
The Mentor Circles program at York University offers students the opportunity to connect with York alumni to discuss career-related interests. Through informal meetings, alumni share insights about their job, industry, and experiences, providing students with valuable knowledge and networking opportunities. The program is flexible, allowing alumni to choose convenient times and locations, without requiring long-term commitments. This initiative supports students in navigating their academic and career paths while enhancing their leadership and interpersonal skills. Interested in getting involved? Contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, Alumni Engagement Officer at issajama@yorku.ca or 437-774-4371.
Connecting YU
Use this York-exclusive hub to connect with others on a global scale, based on what matters to you most. Reach out to mentors, network with alumni and your classmates, and access events, resources, and opportunities to support your professional development.
PAL
The Professor Alumni Link (PAL) program at York University fosters connections between faculty members and alumni to enhance experiential learning opportunities for students. It provides support for professors engaging alumni in classroom settings by offering resources like thank-you gifts, meal reimbursements, and complimentary parking on campus. The program aims to enrich the educational experience by bringing real-world perspectives into academic settings. The program fosters networking, mentorship opportunities, and strengthens the bond between York’s alumni and the academic community. Professors can access the PAL fund through the university’s Alumni Engagement Team.
Stay in touch: Update your info
Whether you’re a student or one of our alumni, don’t miss out on news from York Alumni & Friends! Sign up for the York U Alumni News newsletter and update or change your info and communications preferences today.