York University faculty members have the opportunity to enrich classroom learning by reconnecting with their own former students and inviting them back as alumni mentors through the Professor Alumni Link (PAL) program.
Administered by the Alumni Engagement Team within the Division of Advancement, the PAL program supports faculty in reconnecting with past students and inviting them into the classroom to share insights, offer mentorship and enhance the learning experience for current students. Whether through guest lectures, panel discussions or informal Q-and-A sessions, alumni engagement helps bridge academic theory with real-world experience.
“The PAL program is unique because it enables professors to reconnect with their own former students in a way that enriches everyone involved,” says Heather Auden, director, alumni engagement. “Faculty gain the chance to bring real-world perspectives directly tied to their course material, alumni are able to give back and strengthen their relationship with York, and current students benefit from seeing how someone who once sat in their chair has successfully applied their learning and what career paths may lie ahead of them. It’s a meaningful way to show the lasting impact of a York education.”
Among those who have drawn on their alumni through the program is Professor Thomas R. Klassen in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. In order to better equip current students preparing to travel to Seoul for Klassen’s annual summer abroad course, South Korea: The Politics of Youth and Old Age, he invited alumni of the course to share experiences and field questions. “Having past students come to meet the current students and share experiences is an essential component of making the course a success for students,” he says.
Faculty members who wish to participate in the PAL program can access support from the Division of Advancement in the form of:
- thank-you gifts for alumni volunteers;
- meal reimbursements for professors and alumni;
- complimentary alumni parking on campus; and
- additional resources based on request.
Professors interested in accessing the fund are encouraged to contact Issa Abdi Jamaa, alumni engagement officer, at issajama@yorku.ca to arrange a meeting and discuss engagement plans.
For more information, visit the PAL Program webpage.