Mentoring for Students and Professionals!

Mentorship Opportunities

APEC offers two different types of mentorship for different people with various needs.

IEEE PELS Mentorship RoundTables

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location:  Grand Hyatt, Level 2, Lonestar C

Since 2017, the PELS Mentorship RoundTable event has been facilitating access to distinguished leaders from research and industry. Covering non-technical topics essential for professional and personal growth, the RoundTable is an intimate setting comprised of a mentor who leads the topical discussion and a small group of mentees. Mentors may come from diverse fields, not only power electronics. The RoundTable event is open to all engineers at any stage of their career.

For more information consult the following links:

PSMA Student Mentorship Program

PSMA Student Mentorship Program matches a motivated student with a professional (from industry or academia) with expertise related to his/her interests. However, students can make special requests (such as proficiency in his/her first language or career experience) to tailor the mentor matching criteria to his/her specific needs. Naturally these special requests are limited to the mentors available.

To supplement the one-to-one mentorship, the program also includes a mentorship program guide filled with various suggested activities with associated point values. These suggested activities address the six major objectives of the program:

  1. Take advantage of APEC
  2. Explore career options & directions
  3. Promote self & network (socially)
  4. Meet subject matter experts
  5. Learn about sponsors (PSMA & IEEE)
  6. Have fun along the way!

The students who earn the most points wins $500, the second highest points wins $300, and the third highest winner receives $200. Furthermore, students who earn at least 300 points will be publicly recognized as APEC’s Rising Stars.

The mentorship program has three phases:

  • Before APEC – Prepare for APEC & initial virtual mentoring meeting
  • During APEC – Participate in APEC, implement suggestions & meet each other in person
  • After APEC – Follow up on how APEC went with improvement tips & final virtual mentor meeting

Visit the PSMA website for more details on the mentorship program.

Sign up before Monday, February 9, 2026 for the best selection of mentor-mentee matchups. Mentor and mentees will be notified on February 9. Sign up on or after February 9 will be matched to the first pair of student mentee and mentor signed up if available.

For questions, email mentors@psma.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mentorship Opportunities

As a student, do I have to choose only one mentorship program?

No, you can do both! These are separate events with different formats and different objectives.

As a young professional, can I join the Student Mentorship Program as a mentee?

Not at this time. However, young professionals are encouraged to sign up as a mentor for this APEC. If the mentor pool grows large enough to cover all student applicants, then PSMA will consider expanding the program in the next APEC.

Do I have to be a member of PSMA or IEEE to be a mentor?

No membership is required. Mentors must be willing to share knowledge & expertise, attend APEC in person, and be flexible to meet with mentee.

If I have not mentored before or I am new to mentoring, is there any help?

Here is a short article with helpful suggestions: https://www.psma.com/HTML/newsletter/page9.html.

If I was a student mentee in the PSMA Student Mentorship Program previously, can I still apply again?

Of course! Naturally getting a mentor will depend on the number of mentors who sign up.

Why do I need to register for the PELS Mentorship RoundTables?

The format of the RoundTable ensures small and intimate group settings to encourage a deeper connection between mentor and mentee. Registration allows the participant to choose their mentor and guarantees a seat at the table.

Can I still sign up for the PELS Mentorship Roundtables by showing up in person?

As long as there is availability, we are happy to register you on-site at the event. You will still follow the same registration process, though, and our on-site staff can help walk you through that. However, if you have a burning desire to speak with a particular mentor on a particular topic you are strongly encouraged to register in advance.