Throughout your career, creating and building your network will be important to your advancement and success within your field. Below are a variety of resources that may be helpful to you as you build your support system as a URI student:
- Office of Community, Equity & Diversity
- Careers for the Common Good Education Panel: Hear from URI employer partners that share their commitments to diverse hiring practices
- LinkedIn Alumni Finder Tool: Consider requesting an informational interview to build your relationship with your LinkedIn connections.
Finding a Mentor
The value of a good mentor is priceless. A Management Mentors survey found that 80% of the CEOs it polled had mentors; and they attributed their access to insider knowledge, power, and fast-tracked careers to having mentors. The links below teach you how to find and build a relationship with a great mentor of your own.
- A Guide to Understanding the Role of a Mentor
- Science of Mentorship | Shawn Blanchard TEDx Talk
- How To Find a Great Mentor | Tips for College Students, Recent Grads, and Young Professionals
Professional Associations and Affinity Groups
- American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) is the association of professionals managing affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity and other HR programs.
- American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) ensures the input of African Americans into the discussion and development of energy policies, regulations, R&D technologies and environmental issues.
- American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) is a membership-based organization dedicated to serving as the voice for African Americans in higher education.
- Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is a non-profit organization that offers individual membership and empowers its members through advocacy, professional development, and collaboration.
- Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) is a membership-based association for physicians, scientists, clinical care associates, cardiologists in training, medical students and more.
- Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) promotes and advances the profession of African Psychology.
- Association of Black Sociologists (ABS) is a membership organization for black social science leaders committed to research, teaching, mentoring, service, and social justice.
- Association of Black Women Physicians (ABWP) is an organized network of black women physicians committed to the improvement of public health and health equity.
- Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) is an organization for black professionals in IT including programmers, analysts, engineers, managers, instructors, and entrepreneurs.
- Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE) is a membership-based organization for African American females who have degrees in the sciences, math, and engineering.
- International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) is dedicated to cultivating and maintaining professional competence and establishing unity among black professional fire fighters.
- National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) is dedicated to empowering African-American insurance professionals.
- National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) is devoted to the success of the nation’s children, particularly children of African descent.
- National Association for Black Veterinarians (NABV) is dedicated to supporting African-American individuals within the field of veterinary medicine.
- National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) is an inspirational and unique career development and networking powerhouse.
- National Association of African American Studies (NAAAS) serves as a resource for scholars in the field doing research related to the African and African American experience.
- National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) is the leader in expanding the influence of minority professionals in the fields of accounting and finance.
- National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) is comprised of African Americans in law enforcement, judicial admin, juvenile justice, institution-based corrections, and more.
- National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment (NABFEME) empowers women of color in recorded music, sports, media and related entertainment industry fields.
- National Association of Black Geoscientists (NABG) is a nonprofit organization established to encourage and support African American geoscientists.
- National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide.
- National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO) is a national organization serving as an advocate for the concerns and issues of law enforcement officers of color throughout the United States.
- National Association of Black Male Educators (NABME) promotes the professional advancement of black and minority male educators.
- National Association of Black Narcotics Agents (NABNA) is devoted to furthering the hiring, training, and retention of minority DEA employees.
- National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT) is a membership-based organization for African American physical therapists and physical therapy assistants.
- National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) is committed to enhancing quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry.
- National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NANBPWC) promotes and protects the interests of African American business and professional women.
- National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) is a membership organization for African-American music and musicians, performers, educators, students, administrators, and enthusiasts.
- National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) the nation’s oldest and most historic black real estate membership-based professional association.
- National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) is the premier non-profit organization for minorities and women in the securities industry.
- National Black Association of Speech Language and Hearing (NBASLH) is a membership organization representing certified black speech-language and hearing professionals.
- National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE) focuses on networking, education, volunteering and leadership through aviation based careers.
- National Black Contractors Association (NBCA) addresses the needs of African Americans in construction, women and other under-represented contractors.
- National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is a non-profit organization representing African American farmers in the United States.
- National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) leads in the creation of educational opportunities and economic growth for African Americans.
- National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is a forum for black nurses to advocate for and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color.
- National Black Police Association (NBPA) is a national organization is dedicated to promoting justice, fairness, and effectiveness in law enforcement.
- National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is the only professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of African Americans as prosecutors.
- National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS) is a membership-based organization for black professionals in the public relations, media relations, and corporate communication fields.
- National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) is a non-profit organization dedicated primarily to the training needs of African American meeting planners.
- National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) is an association of lawyers, scholars, judges, legal workers, law students and legal activists.
- National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) is organized to study, enhance, and promote the political aspirations of people of African descent.
- National Dental Hygienists’ Association (NDHA) is committed to serving minority dental hygiene practitioners of African American descent and bringing the community together for betterment.
- National Economic Association (NEA) offers membership to minority professionals and graduate students in the field of economics and a wide array of related disciplines.
- National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) is a professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of black leadership in the public sector.
- National Medical Association (NMA) is the collective voice of African American physicians and the leading force for parity and justice in medicine.
- National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition (NOBIDAN) is a professional organization of African-American dietetic and nutrition practitioners.
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) represents black chiefs of police, sheriffs, and command level law enforcement agency personnel.
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is dedicated to serving culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
- National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) promotes the professional well-being of African American physicist and physics students.
- Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of minorities in all aviation and aerospace careers.
