A new program in the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts will bring students together with successful alumni and friends of the university for one-on-one mentorship and career guidance.

Creative Consultants is a professional mentorship initiative that, through a competitive application process, matches outstanding College of Creative Arts students with extraordinary professionals in the fields of art and design, music, theatre, dance, and arts education, administration and industry. 

“Across the nation, and the world, are incredible graduates and friends of the College of Creative Arts, leading inspiring and often ground-breaking creative professional lives,” said Mikylah Myers, assistant dean of student artistic achievement. “Many of them have asked for a way to give back to WVU, and for an opportunity to share the kind of advice they wish they'd had when they were students.” 

While there has always been a culture of alumni and student networking in the College of Creative Arts, Myers saw the opportunity to create a formal, structured program.

“We want to help our students network and navigate the professional world outside the walls of the Canady Creative Arts Center as soon as possible,” Myers said. “Linking them to a Creative Consultant to inspire, guide and push is a crucial part of each student's professional growth.”

More than 50 consultants have signed up to participate in this year’s program. They are professional artists, musicians, actors, dancers, educators and entrepreneurs who have been nominated by College of Creative Arts faculty and administrators.

“There is nothing more fulfilling then giving back to a place or people that made a strong impact on one's own life,” Myers said. “The Creative Consultants have so much knowledge and experience to share. I know their own professional lives will be invigorated by their work with our passionate and hard-working students.”

Student applications for the Creative Consultants program are now being accepted. Applicants must complete the online application by noon on Friday, Sept. 18.

“Our students will be offered a different or new perspective from someone who has ‘been through it’ just like them, and used grit and originality to become successful in the same field that interests the student,” Myers said. “Our hope is that these one-on-one mentorship relationships will blossom and endure for years to come. And that, of course, someday these student Consultees will become the next cohort of Creative Consultants.”

Students selected for the program will be notified by Monday, Sept. 28. They will then meet with their Creative Consultant for the first time on Oct. 12.

“Our Creative Consultants will be Zooming, Facetiming and emailing our students from as far away as Spain and Malaysia, from coast to coast from California to New York, and from right here in Morgantown,” Myers said. “After their initial meeting, the goal is to give our consultants maximum flexibility in their commitment of time and resources, while setting concrete goals with the student for the partnership. Our Creative Consultants are engaging, energetic and inspiring professionals, and we want them to bring their inherent creativity to the mentorship process.

For more information on the Creative Consultants program, visit https://bit.ly/wvuccp