At LMU, career readiness begins long before graduation. Through transformative learning experiences, professional mentorship, and programs that connect academics to future careers, Lions are actively preparing for the workforce.
This is the Lions Pathway Program.
Launched as the first program of its kind in fall 2025, the Lions Pathway Program is a collaborative, experiential learning initiative led by Career and Professional Development in partnership with the Offices for International Students and Scholars and Student Employment Services. Together, all three offices work with on-campus employers to provide paid, project-based internship opportunities that help Lions develop in-demand skills, grow in their confidence, and build professional habits needed to thrive beyond the Bluff.
Intentionality & Interests
The Lions Pathway Program connects students with paid internship experiences across various LMU departments. These roles are designed to offer more than traditional student employment. Students are placed in positions that include meaningful projects, elevated responsibilities, and direct opportunities to grow as emerging professionals. There is an intentional alignment between what the department needs and the skills, interests, and professional pursuits of students.
Through this program, students gain hands-on experience while developing the eight career-readiness competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): critical thinking, effective communication, equity and inclusion, career and self-development, leadership, teamwork, technology, and professionalism.
In other words, students are not just clocking into work. They are learning how to communicate proactively, take initiative enthusiastically, and build trust in professional spaces.
A Program Rooted in Access and Opportunity
One of the defining strengths of the Lions Pathway Program is its commitment to expanding access to paid internships, especially for LMU international students. Through strategic collaboration with OISS, SES, and CPD, the program creates a supported pathway for international and domestic students to gain practical work experience on campus.
This matters. Paid internships help reduce barriers for students who want to gain experience but may not be able to accept unpaid work. They also give students a chance to explore career interests in a familiar environment, surrounded by supervisors and staff who are invested in their personal and professional development.
For students, it’s a chance to begin crafting a professional story. For campus partners, it’s a chance to mentor talented students while receiving personalized feedback and coaching on departmental projects. For LMU, it’s a reflection of what happens when student success (with a focus on career readiness) is approached as a shared responsibility.
How the Program Works
Students apply to the Lions Pathway Program and participate in an interview process with Career and Professional Development. International students are matched through OISS, while domestic students are matched through CPD. Once selected, students are placed with participating on-campus employers and enroll in the one-unit ICLA 2100 internship course.
Campus employers also play an essential role. Departments submit a participation interest form, attend supervisor orientation through Student Employment Services, and work directly with students once placements are made. Current and participating campus partners include Athletics, William H. Hannon Library, Academic Administration, Event Operations, the Controller’s Office, the School of Film and Television, and University Advancement.
The results? A supportive and experiential model where students, supervisors, and campus partners move toward the same goal: helping Lions become career-ready through hands-on experiences, constructive feedback, and relevant skill-building.
Lions at Work
At the midpoint of the program, students were already showing growth in powerful ways. They were showing up consistently in professional spaces, learning how departments operate, contributing to active projects, and building trust with supervisors. Even the small daily tasks were helping students develop habits that are needed in the real world.
Student reflections also highlight the value of the experience.
Yvonne El-Amin, ’26, a Production major with a Screenwriting minor, shared that entering a professional environment can feel daunting at first, especially when learning workplace communication. Through her role, she gained experience managing schedules and coordinating communication between team members. One of her biggest takeaways was learning how to advocate for herself and communicate clearly with supervisors and coworkers. Her advice to students was simple but wise: respond to emails, acknowledge messages, and let people know you understand.
Elyssa Chaidez, ’29, encouraged students to stay open-minded, especially early in their college journey. She noted that the program can help students explore different fields, build professional habits, and learn how to research opportunities connected to their interests.
Andy Dinh, ’29 who contributed graphic design work and hopes to become a director in the future, emphasized the importance of technical skills, including Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as reliability, punctuality, and initiative in the workplace.
These reflections highlight what makes the Lions Pathway Program so meaningful. Students are not only learning about work; they are learning how to work well.
Call for Partners
For campus partners, the Lions Pathway Program offers a chance to support student success while strengthening departmental work. Students bring energy, curiosity, creativity, and fresh perspective to projects. At the same time, supervisors have the opportunity to mentor students as they grow in their self-awareness and identity.
The program also helps create a stronger talent pipeline within LMU. Students who understand campus operations, contribute to real projects, and develop workplace skills are better prepared to serve the university community and, eventually, the broader professional world.
This is mentorship with momentum.
Why Employers and Alumni Should Pay Attention
For alumni and employers, the Lions Pathway Program offers a glimpse into the future of LMU talent.
Students in this program are developing the skills employers consistently seek: communication, leadership, teamwork, professionalism, technical ability, adaptability, and self-awareness. They are learning how to ask thoughtful questions, receive feedback, manage responsibilities, and contribute to a team.
For alumni, this is an opportunity to celebrate and support the next generation of Lions. For employers, it’s a reminder that LMU students are graduating with more than academic knowledge. They are leaving LMU with experiences, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to bring their education into the workforce and world.
A Pathway Forward
The Lions Pathway Program is more than an internship initiative. It is a bridge between learning and doing, between potential and practice, between the student experience and the professional world.
It reflects LMU’s commitment to helping students grow with purpose, prepare with confidence, and enter their next chapter ready to contribute.
For students, it is a chance to take the first step.
For campus partners, it is a chance to open a door.
For alumni and employers, it is a chance to witness what LMU Lions are capable of when given meaningful opportunities to shine.
The path is already being built. Now, students are walking it with confidence.
