HumLaunch Projects

Mentor a student through a short-term summer project

UC Santa Cruz Humanities is introducing HumLaunch, a new summer program that pairs UCSC Humanities undergraduate students with alumni for short-term mentorship experiences.

HumLaunch offers two engagement options: job shadowing and project placement. Both experiences offer students career exploration and professional development. HumLaunch Projects provide students hands-on experience using their humanistic skills in a professional setting by completing virtual projects lasting 1-4 weeks.

Mentors must be alumni of a UCSC Humanities program.

A student sitting outside talking to a mentor

Contact: Meredith Pelrine, Humanities Career Engagement Specialist, mpelrine@ucsc.edu


HumLaunch experiences are intended first and foremost as mentorship opportunities. Mentors join the program, work with the program coordinator to develop their project, and are matched with a student. Projects are designed to be completed virtually, although alumni may choose to offer an in person option if they wish.

TimelinePeriod OpensPeriod Closes
Projects DevelopedFebruary 15April 6
Student Applications OpenApril 10May 1
Experience MatchingMay 2May 21
HumLaunch Experience PeriodAugust 1September 15

The deliverables that students produce in HumLaunch Projects may be built on and used by mentors’ organizations.


Our team works with you to develop a project specific to your work and organization based on one of our pre-built templates. Templates fall into one of three types, built around humanities-honed skills:

Communication Skills

Marketing Collateral

Using your guidelines regarding design, content, and tone, the student develops promotional materials like flyers and small publications.

Web Copy Updates

The student makes web content updates and/or inputs web text changes in line with your existing web design.

Problem Solving Skills

Engagement Strategy

Using your existing marketing collateral or other materials, the student develops interactive tabling materials or an engagement guide for interactive events.

Event Preparation

You envision your event, and the student supports you with planning, coordination, and/or execution.

Research and Analysis Skills

Competitive Content Audit

The student conducts a social media or competitive content audit to identify gaps and opportunities.

Learning and Development Materials

Building on your existing training materials, the student compiles and/or adapts content for new a audience.


We are currently meeting with alumni to share more about the program. If you are curious about becoming a HumLaunch mentor or other ways you can support UCSC Humanities undergraduate students, we would love to connect.

Contact: Meredith Pelrine, Humanities Career Engagement Specialist, mpelrine@ucsc.edu

Last modified: Feb 09, 2026