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Become a CEE Mentor

Become a CEE Mentor

The Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program is seeking candidates to serve as CEE Mentors for the 2026 CEE Program. CEE Mentors are established civil society experts from around the world, including the U.S., who support CEE Fellows throughout their fellowship experience by connecting them with resources, networks, and perspectives. CEE Mentors contribute to the online Leadership Academy, and events such as CEE Welcome Orientation and End of Program Workshop. 

The application to serve as a 2026 CEE Mentor is open from August 14 - September 4, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact our team at apply.cee@irex.org

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Eligibility Requirements

Competition for the CEE Mentorship Program is merit-based and open to civil society and community leaders who meet the following criteria:

  • 28 years of age or older;
  • U.S. Government (USG) exchange alumni in good standing.  This includes U.S. citizens who have participated in Government-funded exchange program, such as a CEP Exchange, Fulbright, or Peace Corps service;
  • Citizen of one of the eligible countries listed below or the United States;
  • Must have experience living outside of their home country;
  • Currently living and working in their home country at the time of application;
  • Candidates who are not U.S. citizens must be eligible for a J-1 visa and must not have applied for permanent residence in the United States within the past three years nor have a plan to apply for U.S. permanent residence in the next three years;
  • Has a minimum of at least four years of professional or volunteer experience in civil society and community engagement;
  • Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application; and,
  • Must be available to participate in in-person Mentorship Training and the CEE Fellows’ U.S.-based orientation, currently scheduled for March 20-27, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois and the End of Program Workshop in Washington, D.C. June 22-26, 2026.

Activities

Before you begin your application, please carefully read the roles and responsibilities of a CEE Mentor below. If selected as a CEE Mentor, you will be required to engage in the following activities. 

1. Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) – Mentors will be required to complete and review Pre-Departure Orientation materials prior to arriving in the U.S.  PDO materials are housed on Canvas, a virtual learning platform.  We anticipate Mentors committing 1-2 hours each month (November 2025 – March 2026) to PDO engagement.  Mentors will be invited to both Mentor and Fellow PDO courses. Mentors are invited to follow along with Fellows’ PDO progress and provide insights via discussion boards and group discussions.   

  • PDO Launch Event – Mentors are required to participate in a Mentor PDO Launch online event, hosted by IREX and Combs and Company on December 11, 2025.  Mentors will meet other members of their Mentor cohort, connect with IREX, and learn more about the role of being a CEE Mentor.
  • Virtual Live Session Engagement – Mentors will also be required to participate in two additional virtual live sessions leading up to their departure to the U.S.  Mentors must communicate to the IREX team ahead of time if they plan to miss a session.  Attendance at these sessions is critical for Mentor engagement and to prepare participants for the role and responsibilities of a CEE Mentor.  
  • Coach Check-In Call – Mentors will be assigned a professional leadership coach who will support and promote Mentors’ own leadership development journeys. Mentors will conduct one virtual 30-minute check-in call with their assigned Leadership Coach prior to traveling to the U.S. to get to know one another, set expectations, and prepare for the Practicum period.

2. Attend MDT and Welcome Orientation – Mentors will attend the three-day in-person Mentor Development Training (MDT) and three-day Welcome Orientation from March 20-27, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois.  (Note: with IREX and U.S. embassy assistance, Mentors must secure a J-1 visa to attend in-person CEE events.) 

  • Contribute to Sessions – Mentors will have the opportunity to help facilitate and contribute to sessions throughout the week.  
  • Prepare Fellows – Mentors will meet with their group of mentees throughout the week, providing advice, perspective, and support for Fellows to make the most of their U.S. Practicum experience.

3. Leadership and Civic Engagement Academy (The Academy) and U.S. Practicum – Mentors will meet with each of their mentees once a month (three times total) in April-June 2026 to support a productive fellowship and Community Engagement Project (CEP) development process. 

  • Live Session Attendance – Attend three required live Academy sessions hosted on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  Mentors will facilitate breakout discussions during these required sessions. 
  • Coach Meetings – Mentors will conduct three virtual 30-minute check-in calls with their assigned Leadership Coach to review progress, challenges, and learnings over the practicum period.  (One meeting will occur prior to traveling to Chicago, two should occur throughout the practicum, and the final call should occur following End of Program Workshop.) 
  • Follow on Project Collaboration – Work closely with Fellows throughout the Academy on the ideation, development, and eventually the implementation of their follow-on Community Engagement Project.  Mentors will provide formal feedback on Canvas at each stage of Fellows' CEP assignment submissions. 
  • Attend EOP – Attend the three-day in-person End of Program Workshop in Washington, D.C.
  • Optionally Facilitate Sessions – Mentors will have the option to facilitate sessions focused on civil society and leadership areas of expertise.
  • Prepare – Mentors will draw on their own exchange experiences and help prepare Fellows for their return to their home country and CEP implementation.

4. Post Fellowship 

  • Six Check-In Calls – Mentors conduct a 30-minute check-in call with their assigned Fellows once a month (six total) over the course of the CEP implementation period.  These meetings should support the Fellows’ successful implementation and completion of their CEP.
  • Amplifying Community Impact (ACT) Grant Opportunity – Mentors may apply for funding to visit one of their Fellows to support their CEP implementation.
  • Conduct an Introduction to Leading Well workshop – Mentors will implement the learnings from their mentorship experience by conducting a half-day workshop in their home communities. Combs and Company will provide training resources throughout the practicum period to support with facilitation.
  • Facilitate Virtual Sessions (Optional) – Mentors will be invited to provide input and develop Townhall virtual sessions for either Mentor or Fellow audiences that will be conducted during the CEP Implementation period.  Mentors may choose to lead virtual sessions focused on different areas of expertise, civil society focus, or skill-development. 
  • Join Final Debrief – Attend a final mentoring and debrief workshop hosted by Dr. Deidre Combs and reflect on learnings, observations, insights, and commitments.

The Community Engagement Exchange Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX. 

Timeline

August 14, 2025: Mentor application launches

September 4, 2025: Mentor application closes

October 15-17, 2025: Finalist and alternate Mentors notified

October 26, 2025: Deadline for finalists to accept their offer

December 11, 2025: Selected Mentors have first call with Combs and Company

December 2025 – February 2026: Mentors engage in Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO)

March 20, 2026: CEE Mentors travel to Chicago, Illinois for the Mentor Development Training. 

Contact 

If you have any questions about the CEE Program, or the CEE Mentor Role, please email our team at apply.cee@irex.org.