The Zankel Experience Network (ZEN) was established in 2020 by Jimmy Zankel ’92 and Pia Scala-Zankel ’92 to encourage the support of like-minded donors who hope to expand Skidmore’s commitment to experiential learning, including the Summer Experience Fund, Faculty-Student Summer Research, and the Mentoring Program.
2023-24 ZEN Mentoring Program Handbook
Experiential learning is an extraordinary opportunity – much like the Zen practice, it can awaken something within students – about what they wish to pursue and how they can serve others through their own aspirations. We created ZEN at Skidmore to help ensure more students have the chance to experience this powerful sense of discovery.Jimmy Zankel '92
Summer Experience Fund
Skidmore’s Summer Experience Fund (SEF) provides stipends to support students completing
unpaid internships, research assignments, community service and volunteer projects,
residencies, apprenticeships, and more.
Learn more
Learn more
Faculty-Student Summer Research
Skidmore's Summer Faculty Student Research Program provides students with a unique
opportunity to gain a hands-on appreciation for scholarly work by partnering with
faculty on original research in various disciplines.
More information
More information
Mentoring Program
The ZEN Mentoring Program matches students at the start of their junior year with
grads who have similar career interests, with a focus on helping the students achieve
their career goals.
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