Influencing the Next Generation of Career Peer Leaders

Smith’s original cohort of influencers, including two recent graduates and three current program members. Photo by Xavier Smith.

Xavier Smith knows that seeking career advice can be intimidating for students, but that’s precisely why he launched an innovative new program in the University of Arkansas’ Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences focused on a peer-driven approach to mentorship.

His journey as an undergraduate student studying public health and later as a graduate student studying rehabilitation counseling, both at the U of A, gave him a perspective on the nuances of students’ professional needs.

“Some students feel nervous about seeing a career counselor, [and] some students don’t have the time or the access,” said Smith, assistant director for Career Counseling and Student Success Initiatives in Fulbright College. “So, I was like, well, what if I made some career content that could reach places that I can’t physically go.”

That thought led Smith to create the college’s Career Influencers program, which aims to make professional development accessible and engaging to all by providing a platform for student-created and student-centered career content.

Smith and the Career Influencers team during a photoshoot featuring business casual dress options. Photo by Xavier Smith.

Smith said his own path to a job in the college’s Office of Career Connections (OCC) “has a lot to do with mentorship, and I’ve had a lot of mentors, like Angela Williams,” one of his colleagues in the OCC.

So, for Smith, “the fact that I’ve been mentored to this spot just makes me want to help [others] in whatever capacity [I can.]”

After initially creating some student-focused professional development content on his own, Smith knew the key to widespread success would be assembling a team that would incorporate authentic student perspectives – so that’s exactly what he did.

Smith gathered a team of four students in spring 2024 to start, leading them as they found creative ways to create career-related content.

The group soon produced a series of podcast episodes and video tutorials covering topics ranging from how to access the university’s career closet to snag interview-ready outfits, to the best ways to maximize office hours with faculty advocates.

The Career Influencers content is currently available on YouTube at Office of Career Connections – U of Arkansas and Spotify at Fulbright Career Influencers, and the content has also recently expanded to LinkedIn at Fulbright Career Influencers.

“My student colleagues are essential in bridging the career information provided by the OCC and translating it into content that resonates with their peers,” Smith said.

In addition to social media content creation, the Career Influencers also support the Help-A-Hog initiative, which helps new students navigate campus, and participate in career development events, such as the High Impact Practices Show and Tell, which showcases best practices for increased student retention and improved overall student experiences.

Current influencers Breanna Small (Left), Savannah Baptiste, Avery Binuya, and Emma Walding (Right). Photo by Xavier Smith.

Up next they’ll be participating in the “Small Talk Isn’t Small” program, which will help students discover how helpful – and even enjoyable and valuable – small talk can be in professional and networking settings.

Smith said these activities help the Career Influencers build their own networks, develop soft skills, and discover career resources while in turn helping other students to do the same.

The current Career Influencer team includes criminology major Savannah Baptiste, journalism and political science major Breannah Small, psychology major Chloe Martinez, political science major Avery Binuya, and graphic design major Emma Walding.

“I wanted to be an influencer to make information accessible for my peers using the skillsets I have honed,” Binuya said. “We don’t always know where everyone is in their academic journey, so reaching a large audience with approachable and easy-to-watch content is a crucial step in 21st-century learning.”

Additionally, Binuya said the Career Influencer program’s benefits have positively impacted her and the rest of the team, too.

Smith said that was by design and that the program provides its student influencers with “real-world, workplace-applicable skills.”

“It has been incredible to see their growth while they help their peers develop professionally,” he said, adding that applications for new fall 2025 Career Influencer positions will open soon.

For more information or to work with Smith and the Career Influencer team, visit the Career Connections website at fulbright.uark.edu/careers.