Menlo College Awarded Federal Grant to Expand Career Readiness Posted on October 12, 2026October 16, 2026 by George Retelas First-year award of $1,196,629 supports a five-year initiative expected to total approximately $2,970,000 ATHERTON, Calif. – Menlo College has received a federal grant award of $1,196,629 to fund the first year of its Menlo College Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness Initiative. The five-year initiative is expected to total approximately $2,970,000, with additional funding anticipated through annual awards in Years 2 through 5. Menlo College students engage with career professionals during Career Connect Day, an event that helps students explore career opportunities, build professional connections, and prepare for success beyond the classroom. Photo: Kayla Stuart / Menlo College The initiative will strengthen the connection between academic learning and career preparation by expanding experiential learning opportunities, supporting faculty and staff development, enhancing career services, and providing students with additional academic resources. The project is supported through the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, a federal program designed to help eligible institutions of higher education strengthen academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability while expanding their capacity to serve low-income students. The application process for this award was managed by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. Menlo College students review career resources during Career Connect Day. The College’s new federally funded Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness Initiative will expand opportunities for students to develop professional skills and gain real-world experience. Photo: Kayla Stuart / Menlo College “At Menlo College, we believe the value of an education is measured not only by what students learn, but by what they can do with that knowledge,” said President Steven Weiner. “Through this initiative, we are strengthening the connections between classroom learning and professional experience, giving students more opportunities to apply their skills, work on real-world challenges, and prepare for meaningful careers. We want every Menlo graduate to leave ready to contribute, make a difference, and create value in their chosen field.” Experiential learning has long been an important part of the Menlo College student experience. All undergraduate business students complete an internship before graduation, gaining professional experience and applying their academic knowledge in workplace settings. The Strengthening Institutions Program will allow the College to build on this foundation, expanding resources that help students connect their education with their career goals. Key components of the initiative include: Experiential learning: Menlo College will activate established applied learning resources, implement the Riipen experiential learning platform, and expand access to AmplifyAI. A multi-year professional development program will help faculty and staff incorporate more applied learning into courses and student experiences. Career development: An Associate Director of Future Ready Pathways will establish a Career Peer Advisor program to help students explore career options, develop professional skills, and navigate career preparation opportunities. Academic and research resources: A Career Development Librarian will help connect academic research with career readiness. Students will also benefit from expanded access to books, specialized research databases, professional publications, and loanable technology devices. Internship and credentialing support: Menlo College will begin fundraising for an endowed Student Internship, Licensure, and Credentialing Fund during the first year, with a goal of establishing the fund by Year 3. The fund is intended to provide longer-term support for students pursuing internships, professional licenses, and credentials. Through this investment, Menlo College will build on its commitment to preparing students to be Future Ready Now, with the knowledge, practical experience, and professional skills to pursue meaningful careers and adapt to a changing workforce. For more information about Menlo College and its academic programs, visit www.menlo.edu. Menlo College’s iconic blue and white “M” sculptures stand on its Atherton campus. A new federal grant will support the College’s commitment to preparing students to be Future Ready Now through expanded experiential learning, career development, and academic resources. Photo: Kayla Stuart / Menlo College About Menlo College Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College is a small, residential liberal arts and business college dedicated to preparing students to be Future Ready Now. Through a highly personalized educational experience that combines rigorous academics, applied learning, mentorship, and direct access to one of the world’s most innovative economies, Menlo College helps students convert education into measurable career and life outcomes. For more information, visit www.menlo.edu or contact pr@menlo.edu.
Menlo College Staff Strengthens Global Ties Through Historic China Visits Posted on January 26, 2026February 27, 2026 by menlocollege George Retelas (right) participating in the WWII Doolittle Raid artifact exchange in Quzhou, China. Retelas presented the original 1942 training footage from the USS Hornet Museum in exchange for a fragment of the B-25 aircraft that crashed in China. The American crew had to bail from their aircraft and were rescued by Chinese locals. Atherton, CA – January 26, 2026 – Menlo College continues to build meaningful international connections through the work of its faculty and staff, exemplified by Director of Media Marketing George Retelas and his recent trips to China in 2025. Through cultural exchange, historical preservation, and student engagement, Retelas’ efforts highlight Menlo’s commitment to global learning and cross-cultural collaboration. Retelas’ first trip took place in April 2025 as part of a cultural exchange between the USS Hornet Museum in the Bay Area and the Doolittle Raid Memorial Hall in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. The exchange commemorated the historic Doolittle Raid, a pivotal moment in China-U.S. wartime cooperation. Representing the American delegation, Retelas helped facilitate the exchange of historical artifacts and fostered relationships that preserved this shared history. “This exchange was about much more than artifacts,” Retelas said. “It was about honoring a shared history and building relationships that continue to matter today.” Accompanying Retelas on the trip was Menlo College student Mathias Durfee, who participated through an internship with the USS Hornet Museum, approved for credit by Menlo College’s Career Services Office. At Menlo, internships are a vital part of students’ education and career preparation, required for business majors and strongly encouraged for psychology majors. Durfee documented the cultural exchange through photography and video, providing a student perspective on the event. His work was later featured by NBC Bay Area. “Being part of this cultural exchange was an incredible experience,” said Durfee, a Marketing major. “It allowed me to apply what I’ve learned at Menlo in a real-world, international setting while documenting history that still resonates today.” Mathias Durfee capturing media coverage for the USS Hornet Museum of the historic exchange and event activities for his Menlo College internship. In December 2025, Retelas returned to China to continue the relationships formed during the initial exchange. He visited sites where American airmen parachuted into China and met with descendants of Chinese civilians who helped rescue and protect the pilots—honoring the bravery and compassion that defined the mission’s legacy. During the visit, Retelas connected with Menlo College students from China who were home for the holidays. China is the second most represented international country on Menlo’s campus, and international students make up nearly a quarter of the student body. These interactions reinforced the College’s welcoming, globally connected culture, ranked #7 Most Diverse Colleges in America by Niche. “Meeting with Mr. Retelas in China meant a great deal to me and my family,” said Ling Ding, a Psychology major from China. “It reminded me that even while studying far from home, Menlo truly cares about its international students and our cultural identities.” Yanxi Zhou, an AI & Analytics major from China, added: “I am extremely grateful there are people at Menlo College, like Mr. Retelas, who take the initiative to learn about my home country and its culture. That care eases my homesickness and makes me feel connected even from far away.” Looking ahead, Retelas will continue supporting Menlo’s international students on campus, including assisting with preparations for the upcoming Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebration in February. George Retelas’ international work reflects Menlo College’s mission to link education with real-world impact, offering students unique opportunities to explore history, culture, and global perspectives. Contact Information: Press Contact: pr@menlo.edu About Menlo College: Menlo College is a small private, nonprofit college founded in 1927 with a mission to “ignite potential and educate students to make meaningful contributions in the innovation economy.” Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College offers undergraduate degrees in business and psychology, as well as three graduate degrees: a Master of Science in Information Systems, a Master of Science in Financial Technology, and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology. Menlo is designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving (AANAPISI) Institution.
