柑橘直播

When 柑橘直播 University faculty and staff gathered in August for an interactive mentorship workshop, the first question posed wasn鈥檛 about research or publications.

Instead, these accomplished participants鈥攕eparated into small groups鈥攚ere asked to share something not found on their CVs and resumes. The exercise quickly built an atmosphere of openness, trust and collaboration, setting the stage for the exact kind of people-centered mentoring that the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) is designed to cultivate.

Led by Emory Woodard, PhD, dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the CIMER workshop brought together 30 faculty and staff from across the University to strengthen the quality and consistency of graduate student mentorship. Participants alternated between playing the parts of mentees and mentors, then shifted to the role of facilitators, practicing strategies proven to improve mentoring relationships.

The importance of the work was clear, said Julie Klein, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy.

鈥淕ood faculty mentors focus on the individual needs, skills and goals of the students they mentor,鈥� Dr. Klein said. 鈥淢entoring involves deep listening and thoughtful, supportive conversation about another person's projects and dreams. Mentoring should empower the mentee and build a foundation for future growth. In a good mentoring relationship, both the mentor and the mentee learn and grow.鈥�

Dr. Klein noted that having a library of strategies and models鈥攊n addition to a group of trained facilitators鈥攚ill only enhance the efforts of the University.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect fit with our Augustinian ethos of caring for the people we work with as we teach, learn and create new knowledge,鈥� she said.

The workshop is part of a broader University strategy to build momentum around mentorship. Over the past year, Dr. Woodard launched a focused effort, beginning with a 鈥淏lue Ribbon Panel鈥� of faculty, to encourage more intentional and focused mentorship activities. A new Grand Rounds series provided faculty with a dedicated space to explore the complexities of mentoring in a supportive, peer-driven setting. Meanwhile, the Office of Graduate Studies sponsored 鈥淭ake Your Grad Student to Lunch鈥� to foster more one-on-one conversations.

鈥淭he importance of mentorship cannot be overstated in my career development,鈥� said Terence Yee, PhD, associate professor of Education and Counseling and program director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling graduate programs.

鈥淎s an international student, I received valuable mentoring experience from international faculty who could empathize with me and guide me through navigating academia. Having experienced firsthand the lasting impact of mentorship, I pursued this opportunity to enhance my own mentorship,鈥� Dr. Yee said.

Next steps will include follow-up meetings to reflect on the training, semesterly 鈥渓unch and conversation鈥� gatherings, and embedding opportunities for facilitator practices and mentorship development in existing University programming.