Using the research-based curriculum Entering Mentoring, the goal of this series is to facilitate the process of becoming an effective mentor by providing an intellectual framework, opportunities to experiment with various methods, and a safe and confidential learning forum in which to solve mentoring dilemmas.
Effective mentoring can be learned, but not taught. Most faculty learn to mentor by experimenting and analyzing success and failure, and many say that the process of developing an effective method of mentoring takes years… A skilled mentor is guided by a reflective philosophy that directs examination of the mentee’s challenging needs and how to best address them, creating fluidity in the relationship.
Pfund, Branchaw, & Handelsman
2014Distinguished Lecture
Mentorship as Leadership: Building Liberatory Cultures in Which Everyone Can Thrive
Mentorship isn’t just support—it’s leadership. And it’s shaping the future of our campus. Join us for a powerful, campus-wide conversation with Dr. Annmarie Caño, who will challenge us to rethink mentorship as a force for building cultures where everyone can truly thrive.
SAVE THE DATE — OCTOBER 8, 2026
Illini Union Ballroom
Registration & Breakfast: 7:30 AM
Lecture Begins: 8:00 AM
If you mentor, lead, teach, or influence others in any way—this is for you.
Mark your calendar now. You won’t want to miss this.
Archived Series
2025 Mentoring Matters @ Illinois
2025 Mentoring Matters Distinguished Lecture
May 21, 2025
Mentoring Like A Coach: Helping Mentees Grow through Complexity and Change
In this lively, interactive talk, we’ll discuss the difference between mentoring and coaching, how coaching supports learning and growth, and the applicability of professional coaching techniques to complex mentoring situations. How might mentoring “like a coach” challenge some of your fundamental assumptions about mentoring? And what coaching tools and concepts can you begin using with your mentees right away?
Featured Speaker
Maria LaMonaca Wisdom
Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
Duke University
2025 Mentoring Matters Summer Institute
The Summer Institute is a two-day, interactive event supporting faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students in developing mentoring skills through discovery and understanding.
May 21-22, 2025
Featured Speakers
Maria LaMonaca Wisdom
Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement
Duke University
Tamara Bertrand Jones
Professor of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Education
William Bernhard
Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Interim Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Budget and Resource Planning