Mentoring Matters @ Illinois Series

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, 2014

Mentoring Matters Distinguished Lecture

June 11, 2024
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

Featured Speaker

Christine Pfund
Senior Scientist, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, 
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Mentoring Matters: Using the Science of Mentorship to Advance Mentoring Relationships

Mentoring is associated with academic and career success across disciplines and career stages in higher education. Strong mentorship has been linked to enhanced mentee productivity, self-efficacy, career satisfaction, and sense of support.  Moreover, mentees cite positive mentoring as the most important factor in degree attainment. Unfortunately, few mentors have received formal training in effective mentoring practices, particularly for mentoring scholars from traditionally underrepresented groups. Even fewer scholars receive formal instruction on what it means to be a proactive mentee, and have not yet developed the self-efficacy required to articulate their needs to mentors. This has led to a national focus on the “science of mentorship” and calls for research on mentorship and testing interventions across diverse groups to optimize their relationships.

In this interactive session, participants will:

  • Learn about core findings cited in the National Academies report on “The Science of Effective Mentorship In STEMM”
  • Learn about national models for mentorship education and evidence of their effectiveness
  • Engage in discussions of ways to optimize their mentorship practices and advance a culture of mentorship
  • Explore resources and opportunities available for mentorship education

Who should attend?

The Distinguished Lecture is open to all faculty, staff and students.

Mentoring Matters Summer Institute

The Summer Institute is a two-day, interactive event supporting faculty members and post-doctoral fellows in developing mentoring skills through discovery and understanding.

June 11-12, 2024 
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

Featured Speakers

Kelly Diggs
Founder and CEO of Kelly A. Diggs Consulting, LLC.

Daniel Wong
Assistant Dean, UCLA Division of Graduate Education,
Graduate & Postdoctoral Success

Who should attend? 

Faculty members of all ranks (specialized and tenure stream) and post-doctoral fellows.

Space is limited, and registration will close when all allotted spaces are filled.

Archived Series

See the Mentoring Matters @ Illinois Series Archive for topics in previous academic years.