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Dear Student,
 
What is mentoring? I have read
and pondered many definitions of mentoring. Somehow, the words of a
definition fail to measure up to the experience of being a recipient of
mentoring. During my master’s program, mentoring was a faculty member
encouraging me to transform my course paper into a manuscript to
submit
to a journal. As a new faculty member, I understood the meaning of
mentoring when the associate dean listened to the complexities of a
student situation and validated my plan of action. Another day, during a
family crisis, a colleague provided just the words I needed to hear to
trust myself and move ahead. I had a mentor who found an opportunity for
me to consult with a large hospital, another who provided a different
perspective on a course I was developing, and another who helped me
write a manuscript for submission. These experiences and others have
defined mentoring for me.
My desire for you as a
potential or current student is that you will experience mentoring
during your academic program. To that end, we have made a significant
investment of time and money in a formal mentoring program coordinated
by Dr. Mary Lou Bond, an exceptional mentor herself. We have solicited
the assessment of mentors and mentees in refining the program and
developing new approaches to mentoring. I look forward to your
involvement in the mentoring program and your input on how we can make
mentoring come alive for you.
Best wishes for your academic
success,
Dr. Jennifer Gray |
