Session 101: Thriving Together: The Impact of Peer Mentorship on Faculty Engagement and Professional Growth

Date: Thursday, January 9

Time: 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Location: Library Cafe B30

Presenters: Darrion Sprueill (Senior Project Manager, Office of the Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty), Priya Doshi (Associate Dean for Faculty and Inclusive Excellence, Office of the Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty), Jennifer Steele (Professor, School of Education), Maria De Jesus (Professor, SIS | Environment, Development & Health), Nuria Vilanova (Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor, CAS | World Languages and Cultures), Ralph Sonenshine (Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Economics), Jessica Owens-Young (Associate Professor, CAS | Health Studies) & Holly Swanson (Professorial Lecturer and Director of Biology Laboratories, CAS | Biology)

Session Description:

In this session, leaders and participants of the NSF-funded ADVANCE AU faculty peer mentorship cohorts, now in their second year, will discuss the program’s development and its effectiveness in fostering professional growth, trust, and belonging through in-person interactions. They will also explore how the model can create more supportive academic environments at the unit and school levels. Department chairs and program directors can benefit from learning how to implement peer mentorship that can enhance faculty engagement, retention, and collaboration within their own academic units.

Learning Outcomes:

• Distinguish between mentorship practices that are more effective in person vs. online or hybrid
• Propose a plan to develop peer mentorship opportunities within their academic units and schools