Office of Faculty Development Expands Mutual Mentoring ‘Incubators’

Mutual mentoring has been a cornerstone of the Office of Faculty Development (OFD)’s programming since its inception. The mutual mentoring model encourages faculty to cultivate collaborative networks of mentors who share their knowledge, expertise and perspectives on specific aspects of an academic career, such as research, teaching, tenure, career stage or work-life balance.

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This year, OFD has expanded its mentoring programming to include ‘Mutual Mentoring Incubators’ to facilitate the startup of new peer-mentoring cohorts who will continue to meet regularly for accountability and support around an area of common interest.

According to OFD’s Director of Faculty Development Wendy Varner, “During this continuing time of pandemic isolation, we want to offer more opportunities for faculty to talk and learn from each other about what’s important to them as they navigate their work.” 

OFD has launched eight new incubators since last summer. Each group is comprised of five to eight members who meet regularly throughout the semester, typically every two weeks. OFD staff facilitate the first two to three meetings to introduce the benefits of mutual mentoring groups and provide examples of various ways the group may organize. The group then continues to meet for the duration of the semester in a format that best meets members’ particular needs. At each gathering, group members check in, describe issues, consider solutions and offer professional development strategies.

“Sometimes we need specific advice and suggestions but at other times we just need to talk through a problem,” says Christiane Healey, OFD faculty fellow and senior lecturer in biology. “Having a group of colleagues who actively listen and ask probing questions can be exactly what one needs to achieve clarity on an issue.”

One incubator initiative that has launched five groups so far aims to connect non-tenure track faculty, including lecturers, extension, research and clinical faculty. According to Healey, “There's a huge need for mentoring of non-tenure track faculty on campus. Faculty in our mutual mentoring incubator groups have begun sharing their stories with each other, offering support and advice, and building a group, where they know that everyone is on their side.”

Another newly launched Mutual Mentoring Incubator is comprised of tenure track faculty who are at the mid-career stage. Sarah Poissant, OFD Chancellor’s leadership fellow and associate professor of communication disorders, started the group this semester.

According to Poissant, “The transition from assistant to associate professor is an exciting time, but one that often comes with a decrease in formal mentoring. Mutual mentoring groups can fill this gap and provide community and support to associate professors who are learning to manage an increased service load while maintaining their scholarly and creative productivity and charting the direction of the next stage of their careers. Longer-term associate professors seeking to reinvigorate their research program to maintain a path to promotion can also benefit from the mutual mentoring of colleagues who may also working towards a similar goal.”

The meetings allow faculty to learn from one another in a unique setting. “There is a lot of knowledge, wisdom and expertise in the room,” says Healey. “When you add empathy and active listening to the mix, you have a powerful recipe for support and success.”

Additionally, the Incubators can be a place to learn from someone who specializes in an area of concern. According to Poissant, "Groups may also find it helpful to invite content experts to speak on a specific topic. In this way, discussions are not limited to members' own knowledge and experience.” 

Faculty interested in meeting other colleagues with shared questions, interests and career concerns can complete this interest form to indicate your specific interests. OFD will coordinate the formation of new small groups of faculty and schedule and facilitate initial meetings.