From Mentee to Mentor
Last week, the Global One Health Academy along with the Genetics & Genomics Academy and the Genetic Engineering & Society Center, cohosted a workshop on Mentoring Skills for Graduate Students. This event is part of a series of monthly Interdisciplinary Professional Development Workshops to help graduate students prepare for a career in interdisciplinary research.
The Professional Development Workshop series offers graduate students the opportunity to network and gain valuable tools to progress their careers. At last week’s event, GOHA’s Director of Graduate Programs Michael Reiskind led a role playing activity, where individuals took turns playing the mentor or mentee under various scenarios. Participants explored power dynamics in these hypothetical situations and appropriate ways to handle conflict. Reiskind then shared some tools and tips for how to maintain a healthy relationship with your mentee, such as developing a shared list of mutual expectations that is reviewed and revisited over time.
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion led by Bethany Mostert, PhD Student in Plant Biology, and Bradley Scholten, PhD Student in Biology. Mostert and Scholten are also participants of the Tiered Mentoring Program, sponsored by Wicked Problems Wolfpack Solutions, the Genetics & Genomics Academy, and the Global One Health Academy. During the panel discussion, Mostert and Scholten shared their experiences with the program and fielded questions from the audience. Mostert shared how she not only enjoys watching her undergraduate mentees grow as professionals, but also still enjoys growing and learning as a mentor.
Mentors play a pivotal role in the professional success of students. Therefore, workshops like these are crucial in training the next-generation of mentors to develop healthy, two-way relationships with their mentees.
Want More?
If you are interested in learning more about professional development, you’ll want to sign up for our upcoming workshops. Graduate students from any disciplinary background are welcome to attend!
- March 22 | Research & Society, Witherspoon Student Center
- April 19 | Graduate School Program Panel Discussion, Talley Student Union
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