A Section on Statistical Education (EDUC) mentoring program has been created. Members of the section who are in their first five years of teaching are now given the opportunity to have a mentor. The mentor serves as a resource for the new faculty member with regard to academic issues (e.g., choosing a textbook, creating new courses, balancing teaching and research). Many schools already have mentoring programs in place, but an EDUC mentor can still be effective, as he/she can bring a valuable perspective from outside the specific college of the mentee (note: mentee = person being mentored).
The expectations of the mentor are fairly limited and hopefully not too time consuming: 1) Meet with his/her mentee while at JSM – either through an official EDUC mentor/mentee event, or informally at lunch or dinner; 2) initiate contact with his/her mentee a few times during the academic year, either by phone or email; and 3) answer any questions that his/her mentee has during the course of the academic year. The official mentoring relationship lasts for two years, although it can continue informally for much longer.
The program entered its third year this August with a successful mentor/mentee breakfast at JSM. There are currently eight mentor/mentee pairings, and I am now in search of new mentees.
I would greatly appreciate your help with the mentoring program. Please contact me (via email or phone) if
· you are an EDUC member in the first five years of teaching and you want a mentor
· you know of an EDUC member who is in the first five years of teaching and may want a mentor
· you have any general suggestions for the mentoring program.
Thanks!
Joy Jordan
Associate Professor of Statistics
920-832-6894