Mentoring Program

“Behind every successful person, there is one elementary truth. Somewhere, some way, someone cared about their growth and development.”

                                                                                                  - Author and career consultant Donald Miller

 

Getting Started

The University of Dayton (UD) mentoring program was initiated in 2003 through the efforts of a voluntary working group consisting of members of the Association for Women Faculty, Administrators and Professionals (AFW) and Professional Office Personnel at UD (POP). The working group conducted a survey on mentoring which was sent to all women faculty and staff. Its aim was to gather information about the perceptions and need for formal mentoring of women at UD. Results of the survey showed that women faculty and staff had great interest in mentoring. Out of all the respondents, very few had been involved in formal mentoring programs. Some respondents indicated that they would be interested in participating as mentors, but stressed the need for training.

The working group examined current informal mentoring programs at UD and decided to design and implement a mentoring program to relate mentors/mentees in a formal relationship with starting and closing dates. This program would also provide training at the onset of and at interim periods during the mentoring relationship.

The primary goal of the program was to involve women faculty and staff in mentoring relationships which would help them in their personal and professional development and advancement. UD's program was implemented so as to provide a support network for women faculty and staff, strengthen the university’s culture by improving the climate for UD women, and provide resources for  women's personal development and professional advancement.

A Mentoring Handbook "Mentoring in a Higher Education Environment: Constructing a Formal Program to Meet Women's Needs" was presented by the Director of the UD Women's Center, Lisa Rismiller, and the former Women’s Center Mentoring Program Coordinator, Tarika Daftary, at the NWSA 26th Annual Conference. To receive an electronic copy of the Handbook or for more information about the UD Women’s Center’s mentoring program, please contact the current Mentoring Program Coordinator, Stacy Ingraham at ingrahsk@notes.udayton.edu or (937) 229-5334.