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Diverse Faculty Mentoring Program

Diverse Faculty Mentoring Program

Sponsored by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Diverse Faculty Mentoring Program (DFMP) is part of OHIO’s ongoing investment in inclusive academic excellence. Faculty diversity in higher education is known to enrich college environments. Diverse faculty are vital to OHIO’s student-centered educational mission to create learning environments where members of our campus community can grow and thrive. Research shows that faculty members with diverse identities often encounter challenges to their professional success and well-being. Mentorship is a highly effective tool for engaging and empowering diverse faculty as they pursue and secure opportunities for promotion and professional development. 

Priority registration deadline to sign up for the 2024/2025 DFMP cohort:

Friday, September 6th, 2024

DMFP Mentor Application        DMFP Mentee Application

Program Structure 

The structure of the DFMP includes an emphasis on mutual mentoring in both larger and smaller groups as well as on the individual level.

DFMP Roles

  • Co-Directors - (faculty and administrators selected by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion to lead the DFMP)
  • Faculty Mentees - (new to OHIO tenure track, instructional, visiting, and clinical faculty) 
  • Faculty Mentors - (established tenure track, instructional, visiting, and clinical faculty at OHIO) 
  •  Lead Mentors - (faculty or administrators appointed from returning DFMP faculty mentors who agree to serve as heads of their mentoring circles) 
  •  Affiliate Mentors - (faculty or administrators who are unable to commit to serving throughout the entire program but are willing to meet with DFMP mentees about specific topics) 
  •  Affiliate Mentee - (faculty who have completed the DFMP as a mentee and would still like to attend learning and development sessions, social and networking events, and have access to mentor interactions) 

DFMP Program Elements

  • DFMP Group Learning Sessions and Mentoring Circles - (large group learning sessions with mentor/mentee breakout circles to support growth needs based on interest and affiliation) 
  • Individual Mentoring - (one-on-one sessions between mentors and mentees about specific topics) 
  • Development-Focused Sessions - (larger group session with mentor/mentee circles based on growth needs via faculty group) 
  •  Community-Focused Sessions - (optional larger group session with other groups to increase networking opportunities_ 
  •  Resources - The DFMP resources will include supplemental materials. 
  • Social Events - End of the semester and end of the year celebration

 2024 Meeting Dates

Fall 2024
  • Monday, September 9th – 12 pm – 1:00 pm (Mentor Virtual Orientation MENTORS ONLY)
  • Wednesday, September 18 — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 16 — 4:15-5:30 p.m. 
  • Wednesday, November 20 — 4:15-5:30 p.m. 
  • Fall Program Social — December — TBA
Spring 2025
  • Wednesday, January 15 — 4:15-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 19— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 19— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 16— 4:15-5:30 p.m.
  • Spring Program Social — April — TBA

DFMP Outcomes

  • Outcomes for the Program

    • Create and/or enhance a feeling of belonging in shared spaces to explore growth and development opportunities that foster confidence in career path and sense of professional goal achievement 
    • Expand professional networking opportunities across fields and departments 
    • Provide access to expanded professional development focused resources 
    • Foster mutually beneficial and rewarding professional relationships between participating stakeholders 

  • Outcomes for Mentees

    • Greater connection to OHIO's intellectual and campus community and a stronger overall sense of belonging 
    • Enhanced professional networking opportunities across fields and departments 
    • Access to expanded professional development opportunities 
    • Deepened confidence in career path and sense of professional goal setting and achievement 

  • Outcomes for Mentors

    • Greater collaboration across disciplines and departments
    • Investment in mentee's professional success at OHIO and beyond
    • Exposure to new innovations, emerging trends, and ideas 
    • Serve at meaningful levels that have direct impact on the lives of those participating and stakeholders in which they engage 

Time Commitment 

Over the academic year, mentors and mentees will meet and collaborate through confidential, respectful, and continuous relationships. With an in-person time commitment of around 10-12 hours each semester, we ask mentors and mentees to engage in opportunities including: 

  • Mentors Only: One (1) virtual mentor onboarding session 
  • Three (3) large group programming sessions including small group breakouts (mentoring circles) 
  • One (1) development session 
  • One (1) community session in tandem with other OHIO faculty development programs 
  • One (1) social event at the end of the semester 
  • At least three (3) 30-minute on-on-one sessions with a specific mentor/mentee or affiliate mentor/mentee 
  • Monthly discussion questions to prime participants for the next month's sessions and events to maximize retention and application of the skills and knowledge learned. 
  • Completion of the end of session (Fall and Spring) satisfaction survey 

Program Benefits 

The program facilitates a collaborative learning opportunity in which faculty can discover strategies on how to best meet specific goals. Faculty will participate in a community of learners that will enable them to network, support and learn from one another. Individual goals may vary considerably and could relate to involvement in research, teaching, publishing, grant-writing and community engagement. Mentoring partnerships may also extend to strategies for maintaining a functional work-life balance and trajectories in the academic journeys. Additionally, mentees will have the opportunity to access mini grants to further their teaching, service and scholarship activities. Essentially, a multicultural mentoring relationship can personalize and demystify the academic trajectories that lead to reappointment, promotion, and professional success.

Potential DFMP Topics

Potential topics addressed during the DFMP include: 

Learning Workshops (based on personal goals):

  • Balancing teaching with service and/or research obligations
  • Work-life balance and wellness
  • Meeting service or research requirements
  • Planning service involvement or publications
  • Participating in community-engaged activities and scholarship
  • Identifying and applying for grant opportunities
  • Strategizing about conference travel and presentations 

Co-Director Contact Information

For more information, contact Dwan Robinson, Ph.D. or Chris Fowler, Ph.D.


Testimonials

-Clifton Mason "The DFMP is an invaluable experience for the onboarding and orientation of new faculty with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. The formal agendas for the monthly meetings are pertinent, on-point, and engaging, and the facilitated networking opportunities are career-enhancing."
-Dr. Patrick Barr-Melej “The DFMP is what a mentoring program should be—a support network and open space for sharing and reflecting through which mentors and mentees navigate challenges and opportunities in our academic careers and as members of a university community. It’s deeply rewarding to serve as a DFMP mentor, and I’m certain that I’ve learned as much from the mentees as they may have from me.”
-Nicholas Stroup [he/him/his] "The DMFP smoothed my entry to faculty life at Ohio University in several ways. As a new professor, there was so much to learn simply about how to do my job, regardless of institution. The DFMP connected me with senior scholars who had walked the path into the professoriate before me as well as with cohort of incoming scholars who were facing similar challenges. Moreover, in this group we were able to talk about some of the uniqueness of Ohio University and ways that we are similar to and different from other universities. This helped me realize how much Ohio University valued my authentic presence and the contributions of all the other scholars who were in attendance. The conversations we were able to have were candid, affirming, aligned with my personal points of transition, and made me feel welcome. Through the DFMP, I have made stronger bonds with colleagues and also some new friends in the community. It was certainly a highlight of my first year in Athens."
-Yogesh Sinha "The Diverse Faculty Mentoring program has been instrumental in my professional and personal growth at Ohio University. DFMP fosters a sense of community, encourages the exchange of diverse perspectives, and equips participants with the skills and confidence to navigate their academic and professional journeys successfully. I highly recommend this program to others seeking mentorship and a platform to contribute to and benefit from a diverse and inclusive educational environment."