OHIO offers community building programs for early career faculty

Starting in Fall 2024, OHIO will offer several year-long faculty development opportunities to support new, transitioning and early career OHIO faculty.

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.

The DFMP supports faculty professional advancement through an emphasis on mutual mentoring in both large and small groups as well as on the individual level. Participants will gather monthly on the Athens campus throughout the year. The 2024-25 program will be directed by Dwan Robinson, associate professor in educational studies, and Chris Fowler, director of the Women’s Center.

“We look forward to engaging with faculty in an enriching reciprocal mentoring experience to help them build relationships, flourish and thrive,” Robinson said. The priority registration deadline to sign up for the 2024/2025 DFMP cohort is Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.

Building Bobcats: New-to-OU Community Learning Program

The Building Bobcats: New-to-OU Community Learning Program is a cohort-based, faculty-led community learning and engagement program sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost to help newer faculty members engage, connect and create lasting relationships within our OHIO community.

Designed for faculty who have joined OHIO since August 2019, this cohort will meet monthly to explore the local community, identify ways to integrate the community into their work, and network with community leaders. The 2024-25 program is facilitated by Rebecca Dingus, associate professor of marketing, and Kristin Hepworth, assistant professor of instruction.

“Kristin and I are excited to lead this program for its second year,” Dingus said. “The outward focus of the program offers opportunities to build friendships across the university, connect the community into our work, and use our careers to benefit the community. We look forward to welcoming a new group of faculty.” Interested faculty should register by Sept. 10, 2024. 

For more information about OHIO’s early career faculty development programs, please visit the webpage or contact Katie Hartman, vice provost for faculty development at hartmank@ohio.edu.