November 2, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time | Online
This interactive webinar will explore the foundations of effective mentoring to support the success of PhD students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty in engineering academia.
Presented through ACADEME Mentor, an NSF-funded national mentoring hub led by The University of Akron, the session will combine facilitated discussion, perspectives from engineering faculty, and opportunities to practice mentoring skills.
What we will explore
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Building trusting relationship
s: Learn about mentees’ backgrounds and goals, establish clear expectations, and create an environment of mutual respect. -
Communicating effectively: Practice active listening, ask open-ended questions, and provide constructive feedback.
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Practicing humility: Recognize personal viewpoints and limitations and consider how different backgrounds and experiences shape mentoring relationships.
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Recognizing the limits of a mentor’s expertise: Discuss how additional mentors, coaches, or resources can help address mentee needs.
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Navigating difficult conversations: Explore ways to discuss performance concerns and challenges with calm, empathetic language.
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Supporting confidence and growth: Explore how mentors can respond when mentees doubt their capabilities or fear failure.
An interactive learning experience
Participants will practice mentoring conversations through breakout role-play activities and group debriefs. Scenarios will address a mentee who doubts their capabilities and a graduate student or faculty member who is struggling to meet performance expectations.
Who should attend?
Faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and senior-level PhD students in engineering are invited to attend.
Space is limited. Register early to reserve your place.
