In an effort to provide more opportunities for mentoring at UNMC, the faculty mentoring office has launched a series of faculty women’s mentoring sessions.
The first session was held Nov. 19 with more than 55 women in attendance. Topics discussed included communication styles, negotiation, networking, promotion and tenure, and career breaks.
The strong initial turnout was no surprise to Susan Swindells, M.B.B.S., director of the equity office at UNMC.
“Mentoring was deemed the highest priority among those who responded to an online survey sent to all women faculty earlier this year,” Dr. Swindells said.
More than 30 percent of the 500 women surveyed responded, she said.
The goals of the mentoring group are to:
- Provide women faculty with the tools, connections and support system necessary to succeed in their academic career.
- Help women faculty reach strategic career goals by providing an environment where they can discuss the conflicting demands of work and family.
- Help women faculty prioritize the diverse demands of teaching, research and service.
The next session will be held Jan. 22 in the Eppley Science Hall Amphitheater and will feature brief presentations on promotion and tenure from representatives of each college, followed by a Q&A. Invitations to all women faculty will be forthcoming.
In response to requests from faculty on remote campuses who cannot attend in person, the January session also will be available via live stream here.
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“Peer mentoring groups add to the professional success of our faculty,” said
Rowan Zetterman, M.D., director of faculty mentorship programs at UNMC.
The mentoring office can help other interested groups get started and can be reached at 402-559-5108.