Connections Mentoring Network for Faculty of Color

Mentoring contributes positively to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of faculty of color by promoting awareness of tenure and promotion processes and supporting productivity broadly. Moving away from the Guru-Mentoring (individual) ideology a Network model supports a comprehensive and more realistic view of mentoring. By creating a network, small groups of faculty across campus, faculty are not only exposed to 1 faculty member, but several outside and possibly within their discipline. This creates a connection to the larger campus, and helps to facilitate developing an essential network of faculty of color that is essential for recruitment and retention. 

Each participant will be matched with a Network facilitated by a Connector, a senior faculty member, and other faculty with similar scholarly interests. This network does not replace a department or program’s responsibility to assign a guidance committee or mentor for assistant professors; rather, it offers additional support and resources that build upon the work of departmental mentoring relationships. Participants will be asked to evaluate their relationship and are invited to suggest event topics and offer advice to the advisory committee and fellow program participants. Connections will sponsor a number of events based on the needs of the network. These events include monthly networking events and professional development workshops, a faculty writing retreat, and more.

For further information on this program and events see our website at https://www.facultyconnections.fsu.edu or email FDA-Connections@fsu.edu.