UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The spring Mentorship Matters series will begin in early January, giving Penn State faculty the opportunity to develop essential skills and tools that foster effective mentorship of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and colleagues. 

Workshops are offered both in person and online via Zoom for all faculty and postdocs to provide flexibility. Registration is open now for all sessions. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited.  

All in-person sessions will be held at the Dreamery, situated on the ground level of the Shields Building at the University Park campus. Online sessions will be held via Zoom, with links available through the Faculty Affairs website and registration via the Learning Resource Network. 

Participation in one of the mentorship workshops is the cornerstone for the Provost Endorsement: Mentoring in Research. 

In-person workshops  

• Thursday, Jan. 9, 12:30-4 p.m ., the Dreamery, Shields Building, University Park campus  

Register for the Jan. 9 in-person workshop via the Learning Resource Network.  

• Thursday, Jan. 30, 8:30 a.m.-noon , the Dreamery, Shields Building, University Park campus  

Register for the Jan. 30 in-person workshop via the Learning Resource Network.  

Online workshops  

• Monday, Feb. 3, 10 and 17, 3:30-5 p.m.  

Register for the spring online workshops via the Learning Resource Network.  

Train Mentorship Matters Workshop Leaders  

A session will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 9 for those who have already completed the Mentorship Matters workshop in fall semester and would like to help train others.  

Meet two workshop leaders 

Katie Bode-Lang is among the leaders of this spring’s training sessions.  

“I think the interactive nature of the workshop is what makes it both enjoyable and genuinely useful — participants hear stories from others and share ideas about strategies,” she said. “It’s also truly interdisciplinary; with folks from all different colleges and campuses participating, it’s a unique opportunity for faculty to spend time with other faculty they might not otherwise meet.” 

Bode-Lang is the director of research education and outreach in the Office of Research Protections, which oversees research integrity for the University. 

“We’re very aware of the importance of healthy, productive mentoring relationships — and the consequences when students don’t receive necessary mentoring. This is why we’re excited to partner with Faculty Affairs on this series of workshops; we want to help equip faculty with real, tangible tools they can use in their mentoring relationships.” 

Eric Hudson, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Physics, said attendees can expect to discuss case studies covering issues many have faced while mentoring students and share personal experiences. 

“The workshops are highly interactive, designed to encourage participants to reflect on their mentoring practices while exploring effective communication strategies and inclusive mentoring practices,” Hudson said. “One of the things that I look forward to in these sessions is meeting faculty from diverse backgrounds, mentoring undergraduates and graduate students in diverse fields. The ideas and insights people bring to these discussions are always thought-provoking and often lead to practical strategies that I’ve ended up using myself.” 

The Mentorship Matters training workshops are a collaborative effort of the Office of Faculty Affairs, Office of Undergraduate Education, the Penn State Learning Resource Network and the Office of Research Protections.