"Throughout my journey as a first-generation student and now as a faculty member, mentors have played an important role in my personal and professional development. At UVM, the Comprehensive Faculty Mentoring Program paired me with a senior mentor, enhancing my understanding of university norms and providing support in navigating the RPT process. This support extended to troubleshooting work-life balance as a new parent and contributed to my sense of belonging as a junior faculty member. Additionally, my Department Chair(s) and senior colleagues have served as invaluable sounding boards and cheerleaders while providing practical advice. Beyond UVM, the NCFDD’s Faculty Success Program supported strategic planning for scholarly productivity, and the NCFR Mentoring Academy provided discipline-specific mentorship and expanded my professional network. I’ve even maintained relationships with mentors from my days as a student, which have grown into scholarly collaborations. Overall, systemic mentoring has helped me clarify my professional identity, set priorities, plan for career progression, demystify the RPT process, and access university and professional resources in the context of supportive relationships."

"The Henderson-Harris program has been transformative for my career as a scholar. A core part of this experience is the access to multiple invaluable mentoring resources. For example, at the University level, the office of the Vice Provost for faculty affairs runs a seminar series for junior scholars aimed at demystifying several aspects of the tenure and promotion process as well as highlighting university-wide resources for supporting my research, teaching, and work-life balance. At the level of my college, the College of Arts and Sciences runs regular round tables where junior and senior faculty meet to discuss and reflect on aspects of teaching and research strategies for faculty getting started. Both these mentoring programs have been invaluable for me to understand the “ins and outs” of UVM. I also have a formal faculty mentor with whom, jointly with my department chair, I meet regularly. Mentoring from my department chair has provided me with clear expectations to advance to the tenure track and, more generally, how to succeed as a junior faculty on my department. Likewise, my formal mentor has been instrumental in helping me navigate all aspects of my fellowship: from how to manage my time, and making strategic decisions about applying for federal funds, to maximizing my research productivity, and developing engaging courses for students. Overall, my time as a fellow has provided me with unparalleled access to mentoring resources at UVM that have prepared me to assume and thrive as an assistant professor and beyond."

"Helping faculty find their footing at UVM is such a rewarding experience. Working with new faculty to prioritize the demands on their time has also helped me to better understand how to better assess my own goals. New faculty come in with so much energy and new ideas. Listening to their plans for research and teaching is infectious and it helps me continue to think about ways that I can grow in my own role at UVM."